San Juan Island’s community chorus sings its way through the century on April 4 at 7:30 p.m. and April 5 at 5 p.m. at the San Juan Community Theatre. Led by Angel Michaels, the San Juan Singers share music that dates back to 1900 and all the way through 2001, representing a variety of aspects of life.
The Washington state ferry Elwha is out of service for repairs. The 8:35 a.m. sailing to Orcas and the 9:50 a.m. sailing from Orcas to Anacortes were cancelled. The Yakima and the Sealth will pick up additional traffic in the islands, Washington State Ferries reported.
On March 19, Jacque Grone suffered a brain aneurysm and was flown off-island to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. After extensive surgery, she remains in intensive care. The recovery and rehabilitation will be extensive but her doctors say her prognosis is very good.
Amid frigid temperatures and frigid economy, a ray of sunshine peeked through the clouds. But don’t break out your shades yet.
There were six closed sales and seven pending sales on homes listed with the Northwest Multiple Listing Service in February. The median sales price was $520,000, up from $492,500 the same month a year ago and $480,000 for all 12 months of 2008.
The job picture in San Juan County is … well, it could be worse. The state’s unemployment rate rose in February to 8.4 percent, up from 7.8 percent in January. But San Juan County’s jobless rate was 7.5 percent in February – the second-lowest in the state, according to the state Employment Security Department.
Legislation establishing a permanent funding source for an emergency response tug at Neah Bay was signed into law by Gov. Christine Gregoire today, on the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
Effective with the March 31 edition, the Lopez Island-based Islands’ Weekly will no longer be mailed to households on Orcas and San Juan islands. It will continue to be mailed free of charge to Lopez Island households.
The San Juan Islands are critical habitat for salmon and their prey. Just how important our nearshore environment is is the subject of considerable monitoring and study by a group of local volunteer Beach Watchers. And for their work, the 44 volunteer “Beach Seiners” were honored March 10 at the State Capitol.
The American Institute of Architects, Northwest Washington chapter, is accepting applications for its first scholarship. Applicants must be a junior or above (in the 2009-10 academic year) in an accredited school of architecture. There will be at least one $1,000 scholarship. Deadline for applications is July 1.
Low-income residents in CenturyTel’s service area may qualify for assistance that will reduce the cost of initial telephone installation and basic monthly service.
Island Bicycles of Friday Harbor’s Web site, www.islandbicycles.com, has been completely recreated by Chester Chipperfield and Collyn Ahart Chipperfield of Emakmafu.com of London, U.K.
The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce Downtown Forum will meet Thursday, 8:30 a.m. at Whidbey Island Bank. The Chamber Downtown Forum is a program offered by the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce.
The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce Downtown Forum is seeking participants for its Adopt a Tree Well program. As part of its beautification plan, the Downtown Forum initiated a program in 2008 where businesses, organizations or individuals could “adopt” the ground around the trees along the sidewalks in Friday Harbor by planting flowers and caring for them.
