Journal of the San Juans

12/06/2023

Henline will be retried for 2022 arson.

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12/06/2023

The Toy Box has moved - check out their new location at the bottom of First Street.

Just in time for the holiday season, The Toy Box, formerly located on 175 First Street near the Whale Museum, is in its new location at 20 First Street, near the top of the ferry landing. The shop officially opened its new location.

12/05/2023

Islanders didnt let the rain get in the way of having holiday fun!

Islanders gathered around the Christmas Tree at Wells Fargo Dec. at 6 p.m. 1 to celebrate the Festival of Lights, organized by the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce.

12/04/2023

Ally Sandwith will be contributing a Wolverine Spotlight, showing off our amazing basketball team. Here, for the first one, is Chris Gustafson and Alden Carli.

By Ally Sandwith,

12/01/2023

Gathering acorns isn’t just for squirrels. Collecting and planting them can help restore Gary oaks.

By Isabel Ashley

11/30/2023

Don’t miss the annual tree lighting this Friday!

Submitted by the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce

11/29/2023

Second Act has already opened in its new location- and other businesses will be opening as the former Island Studio building gets a make over.

New businesses and new energy will be going into the building that formerly homed Island Studios, Little Mermaid and Dukes Sporting Goods. Carrie King will be moving Second Act to the old Dukes location, while Jesse and Kelley Miller will be opening Vibes in the former Mystical Mermaid. That is just...

11/28/2023

Today is Giving Tuesday, and Soroptimist is one of the many nonprofits participating.

Submitted by Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor

11/27/2023

The lions raise money for their annual scholarships and food for the Friday Harbor Food Bank through their annual shopping spree.

The Winner of the 2023 San Juan Lions Annual Shopping Spree was Thalia Shorett of San Juan Island, who chose to donate her winnings and “Shopping Run” to the Friday Harbor Food Bank.

11/22/2023

There has been a perfect storm of challenges for local businesses, but with the help of community members, government agencies, and building owners, that can change. For some businesses it already is.

Running a small business in Friday Harbor has never been easy, however, a number of businesses closed this fall, a potential red flag that challenges are higher than ever.

11/21/2023

Rotary adds rhyming dictionaries to dictionary program.

Submitted by the Rotary Club

11/20/2023

Shadow Basket’s drummer, Brendan Casey,, releases a solo album.

By Isabel Ashley

11/17/2023

The jury in the arson case against Dwight Henline could not agree on a unanimous verdict.

The federal trial against Dwight C. Henline, a 34-year-old Friday Harbor man, concluded. Henline was suspected to have caused a fire that destroyed three historical buildings and damaged several others in April of 2022.

11/16/2023

Students and teachers reflect on the continued impacts of COVID on education.

By Maria Magana-Navarro,

11/15/2023

Islanders spoke out against adding the Zylstra Lake trail to the County’s TIP during a public hearing Nov. 7.

A trail proposed from Friday Harbor to Zylstra Lake has been a contentious issue not just for farmers and property owners in San Juan Valley, but for the residents of San Juan Island. The trail, which is to be a multi-use paved trail, was put on the draft Six Year Transportation Improvement Program....

11/14/2023

San Juan islanders have struggled to get the latest Covid booster. The Journal looked into why.

By Isabel Ashley

11/13/2023

Fish for Teeth is back with Taco Attack!

Submitted by Fish for Teeth

11/10/2023

Coast Salish tribes are working to protect the Salish Sea. The Journal sat down with Todd Woodard, the DNR director for the Samish Nation to highlight their work.

The Samish Indian Nation is one of many Coast Salish tribes that once made San Juan Islands home, and as climate change becomes a reality, they have been actively working to protect this area.

11/09/2023

Local election results are in.

As of press time, 700 ballots were left to count out of 14,725 received. According to the San Juan County Elections Office website, only 29.4 % of registered voters participated in the election. The results are as follows:

11/08/2023

The Grange and food bank partner up to help island families in need.

Submitted by the Friday Harbor Food Bank

11/07/2023

The islands are home to one lizard. How it arrives is quite amazing.

By Russel Barsh, Director of Kwiaht

11/06/2023

The tree took root around 1572. If long time islanders thought they had seen changes to the area, at 450 years old, this Douglas fir saw even more.

If trees could talk: the story of a 450 year-old tree on Mt. Grant Preserve

11/03/2023

Don’t miss the fall concert tomorrow night at the Presbyterian Church!

Submitted by event organizers

11/02/2023

Wolf Hollow has been rehabilitating seal pups for 38 years. Oct. 21 five of this years seals were released, and the Journal was invited to see behind the scenes.

Five seal pups may not have realized it, but Oct. 21 was to be their last morning in the Wolf Hollow rehabilitation pools. Skipper, Marble, Arctic, Nymph and West Coast Lady had gained enough weight and showed they could hunt and feed for themselves, and it was now time for them to begin their new l...

11/01/2023

Starting this Friday, Lions will be selling raffle tickets for their annual shopping spree! Get ready to win-and support their scholarship program.

Submitted by The San Juan Lions

10/31/2023

Tomorrow the Family Resource Center hosts its second annual Dia de los Mu***os at the Mullis Community Senior Center.

By Maria Magana-Navarro

10/30/2023

Sarah Bernsteinof Salty at Heart Apothecary talks about her experiences as a small business owner in Friday Harbor- and her vision for the the future.

Before opening “Salty at Heart Island Apothecary,” Sarah Bernstein found herself drifting back and forth from the San Juans like waves washing to and from the shoreline.

10/29/2023

And the witches came…

10/28/2023

The Mullis Senor Center is stepping into a new phase and welcomed the public Oct. 19 to celebrate.

Decked out in fall decorations, the Mullis Community Senior Center opened its doors to the public Oct. 19, celebrating a new beginning.

10/27/2023

The film festival begins today-and you can still buy tickets. Visit their website for more information.

The women behind the Friday Harbor Film Festival work tirelessly to pull off what is year after year a complex town wide event. Not only does it feature award-winning films in multiple venues, each showing is complete with question and answer sessions. There is also the opening Gala, closing award c...

10/26/2023

Here are some events to celebrate Halloween starting this weekend!

By Isabel Ashley

10/25/2023

The San Juan Fire District has many changes ahead. The candidates gave their perspectives on some of those, including the budget and what they would like to see in a new chief.

The Journal sat down with the San Juan Fire District 3 Commissioner candidates Warren Appleton and Jerry Henderson to ask them why they wanted to run, and some perspectives on the direction of the Fire District. Note: the comments have been edited for length and clarity. The general election will ta...

10/24/2023

San Juan County turns 150 this Halloween - and plenty of events, including a haunted house tour, are planned to amrk the occasion.

By Isabel Ashley

10/22/2023

Wolf Hollow released five seal pups this morning. Here they are starting off their new lives in the wild.

10/20/2023

The Friday Harbor Film Festival kicks off next week - they will be awarding two local icons- documentarian Amy Herdy and scientist Dr. Deborah Giles.

By Isabel Ashley

10/18/2023

What happened to the tuna found so far from its usual swimming grounds? Find out in A tale of a tuna gone adrift.

In early July, the body of a flawless, 250-pound, six-foot Pacific bluefin tuna washed ashore on Crescent Beach.

10/17/2023

One of the Homecoming Parade performances Oct. 13

10/13/2023

Only two more weekends left to see some of your favorite islanders in Hallelujah Girls!

Following the funeral of a close friend, Sugar Lee Thompkins (played by Marcy Hahn) and four of her dearest and feisty friends set out on a journey of renewal in Hallelujah Girls, a spirited southern comedy set in Eden Falls, Georgia.

10/12/2023

Join scientists and Washington Emergency Management Division memebers to learn more about earthquake preparedness on “Ask Me Anything” today at 11 a.m

Submitted by event organizers.

10/11/2023

Watch the Wolverines’ today as they take on LaConner at the Linde Community Fields at 4:30 today.

The Wolverines’ girls’ soccer team scored three goals against Nooksack Valley in the first few moments of the game, Oct. 7, and they didn’t let up.