Six San Juan Island-based whale watch companies will honor Earth Day by donating a portion of proceeds collected on Saturday to a pair of non-profit groups that are helping to restore Puget Sound’s marine habitat.
Replacement of the dock on the wharf outside the Roche Harbor Market and Lime Kiln Cafe cost about $500,000, Roche Harbor General Manager Brent Snow said. The dock was completed in March. It complements an expansion of the Lime Kiln Cafe and other improvements to the wharf buildings. The buildings date to 1923, when they were built to replace earlier buildings destroyed by fire.
For the first time, a portion of lodging tax money reserved for construction or maintenance of tourism-related facilities will be used to promote visiting Friday Harbor during the summer, from May to August. The Friday Harbor Town Council Thursday allocated $40,000 for a blitz of summer promotions over the Internet, in print, on radio and on television. The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce was allocated $15,000 for a promotion with Comcast for on-air and online promotions in South Snohomish, North Seattle, Bellevue-Issaquah, Woodinville-Redmond. A commercial by SanJuanIslandsTV.com will be broadcast over Bravo, Comedy, E!, Headline, Animal Planet and Fox News channels. A banner video will be placed on Comcast.net.
The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce celebrates the success of local businesses with its first annual Recognition and Celebration Banquet, April 29 in Friday Harbor House’s San Juan Room. The evening will start at 6 p.m. with a no-host bar. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., with the program and awards to follow.
Even as real estate sales slowed … to … a … trickle, Pat O’Day of John L. Scott in Friday Harbor remained confident that the market would rebound. Sellers just had to be patient. “The light at the end of the tunnel is that we are the Martha’s Vineyard of the Pacific Northwest,” O’Day said at the time. “God isn’t making any more San Juan Islands and there is an insatiable thirst by a very affluent, young generation, as they head toward their retirement years, to have a presence on the islands.”
All state-run liquor stores will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 4. Contract liquor stores may be open. Contact contract stores directly for their holiday operating schedules.
Stephanie Prima-Sarantopulos recently joined Harrison House Suites, Tucker House Inn and Coho Restaurant in the newly created position of guest services coordinator. She will be maintaining the business’s newsletters, blogs and social networking marketing, as well as overall promotions.
Christy’s Island Salon is celebrating the return to the islands of Lindsay Johnson and Katie Murray.
Johnson, mother of the island’s first Baby of the Year, Elijah Matthew Johnson, on Jan. 14, reports that the baby is fine and she has now returned to the salon. She has more than five years of experience as a cosmetician.
The Peace Island Medical Center Steering Committee announced Tuesday the selection of an architectural and engineering firm to lead the design of San Juan County’s new integrated medical center and critical access hospital. The committee selected Mahlum Architects, a Seattle-based firm.
Are you looking to expand your business? To start a new business? To keep up with current economic conditions? As part of its new Business Education Series, the San Juan County Economic Development Council will present a free all-day workshop for small businesses and entrepreneurs on March 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Gordy and Lori Petersen, owners of Friday Harbor Center at Spring and First streets, have opened The Bean coffee shop. The Bean is the successor of The Naked Bean, and features an entirely remodeled interior.
Pam Fry has joined the staff at Spa d Bune, 669 Mullis St., Friday Harbor. Fry practices High Touch Jin Shin Acupressure; she is available by appointment at 370-5027.
Bison Gallery has moved from 65 Nichols St. to 60 First St., the space formerly occupied by Garuda & I. Meanwhile, Compost It is moving next door from 115 Nichols St. to the space vacated by Bison Gallery.
