Most years, the Town of Friday Harbor’s utility payment assistance program gets only a few requests and money in the fund is carried over to the next year. Not in 2009. The fund was exhausted by July 2, with 11 households representing 23 individuals asking for help paying their water bills. That’s up from five households in all of 2008, according to Joyce Sobel of the Family Resource Center, which administers the program for the town.
The San Juan Island Community Foundation will award more than $50,000 in grants to local non-profits Wednesday, 5:30-7 p.m. in a ceremony at the San Juan Community Theatre. The event is open to the public. The funds will be used to support basic-food distribution, healthcare and children’s services. A portion of the funds will be dedicated to improving the capacity of our existing community organizations that are faced with rapidly growing requests for services.
Island a la Carte, the new local coupon book created by Mullis Community Senior Center, contains — by Virginia Otto’s estimate — about $2,000 worth of local savings. Here’s the kicker: The book costs $29.95. And proceeds help support Mullis Center.
San Juan County’s Department of Public Works will cast a line outside its ranks to hook an engineer to oversee the pending construction of an improved solid-waste transfer station on San Juan Island.
The expense of bringing an outside engineer onboard would be folded into the overall cost of the project and is expected to run somewhere between $100,000 and $150,000, according to Public Works Director Jon Shannon.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
The San Juan Island Community Foundation is funding “Wednesday Lunch for All” at Mullis Community Senior Center, beginning July 22. There is no age limit; lunch is open to all.
Economic recovery funding is available for Class A water systems (15 or more homes), and smaller systems combining to become Class A, through the Department of Health Drinking Water State Revolving Funds program. Priority will be given to improvements that address new sources, or treatment that addresses bacteriological, protozoan or chemical contaminants that affect public health. Applications need to be made this summer.
Charles A. Hudson, “Charlie,” was born in Oklahoma on Sept. 15, 1967. Most of his adventures were in the Seattle area. Charlie moved to Lopez Island, Wash., in May 2002 and fell in love with the island and the people. He said this was the most beautiful place he had ever been.
Some people think ground-level power transformers are eyesores. Others have larger concerns: the health effects from the EMF, or electromagnetic field, radiation the transformers release.
San Juan County Administrator Pete Rose announced today that Ron Henrickson, director of Community Development and Planning, has “left the county’s staff” in a departmental reorganization. The reorganization will move elements of CDPD into the County Administration and the Health and Community Services departments.
PeaceHealth officials announced July 8 they have signed a purchase agreement on a 22-acre site near Friday Harbor Airport where they plan to build a new integrated medical center and critical access hospital, scheduled to open in summer 2012.
The Friday Harbor Fire Department celebrated its 100th birthday over the Fourth of July weekend. As part of its celebration, antique fire trucks from Washington state and Canada participated in the Friday Harbor Fourth of July Parade. In addition, Mayor David Jones proclaimed July 5 as “A Day of Recognition & Appreciation for Our Fallen Heroes and Surviving Veterans.”
Air Force Lt. Col. Carleton H. Hirschel has deployed to an overseas forward operating base to support the missions of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
