Other News
Apr 4, 2025: 2025 Comp Plan Update: Transportation Element, Plan Intro, & Administration Piece Ready for Review
Mar 19, 2025: San Juan County Establishes Interim Inter-Island Transportation Services as RFP Process Continues
Mar 7, 2025: 2025 Comp Plan Update: Climate Element and Draft Official Map Amendments Available for Review
Mar 6, 2025: Governor Ferguson announces plan to restore Washington State Ferries to full service by this summer
Mar 4, 2025: Public Meeting: Land Bank Using Prescribed Fires to Manage Wildfire Risks & Restore Ecosystems
Feb 19, 2025: San Juan County Seeks Proposals from Transportation Service Providers for Pilot Project
Feb 12, 2025: Call for Candidates: Three-Day Special Filing Period for Lopez Metropolitan Park District Commissioners
Jan 19, 2025: Four districts, six unions, three PTAs, and county leadership all agree: legislators must take action to fully fund education no
Dec 19, 2024: San Juan County Parks and Fair Announces New Camping Software; Delaying Reservation Availability
Dec 10, 2024: County Council Considers Extending Agreement with Lopez Solid Waste to Allow for More Collaboration
Dec 5, 2024: San Juan County to Consider Updated Interlocal Agreement with Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District
Dec 2, 2024: San Juan County Council Sets Public Hearing for Cultural Access Sales Tax at Dec. 10 Meeting
Nov 25, 2024: San Juan County Celebrates Completion of Lopez Skate Park and Calls for Inaugural Skaters
Nov 7, 2024: How Has Extreme Weather Impacted You? Participate in the County’s Climate Resilience Planning Effort
Nov 1, 2024: UPDATE: Sea Wall Repairs Temporarily Close MacKaye Harbor Dock and Boat Ramp on Lopez Island
Oct 22, 2024: DRAFT North Shore Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Oct 21, 2024: Reminder: You’re Invited to Attend Open Houses for the 2025 Comp Plan Update This Fall
Oct 1, 2024: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE SAN JUANS SPONSORS OCTOBER COUNTY COUNCIL VOTER FORUMS ON SJI, ORCAS, AND LOPEZ
Sep 24, 2024: County Hosts Community Meeting on Lopez Island to Discuss Public Safety during Hunting Season
Sep 24, 2024: SJC Reviews Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies in the face of Sea Level Rise
Sep 23, 2024: DRAFT Watmough Bay Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Aug 29, 2024: San Juan County’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Survey Sets Baseline for Ongoing Change
Aug 27, 2024: 2024 San Juan County WSU Master Gardeners Gardening Workshop Series, October 15-24, 2024
Aug 27, 2024: County Representatives Discuss Solutions to Ferry Service Disruptions with Governor Inslee
Aug 21, 2024: County Council’s Request to Governor for Relief from Ferry Service Disruptions Not Fulfilled
Aug 20, 2024: San Juan County Certifies Primary Election Results & Celebrates Highest Primary Turnout in Years
Aug 13, 2024: WSF Commits Additional Crews to Interisland Route to Ensure Service During County Fair Week
Aug 13, 2024: Ferry Data from Staff and Local Partners Shapes Council Request for ‘Executive Relief’ From WA State
Aug 5, 2024: The Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival returns to Lopez for its 27th Summer Concert Season
May 2, 2024: WA State Governor and Assistant Secretary of WSF Talk Ferry Service & Solar Power with SJC Officials
Apr 11, 2024: Community Meeting: Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Outer Bay and Agate Beach Areas on Lopez Island
Mar 11, 2024: Queers in Unexpected Places: Searching for (and Finding) Gender and Sexual Non-Conformity in the Rural and Early PNW
Mar 7, 2024: DRAFT Richardson Marsh Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Dec 5, 2023: County Council Member Jane Fuller and Senator Liz Lovelett to Host Public Meeting on Lopez
Nov 3, 2023: County and Town Send Open Letter to State Officials Regarding Impacts of Poor Ferry Service
Sep 29, 2023: Conservation Land Bank Announces Special Meeting to Discuss Watmough Bay Preserve Addition
Sep 14, 2023: The mobile dental van is coming to Lopez! // ¡La camioneta dental móvil ya llega a López!
Aug 22, 2023: San Juan County Adopts 32-Hour Work Week in the Name of Fiscal Health, Recruitment, and Islander Wellness
May 25, 2023: Recap of Lopez Neighborhood Meeting Regarding the Relocation of Public Works Facilities
May 23, 2023: District 3 Councilmember Jane Fuller Opens Office on Lopez and Hosts Community Conversation
Apr 17, 2023: Give Lopez Starts April 17th - A two week fundraiser benefiting 15 Lopez Island Non-Profits
Sep 22, 2022: Interim Watmough Preserve Addition Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
A Plea to the Community on Travel, New Variants, and Keeping the Islands Safe
Feb 5, 2021
By San Juan County
Don't travel. Don't host.
1. As was seen in the islands over the holidays and throughout this crisis, island residents traveling off-island or hosting guests from off-island is far and away the most likely source of COVID transmission in San Juan County.
2. As most are aware, several new variants of COVID are spreading rapidly across the world. Based on current models, it is expected that those variants will become the dominant strains of the disease in Washington by sometime in March or early April.
3. While details are still coming into focus, these variants are approximately 50% more infectious than the current strain. Again, the science is evolving and is far from definitive, but they may also result in more severe illness, and may reduce the effectiveness of some vaccines.
4. The only way these strains will make their way to San Juan County is from infected individuals bringing them to the islands.
5. Up to 40% of individuals infected with COVID have no symptoms, feel perfectly healthy, and would not suspect that they can spread the disease.
6. It is almost certain that the new variants will cause a new and significantly larger number of cases.
7. Island schools are beginning to reopen, and case numbers are dropping in WA, but all of that will reverse quickly if steps to minimize spread are not taken.
8. As was true over the winter holidays, the best way to keep the islands safe is simple: DON’T TRAVEL, DON’T HOST. There is room for common sense: going to the mainland to shop for the day is OK. Traveling in a car with your household, going off-island for medical care, staying in a vacation rental with no contact with others- these are OK. Airplanes, staying with others, socializing indoors, going to another state or country, etc. - not OK.
9. For those islanders who insist on traveling or hosting, please: QUARANTINE FOR TWO WEEKS UPON RETURN. DON’T GO TO WORK, DON’T SOCIALIZE, DON’T INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY. If these are things that you are unwilling or unable to do, then: DON’T TRAVEL, DON’T HOST. Employers should insist on this from their employees and employees should do it out of respect for their co-workers and employers.
10. Don’t host or attend Super Bowl parties (go Chiefs!).
11. This isn’t easy, it isn’t fun. To date the islands have had one of the lowest case rates in the United States. That is true to a large degree because of the sacrifice and thoughtfulness of islanders. Let’s keep it up.
2. As most are aware, several new variants of COVID are spreading rapidly across the world. Based on current models, it is expected that those variants will become the dominant strains of the disease in Washington by sometime in March or early April.
3. While details are still coming into focus, these variants are approximately 50% more infectious than the current strain. Again, the science is evolving and is far from definitive, but they may also result in more severe illness, and may reduce the effectiveness of some vaccines.
4. The only way these strains will make their way to San Juan County is from infected individuals bringing them to the islands.
5. Up to 40% of individuals infected with COVID have no symptoms, feel perfectly healthy, and would not suspect that they can spread the disease.
6. It is almost certain that the new variants will cause a new and significantly larger number of cases.
7. Island schools are beginning to reopen, and case numbers are dropping in WA, but all of that will reverse quickly if steps to minimize spread are not taken.
8. As was true over the winter holidays, the best way to keep the islands safe is simple: DON’T TRAVEL, DON’T HOST. There is room for common sense: going to the mainland to shop for the day is OK. Traveling in a car with your household, going off-island for medical care, staying in a vacation rental with no contact with others- these are OK. Airplanes, staying with others, socializing indoors, going to another state or country, etc. - not OK.
9. For those islanders who insist on traveling or hosting, please: QUARANTINE FOR TWO WEEKS UPON RETURN. DON’T GO TO WORK, DON’T SOCIALIZE, DON’T INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY. If these are things that you are unwilling or unable to do, then: DON’T TRAVEL, DON’T HOST. Employers should insist on this from their employees and employees should do it out of respect for their co-workers and employers.
10. Don’t host or attend Super Bowl parties (go Chiefs!).
11. This isn’t easy, it isn’t fun. To date the islands have had one of the lowest case rates in the United States. That is true to a large degree because of the sacrifice and thoughtfulness of islanders. Let’s keep it up.