Competitive bids for County’s pilot ferry programs were due Friday – Winning bids will be chosen from multiple bidders
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Competitive bids for County’s pilot ferry programs were due Friday – Winning bids will be chosen from multiple bidders

Monday, March 17, 2025by Jeff Noedel Back on September 17 of 2024 — an overcast Tuesday — a buoyant Governor Jay Inslee swept into Friday Harbor’s Brickworks Event Center and announced that he had caused $1.5 million in state emergency funds to flow to San Juan County government. The purpose of the funds was to…

Proposed ‘Mosquito Fleet Act’ to face its highest hurdle Monday
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Proposed ‘Mosquito Fleet Act’ to face its highest hurdle Monday

Sunday, March 16, 2025by Jeff Noedel If it passes, the “Mosquito Fleet Act,” which began as House Bill 1923 in Olympia, would be the legislation that could increase the odds of someday enjoying locally-run passenger ferry service direct to Bellingham from the San Juans…and many other novel walk-on ferry routes across the Salish Sea and…

TVW VIDEO: Friday’s State House bipartisan passage of ESHB 1923, “Mosquito Fleet Act”
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TVW VIDEO: Friday’s State House bipartisan passage of ESHB 1923, “Mosquito Fleet Act”

Sunday, March 9, 2025by Jeff Noedel A TVW VIDEO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE On Friday, the Washington State House of Representatives passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill (ESHB) 1923 with bipartisan support. The Mosquito Fleet Act — authored by State Rep. Greg Nance (D-Bainbridge Island) is meant to help spawn new passenger-only ferry…

BREAKING:  Mosquito Fleet Act passes State House of Representatives resoundingly
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BREAKING: Mosquito Fleet Act passes State House of Representatives resoundingly

Friday, March 7, 2025 at 3:10 p.m.UPDATED: March 7 at 4:00 p.m.by Jeff Noedel This afternoon, the full Washington State House of Representatives passed “ESHB 1923,” the Mosquito Fleet Act. The bill was authored by State Rep. Greg Nance (D-23, Bainbridge Island). Nance has become a vocal ally of all ferry-served communities in recent months….

Private citizen Rick Hughes: San Juan County cannot operate passenger ferry system without federal and state assistance
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Private citizen Rick Hughes: San Juan County cannot operate passenger ferry system without federal and state assistance

County Council member Justin Paulsen: Desire in County to “make decisions with our constituents” Saturday, February 22, 2025by Jeff Noedel TVW VIDEOS ARE BELOW Support for State Rep. Greg Nance’s HB 1923, the “Mosquito Fleet Act” was almost universal at the bill’s public hearing Wednesday. Of nearly three dozen witnesses who testified, only only spoke…

WA STATE STANDARD:  New walk-on ferry routes across Puget Sound readied to sail if funded (mentions of San Juan County)
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WA STATE STANDARD: New walk-on ferry routes across Puget Sound readied to sail if funded (mentions of San Juan County)

The possibility of a modern-day Mosquito Fleet is under discussion in the Washington Legislature, but it’s unclear if there’ll be the cash to launch. Saturday, February 22, 2025FROM THE WASHINGTON STATE STANDARDby Tom Banse People who live on Puget Sound islands painted an enticing vision for the Washington Legislature this week of a modern-day Mosquito…

LIVE VIDEO AT 4:00 p.m.: WA House Transportation Committee considers ‘Mosquito Fleet Act’
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LIVE VIDEO AT 4:00 p.m.: WA House Transportation Committee considers ‘Mosquito Fleet Act’

HB 1923 could lead to a process that could create a higher-speed ‘foot ferry’ to Bellingham and other game changers for the San Juans Wednesday, February 19, 2025by Jeff Noedel Twelve days ago, State Rep. Greg Nance (D-23rd) of Bainbridge Island filed a new bill in the House of Representatives: HB 1923, the “Mosquito Fleet Act.” It was assigned…

IMPORTANT VIDEO:  State Rep Greg Nance explains HB 1923, the ‘Mosquito Fleet Act’ – Committee hearing is Wednesday
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IMPORTANT VIDEO: State Rep Greg Nance explains HB 1923, the ‘Mosquito Fleet Act’ – Committee hearing is Wednesday

If enacted, the new law could lead to improved life for San Juans’ inter-island travelers and citizens of other seaside towns by creating more freedom of movement IMAGINE: A trip to see a doctor in Bellingham. Using a foot ferry and a ground shuttle could turn a 4-hour one-way trip to Peace Health Medical Center…

BIG IDEA:  State Rep. Greg Nance describes his ‘Mosquito Fleet Act’ – a bill to be introduced soon
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BIG IDEA: State Rep. Greg Nance describes his ‘Mosquito Fleet Act’ – a bill to be introduced soon

Tuesday, February 4, 2025by Jeff Noedel A SanJuans.Today VIDEO IS BELOW State Rep. Greg Nance, 36, is a ball of energy. An out-of-the-box thinker. And a State Representative whose 23rd District serves three major WSF ferry terminals (Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, and Kingston). Nance, who is serving his first full elected term in the House, speaks…

New website for Community Water Taxi
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New website for Community Water Taxi

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 Check out the new website for Community Water Taxi! Community Water Taxi is a group of concerned island residents looking for solutions to an interisland walk-on water taxi service within San Juan County when Washington State Ferries cannot perform this need. They have helped people since August 2023 get to medical…

,602 new donations X2 = ,718!  ,141 remains for matching
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$1,602 new donations X2 = $3,718! $8,141 remains for matching

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 Community internet television and radio for the San Juans gained some strength in the past two days, as $1,602 more in donations have now arrived. That brings the recent total to $1,859. And the Mary See Foundation match has instantly turned that into $3,718! The Mary See Foundation leaders took a…

UPDATED: GOVERNOR ORDERS .5 MILLION IN STATE ‘EMERGENCY FUNDS’ FOR LOCAL FERRY & BARGE SERVICES & WEEKEND INTER-ISLAND SERVICE THROUGH WINTER 2025
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UPDATED: GOVERNOR ORDERS $1.5 MILLION IN STATE ‘EMERGENCY FUNDS’ FOR LOCAL FERRY & BARGE SERVICES & WEEKEND INTER-ISLAND SERVICE THROUGH WINTER 2025

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 3:04 p.m.UPDATE1 at 5:13 p.m. by Jeff Noedel FRIDAY HARBOR, WA–In a 1:00 p.m. meeting today at the Brickworks meeting space, Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced that he has ordered $1.5 million in state emergency funds to help the San Juans cope with canceled sailings in the Washington State Ferry…

GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ON WSF: “The San Juans community has been tolerant to the ‘nth degree…”
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GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ON WSF: “The San Juans community has been tolerant to the ‘nth degree…”

A CNL2 VIDEO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE Saturday, August 24, 2024by Jeff Noedel Governor Jay Inslee visited San Juan Island today, and he rekindled hope that the State may help with with some kind of solution – temporary or permanent – if and when we experience the kind of meltdown of Washington…

BREAKING: Governor rejects San Juan County funding proposal for expanded walk-on ferry services during WSF inter-island outages
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BREAKING: Governor rejects San Juan County funding proposal for expanded walk-on ferry services during WSF inter-island outages

ORIGINAL: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 @ 12:50 p.m. Asked and answered.And the answer is no. CNL2 has learned that a representative for Governor Jay Inslee have told leaders of San Juan County government that the State will not agree to the proposal made by the County for special supplemental passenger ferry and small barge services…

WHEN THE ‘WHEELS CAME OFF’ THE FERRIES: 171 sailings canceled in 3-1/2 weeks in July
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WHEN THE ‘WHEELS CAME OFF’ THE FERRIES: 171 sailings canceled in 3-1/2 weeks in July

Wednesday, August 14, 2024by Jeff Noedel A two-page fact sheet prepared by San Juan County government for, among other constituents, the Governor of the the State of Washington, was released to the public yesterday. It can be seen here. It’s an important and sobering read. The County Council instructed County employees to gather facts (quantitative…