Island News
Local headlines from around the San Juans
Cindy Wolf – Guest Opinion: Beheading the Department of Environmental Stewardship
In the State of Washington, responsibility falls on the local and Tribal governments to execute Salmon habitat conservation and restoration projects, which is a focused way of saying projects addressing marine health in general. This mission dovetails nicely with the clean water utility function of keeping pollution out of the stormwater and surface water. The solid […]
Statement from Gov. Ferguson about ferry cancellations
Governor Ferguson October 5 statement: As a regular rider on our state ferries, I know how important our ferry service is to Washingtonians. Restoring our ferry service has been one of my top priorities since taking office, and we’ve made significant progress on that front, due in large part to the efforts of our workers. […]
County parks recruiting camp hosts for 2027
As the 2026 season comes to a close, San Juan County Parks Dept is actively recruiting camp hosts for 2027. Interested in waking up each day in some of the most beautiful parks the San Juan Islands have to offer? Love interacting with and educating a variety of different people? Then camp hosting might be […]
October 5: Samish will make all-stops sailings | Links to revised schedule
For Monday, October 5, Vessel #1 Chelan and #2 Yakima will be out of service due to the lack of crew. The #3 Samish will sail all-stops from Anacortes to Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, and Friday. The interisland #4 Tillikum will assist with Anacortes-Friday Harbor traffic. OCTOBER 5 SCHEDULE SAN JUAN ISLAND https://wsdot.com/Ferries/Schedule/scheduledetail.aspx?tripdate=20261005&departingterm=1&arrivingterm=10&roundtrip=true LOPEZ ISLAND: https://wsdot.com/Ferries/Schedule/scheduledetail.aspx?tripdate=20
WSF: 13 of 18 ferries out of service October 5
WSF BULLETIN: This morning, 23 engine room employees called in sick. Every employee qualified to fill those positions has declined to fill them and keep the ferries running. All of the employees calling in sick, and declining to fill those vacancies, are represented by the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) who represent engine room employees. […]
October 5: Update – Samish will make all-stops sailings – Links to schedule
For Monday, October 5, Vessel #1 Chelan and #2 Yakima will be out of service due to the lack of crew. The #3 Samish will sail all-stops from Anacortes to Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, and Friday. The interisland #4 Tillikum will assist with Anacortes-Friday Harbor traffic. OCTOBER 5 SCHEDULE SAN JUAN ISLAND https://wsdot.com/Ferries/Schedule/scheduledetail.aspx?tripdate=20261005&departingterm=1&arrivingterm=10&roundtrip=true LOPEZ ISLAND: https://wsdot.com/Ferries/Schedule/scheduledetail.aspx?tripdate=20
October 5: Public hearings on county budget, property tax rate
San Juan County Council will hold five public hearings October 5, 2026. The agenda and instructions on how to participate in the meeting is posted below. The meeting can be streamed. https://sanjuancowa.portal.civicclerk.com/ Monday, October 5, 2026 Legislative Hearing Room, 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor, WA To call in for Public Comment Sign Up by 9am […]
October 10: Surina Block Party – Friday Harbor
October 11: An Act of Faith: Fanciful Yarns and Old Timey Tales – Friday Harbor
October 5: Lack of crew leads to disruption of ferry service system-wide
WSF BULLETIN: ALL ROUTES Service disruptions on all routes are likely Sunday, October 4, 2026 due to the lack of qualified crew. Customers are requested to only make essential travel. More information is posted at https://wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/bulletin.aspx as it becomes available. As of 5:38 pm #1 Chelan is in service. #2 Yakima goes out of service after […]
October 16, 17 and 23, 24 and 30, 31: Haunted Roche Harbor Cemetery Tours
October 16, 17 and 23, 24 and 30, 31 | sunset to 10 pm | Roche Harbor Cemetery Tours | 193 Afterglow Dr | Friday Harbor,
Heather Lee: Protecting your Vote
Many people have shared their concerns about election security with me and how election officials can address those concerns. I believe the biggest issues are cybersecurity, ballot security, chain of custody, staffing, and misinformation. My approach would be to be proactive – review our security procedures, make sure ballots are properly tracked and secured, maintain […]
Schuman: Supports Swanson for county council
Dear Editor, We’ve known Jennifer Swanson for over 20 years and worked with her on numerous community events on Shaw. She’s empathetic, smart, and seemingly tireless. On issues that impact our islands’ way of life, she’s purposely well-informed and open to hearing all views. Jennifer’s a proven leader, having served on the Ferry Advisory Committee, […]
November 3, 2026 General Election Ballots: Vote – Sign It -Ballot Box it
SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. October 1, 2026 – Mark your calendars for the upcoming General Election on November 3! Races for important Federal, State, and County positions will appear on the ballot, as well as vital ballot measures for the State, the San Juan County Fire Protection District No. 4, the Port of Lopez, the […]
Free Immunization Clinics for Children: Protect Your Child Against Influenza and COVID
SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. October 1, 2026 – Protect your family this fall and winter by bringing your child to one of our upcoming school-based walk-up immunization clinics. We will have vaccines to protect children against flu and it is anticipated that there will be COVID-19 vaccines available for all children 6 months through 18 years old. […]
Guest Column: Getting to Know Katherine: People-First Leadership & Proven Results
From Katherine Bryant Ingman for San Juan County Council: Excellent council members bring neighbors together, build on community strengths, identify solutions by focusing on shared goals, and lead through change and crisis with empathy and compassion. I have a proven, professional track record of effective community facilitation, mediation, and equitable outcomes — even in circumstances […]
Town of Friday Harbor issues proclamation about Domestic Violence Awareness month
PROCLAMATION Hope to Live Free of Abuse WHEREAS, October is recognized nationally as Domestic Violence Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, domestic violence is a complex and pervasive public health crisis that affects individuals without regard to age, race, gender, education, religious, economic, or societal lines; and WHEREAS, domestic violence is not just physical violence; it often […]
Guest Column by Jennifer Swanson
During the course of my campaign for County Council, I have had countless conversations with people across the islands and have learned a great deal about their concerns. These conversations have given form to how I will, as councilmember, approach the budget. In April, 60.67% of San Juan County voters rejected the county’s levy lid […]
Due to high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison, all San Juan County beaches are closed until further notice.
Due to high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison, all beaches are closed until further notice.As of Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has closed recreational shellfish harvesting in San Juan County due to unsafe levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP). This closure includes all species of molluscan shellfish including clams, […]
Week 5: FRIDAY HARBOR WOLVERINE FOOTBALL Trivia, numbers, history, ramblings and stuff by Bruce Bennett
Friday, October 2, 6:00 p.m., Friday Harbor (3-1) at Coupeville (0-3) This goes back to the beginning. The Wolverines played six games in their initial season in 1973 and Coupeville was the fourth of those (CHS won 20-14). The Wolves suffered losses in their first three games – to Klahowya 34-12, Raymond-South Bend 45-7 and […]
October 3: Sea Change Summit
October 3 | 5 pm | Brickworks | San Juan Island Friday Harbor UW Labs HL is hosting two amazing speakers on October 3, 2026 as part of a special, public event they’re calling the Sea Change Summit. At the event, Rick Spinrad, the NOAA administrator from 2021-2025, and UW professor Alex Gagnon about the […]
Oil spill at Friday Harbor Marina parking lot
Port of Friday Harbor Press Release : Tuesday September 29, 2026, at approximately 1:00 PM, the Port of Friday Harbor staff was transferring used motor oil and bilge water mix from a double hulled storage vessel to a transfer tote for recycling. During movement of the tote, the drain valve broke off and released approximately […]
Timothy G. Parks Dec. 31, 1956-Sept. 26, 2026
Tim was born in Eugene, Oregon on December 31, 1956 to Jean Marie (McDowell) and Gary Parks. He lived in Eugene until age 6 when his family moved to Alaska. He attended school in Sitka and Ketchikan. As a teen he was always busy working on motorcycles, shellacking logs, building models or some other project. […]
San Juan Island Fire District considers false alarm fee
League of Women Voters summary of Fire District #3 Commissioners Meeting, September 22, 2026 meeting. Division Chief Jordan Pollack presented a report on the Outer Island Brigade Program. There are currently six brigades on Brown, Henry, Johns, and Stuart Islands. Brigades are trained in eight modules, wilderness first-aid, and in apparatus training. Stuart West will […]