Island News
Local headlines from around the San Juans
New analysis reveals major increase in vessel traffic through the Salish Sea
Submitted by the Friends of the San Juans.
Nov. 3 General Election ballots: Vote! Sign! Ballot Box it!
Submitted by San Juan County.
Support for Jennifer Swanson for County Council | Letter
I endorse Jennifer Swanson for County Council. She is a great listener, and strives for communication, not conflict to resolve issues. She has worked to better our community through communication and respectful dialog. She considers all sides of an issue before making a decision, and will make a great addition to county council.
Civic engagement goes beyond the ballot box | Letter
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.
Candidate’s dreams are spendy | Letter
I read Katherine Ingman Bryant’s goals to improve health care services in San Juan County and was struck by one glaring omission: How much will all of this cost—and where will the money come from?
Vote Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council | Letter
This is to share how my husband and I know Katherine Bryant Ingman candidate for San Juan County Council District 3, and why she has our full support
In support of Jennifer Swanson for County Council | Letter
I have been a voter in San Juan County for more than 50 years and am writing to enthusiastically endorse Jennifer Swanson for County Commissioner. Jennifer and I worked together on the Shaw Island school board for several years. During her term as chairman she was called upon to steer the board through the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a challenging time but Jennifer based her leadership on the facts and the science. Her calm demeanor and ability to listen have made her a valuable member of our isla
Jennifer Swanson for County Council | Letter
I have known Jennifer since she moved to Shaw Island with her family over 20 years ago. If I were to describe her in a few words they would be; fully engaged with family and community. She is deeply involved with both.
Letter to Editor | Jennifer Swanson has our wholehearted support for Council position
We are writing to offer our wholehearted support for Jennifer Swanson for County Council. We’ve known Jennifer since she and her husband Chad moved to Shaw Island in 2003. Jennifer is someone who is thoughtful, trustworthy, and deeply committed to serving our community. Her dedication is demonstrated through action and looking for practical ways to make a difference. She helped lead the effort to create and secure funding for a teacher housing project. […]
Letter to Editor | Endorsement for Katherine Bryant Ingman, County Council, District 3
I was talking with a friend from San Juan Island and asked what he would think about someone from Stuart Island as the San Juan Island representative on the County Council. His response was that it would be a problem; different culture, different issues and the likely inability to understand San Juan Island’s people and priorities. I then sought out a friend from Orcas Island and asked what she would think about their Council representative […]
Letter to Editor | Jennifer Swanson is a proven leader
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, Shaw School Board, and as Shaw School Superintendent, all jobs that require thoughtful diplomatic skills. Jen’s strong and stead
Letter to Editor | We need Jennifer Swanson’s calm and even temperament for County Council
I write to highlight the profound actions SJC Council candidate longtime-islander Jennifer Swanson’s taken in our community, which are easily applied to the larger islands. Most notably, she has served as an elected official for repeated terms as a school district board member (and board chair for part of that), and then as appointed superintendent. School board member and superintendent duties are the same for small districts as for larger ones. The requirements includ
Katherine Bryant Ingman on ferries & transportation
Transportation is essential to daily life in San Juan County. Ferry service remains our most critical link, but residents also rely on roads, transit, freight movement, and regional connections to get to work, healthcare, school, and the essentials of daily life. It’s important to acknowledge that San Juan County doesn’t control the ferries, but we’re starting to get real traction. While we were all excited when Governor Inslee fas
Washington lawmakers, colleagues demand transparency after U.S. Forest Service coordinates with ICE on public lands
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), Emily Randall (D, WA-06), Kim Schrier, M.D. (D, WA-08), Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Jared Huffman (D, CA-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Andrea Salinas (D, OR-06), Adam Smith (D, WA-09), Val Hoyle (D, OR-04), Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10), Suzanne Bonamici (D, OR-01), and P
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. […]
Governor Ferguson statement on disruptions in Washington State Ferries service
OLYMPIA — Governor Bob Ferguson offered the following statement regarding disruptions today in Washington State Ferries service: “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. “I met this morning with […]
Guest Opinion | Open letter to County Council
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 waste utility is also clearly a part of attempting
Guest Opinion | Permanent, until inconvenient
OPALCO bought land with a recorded Native Growth Area covenant and open-space protections intended to preserve a wildlife corridor. Its solar project conflicted with those restrictions. San Juan County has now approved moving the open-space designation to accommodate the project. The protections dated to 2012. OPALCO bought the property in 2025. Apparently, the forest was in the wrong place. And what project warrants this accommodation? A solar expansion approaching $6 m
Letter to Editor | I am enthusiastic about Katherine Bryant Ingman
I am giving my enthusiastic support to our County Council candidate Katherine Bryant Ingman. As a thirty five year resident of the County and past Planning Commission Chair, Councilperson and Mayor for the Town of Friday Harbor I see a rare opportunity in electing someone who has shown dedication to issues faced by her community and has worked tirelessly to solve them. I see Katherine’s age as an advantage over the status quo we have […]
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. […]
Crew shortage strands islanders in Anacortes as WSF cancels early sailings Monday
Washington State Ferries experienced crew shortages that left many travelers stranded at the Anacortes ferry terminal on the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 4. Anyone without a confirmed reservation was directed to travel without their car or delay their trip. On Sunday night, WSF announced that ferry service would be reduced on Monday, with several routes “At risk of reduced, or no service to start the day on Monday.”
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 […]
Larsen reintroduces bill to fight discriminatory voter ID laws
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Mark Veasey (TX-33) reintroduced the America Votes Act to protect U.S. citizens who face disenfranchisement because of restrictive voter identification (ID) laws. “As Trump and Republicans in Congress continue their unlawful attempts to suppress the right to vote, it is more urgent than ever to break down barriers to the ballot box,” said Rep. Larsen, a co-founder of the C