Island News
Local headlines from around the San Juans
Letter to Editor | Candidate’s dreams are spendy
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? San Juan County is facing a serious budget crisis. Health Services have already been cut to the bone, and 2028 is expected to bring even deeper cuts. Against that backdrop, promising expanded health care services without explaining the price tag isn’t a plan. […]
Leadership San Juan Islands to host open house
Leadership San Juan Islands invites you to an Alumni & Applicant Open House on Thursday, October 8, at 285 Geneste Street, Friday Harbor, between 3:30 and 7:00 PM. Join us for savories, sweets, libations and lively conversation. Hosted by our LSJI board, at the home of Steve Hushebeck, we look forward to reconnecting with members of prior cohorts and invite you to bring along an interested colleague/friend/family member as we […]
Letter to Editor | Ingman has our full support
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. We first met Katherine when we began to volunteer at the Lopez Food Share in 2020, during the Covid epidemic. Lopez has a long history of food generosity but as the impact of the epidemic hit the island like a tidal wave, the need […]
County to test vote counting equipment in October
Testing will take place on October 6, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. San Juan County’s Elections Office will be holding a “Logic and Accuracy” test of ballot tabulating equipment used for the County’s November 3, 2026, General election. The test is scheduled for October 6, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. and will take place in the Elections Office located at 55 Second Street, Suite A, in Friday Harbor. Logic and accuracy testing is a standard pre-election […]
Our first wind advisory of the season
Wind Advisory Tue 2:00 AM – Tue 2:00 PM WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 2 PM PDT TUESDAY WHAT South wind 20 to 30 mph with gusts 40 to 45 mph expected. WHERE Lowlands of Western Whatcom County and San Juan County. WHEN From 2 AM to 2 PM PDT Tuesday. IMPACTS Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages […]
OISD Strategic Planning | Building our future together
The Orcas Island School District is beginning a new Strategic Planning process to help shape the future of our schools. The goal is to celebrate what’s working, identify opportunities for growth, and establish clear priorities that improve experiences and outcomes for students. Your voice matters! Listening sessions are being held for students, staff, families, caregivers, and community members to share their ideas, experiences, and hopes for the future.
David B. Williams comes to Orcas Library for ‘In the Range of Fire and Ice’
What stories can a mountain range tell? On Wednesday, October 7 at 6:00 p.m., the Orcas Island Public Library welcomes award-winning author and naturalist David B. Williams for a special conversation about his book, In the Range of Fire and Ice: A Human and Natural History of Washington’s Cascades. Williams will be joined in conversation by Amy Frost, Executive Director of the Lopez Island Historical Society. Blending human and natural history, […
LWV interviews WA Supreme Court candidates
All 10 Supreme Courts candidates, provide vital — nonpartisan — information for voters With a majority of state Supreme Court seats in play on the Nov. 3 ballot and controversial issues likely to come before the justices, the League of Women Voters of Washington has created an online tool that provides insights into the candidates’ thinking. “At our core, the League is about educating voters,” President Karen Crowley said Friday. […]
Guest Opinion | San Juan County has a spending problem…
and it’s got nothing to do with the Department of Environmental Stewardship The County Council is considering a budget that eliminates the Department of Environmental Stewardship as an independent department in order to “save money” – which history has shown means there is no independent advocate for the environment within our county government. What makes no sense is the Environmental Department actually brings in hundreds of thousands in grants and the Director’s posi
Friday Harbor Poetry Gardens contest winners announced
The Town of Friday Harbor and Friday Harbor Arts Commission have announced the winners of their third Poetry Gardens Contest. A blind judging process was used to review 162 entries submitted by San Juan County residents. Selection of the 30 winning poems was made by current Washington State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield who noted they make “a really strong, evocative selection” for the Poetry Gardens. Winning poems will be published […]
OCS students develop leadership skills at Sunset Lake Camp
Orcas Christian School high school and middle school students returned Thursday from a week at Sunset Lake Camp in Wilkeson, Washington, where they joined students from several small Adventist schools for activities focused on leadership, worship, teamwork and personal growth. OCS high school students arrived Sunday and helped prepare the camp before welcoming middle school students from OCS, Skagit Adventist School, Cypress Adventist School and Lewis County A
Orcas Center presents “No Time To Waste” + Jaeger & Reid
Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m. | Center Stage, Orcas Center Orcas Center will present an evening of documentary film and live music on Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m. on Center Stage. The program opens with “No Time To Waste,” a documentary about the late Betty Reid Soskin, the National Park Service ranger who retired from the Park Service at 100 years old. Soskin died at home at the end of […]
Larsen | What we accomplished this September
September has been another busy month working on the issues that matter to people across Northwest Washington. Here are a few highlights from the month: Supporting Washington’s maritime economy: I joined maritime leaders at the Port of Everett for a discussion about funding needs, workforce development, domestic shipbuilding, and supporting maritime jobs across our region. Investing in Northwest Washington infrastructure: The House passed my bipar
Soroptimists launch Live Your Dream award
Soroptimists International of Friday Harbor is now accepting applications for its annual Live Your Dream Award. The deadline is Nov. 15. This award of up to $4,000 is for a woman in San Juan County who is the primary support for her family; who is enrolled in a vocational training or other undergraduate educational program; and who has financial need. It can be used for any expenses incurred while […]
Your 2026 Friday Harbor Film Festival experience starts now
Plan your festival, reserve your seats The 2026 Film Guide and Festival Schedule are live, and passholders can now start building their Festival experience! With 34 feature documentaries and 20 shorts to choose from, plus a full rundown of the Program Guide, filmmakers, and everything else new this year, we’ve got the details in our latest blog post — read it before you start building your festival weekend. READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT The […]
I’m Not the Church Lady | I’m really tired of this
The other night, I was lying in bed ruminating about a conflict with a friend. You know how that goes—the conversation that isn’t actually happening is happening brilliantly in my head. What I could say. What I’m afraid to say. What I might say. What he might say if I say what I might say. Round and round. Then something in me said, “I’m really tired of this.” It wasn’t […]
Community budget with Council Chair Justin Paulsen event scheduled Sept. 30 on Lopez
The San Juan County Council Chair and District 2 Representative will hold a meeting with the community to discuss the County budget and related fiscal challenges at the Lopez Island Library Community Room from 5:30-7:00 p.m. San Juan County Council Chair and District 2 representative Justin Paulsen is hosting “Community Budget with County Council Chair Justin Paulsen” – an opportunity to hear the outline of how the County budget works, ask questions, a
CWR encounter with Biggs Killer Whales
Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 07:48 AM ObservEnd: 08:40 AM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Other Observers: Gary Sutton, Tasli Shaw, Mollie Alexandra Pods: Bigg’s killer whales IDsEncountered: T060D, T060E, T069, T069C, T069F, T109B, T109B3, T109B4, T109B5, T109B6 LocationDescr: Christopher Point EncSummary: Mark, Gary, Tasli, and Mollie got what friend and colleague Joe called a “respectable start” as they pushed off the dock just after 7:00 AM, w
LWVSJ Observer Corps | San Juan County Council 9/22/26
The County Council approved a Joint Letter to Washington State Ferries supporting the System’s long-range planning. The council appointed applicants to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District. After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved a lease to the San Juan Island School District for school bus parking. Human Resources director Matthew Bullock updated council members on the county’s efforts t
Port Commission will hold regular meeting on Monday
The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, September 28th at 4:00 p.m. online via Zoom and in-person at the airport terminal conference room. Access and agenda information can be found at portoforcas.com.
Orcas Island Pride shares important information about ballots this November
So much of what we do as a Pride organization is centered around joy – but even we must sometimes contend with the reality that our rights are being threatened and actively being repealed in parts of the country. Many people like to think that Washington, and our little idyllic islands, are immune from the horrifying things happening in other states. Unfortunately, even here, in Washington state, which is considered a “sanctuary state” by […]
Ingman on San Juan County healthcare access
San Juan County faces real access to healthcare challenges. We’re rural and remote. Our population is aging, and Medicare reimbursement brings in less revenue than private or marketplace insurance. This puts financial pressure on local providers. Many islanders also need specialty care that falls outside what primary care can offer. This means that if we need to see a specialist, spending a half or full day traveling off
ORS/The Exchange and SJC Environmental Stewardship host upcoming hazardous waste roundup event
Residents are invited to safely dispose of household chemicals at October 3rd collection event on Orcas San Juan County Department of Environmental Stewardship and ORS/The Exchange are hosting a hazardous waste round-up collection event, giving island residents the chance to legally and responsibly dispose of poisonous, flammable, corrosive, or otherwise hazardous materials. The event will take place October 3rd from 10 am – 2 pm at The Exchange, 3398
‘Coffee with Kari’ offers islanders on Lopez time with Councilmember Kari McVeigh
The fifth ‘Coffee with Kari’ of the year will take place on September 26 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. at the Lopez Library District 1 Council representative Kari McVeigh is hosting another ‘Coffee with Kari’ event on Lopez Island – an opportunity to ask questions, hear the latest County news, and chat about what matters to locals. McVeigh began hosting these open-house style meetings last year and has continued the tradition into 2026. The upcoming […]