Island News
Local headlines from around the San Juans
Guest Column: Katherine on San Juan County Healthcare Access
From Katherine Bryant Ingman for San Juan County Council 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 […]
October 1: Final public hearing for Little Project’s requested variances
LWVSJ Observer Corps* summary of the: Friday Harbor Town Council, September 17, 2026 meeting. The Town Council approved the driveway variance requested on the Little Project at 240 First Street. The Council did not approve the roof pitch or landscaping variances requested. The Council requested the Community Development Director to present more information on the […]
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
Sue Roundy: Leadership for Our Future: Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council
Leadership for Our Future: Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council Katherine represents the future leaders that I want to see locally and nationally. Energetic young people dreaming of a better future who are ready to listen and eager to work. I met Katherine years ago when she led the wonderfully successful gleaning program through the […]
Echeverria: Unconditionally endorses Swanson for county council
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. I have volunteered with her on several non-profit boards and she is always […]
Paynter: Ingman will make a great county council member
To the Editor 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 […]
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
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
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
San Juan County Council set budget public hearing for October 5
LWVSJ Observer Corps* summary of the San Juan County Council September 22, 2026 meeting. 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 […]
September 30: Community Budget with County Council Chair Justin Paulsen
San Juan County Council Chair and District 2 Representative Justin Paulsen will hold a meeting with the community to discuss the County budget and related fiscal challenges Wednesday, September 30 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Lopez Island Library Community Room located at 2225 Fisherman Bay Road. The “Community Budget with County Council Chair Justin Paulsen” […]
‘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 […]
Letter to Editor | My vote is for Jennifer Swanson
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. I have volunteered with her on several non-profit boards and she is always present, an active-listener and problem solver. The strength and vitality of our community rests in the involvement of its […]
Community meeting to review and take comments on Draft Critical Areas Ordinance Update
The County encourages community members to join the conversation set for Wednesday, September 30 at 6:00 p.m. San Juan County is updating its critical areas protections, also referred to as the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO), and the public is invited to comment on the final draft. The CAO serves as key regulation to ensure that development does not harm water quality, groundwater recharge, wetlands, and fish and wildlife habitats. The CAO includes regulation
September 30: Community Meeting to Review and Take Comments on Draft Critical Areas Ordinance Update
Wednesday September 30 | 6 to 8 p.m. | Online via Microsoft Teams link | OR Dial in by phone +1 360-726-3293,685490900# United States Vancouver Find a local number Phone conference ID: 685 490 900# A community meeting to review the final draft of Critical Areas Ordinance Regulations and SMP amendments will be held online September […]
Larsen fights for guardrails on data centers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined 110 House Democrats in a letter to tech industry leaders last Friday demanding that all data center construction follow strict guardrails to protect consumers from electricity and water price hikes. “Data center projects and the energy systems and infrastructure that support them must be built and operated responsibly with a commitment to high-quality construction, good jobs, str
New analysis reveals major increase in vessel traffic through the Salish Sea
A new analysis by Friends of the San Juans shows that ocean-going vessel traffic in the Salish Sea is projected to increase by nearly 2,000 additional shipping transits annually, including a dramatic increase in tanker traffic going to and from Canada that could more than quadruple historic tanker traffic levels. The 2026 Salish Sea Vessel Traffic Projections identifies 1,980 additional annual vessel transits associated with proposed, permitt
Port of Orcas to meet on Sept. 28
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.
Upcoming candidate forums in October
County Council Completes Series of September Budget Meetings; October 5 Public Hearing to Follow
The San Juan County Council recently completed a series of budget conversations in September 2026, following the August 25th release of the 2027 preliminary budget. At its meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 Council wrapped up its last budget related discussion scheduled for the month of September and is now preparing for a public hearing […]