Island News

Scarecrow contest returns, sign up by October 19

Celebrate fall and participate in the7th annual SCARECROW CONTEST! This year we are again expanding the contest to the Town of Friday Harbor neighborhoods as well! It’s a fantastic opportunity for Town residents and businesses to showcase their creativity while celebrating the season. Plus, decorating the Town and neighborhoods for trick-or-treating adds an extra layer […]

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 […]

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

A local landmark retires from service

Submitted by the Orcas Island Historical Museums.

South Whidbey held scoreless at Friday Harbor Homecoming football game

Friday Harbor Wolverines hosted the South Whidbey Falcons on Sept 25, 2026 for the homecoming game. The Wolverines quickly scored. Wolverine quarterback Jackson Feliz’s long passes  connected frequently with wide receiver Channing Kleine. Wolverine scoring touch downs included Duncan Bogart, Henry Pope, Jackson Feliz, and Channing Kleine. The Falcons were held scoreless all four quarters. […]

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 sheriff’s log

The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office responded to the following calls.

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” […]

It was a soggy but spirited Friday Harbor HS Homecoming parade

  Friday Harbor High School students kept their spirits up despite a downpour Friday, September 25, 2026. The homecoming parade proceeded despite the wet weather. Ironically, the skies cleared about half an hour after the parade.           The football game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Friday Harbor is hosting South Whidbey.  […]

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 […]

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 […]

WSF Weekly Report | Record breaking summer ridership; peak season surcharge ends

A message from Steve We welcomed a record number of people on board this summer. More than seven million riders traveled with us from June 14 through this past Saturday. That’s our highest summer ridership since 2019, and nearly 130,000 more riders than last summer. Of our 16 days with 90,000 or more riders since the pandemic, half happened this year. None of this would be possible without my colleagues. I […]

Meeting of Friends of Orcas Library scheduled

The Friends of the Orcas Island Library will hold their annual meeting on Sunday, October 11th at the Orcas Island Library, from 4:30 pm – 6 pm. During the meeting, we will be electing new members to the Board of Directors and will pass on reports of the last fiscal year, including results from fundraising events. All current members are eligible and encouraged to vote. Doors open at 4pm. […]

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

Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson

Yungchen Lhamo in concert with Rafe Pearlman

Submitted by the Orcas Center.

October 1: SJI Childcare Cooperative Open House

Thursday, October 1  |   5 to 6  PM  |   425 Spring Street |  in the Basement of the Presbyterian Church  | Friday Harbor Families are invited to join us for an open house to see the space, meet current families, and ask questions. At SJICC, we believe play is how babies and toddlers do their […]

September 25-27: San Juan Island Farm Tours

BROCHURE (PDF) San Juan Island – September 25- 27   Download the 2026 San Juan Brochure with event details, schedule, and map.. All events are free and require no registration, unless otherwise noted.  Alchemy Art Center’s Field Campus, 45 Hawthorne Lane Saturday & Sunday, 11am- 6pmWalkthrough tours at 11am and 3pm each day.  Enjoy over […]