Island News
Local headlines from around the San Juans
Resource Center presents October Orcas Talks Money workshops
Submitted by the Orcas Community Resource Center Communications Team.
Medicare open enrollment: Review your coverage for 2027
Between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, you can review your Medicare coverage and choose the plan that best fits your needs for 2027. By now, you should have received information from your current prescription drug (Part D) or Advantage plan. Read it carefully, since premiums, deductibles or copays may increase, and coverage may shift. Even if your plan looks the same, your health needs or prescriptions may have changed, making it worth exploring other options.
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?
Free immunization clinics for children: Protect your child against influenza and COVID
Submitted by San Juan County.
Busy month for Vikings fans
Submitted by Amy Carlson and The Orcas Island Booster Team.
Orcas Senior Center – October highlights
Submitted by the Orcas Senior Center.
Katherine Bryant Ingman’s budget spotlight | Letter
San Juan County is set to spend more than it takes in for 2027. To legally balance the budget, it needs to cut $3.7M.
A grateful thank you after a Moran Park rescue | Letter
My husband and I greatly appreciate the Emergency Response Teams on Orcas and others who responded to my dramatic fall and rescue while walking a path in Moran State Park. First a thank you to the woman who alerted the Ranger on duty who in turn alerted emergency response teams. Another special thank you to Jordan, an OSHU nurse with experience in Emergency Response who was next on the scene assessing my injuries and providing much needed comfort until local teams arrived. And hats off to the gr
Kwiaht launches arsenic testing and action project
By Russel Barsh
Washington, multistate coalition victory protects social services for low-income families
Submitted by the Washington State Office of Attorney General Nick Brown.
Island House Dental now offers anesthesia services | Sponsored content
Submitted by Island House Dental.
Ferry Advisory Committee members push for clearer public guidance on ferry medical loading policy
At its Sept. 14 meeting, the San Juan County Ferry Advisory Committee pressed Washington State Ferries for clearer, plain-language public guidance on medical priority boarding — two distinct programs that riders, and sometimes even first responders, confuse in the middle of a crisis.
Why we’re voting for Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council District 3 | Letter
We proudly endorse Katherine Bryant Ingman for San Juan County Council District 3 this November. Katherine has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to our island communities through her work in healthcare, food security, ferry advocacy, and countless volunteer efforts. For example, as president of the Catherine Washburn Medical Association, she helped make sure Lopez Island didn’t lose access to healthcare when the clinic changed hands to Sea Mar Community Health Centers. She is an exceptional l
Island Health CEO steps down
Submitted by the Orcas Island Health Care District.
The clinic and beyond: How OIHCD supports care across Orcas Island
Submitted by the Orcas Island Health Care District.
San Juan County search for next local health officer ongoing
Submitted by San Juan County.
Imagine Music & Arts Festival: Room for grief, room for joy, no questions asked
At Doe Bay, ancient ritual, radical kindness and collective catharsis turn a weekend gathering into a laboratory for personal and communal transformation — though not everyone who shows up needs, or wants, to be transformed.
Getting ready for Medicare
Is 2026 your year for joining Medicare? Medicare enrollment is not automatic for most people, so you’ll probably need to enroll with Social Security. Then you’ll have to decide what type of Medicare coverage you want. To make an informed decision about your coverage choices, you’ll need to understand a lot of new information.