Island News
Larsen votes to make housing more affordable in Northwest Washington
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted for comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to make housing more affordable in Northwest Washington and across the United States (the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act). “Too many families in Northwest Washington struggle to afford skyrocketing rent and don’t know if they will ever be able to own a home of their own,” said Rep. Larsen. “The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act wi
County to test vote counting equipment in July
Testing will take place on July 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Elections Office will be holding a “Logic and Accuracy” test of ballot tabulating equipment used for the County’s August 4, 2026, Primary election. The test is scheduled for July 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.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 […]
Larsen introduces bipartisan legislation to support Point Roberts and pene-exclave communities
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined Representative Pete Stauber (MN-08) to introduce the Ensuring Exclave Communities are Listened to and their Voices are Examined (EXCLAVE) Act. “People in Point Roberts must cross the U.S.-Canada border to go to work, attend school, receive medical care and access veterinary services,” said Rep. Larsen. “These residents deserve to be heard when new regulations will impact the
June 24 Council meeting live stream experiencing technical difficulties
The meeting is still accessible to anyone attending in person. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Today’s 9:00am San Juan County Council Special meeting is experiencing technical difficulties with the live-stream feature. The team is working to troubleshoot the issue. The meeting is still accessible to those attending in person. Find the agenda posted on the County website here. To attend in person, visit the Legislative Hearing Room, 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor, WA If the meeting i
County and Port of Friday Harbor consider plan for all-electric interisland ferries
San Juan County and the Port of Friday Harbor are considering a proposal to put a small fleet of all-electric passenger ferries into service between the islands and the mainland, an effort aimed squarely at the kinds of trips that fall through the cracks of the Washington State Ferries schedule: students who get stranded, County employees who can’t get to work and islanders who need to reach medical appointments in Bellingham.
San Juan County leaders endorse Rick Larsen
Larsen receives support from current and former elected officials
Walk the OPAL neighborhoods with Rusty Diggs
A unique look at affordable housing on Orcas Island
OICF’s Leadership, Excellence, Advancement, and Development Grant Program application now open
Submitted by the Orcas Island Community Foundation.
Marine surveys: Science and stewardship in action
Submitted by San Juan County.
Vikings season is over — for now! | Letter
Summer officially begins tomorrow for our Vikings and we are wrapping up another successful school year.
Maximize your future: Essential estate planning workshop with Barbara Nesbet, JD, MBA
Submitted by the Orcas Senior Center.
Crisis at Eastsound Water District could jeopardize Orcas Island Fire & Rescue fire protection rating
Users call for immediate resignation of board
Antidote dance party: Celebrate the sun
Submitted by event organizers.
Eastsound Village Green or vulnerable children? San Juan County’s budget cuts forces hard choices
San Juan County Council members spent much of Tuesday’s marathon budget session sorting through reductions that ranged from the trivial — $100 left in the food budget for Council meetings — to the genuinely painful. Two items on the same agenda captured just how painful: a proposal to close the heart of Orcas Island, the Eastsound Village Green, and a presentation showing how a handful of community volunteers are saving the County hundreds of thousands of dollars a year by keeping children out o
Colleen Ferrin James | Passages
11/3/1936 to 6/1/2025
Communitywide climate survey extended through June 19
Submitted by San Juan County.
WSF engineers ask Gov. Ferguson and lawmakers to address wage gap driving canceled and delayed sailings
Uncompetitive wages and reliance on overtime driving burnout, poor morale
First outdoor summer concert from Orcas Center is June 28
Submitted by the Orcas Center.
Improv class showcase at Orcas Center
Submitted by event organizers.
Art show opening Friday, July 3: ‘The Ones That Made It’
Submitted by the Orcas Center.
‘Among the Wildflowers’ | Orcas Island comes together for a weekend of Independence Day celebrations
By Carey Eskridge
‘Baroque in Transition: The Treble Viol’ on Saturday, June 27
Submitted by the Salish Sea Early Music Festival.
Orcas Health Care District board to meet tomorrow
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island Health Care District will hold a regularly scheduled board meeting on Wednesday, June 24th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Orcas Island Library, 500 Rose Street, Eastsound. The Board Meeting Public Packet is available below. To join the meeting by Zoom, you will find the link at the top of the Agenda. * File “04. 2026 OIHCD Financial Report March – May”, to be added. Agenda 02. 2026_06_02 […]
Have a garden question? Ask an Orcas Master Gardener
Wednesday June 24th at the Market Garden Nursery ||| FROM JULIA TURNEY for ORCAS MASTER GARDENERS ||| Do you have a question about your soil, have a problem with your fruit tree, or are thinking about starting a garden? Is something bugging your plants, or you are curious about identifying a plant or insect? Master Gardeners will be staffing Ask A Master Gardener events on Orcas to help answer your questions and collect plant problem samples. Orcas Master Gardeners will […]