Island News
County receives support from Rep. Larsen for funding repairs at Orcas Landing
Applying for these new funding sources is just one of several ways the County is continuing to manage budget shortfalls in 2026 and 2027 ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| In an effort to manage budget constraints in 2026 and 2027, San Juan County pursued congressional funding to help maintain public services and infrastructure. This included submitting a $4 million Community Project Funding request to Representative Rick Larsen’s Office to fund repairs and improvements to the Orcas Lan
Hearing Examiner rejects permit that allowed a major expansion of a Whatcom County LPG terminal
||| FROM LOVEL PRATT ||| The Whatcom County Hearing Examiner sided with six local environmental groups in ruling that the County mishandled its review of a series of expansions of a liquefied petroleum gas facility near Bellingham. The groups charged that the Ferndale Terminal at Cherry Point significantly and illegally expanded its capacity to ship fuels without first studying the environmental impacts, as required by Washington state law. The Hearing Examiner’s decision is a victory for local
Larsen defends free and fair elections
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “President Trump has no constitutional authority to change election law by executive order. This is an unlawful effort to suppress the right to vote. No matter what the President says, there is no proof of widespread voter fraud in our elections. “While this Executive Order is challenged in the courts, I will work with my colleagues in Congress to safegu
Densmore’s artwork featured at Library for April
||| FROM ANDREA COHEN for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| David Densmore will be April’s featured artist in the Art in the Library series at the Orcas Island Library. David has been capturing the beauty and spirit of Orcas Island in his paintings for many years, and his style continues to evolve. Trained as a jeweler and metalworker, he has said that he “still sees painting and the landscape with a sculptor’s eye.”
Town parking lot closure April 7 and 8
||| FROM JENNIFER KREMBS for TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| Residents are advised of a temporary closure of the Town parking lot located at 330 Spring Street across from Wells Fargo Bank, April 7 through mid-day on April 8, 2026, for parking lot improvements. The Streets and Parks Department will scrape vegetation and install new gravel. This will be the first phase of improvements to the public parking lot. Questions regarding the closure may be directed to the Town Administrator […]
Let’s talk public transit for Orcas & the San Juan Islands
||| FROM COLIN WILLIAMS for FRIENDS OF RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ||| Hosted by the Friends of Rural Public Transportation Tuesday, April 7, 2026 1:45 PM – 3:30 PM Orcas Island Public Library Community Room Online Meeting Link Imagine Orcas & the San Juan Islands where… You can hop on a bus from the ferry to Eastsound, Doe Bay, or Deer Harbor. Kids can get to activities independently. Neighbors have reliable backup transportation when their car is in the shop. You […]
Award-winning illusion, music, puppetry show + free magic workshop
||| FROM PHINA PIPIA ||| Hailed as “Imaginative, intelligent, and strangely mesmerizing” by the San Diego Union Tribune, Phina Pipia brings award-winning solo show to the Orcas Island Odd Fellows Hall A tuba lights the way, beds make music, paintings come to life, and a radio delivers a message from the past in an award-winning production that combines illusion, music, puppetry, and theater. When a grad student discovers that Leonardo da Vinci and his collaborator, magician and mathematician Luc
Don’t forget! Join the community meeting on April 6 to review the Critical Areas Ordinance update
YOU’RE INVITED to comment on the first draft! Join County staff on Monday, April 6, from 6:00-8:00 pm to ask questions and learn more about the regulations included in the CAO ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is updating its critical areas protections, also referred to as the Critical Areas Ordinance or CAO, and YOU’RE INVITED to comment on the first draft. Join County staff on Monday, April 6 from 6:00-8:00 pm to ask questions and […]
News Brief | Trump issues order attempting to change rules for mail-in voting
||| FROM THE WASHINGTON POST ||| President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Tuesday that purports to change rules for mail ballots even though the president has limited authority over elections. Elections experts called the order legally questionable and noted that courts blocked the major provisions of an executive order on elections he signed last year. Opponents agreed a challenge was all but certain. The administration has also sued 29 states to try to get copies of their voter
Vegetable Gardening Workshop with Dr. Carol Miles set for April 11
During the event, San Juan County Master Gardeners will be available to answer attendees’ specific gardening questions, from soil challenges to pest troubleshooting ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The WSU Extension San Juan County Master Gardeners invite the community to kick off the 2026 gardening season at a special Vegetable Gardening Workshop with Dr. Carol Miles on Saturday, April 11, from 11:30am to 1:00pm at the Marie Boe Building at the San Juan County Fairgrounds. Dr. Miles,
Orcas celebrates Trans Day of Visibility
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND PRIDE ||| Today is Trans Day of Visibility. Today, we honor our trans brethren that have passed away, and celebrate the lives of those of us still living. We did a screening of the film Heightened Scrutiny in February alongside a Q&A with the director, Sam Feder. From now until the 5th of April (04/05/2026), it is available for free streaming! Find it here. We highly recommend this look into the fight that has been happening […]
Independent Bookstore Day celebrates its 13th anniversary
Darvill’s Bookstore is happy to announce our participation in the 13th Anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day ||| FROM SARA FARISH for DARVILL’S BOOKSTORE & COFFEE BAR ||| This year, Darvill’s Bookstore & Coffee Bar on Orcas Island is celebrating with a full day of events for book lovers of all ages. Stop by for exclusive Independent Bookstore Day totes, discounts, and a community story hour for young readers. We will also be celebrating local authors and poets with in-store signings […]
No jurors needed for April 6-10
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: APRIL 6-10, 2026 For the Jury Period beginning Monday April 6th through Friday April 10th, 2026, all jurors are excused. Thank you.
Collision course | WSF terminates contract for streamlining reservations
Ferry stakeholders feel the pain as nearly $3 million in public spending may come up empty ||| FROM THE SALISH CURRENT ||| Earlier this month, a Washington State Ferries project manager unexpectedly terminated a standing $8 million contract to upgrade and modernize ferry ticketing and reservations, potentially placing $3 million of public spending at risk. Nasi Peretz, CEO of Anchor Operating Systems — the former vendor on the project — told Salish Current the abrupt termination of WSF’s so-call
News Brief | Judge orders Trump administration to halt ballroom construction unless Congress OKs it
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| “The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” the federal judge wrote in the ruling. The judge ruled that any construction work that’s necessary to ensure the safety and security of the White House is exempt from the scope of the injunction. Trump, in a social media post, criticized the trust for suing him over a project […]
Share Your Feedback | County & partners are developing tools to manage human/wildlife interactions
Update: During the upcoming April 21, 2026 meeting, the Council is expected to set a public hearing for May 12. Previous versions of this article stated that the public hearing would be on the 21st, but the hearing is not yet scheduled. It will likley occur on May 12. The public hearing will be another opportunity to share feedback and input before Council considers adopting an ordinance. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| In an effort to […]
News Brief | In the past decade, Washington has become one of the most expensive states to live in
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE STANDARD ||| Drawing from an array of federal and state data, a new analysis shows the state’s cost of living rising faster than the national average over that time, with only California, New Jersey, Hawaii and Washington, D.C. considered more expensive in 2023. “The story is consistent across every measure: costs are high, rising quickly, and showing up in the everyday decisions people make.” This trend may be a factor in why more people moved out […]
A Life Close to Nature | Center for Whale Research honors Tamar Griggs
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| An adventurous spirit who sailed across the Atlantic in her early twenties, a mother, a nature photographer, an author, and a lifelong supporter of wildlife and whale conservation, Tamar Griggs lived a life deeply connected to the natural world. Recently, we were deeply honored to learn that Tamar included the Center for Whale Research in her estate plans, another way her care for the natural world will continue to support wildlife and whales […]
Locally supported Meals on Wheels programs support seniors ability to age well in the islands
In 2025, the County’s Senior Nutrition Program produced over 38,000 meals – serving 16,269 in-person lunches to 606 seniors and delivering 21,809 meals to 245 seniors ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| For many older adults in the islands, ‘Meals on Wheels and More’ provides more than nutritious food. It supports independence, dignity, and stability at home. That’s why San Juan County’s Department of Health & Community Services partners with local senior center nonprofits and the Whatco
SJC Monthly News Digest – March 2026
This column is part of a series detailing San Juan County’s recent news. Follow along each month to learn about important County projects, Council initiatives, department updates, and more. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS Maintaining Health, Safety & Community Services: Council Places Levy Lid Lift on April Ballot San Juan County is seeking a regular property tax levy lid lift to maintain public health, safety, and other community services in April. This levy would support ongoing progra
The Kitchen set to open at Odd Fellows on Fridays
||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG for ODD FELLOWS HALL ||| The Kitchen, featuring locally inspired tasty and delicious Pan-Asian food, opens Friday April 3 for takeout at the Odd Fellows Hall (112 Haven Road) (downstairs at the restaurant). Text 206.581.1913 for orders; open weekly on Fridays 4-7.
Update on proposal for limited deer hunting on Orcas Island
Public engagement is key to the Land Bank’s planning and operations. Written comments deadline has been extended and will be accepted until 5pm on Monday, April 20, by emailing erinh@sjclandbank.org. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The Land Bank extends a hearty thank you to all who attended our March 23rd public meeting about potential hunting at Turtleback Mountain and North Shore Preserves. Staff from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) presented details ab
Guest Opinion | When growth ends and maintenance begins
||| FROM ELISABETH ROBSON ||| In the Puget Sound and the Salish Sea, the shift is easy to see. Washington State Ferries, the largest ferry system in the United States, is not expanding to carry more people. Instead, the state is scrambling to replace aging vessels simply to keep existing routes running. Boats built decades ago are nearing or going beyond their life expectancy, and Washington expects to need more than a dozen new ferries by 2040 just to maintain […]
No Place Like Loam | Legacy Landscapes: The three design forces of time, experience, and structure
||| NO PLACE LIKE LOAM by ALEX TAMAYO.WOLF ||| Time: The Monk of Reichenau Abbey He worked in a scriptorium lit by high, narrow windows, winter light thin and lateral, flattening shadow against stone. Beeswax candles guttered in drafts, their smoke faintly sweet, clinging to wool and parchment. The room smelled of warmed tallow, scraped hide, damp lime from the curing vats. He leaned over the vellum the way a man leans over something that cannot be wasted, shoulders rounded, […]