Island News
National Nonprofit Day event explores civic engagement on Orcas Island
Submitted by the Orcas Island Community Foundation.
PeaceHealth Peace Island earns Level III stroke certification
Submitted by PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center.
Planning scars from the San Juans: Looking back to 2024
By Marc Santos
County issues Pride Month proclamation in recognition of LGBTQIA+ community in the islands
Pride Month is celebrated throughout June to coincide with the gay liberation movement ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During the May 26 meeting, the County Council issued a proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month in San Juan County. The proclamation, written alongside members of the LGBTQIA+ community, acknowledges that LGBTQIA+ folks have lived in the San Juan Islands since time immemorial and celebrates their valuable contributions in areas such as education, arts, healthcare
Monthly training brings oil spill volunteers to Orcas Island Marina
||| FROM BILL SYMES and ELAINA THOMPSON for ISLANDS OIL SPILL ASSOCIATION ||| On the morning of May 13, ten volunteers gathered at Rosario Marina on Orcas Island with a training mission: find a boat leaking diesel into the marina and contain it before it spreads. Time is of the essence in oil spill mitigation, and the right equipment must be deployed in the right way. Thus, response training is a major focus of Islands’ Oil Spill Association (IOSA) activity. […]
Orcas Center summer concert series announced
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center is proud to present its annual Summer Concert Series on the Village Green, bringing free, live music to the heart of Eastsound. This vibrant outdoor series, supported in part by Joe & Maureen Brotherton and the Doe Bay team, features many artists from the Doe Bay Artist in Residence program (www.doebay.com/music-and-art/). It celebrates community, creativity, and the magic of music under the open sky. All performances are free for
Council discusses budget priorities, planning for 2027 budget amidst funding challenges
Current estimates for revenues and expenses in 2027 show that the County is facing a $4 million budget deficit. Council gears up for ongoing discussions on anticipated cuts to staffing and service levels. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During the May 26th meeting, the County Council discussed strategies for balancing and preparing the 2027 budget. County Auditor Natasha Warmenhoven, Budget Analyst Dr. Molly Foote, and County Manager Jessica Hudson led a discussion with Council about
No jury duty June 15-18
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: JUNE 15-18, 2026 All jurors summonsed for the Jury Period beginning Monday June 15 through Thursday June 18, 2026 are excused. Thank you.
Summer sailing schedule starts Sunday, June 14
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Our summer sailing schedule starts Sunday, June 14, and runs through Sept. 19. Anacortes/San Juan Islands: We’ve made schedule adjustments to improve on-time performance. Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth: The #3 vessel will operate a full-day schedule on Saturdays and Sundays this summer. Last year, it operated half days on weekends due to limited crewing. Port Townsend/Coupeville: Starting Tuesday, June 16, the route will operate a two-boat schedule dail
Larsen statement on bill reforming Library of Congress
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “The Librarian of Congress is the People’s Librarian, not the President’s Librarian. “I have always stood up for libraries and the books that challenge us to be better. I will keep fighting to keep Trump from undermining libraries and the education and freedom they support.” Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed legislation to vest the powe
Land Bank Commission monthly meeting scheduled
||| FROM SJC CONSERVATION LAND BANK COMMISSION ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting Friday, June 12. The meeting is scheduled from 8am – 11:15am via Zoom. The meeting will also be available for in person public attendance at the Lopez Island Family Resource Center, Lopez Island, WA. The public is invited to attend. Click HERE to download the agenda (includes Zoom meeting link) and meeting materials.
Letter to Editor | Bring back our family physician
||| FROM MARTHA KRAMER ||| Orcas Island Primary Care has chosen to terminate a very well loved family practice physician, Dr. Jennifer Simpson-Manske at a time when there are NO other family practice physicians on-island accepting new clients. The decision to terminate Dr. Manske was made by Island Hospital. On June 1st, Dr. Manske’s patients received a email requesting that they reschedule with one of three Physician Assistants. Many folks feel that our health care is possibly being dictated by
Art Talk event coming up at Crow Valley Gallery
||| FROM AYN GAILEY for CROW VALLEY GALLERY ||| Please join us for a creative conversation at Crow Valley Gallery with artist David Densmore and Ayn Gailey exploring his painting process, techniques, sources of inspiration, and the evolution of his work, including a sneak peek at an upcoming series. This is the perfect event for fans of David’s work or landscape painting, or artists wanting to explore painting for the first time. It’s also a great chance to connect with other […]
Existing vacation rentals in Eastsound & Lopez Village need a provisional use permit by June 25
If you operate a vacation rental in Eastsound Village or Lopez Village, it is a requirement to apply for a provisional use permit to remain compliant with the County code. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| If you operate a vacation rental in Eastsound Village or Lopez Village, it is a requirement to apply for a provisional use permit to remain compliant with the County code. The permit process is open until June 25, 2026, and can be completed […]
Smiles for miles
After the two-hour ceremony, it was time to celebrate with family and friends. Then it was time for the graduates to board the bus and head off to grad night festivities. Matt Pranger photos
News Brief | Science-backed reason being in nature makes you feel good
||| FROM COUNTERPUNCH ||| Fish farming, a form of aquaculture, is now the fastest-growing form of factory farming worldwide. Industrial fish farms, particularly open-net salmon pens, concentrate thousands of animals in confined spaces, producing waste and requiring significant inputs of feed, antibiotics, and chemicals to maintain productivity. Fish are essential to healthy ocean ecosystems, but almost 90 percent of the world’s fisheries are considered “fully exploited” or “overfished” by the Un
News Brief | Impacts of fish farming, industrial aquaculture
||| FROM COUNTERPUNCH ||| While discussions about land-based farmed animals, such as cattle, pigs, and poultry, are dominated by their impact on emissions and the environment, aquaculture has been positioned as a sustainable alternative. Industrial fish farms, particularly open-net salmon pens, concentrate thousands of animals in confined spaces, producing waste and requiring significant inputs of feed, antibiotics, and chemicals to maintain productivity. Fish are essential to healthy ocean ecos
Tickets now available for 2026 Orcas Island Garden Tour
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Mark your calendar for the annual 2026 Orcas Island Garden Tour on Saturday, June 27 & Sunday, June 28 from 11 am to 5 pm each day. Tickets are $25 each. The garden club provides education and experiences to the garden community to enrich lives and to improve the overall ecology of Orcas Island. This one fundraiser helps us fund many educational programs and fun events throughout the year as well as support […]
Free workshop for writers at Orcas Library
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY ||| In this evening workshop hosted by the Orcas Island Library, authors Veronica Kornberg and Jill McCabe Johnson use objects and mapping to create fresh writing on family. Participants are asked to bring an object that evokes family memories to use as a springboard for guided writing, listening, and small group sharing. It can be a photo, a teapot, a tie-pin—anything. All ages are welcome. Date: June 10 Time: 6-8:00 pm […]
SUN Bucks program returns to provide summer food support for Washington children
Submitted by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
Consumer alert: Workers’ compensation scam targeting Spanish-speaking workers
Submitted by the Washington State Office of Attorney General Nick Brown.
Diplomas, hugs, tears and $560,000 in scholarships
Fifty students received their diplomas on Saturday, June 6, 2026 in Turnbull Gym at Friday Harbor High School. The 51st member of the class was studying abroad in Germany. The ceremony included the processional, the history of the class, speeches by the Valedictorian and the Salulatorian, the slide show and the awarding of scholarships. The […]
Friday Harbor High School’s Class of 2026 receive their diplomas
Friday Harbor High School Class of 2026
Friday Harbor High School’s Class of 2026 received their diplomas in a traditional ceremony at 5 pm Saturday, June 6, 2026. The ceremony included the processional, the history of the class, speeches by the Valedictorian and the Salutatorian, the slide show and the awarding of scholarships. The scholarship dollar amount was an astounding $560,000. Photos […]