Island News
Larsen demands Trump admin mobilize all options to prepare for upcoming wildfire season
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined twelve of his colleagues from Washington and Oregon in a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Dr. Neil Jacobs expressing their concern about the heightened risk of a devastating wildfire season, raising questions about the steps the officials have taken to prepare for wil
Spring brings new programs and partnerships
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| The trees are full of blossoms, the spring bulbs are popping up, and the days are finally feeling brighter. Spring is here, and along with the new color showing outside, new projects and partnerships are budding. For the first time, we are excited to invite local businesses to support nonprofits through GiveOrcas this spring as Business Partners in Philanthropy. By supporting GiveOrcas, local businesses can help strengthen the c
Join us at Senior Center for a free Alzheimer’s presentation
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER Orcas Senior Center, Orcas Island Caregiver Project, and San Juan County Senior Services invite you to a free community presentation on Friday, April 3, from noon to 2:00 p.m. at Orcas Senior Center. The program will be presented by Jerri Wood, Program Manager with the Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter (serving Washington and Northern Idaho) and co-hosted by Debra O’Conner of the Orcas Island Caregiver Project and San Juan County Senior
News Brief | Retired WSF Captain: ‘In 10 years time, WSF will be crippled’ by a lack of vessels
||| FROM CNL3 ||| Retired Washington State Ferries’ Captain Ken Burtness has been thinking about going public with his worries about the state of the WSF fleet for the past year. “(My) main goal is to get the Legislature to understand that they have to fund new boats, that they cannot continue the pattern of the last 27 years and keep putting it off.” “There was never a shortage of boats and 11 new boats were built between 1970 and […]
Sheriff’s Report | March 18 – 25, 2026
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 26-001518 Wanted Person 09:19:33 03/18/26 Deputies on San Juan Island arrested an individual with an outstanding Department of Corrections (DOC) felony warrant for escape community custody. The subject was booked into jail. 26-001528 Animal Bite 16:07:09 03/18/26 A San Juan County Deputy responded to an animal bite call. The victim, a delivery driver, was attacked by two dogs. Multiple wounds necessitated a hospital visit. A citat
CWR encounters J pod near Spieden Island
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 12:49 PM ObservEnd: 03:58 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Michael Weiss, Katie Jones Pods: J IDsEncountered: J19, J22, J27, J31, J35, J36, J38, J39, J40, J41, J42, J44, J45, J46, J47, J49, J51, J53, J56, J57, J58, J62, J63 LocationDescr: Haro Strait EncSummary: The team had received reports of a spread-out group of whales headed west through Spieden Channel. As these whales were nearly out of Spieden they were […]
OICF supports new program bridging indigenous, islander communities
||| FROM THE ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| The Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) is excited to announce its fiscal sponsorship and support of a new community program, Island Allies of Indigenous Lifeways – a grassroots organization that fosters decolonization, Indigenous sovereignty and adaptive culture through Tribally-led education and participatory practices. Through the lens of Food as Lifeway, Island Allies chooses to step into this work as a responsibility to Place and to mo
Letter to Editor | Vote YES for county levy: save the services we value most
||| FROM JAMIE STEPHENS ||| I am writing to point out the importance of voting YES on Proposition No.1, the County’s regular property tax levy lid lift. This levy is to continue funding valued community services that are not mandated by law. These services include foundational public health, senior services, parks and fair, emergency management, the Islands Oil Spill Association, and environmental stewardship. We have come to rely on these programs and services as part of our everyday lives. As
WSF Weekly Report | Celebrating women in workforce; Wenatchee shifting to normal operations
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve One of the questions I hear most often is: how can one ferry being out of service cause so much disruption? It’s a fair question, so I want to explain it in plain terms. Our system runs on a set number of boats assigned to specific routes each day. Unlike some transportation systems, we don’t have a large number of spare vessels sitting ready to step in […]
Pick up the book TILT and be a part of AIR (All Islands Read) on April 11
||| FROM SAM GAIEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Join your fellow islanders in this group event. The All Islands Read (AIR) annual community book event returns on Saturday, April 11 at 11:00 a.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall with an in-person event with the author! This year’s shared read features acclaimed debut author Emma Pattee and her electrifying novel, TILT. Set over the course of a single day, TILT is a striking debut from “a powerful new literary voice” […]
Las lecturas comunes fomentan la empatía y comunidad
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Consigue el libro TILT y sé parte de AIR (All Islands Read) el 11 de abril. Únete a tus compañeros isleños en este evento grupal. El evento anual comunitario de libros All Islands Read (AIR) regresa el sábado 11 de abril a las 11:00 a.m. en el Salón Parroquial Emmanuel Episcopal, con un evento presencial con la autora. La lectura compartida de este año presenta a la aclamada autora debut Emma […]
Bringing it Home | Sea level rise impact, response planning for Orcas
A Climate Solutions Workshop ||| FROM EARTH DAY ORCAS ||| The Orcas Island community is invited to participate in a sea level rise impact workshop with presentations by Tyler Davis of San Juan County Environmental Stewardship and Tina Whitman of Friends of the San Juans. They will share San Juan County and Orcas Island visual forecast tools, outcomes of previous community input, and discuss response scenarios. Their presentations will be followed by a hands-on design charette to help Orcas parti
Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Concerned members launch candidate questionnaire to aid OPALCO voters
Multi-Island initiative aims to differentiate record field of nine candidates ahead of board election ||| FROM CHOM GREACEN ||| In response to an unprecedented surge in members running for the Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) board election, a group of concerned members from across the Islands has launched a focused candidate questionnaire. With nine candidates vying for just two positions, the questionnaire seeks to provide voters with the additional insights based on the various per
Films at Odd Fellows | Love and community
||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG for ODD FELLOWS ||| A one day film festival showcasing two films about the love between people and the uniting of communities during uncertain times that give us warmth and hope. Attendees are welcome to hang out after the screenings to participate in informal discussions about the films. We encourage people to join for both screenings. You can bring popcorn. Saturday, March 28 3:00pm–The Other Side of Hope by Aki Kaurismäki (2017, 98 min, Finland) 6:30pm– […]
Orcas Senior Center | April highlights
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Orcas Senior Center offers a variety of ongoing classes, social groups, wellness activities, and creative programs throughout the month. All programs are open to everyone, regardless of age, and new participants are always welcome. A full calendar with dates and times is available at www.orcasseniors.org/calendar-of-events. This Month at the Senior Center: Fitness & Wellness: Chair yoga, Feldenkrais, Arts & Creativity: Art classes, quilting, needle
Letter to Editor | Vote YES for county levy, save the services we value most
||| FROM JAMIE STEPHENS ||| I am writing to point out the importance of voting YES on Proposition No.1, the County’s regular property tax levy lid lift. This levy is to continue funding valued community services that are not mandated by law. These services include foundational public health, senior services, parks and fair, emergency management, the Islands Oil Spill Association, and environmental stewardship. We have come to rely on these programs and services as part of our everyday lives. As
County pursues new state grant, congressional funding to support public safety, infrastructure
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 ||| As San Juan County continues to manage budget constraints in 2026 and 2027, pursuing new State grants and congressional funding are key tools to help maintain public services and infrastructure. This spring, the County is seeking grant funding from a new source – a Local Law Enforcement Grant Program administered by
Vikings show heart and grit as Orcas Island Middle School girls basketball season shines
||| FROM ALICIA WIGFIELD for ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTICT ||| The Orcas Island Middle School Girls Viking Basketball Team wrapped up a memorable season defined not just by wins and losses, but by resilience, growth, and unwavering team spirit. The season began with an impressive turnout of 23 players, a testament to the enthusiasm and dedication surrounding the program. As the weeks progressed, the team faced its share of challenges. Injuries and illness tested the roster, and by season’s end, […
Letter to Editor | In support of public safety
||| FROM BILL CUMMING ||| I am writing to express my strong support for voting YES on the levy lid lift that will be on the April 28 special election ballot. As the former Sheriff of San Juan County for 24 years, I have witnessed firsthand the vital role our law enforcement officials and staff play in keeping our community safe. Public safety is a basic component of any community that cares about its residents. We all need safe streets, […]
SJC Dept. of Environmental Stewardship hosts 2026 Hazardous Waste Roundup events across the islands
Residents and businesses invited to safely dispose of household chemicals, paints, and hazardous materials at collection events on Lopez, San Juan, and Orcas Islands ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Department of Environmental Stewardship is hosting a series of hazardous waste round-up collection events this spring and summer, giving island residents and businesses the chance to legally and responsibly dispose of poisonous, flammable, corrosive, or otherwise hazardous
News Brief | Neighbors push back against PSE microgrid on Samish Island
||| FROM KING 5 SEATTLE ||| A PSE-commissioned noise study recommended building a 14-by-18-foot wall to block the sound. That recommendation was made in October, but construction has not begun. READ FULL ARTICLE
Funhouse Commons is hiring a Development Director
||| FROM NICOLE SPINOGATTI for FUNHOUSE COMMONS ||| Development Director Children’s Discovery Foundation (Funhouse Commons) is seeking a dynamic and relationship-driven Development Director to lead fundraising and donor engagement efforts that sustain and grow programs serving young people from birth through age 18 on Orcas Island. Mission & Vision Our mission is to be a place of belonging and discovery. Our vision is a thriving community in which every young person is welcome, supported, and in
The Island Gardener for March ~ 2026
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| March in the garden is always a bit of a tug-of-war between patience and pure excitement. Even after all these years, I still find myself getting swept up in the “spring fever” that hits right after a trip to the NW Flower and Garden Show. It’s so easy to let a few sunny days lull you into planting early, only to have a sudden chilly night remind you Mother Nature’s in charge! But […]