Island News
Four volunteer positions open on the county’s Parks and Recreation commission
There are four positions on San Juan County Parks and Recreation Commission that need to be filled. Two from Orcas Island, one from Lopez Island, and one from Shaw Island. he Commission is an advisory body comprised of volunteer representatives that recommends actions and policies to the Council. The Commission meets virtually on the third […]
20 Washington state employees recognized for saving the state more than $1 million
OLYMPIA – The Productivity Board, a state employee incentive program of the Office of the Secretary of State, voted unanimously, Thursday, to approve recognition of three teams of Washington state employees and two individual state workers for their suggestions to reduce costs, saving over $1.09 million in taxpayer money. In total, 20 employees across three teams […]
Friday Harbor’s 4th of July theme is: “Cheers to 250 Years!”
The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for the 2026 July 4th Parade, and this year’s theme is “Cheers to 250 Years!” If anyone deserves a BIG birthday celebration, it’s America. Parade lovers, float builders, and anyone who owns more craft supplies than they’ll admit, this is your time to shine! Entry […]
June 8: The Nature Record Community Conversation in Friday Harbor
The Whale Museum, UW Friday Harbor Laboratories, Friends of the San Juans and San Juan County Department of Environmental Stewardship are excited to announce a public engagement event on June 8 from 6:00-8:00 PM PT at Brickworks Event Center in Friday Harbor, Washington with Director Phillip Levin and other leaders and authors from The Nature […]
Washington Secretary of State Response to USPS Proposed Rule on Ballot Mail
OLYMPIA — On Friday, May 29, the U.S. Postal Service released a proposed rule for handling ballot mail in federal elections in alignment with Executive Order 14399 regarding elections. “This is an unnecessary rule and does nothing to provide security in our elections. We’ll continue to evaluate and provide feedback to the USPS,” Secretary of […]
Blood donors needed; supply of type 0 down to less than 1-day supply
Our region is facing an emergency blood shortage across the Pacific Northwest. Nearly all blood types are dangerously low, especially Type O blood and platelets that trauma and cancer patients depend on to survive. Right now, there’s less than a one-day supply of Type O blood, and donations haven’t kept pace with patient need. Since early spring, […]
Grow Your Own Program Cultivates Skills and Community in 2026
Friday Harbor, WA — The 2026 Grow Your Own Food program helped local residents turn curiosity into confidence, equipping participants with practical skills to grow their own food while strengthening community food resilience. Originally piloted in 2019 through a collaboration between the Joyce Sobel Family Resource Center, San Juan County WSU Extension Master Gardeners, and […]
June 27: PARDESSUS DE VIOLE, FLUTE & GUITAR – Salish Sea Early Music Festival – Friday Harbor
—PARDESSUS DE VIOLE, FLUTE & GUITAR · Annalisa Pappano, pardessus de viol and treble viol · William Simms, baroque guitar and theorbo · Jeffrey Cohan, baroque flute Saturday, June 27 | 12:30 PM | St. David’s Episcopal Church | Friday Harbor The French royal court musical establishment generated a vast amount of music, to be represented by works of […]
June 6: Bach & Jacquet – Salish Sea Early Music Festival – Friday Harbor
Spanish harpsichordist Irene Roldán from Basel, Switzerland and baroque flutist Jeffrey Cohan present “Bach & Jacquet”, a program celebrating Johann Sebastian Bach and French composers whose influence he benefited from, including Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, Louis Couperin and Pancrace Royer, in the seventh 2026 Salish Sea Early Music Festival program. Born 20 years before […]
June 6: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH – Salish Sea Early Music Festival – Lopez Island
—JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH · Irene Roldàn, harpsichord · Jeffrey Cohan, baroque flute Saturday, June 6 on Lopez Island at 6 PM (not 6:30!) Award-winning harpsichordist Irene Roldán (www.ireneroldan.com) was born in southern Spain in 1997. Described by the press as one of the most prominent Spanish harpsichordists on the international scene (ABC Sevilla), Irene currently lives and works in Basel, Switzerland. She gained international […]
June 27: PARDESSUS DE VIOLE, FLUTE & GUITAR – Salish Sea Early Music Festival – Lopez Island
Saturday, June 27 | 6 PM: | Grace Church | Lopez Island —PARDESSUS DE VIOLE, FLUTE & GUITAR · Annalisa Pappano, pardessus de viol and treble viol · William Simms, baroque guitar and theorbo · Jeffrey Cohan, baroque flute The French royal court musical establishment generated a vast amount of music, to be represented by works of Jean-Baptiste […]
June 10: BACH & JACQUET – Salish Sea Early Music Festival – Eastsound
BACH & JACQUET · Irene Roldán (Basel, Switzerland), harpsichord · Jeffrey Cohan, baroque flute Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM: Irene Roldán, who was honored with the prestigious Bach Prize and an additional special award at the XXXIII. International Bach Competition held in Leipzig, Germany, interprets Johann Sebastian Bach, Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre and Louis Couperin […]
June 30: French Perspective —Pardessus de Viole, Flute, & Guitar – Orcas Island
June 30 | 5 pm | Orcas Adventist Fellowship Church, Eastsound · Annalisa Pappano, pardessus de viol and treble viol ·William Simms, baroque guitar and theorbo · Jeffrey Cohan, baroque flute —PARDESSUS DE VIOLE, FLUTE & GUITAR The French royal court musical establishment generated a vast amount of music, to be represented by works of […]
San Juan County WA Sheriff’s Log May 20-26, 2026: Road rage, belligerent bar customer, unwanted tree trimming
San Juan County Deputies responded to 211 calls from May 20 – 26, 2026 including: In the early morning hours of May 24, a San Juan deputy was dispatched to a report of a citizen assist involving an individual who was unable to remove handcuffs. The deputy removed the handcuffs and advised the individuals involved […]
May 30: May-Fly Kite Gathering at Jacksons Beach
$120,000 grant funding available to promote 2027 tourism in Friday Harbor
The Town of Friday Harbor has a total of $120,000 in grant funding available to promote events and activities taking place within the town in 2027. The Town’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) will select among activities designed to attract or entertain tourists or to operate tourism-related facilities owned or operated by nonprofit organizations. Preference […]
WA reporters call for AI regulations and higher wages
Washington News Service: Reporters at five newspapers in Washington and Idaho went on strike for one day this week after a year of bargaining with McClatchy over artificial intelligence guardrails and higher wages. The union says McClatchy, which owns the papers, has refused to pay reporters enough to live in the communities they cover. Kristine Sherred, a […]
San Juan Island Fire and Rescue Commission stymied by the county about the Burn Permit Program
LWVSJ Observer Corps summary of San Juan Island: Fire District #3 Commissioners Meeting May 19, 2026. Chiefs Kuetzing and Hartzell congratulated and swore in five of six new recruits known as the “solid six” starting off the Commissioners Meeting: Emilio Santiago, Dominick Tarantelli, Stewart Bell, Max Mattox, and Madison Miller. John de La Haye was […]
To free up parking, Port of Friday Harbor pausing solar canopy project
LWVSJ Observer Corps: Friday Harbor Port Commission, May 8th, 2026 meeting. A Marina slip holder with a parking permit expressed concern over the delay in constructing the upper parking lot solar canopy and its adverse impact on parking availability. The Port will pause the project over the summer to alleviate parking pressures and it will […]
Town Council approves $62k for utility rate study
LWVSJ Observer Corps*: Friday Harbor Town Council, April 16, 2026 meeting. Council passed Ordinance 1839 , preliminary approval for the Holliwalk Planned Residential Development Application. The Council approved $62,930 for a Utility Rate Study on water, stormwater and sewer. The Community and Planning Director reported that an incident occurred at Ace Hardware on April 15 […]
End of school year message from SJISD Superintendent Fred Woods
Some people call it spring fever. Others have labeled it senioritis. Whatever the name, students know that vacation is only days away, and the anticipation is evident. As we finish the final chapter of another successful school year at the San Juan Island School District, there is once again a great deal to celebrate across […]
May 26: WSF hosts 2 online community meetings
Washington State Ferries is hosting two online community meetings on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. This is a great chance to share feedback and ask WSF questions. Topics to be covered include the upcoming FIFA World Cup, an updated pet policy, new vessel construction, and WSF Service Contingency Plan. Both meetings will cover the same topics, […]
Solemn ceremony at Memorial Park on Memorial Day 2026 in Friday Harbor
Under overcast skies, veterans from American Legion Post 163, Legion Auxiliary National Historical Park personnel, Boy Scouts. and the Lady dressed in black representing widows. The parade route goes from Court Street to Second Street to Spring Street and ends at Memorial Park where the 105-year-old monument stands. It was the first monument in Washington […]
Larsen’s Bipartisan Bill Invests $580 Billion in Job-Creating Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02)’s BUILD America 250 Act passed out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bipartisan, five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill continues historic investments in Washington state started by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 (BIL). “Every day is Infrastructure Day in Northwest Washington,” said Rep. Larsen. “The BUILD America 250 […]