Island News

Health Care District to hold special board meeting on Monday

The Orcas Island Health Care District will hold a Special Board Meeting on Monday, October 19th, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Orcas Island Community Foundation, 33 Urner Street, Suite 4, Eastsound. The public meeting packet is available below. The meeting Zoom link can be found at the top of the agenda. 01. 2026_10_19 Agenda_Special_Board.pdf 02. 2026_10_13 OIHCD Claim Request_signed.pdf 03. CHN Update – October 2026.pdf 04. Pub

Structure fire destroys home on Yacht Haven Rd

A structure fire at 1423 Yacht Haven Road on San Juan Island destroyed a home. The fire about 12:30 p.m. Saturday, October 17, 2026 was extinguished by San Juan Island Fire and Rescue Dept firefighters.

Letter to the Editor | Decatur’s open-space decision deserves countywide attention

  San Juan County’s October 1 approval relocating recorded open space for OPALCO’s proposed Decatur solar expansion raises questions that matter throughout our islands. The County acknowledges that portions of the replacement open space overlap land already protected by a Native Growth Area covenant. It maintains that those protections remain enforceable and that the revised configuration meets conservation requirements. County explanation But maintaining a perce

48-hour terminal closures at Lopez and Orcas for transfer span construction in 2027

In early 2027, WSF will replace the major mechanical and electrical systems of the vehicle transfer span at the  Anacortes, Lopez, and Orcas terminals. The transfer span is the part of the terminal dock that raises and lowers to meet the ferry to allow vehicles to drive on and off. What to expect in early […]

Letter to Editor | I want to recommend Jennifer Swanson for County Council District 3

I’ve worked with Jennifer through Shaw Islanders Inc, where she’s been the Recording Secretary for the Shaw Inc board for the last three years. She’s steady, organized and easy to work with.  She keeps things on track and communicates clearly, which makes a big difference when a group is trying to get things done.  She initiated the “Brown Bag” lunches once a month.  It’s informal open forum where residents can meet and discuss issues that are […]

Letter to Editor | Jennifer Swanson will represent all of San Juan County

Having served eight years on the San Juan County Council, participated in the Ferry Advisory Committee, and spent much of my life operating small businesses on Orcas Island, I know firsthand the challenges of representing our island communities.  That experience is why I am proud to support Jennifer Swanson for San Juan County Council, District 3. Jennifer brings something especially valuable to public service: kindness, honesty, independence, and a genuine willingness t

Larsen statement on Bend school shooting

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “I am horrified and heartbroken by the shooting in Bend. These sickening tragedies must end. I am thinking of the families of the victims, and the child and teacher who are fighting for their lives in the hospital.”  

The Master’s Delight, a poem from Wasakalobo

Well, after Trump’s umpteenth betrayal of Ukraine in less than a week, I can’t imagine what a Russian asset in his position would do differently. It’s pathetic, dangerous and shameful. It triggered this poem in me: The Master’s Delight By Wasakalobo His Kremlin master hardly could Believe his endless luck That callous Potus ever would Treat allies with such muck Decades of friendships smashed and wrecked Their added strength ignored Abuse of power […]

Midnight Mutterings | Friday ferry

For the first time in the thirty five years I’ve lived on Orcas Island, a ferry person yelled at me. It was this afternoon. I’m pretty sympathetic to ferry workers. It’s a hard job. Ferries are understaffed. Sometimes riders are rude, unthinking, and otherwise make things difficult for the workers. Apparently, today I was one of those people. I was not rude. I was not careless. I was not oblivious. And yet, I […]

San Juan County sheriff’s log

The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office responded to the following calls.

Reservations for winter sailing season available October 27 at 10 am

Washington State Ferries vehicle reservations for the winter sailing season (Dec. 27 through March 20, 2027) will be available at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. To ensure a smooth and fair experience during this high-demand period, WSF will continue using a virtual waiting room during the reservations release. Anacortes/San Juan Islands route:  Some […]

Merri Ann Simonson: San Juan Island and County real estate market summary

The third quarter results for San Juan Island and San Juan County, for the most part, reflected a downward direction when compared to 2025 for the same period in both volume and transaction numbers. Per the NWMLS, the dollar volume year-to-date on San Juan Island was $108,388,919 with a total of 99 transactions.  This reflects […]

November General Election ballots mailed to all eligible voters by Oct. 16

OLYMPIA — County elections offices statewide will mail ballots to every eligible voter for the Nov. 3 General Election by Friday, Oct. 16. Over 5.1 million registered voters will be mailed a ballot for the midterm elections. Voters will decide on local, state, and federal contests, as well as three statewide ballot measures. Voters participating in […]

Reminder! It’s No Kings Day on Saturday at Village Green

This Saturday, October 17, is the next national No King’s Day.  Both San Juan and Lopez Islands already have events scheduled, and we don’t want to be left out here on Orcas.  Therefore, please join us this Saturday at the Village Green at NOON.  Bring signs to protest the current administration and to encourage voting.  We will march around Eastsound at least once, maybe twice.  We will end at the Village Green, and […]

Meehan-McNeill: Endorses Jennifer Swanson for county council

I want to recommend Jennifer Swanson for County Council District 3′ I’ve worked with Jennifer through Shaw Islanders Inc, where she’s been the Recording Secretary for the Shaw Inc board for the last three years’ She’s steady, organized and easy to work with.  She keeps things on track and communicates clearly, which makes a big […]

Letter to Editor | Homes we can afford, islands we must protect

Two of my four priorities as a candidate, affordable housing and protecting our environment, are really about the same thing: keeping these islands a healthy, desirable and affordable place where people can live, work and thrive for generations. Expanding access to the full spectrum of affordable housing starts with the people already doing the work. We have experienced housing experts and non-profits on each of our major islands, along with the Home Fund, a targete

Governor Ferguson sends video to Trump Administration to support Washington’s request for wildfire assistance

OLYMPIA – To support Washington’s request for federal assistance following this summer’s devastating wildfires, Governor Bob Ferguson is sending a video to the Trump Administration to help show the severity of the damage. The video is available for download here, and features interviews with impacted residents, and bipartisan leaders calling on the federal government to approve Washington’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration. The Governor’s

Letter to Editor | My endorsement for Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council, District 3

Katherine Bryant Ingman has my support to be our next San Juan County Council Representative for District 3 for many reasons: Every SJC District Representative is sworn to support the welfare of the entire San Juan County.  I firmly believe, as shown by Katherine’s efforts to reach out to the Waldron, Shaw, Decatur, San Juan and Orcas communities throughout her campaign, that Katherine has demonstrated her energy, interest, and willingness to do that very thing. […]

Introducing mobile integrated healthcare on Orcas

A new pilot program from Orcas Island Fire and Rescue, supported by OIHCD On an island with no hospital, care often starts too late. Orcas Island Fire and Rescue is launching a Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) pilot to reach neighbors at home before small problems become emergencies. OIHCD is proud to support this project financially, alongside other funding partners. MIH brings care directly to residents in their homes. Rather than waiting for […

Letter to Editor | Questions every OPALCO member should ask

  Whether we live on Shaw, Orcas, Lopez, San Juan, or an outer island, we share an interest in OPALCO’s spending, reliable electricity, and accountable decisions. The proposed Decatur solar expansion raises questions that belong to every cooperative member. What will members pay over the project’s life, and what purchased-power costs will it actually avoid? OPALCO should publish an independent financial review, including financing, maintenance, equipment replacem

Letter to Editor | Katherine Bryant Ingman gets things done

District Three deserves a Councilmember who District Three voters chose. That’s Katherine Bryant Ingman. Between Katherine and Jennifer Swanson, primary voters of District Three voted 61% to 39% for Katherine. There are differences between the two candidates. A graduate of Leadership San Juans, she is a leader that gets things done. Issues that affect us all are bigger on the more populated islands. She knows what islands comprise her district. Her opponent repeated e

WSF Weekly Report | History behind service disruptions; terminal upgrades coming; winter schedule update

A message from Steve Last week, I shared some of the history behind the pay dispute that led to significant ferry service disruptions on Monday, October 5. I also acknowledged the impact those disruptions had on the thousands of people who depend on our ferries every day. I want to follow up with an update on what has happened since. Governor Ferguson met directly with the union representing our marine engineers […]

Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson

Meta’s new commercial terms will allow the scraping of news sites, legal experts say

By Andrew Deck and Hanaa’ Tameez