Island News
Local headlines from around the San Juans
Free immunization clinics for children: Protect your child against influenza and COVID
Submitted by San Juan County.
Civic engagement goes beyond the ballot box | Letter
During the course of my campaign for County Council, I have had countless conversations with people across the islands and have learned a great deal about their concerns. These conversations have given form to how I will, as councilmember, approach the budget.
Support for Jennifer Swanson for County Council | Letter
I endorse Jennifer Swanson for County Council. She is a great listener, and strives for communication, not conflict to resolve issues. She has worked to better our community through communication and respectful dialog. She considers all sides of an issue before making a decision, and will make a great addition to county council.
Orcas Island Clothing Bank returns this fall
The Orcas Island Clothing Bank will return this fall, offering community members an opportunity to find clothing and other household items while giving gently used goods a second life.
Nov. 3 General Election ballots: Vote! Sign! Ballot Box it!
Submitted by San Juan County.
Letter to Editor | Jennifer Swanson has our wholehearted support for Council position
We are writing to offer our wholehearted support for Jennifer Swanson for County Council. We’ve known Jennifer since she and her husband Chad moved to Shaw Island in 2003. Jennifer is someone who is thoughtful, trustworthy, and deeply committed to serving our community. Her dedication is demonstrated through action and looking for practical ways to make a difference. She helped lead the effort to create and secure funding for a teacher housing project. […]
Letter to Editor | Endorsement for Katherine Bryant Ingman, County Council, District 3
I was talking with a friend from San Juan Island and asked what he would think about someone from Stuart Island as the San Juan Island representative on the County Council. His response was that it would be a problem; different culture, different issues and the likely inability to understand San Juan Island’s people and priorities. I then sought out a friend from Orcas Island and asked what she would think about their Council representative […]
Letter to Editor | Jennifer Swanson is a proven leader
We’ve known Jennifer Swanson for over 20 years and worked with her on numerous community events on Shaw. She’s empathetic, smart, and seemingly tireless. On issues that impact our islands’ way of life, she’s purposely well-informed and open to hearing all views. Jennifer’s a proven leader, having served on the Ferry Advisory Committee, Shaw School Board, and as Shaw School Superintendent, all jobs that require thoughtful diplomatic skills. Jen’s strong and stead
Letter to Editor | We need Jennifer Swanson’s calm and even temperament for County Council
I write to highlight the profound actions SJC Council candidate longtime-islander Jennifer Swanson’s taken in our community, which are easily applied to the larger islands. Most notably, she has served as an elected official for repeated terms as a school district board member (and board chair for part of that), and then as appointed superintendent. School board member and superintendent duties are the same for small districts as for larger ones. The requirements includ
Enter OPALCO’s co-op member photo contest or grand prize giveaway
October is National Co-op Month Every year in October, cooperatives around the nation celebrate National Cooperative Month. OPALCO, San Juan County’s local not-for-profit cooperative utility, is spending this month celebrating co-op members. Throughout October, check the OPALCO social media accounts (@orcaspower) to learn more about what it means to be a co-op and benefits of the cooperative model. This year OPALCO is holding the fi
Katherine Bryant Ingman on ferries & transportation
Transportation is essential to daily life in San Juan County. Ferry service remains our most critical link, but residents also rely on roads, transit, freight movement, and regional connections to get to work, healthcare, school, and the essentials of daily life. It’s important to acknowledge that San Juan County doesn’t control the ferries, but we’re starting to get real traction. While we were all excited when Governor Inslee fas
Busy month for Vikings fans
Submitted by Amy Carlson and The Orcas Island Booster Team.
October 6: Genetic Population Structure of Harbor Seals in WA state
October 6 | 6 pm | The Whale Museum | Friday Harbor Learn about the genetics of harbor seals in Washington state with The Whale Museum’s Alexandrea Otto! Alexandrea is currently finishing her Master’s at Western Washington University studying harbor seal population genetics in the Pacific Northwest. Some of her past projects include studying heart […]
October is National Co-op Month
Enter OPALCO’s co-op member photo contest or grand prize giveaway Every year in October, cooperatives around the nation celebrate National Cooperative Month. OPALCO, San Juan County’s local not-for-profit cooperative utility, is spending this month celebrating co-op members. Throughout October, check the OPALCO social media accounts (@orcaspower) to learn more about what it means to be […]
Cindy Wolf – Guest Opinion: Beheading the Department of Environmental Stewardship
In the State of Washington, responsibility falls on the local and Tribal governments to execute Salmon habitat conservation and restoration projects, which is a focused way of saying projects addressing marine health in general. This mission dovetails nicely with the clean water utility function of keeping pollution out of the stormwater and surface water. The solid […]
County parks recruiting camp hosts for 2027
As the 2026 season comes to a close, San Juan County Parks Dept is actively recruiting camp hosts for 2027. Interested in waking up each day in some of the most beautiful parks the San Juan Islands have to offer? Love interacting with and educating a variety of different people? Then camp hosting might be […]
WSF experiencing lack of crew affecting San Juan routes
For Monday, October 5, Vessel #1 Chelan and #2 Yakima will be out of service due to the lack of crew. The #3 Samish will sail all-stops from Anacortes to Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, and Friday Harbor Update: The following sailings are canceled today, Monday, Oct. 5: Westbound: 11:55 a.m. from Anacortes to Shaw and Orcas Eastbound: 12:55 p.m. Shaw > 1:30 p.m. Orcas > 2:00 p.m. Lopez > Anacortes. The 1:35 p.m. sailing from […]
Burn permits now local on Orcas Island
Orcas Island Fire and Rescue (OIFR) will begin issuing burn permits for Orcas Island. Permits will be available starting October 12, 2026, if weather and conditions allow. The process is online. Apply and pay at orcasfire.org. The site also has burn safety rules and requirements. You may also come to Station 21 at 45 Lavender Lane to purchase in-person. Please note this is a new process and application portal […]
Orcas Island Clothing Bank returns this fall
The Orcas Island Clothing Bank will return this fall, offering community members an opportunity to find clothing and other household items while giving gently used goods a second life. The Clothing Bank will be held Oct. 24-25 at the Orcas Christian School (OCS) gymnasium. The event will be open from 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. Community members are encouraged to shop both days, with new items added […]
Letter to Editor | I am enthusiastic about Katherine Bryant Ingman
I am giving my enthusiastic support to our County Council candidate Katherine Bryant Ingman. As a thirty five year resident of the County and past Planning Commission Chair, Councilperson and Mayor for the Town of Friday Harbor I see a rare opportunity in electing someone who has shown dedication to issues faced by her community and has worked tirelessly to solve them. I see Katherine’s age as an advantage over the status quo we have […]
October 5: Update – Samish will make all-stops sailings – Links to schedule
For Monday, October 5, Vessel #1 Chelan and #2 Yakima will be out of service due to the lack of crew. The #3 Samish will sail all-stops from Anacortes to Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, and Friday. The interisland #4 Tillikum will assist with Anacortes-Friday Harbor traffic. OCTOBER 5 SCHEDULE SAN JUAN ISLAND https://wsdot.com/Ferries/Schedule/scheduledetail.aspx?tripdate=20261005&departingterm=1&arrivingterm=10&roundtrip=true LOPEZ ISLAND: https://wsdot.com/Ferries/Schedule/scheduledetail.aspx?tripdate=20
October 5: Public hearings on county budget, property tax rate
San Juan County Council will hold five public hearings October 5, 2026. The agenda and instructions on how to participate in the meeting is posted below. The meeting can be streamed. https://sanjuancowa.portal.civicclerk.com/ Monday, October 5, 2026 Legislative Hearing Room, 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor, WA To call in for Public Comment Sign Up by 9am […]