Island News

Forester’s Notes | Times are tough

The excellent adventure of the Extension Forestry Program has become a bit of a bogus journey of late. We have been hit with significant budget cuts. A few months ago, we lost 40% of our state funding. On the county side of things, San Juan County has now joined Skagit County in withdrawing all support for Extension Forestry education programs, so education resources are dwindling in the North Sound […]

I’m Not the Church Lady | Marketing as a spiritual practice

Marketing as a Spiritual Practice I think maybe God has a Bingo cage. You know the kind—the big wire ball somebody cranks around at Bingo Night while everyone sits staring at their cards, waiting to see what number comes tumbling out. “B-12!” People look down. Nope. “G-46!” Someone puts a little marker on his card. “I-7!” And so it goes. Except I’m beginning to suspect that somewhere along the way […]

October 16, 17 and 23, 24 and 30, 31: Haunted Roche Harbor Cemetery Tours

October 16, 17 and 23, 24 and 30, 31  | sunset to 10 pm |  Roche Harbor Cemetery Tours |  193 Afterglow Dr |  Friday Harbor,

Schuman: Supports Swanson for county council

Dear Editor, 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, […]

OCS students learn from Orcas Island musician Jim Bredouw

Students at Orcas Christian School had an opportunity to learn from one of Orcas Island’s longtime musicians and sound engineers when Jim Bredouw visited the school to share stories from his career, projects and music. Bredouw spoke with OCS middle and high school students about his experiences in music and sound engineering, taking students through several stages of his life, including his years as a guitarist, his career in sound engineering, his time in […]

Library to feature art of Shawna Marie Franklin

Shawna Marie Franklin will be October’s featured artist at the Orcas Island Library. Her monoprints and paintings will be displayed in a show entitled Being with Kelp: Ongoing. The subject began as an artistic endeavor when Shawna’s kayaking career ended in 2019, and continues today. Shawna has found in Bull Kelp a subject of great beauty and design options, a metaphor for her love of the ocean and a means to […]

Emmanuel’s summer Market Day helps Orcas islanders all year

Warm homes. Good food. Help in need. Services for seniors. And, for students, a chance to learn to fly. These are the gifts to Orcas islanders from shoppers at July’s Market Day, the annual rummage sale of Emmanuel Episcopal Church. From the proceeds, Emmanuel has donated $1,150 each to OPALCO’s Project Pal, the Orcas Island Food Bank, the Orcas Community Resource Center, Orcas Senior Center, and to the Air Hawks Flying […]

Artworks featured artist for October is Maria Papademetriou

Orcas artist Maria Papademetriou  describes her work is a kind of visual storytelling used to create a narrative, mood,, or message. “My creative process is multilayered and intuitive, using found objects, ceramics, and old photographs. “From a very early age,  4 to be exact, I have been fascinated by the discarded and the forgotten. I strive to give these objects, a new life and a new story. “Through my art, I seek […]

Midnight Mutterings | Hand II

I’m calling this ‘Hand II because I think I wrote a column years earlier called ‘Hand’ about my brother’s serious injury to his right hand when he was eight years old that put him into an six+ hour surgery followed by months in hospital in a ward filled with adult male soldiers with war injuries. My brother’s hand and life were saved by penicillin newly added to wound treatment. Shots every three hours […]

Town of Friday Harbor Proclamation | Hope to live free of abuse

PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, October is recognized nationally as Domestic Violence Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, domestic violence is a complex and pervasive public health crisis that affects individuals without regard to age, race, gender, education, religious, economic, or societal lines; and WHEREAS, domestic violence is not just physical violence; it often presents as sexual, psychological, emotional, financial, or technological abuse; and WHEREAS, domestic violen

San Juan County sheriff’s log

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

Supporting our strong community

Strong communities are built by people who choose to engage, learn, and lead, and this fall we have several ways to support that work on Orcas. In August, Eric Liu visited Orcas Island for our National Nonprofit Day program, Beyond the Echo Chamber: Strengthening Civic Culture on Orcas Island. His message about listening across differences and taking part in civic life resonated with everyone in the room. If you missed […]

Getting to Know Katherine | People-first leadership & proven results

Excellent council members bring neighbors together, build on community strengths, identify solutions by focusing on shared goals, and lead through change and crisis with empathy and compassion. I have a proven, professional track record of effective community facilitation, mediation, and equitable outcomes — even in circumstances where diverse viewpoints seemed irreconcilable. With the Lopez Island Prevention Coalition, I helped bu

In Memoriam | Doug Marshall

It is difficult to find the words to say goodbye to someone who has been an important part of my life. My beloved husband, Doug Marshall, passed away on September 15 with me by his side. Doug loved this island, and in 1995 made a decision to purchase property in West Sound and to build our retirement home. He loved the beauty of the island, the quiet moments, the familiar places, and most of […]

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

What seeds have you sown?: A harvest festival rooted in reflection

Orcas Islanders gathered at the fifth annual Family Tides Farm & Northwest Indian College Fall Festival on Sept. 20 to celebrate with friends and contemplate their own harvest over the past year.

November 3, 2026 General Election Ballots: Vote – Sign It -Ballot Box it

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. October 1, 2026 – Mark your calendars for the upcoming General Election on November 3! Races for important Federal, State, and County positions will appear on the ballot, as well as vital ballot measures for the State, the San Juan County Fire Protection District No. 4, the Port of Lopez, the […]

Free Immunization Clinics for Children: Protect Your Child Against Influenza and COVID

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. October 1, 2026 – Protect your family this fall and winter by bringing your child to one of our upcoming school-based walk-up immunization clinics. We will have vaccines to protect children against flu and it is anticipated that there will be COVID-19 vaccines available for all children 6 months through 18 years old. […]

Guest Column: Getting to Know Katherine: People-First Leadership & Proven Results

From Katherine Bryant Ingman for San Juan County Council: Excellent council members bring neighbors together, build on community strengths, identify solutions by focusing on shared goals, and lead through change and crisis with empathy and compassion. I have a proven, professional track record of effective community facilitation, mediation, and equitable outcomes — even in circumstances […]

Town of Friday Harbor issues proclamation about Domestic Violence Awareness month

PROCLAMATION Hope to Live Free of Abuse WHEREAS, October is recognized nationally as Domestic Violence Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, domestic violence is a complex and pervasive public health crisis that affects individuals without regard to age, race, gender, education, religious, economic, or societal lines; and WHEREAS, domestic violence is not just physical violence; it often […]

Free immunization clinics for children to protect against influenza and COVID

Free influenza and COVID-19 immunizations for all children 6 months through 18 years old this October! Please note, while we hope to have sufficient COVID-19 vaccine availability, there may be shortages and delays in the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine. Protect your family this fall and winter by bringing your child to one of our upcoming school-based walk-up immunization clinics. We will have vaccines to protect children against flu and it is anticip

Learn to fly in 2027

Three OAA scholarships now open Have you ever watched a small plane lift off Runway 34 at Orcas Island Airport and thought, “That could be me”? This year, it really could — and the island needs you up there. The Orcas Aviation Association (OAA) is now accepting applications for our 2027 Adult Private Pilot Scholarships, and we’ve expanded the program: three scholarships will be awarded this cycle, up from two in […]

Take charge of your health at upcoming Senior Center screening

Life Line Screening will be at Orcas Senior Center on Thursday, October 22 offering safe, painless, and non-invasive preventive health screenings—services not typically included in a routine physical. By participating, you can take a proactive step toward protecting your health and supporting your well-being, as well as that of your family and community. You can register online at llsa.social/HABC or call toll-free: 1-800-324-9458.

All San Juan County beaches closed to recreational shellfish harvesting

Due to high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison, all beaches are closed until further notice As of Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has closed recreational shellfish harvesting in San Juan County due to unsafe levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP). This closure includes all species of molluscan shellfish including clams, geoduck, scallops, mussels, oysters, and snails. PSP and other biotoxins are pois