Island News

Washington, Denmark establish formal ties around maritime and industrial expertise

SEATTLE — Governor Bob Ferguson and Ambassador Karen Eva Abrahamsen, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Denmark in the United States established a new era in trade and partnership between Washington and Denmark with the signing of the first cooperative agreement between the two regions. Photos from the event are available here. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between the State of Washington and the Royal Danish Embassy to ad

Guitar virtuosos Frank Vignola and Pasquale Grasso at Orcas Center

Two of today’s most acclaimed jazz guitarists will share the stage at Orcas Center on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. Frank Vignola has been the go-to guitarist for an extraordinary range of artists, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Tommy Emmanuel, Lionel Hampton, and both the Boston Pops and New York Pops. Guitar legend Les Paul named him one of his five most admired guitarists for the Wall Street Journal. Vignola […]

Port Commission will meet on Monday

The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting to include the 2027 Budget Hearing on Monday, October 26th at 4:00 p.m. online via Zoom and in-person at the airport terminal.  Access information as well as the Agenda, 2027 Budget and Budget Resolutions can be found at portoforcas.com.

Help our community thrive. Volunteer at the Food Bank

In 2025, 40% of island households (1,160 households) relied on the Orcas Island Food Bank to help meet their nutritional needs, freeing up money for other necessities, such as gas, heating fuel, medical care, and housing. As seasonal work winds down for the winter, even more neighbors turn to us. Our volunteers help make that possible, ensuring every donor dollar goes where it has the greatest impact: putting food on […]

Letter to Editor | Why I support Katherine Bryant Ingman for Council

This is a rallying cry to my fellow San Juan Islanders! I enthusiastically support Katherine Bryant Ingman for San Juan County Council, and I hope you will too. District 3 covers Lopez, Shaw, and Decatur, but we all know that our County Council’s decisions affect the entire archipelago. When I think about the future of the Council and the future of the County, representation and decision making by Katherine feels crucial for our growth. And, […]

Coming home to community

It’s Homecoming season, and not just for Orcas Island High School, but for all of us who feel that familiar pull back toward the people and places that make us feel a sense of purpose and belonging. Homecoming is about more than returning. It’s about reconnecting with what matters, remembering why we chose this place and root for each other. For many of us, that sense of purpose grows deepest […]

Neighbor to neighbor shelter seeking community volunteers

Neighbor to Neighbor Shelter opens November 8, and we’re looking for volunteers to help welcome and support our neighbors. There are lots of ways to pitch in—whether you can take a shift, help with laundry, or make a meal. Morning | 6:30–9:00 a.m. Help with breakfast, cleanup, and getting the shelter ready for the day. Mid shift | Dusk–7:00 p.m.  Support guests and help with daily tasks. Overnight | 7:00 […]

Notice of special meeting on land use

For elected and appointed officials NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Council will hold a special meeting on October 26, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., to participate in an AWC/RMSA mandatory training on Land Use for elected and appointed officials. The training will take place in Council Chambers located at 60 Second Street in Friday Harbor. For more information, contact the Town Clerk at clerk@fridayharbor.gov.  

Annual Halloween Dance coming to Odd Fellows Hall

Get your costumes ready and join us for a Halloween night at Odd Fellows Hall! Our Annual Halloween Dance returns on October 31 from 8:30 PM to midnight, with live music from The Studs, dancing, costumes, and plenty of Halloween spirit. Come dressed to impress, amuse, frighten, bewilder, or delight! Costume prizes will be awarded at intermission, so creativity is highly encouraged. More than just a great night out, the Halloween Dance is […]

Help Rotary and Its PolioPlus partners deliver more than vaccines

World Polio Day, October 24, is an opportunity to unite in support of Rotary International’s longstanding mission to eradicate polio. That effort goes beyond vaccines: polio cases can reveal gaps in health systems, and contaminated water can spread the virus and other diseases. Alongside vaccination, access to safe drinking water is a vital part of the fight to end polio. The Rotary Club of the San Juan Islands supports […]

Letter to Editor | Jennifer Swanson:  A Shaw islander for all of San Juan County

I’m voting for Jennifer Swanson and I hope you do too.  County Council members represent islanders county-wide and must serve them well.  Where the candidate lives helps define their character.  Swanson lives on Shaw Island.  With that, Swanson recognizes the central values we share of self-reliance, the ability to listen and understand concerns of others, and a willingness to travel talk to people in person. Swanson knows that in the next four years will require […]

BELONGING: Five writers, five perspectives, one universal question at Library

What does it mean to belong? To a place, a community, a family—or simply to ourselves? Join the Orcas Island Public Library on Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m. for Belonging, an evening of readings and conversation exploring one of the most universal—and deeply personal—aspects of the human experience. Through five distinct voices and perspectives, writers A. Molotkov, Chrys Buckley, Gail Folkins, John Fadely, and Veronica Kornberg explore the m

WSF Weekly Report | Running the numbers; Colman clock; Maritime Blue’s One Ocean Week

A message from Steve It’s easy to become discouraged by the challenges facing Washington State Ferries. Aging vessels, financial constraints and service disruptions are very real problems, and customers sometimes question whether things are getting better. It’s easy to focus on what’s going wrong instead of what is going right. Last week, October 12-18, we completed 99.26% of our 2,850 scheduled sailings. Every cancelled sailing matters to th

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

Fall food gardening on Orcas

Welcome to another flavorful smoothie! You’ll hear not only from the presidents but also other leaders within the club. They’ll share their personal stories, values, perspectives or updates. We don’t know what to expect but like a smoothie, these messages will be a delicious concoction of random ingredients that surprisingly work together. We hope you find these articles to be satisfying, healthy and rejuvenating. We hope to be that positive element that boo

News Brief | One-quarter of data centers are located in water-stressed areas, study shows

Data centers need water to stay cool and functional, and lots of it: The larger facilities can consume as much water a day as a town of 50,000 people, and because much of the cooling involves evaporation, freshwater is often preferred. That raises serious questions about the environmental impact of the cloud compute we use to run AI queries, host photos and videos, stream music, and all the rest. Researchers are trying to get a […]

Trump wanted the power to make arrests without providing a reason

The Trump White House seriously studied how to “cancel” habeas corpus, your right to know why the government has arrested you Last year, the White House considered a proposal that could’ve enabled the president to arrest anyone, without a stated reason. A bombshell report from two New York Times journalists reveals that the Trump administration debated suspending what’s called “habeas corpus,” the centuries-old right to force the government to explain, in front of a jud

Letter to Editor | Katherine Bryant Ingman brings leadership and a voice for our future

I wholeheartedly endorse Katherine Bryant Ingman. She brings the lived experience, leadership, and commitment needed to help guide our county through the important issues we face. She represents a generation whose voices and futures are vulnerable in our island communities, yet whose presence is essential to the long-term health and vitality of the county. Katherine is an exceptional community advocate who brings both the passion and the skills needed to turn her comm

November highlights from 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 with Carla, quilting, ne

2026 Winter Flea & Craft Market returns December 5th & 6th

Each year the San Juan County Fairgrounds hosts the Winter Flea & Craft Market in the Main Exhibit Hall. Local vendors showcase a variety of handmade gifts and unique second-hand items for sale making this the perfect event to find gifts for all the special people on your list. Whether you’re seeking a venue to showcase your latest creations or searching for the perfect spot to do your holiday shopping, the Winter Flea […]

Letter to Editor | Katherine Bryant Ingman has what it takes

Katherine Bryant Ingman is the right person to represent District 3. She’s qualified and experienced at leading this community through unprecedented challenges. She knows what it takes to advocate effectively at local and state levels, and most importantly, she’s lived the issues. She’s worked multiple jobs here to make ends meet, coached and mentored our youth, and led the effort to ensure our access to healthcare. We need her energy, vision, experienc

Letter to Editor | Swanson is professional, organized, honest

92 percent of the people in Jennifer Swanson’s community voted for her for San Juan County Council in the primary elections. That’s how much she is loved, honored and appreciated by her neighbors. Jennifer also won 20 out of 23 precincts in the primaries, which illustrates how much she is respected on all the islands. Jennifer has run a professional campaign, focused on the difficult issues facing our county and what she brings to […]

Key Club fundraiser was a big hit; Turkey Trot coming up

Thanks to each and every islander (and visitor) who supported Key Club in our bake sale last month. We successfully raised funds for The Peach Pit, and gratitude is due to volunteers as well as community members.  Key Club currently has a Turkey Trot fundraiser in the works…get your *Gobble Gobble* costume dusted off and ready to go!

Letter to Editor | Excited to support Jennifer Swanson

I’m excited to support Jennifer Swanson for San Juan County Council Position 3.  When I read the following excerpt  from Jennifer herself, my decision became very clear.  From Jennifer:  “The reason I am running goes back much further than this campaign. For as long as I can remember, I have felt a call to serve. Winding my way through college, I served children in need at the Summer Sack Lunch program and the Boys & […]