Island News
Local headlines from around the San Juans
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 […]
October 5: Lack of crew leads to disruption of ferry service system-wide
WSF BULLETIN: ALL ROUTES Service disruptions on all routes are likely Sunday, October 4, 2026 due to the lack of qualified crew. Customers are requested to only make essential travel. More information is posted at https://wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/bulletin.aspx as it becomes available. As of 5:38 pm #1 Chelan is in service. #2 Yakima goes out of service after […]
Letter to Editor | Protecting your vote
Many people have shared their concerns about election security with me and how election officials can address those concerns. I believe the biggest issues are cybersecurity, ballot security, chain of custody, staffing, and misinformation. My approach would be to be proactive-review our security procedures, make sure ballots are properly tracked and secured, maintain strong cybersecurity, and make sure staff are trained and prepared for unexpected situa
Heather Lee: Protecting your Vote
Many people have shared their concerns about election security with me and how election officials can address those concerns. I believe the biggest issues are cybersecurity, ballot security, chain of custody, staffing, and misinformation. My approach would be to be proactive – review our security procedures, make sure ballots are properly tracked and secured, maintain […]
Plain talk on the budget
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. In April, 60.67% of San Juan County voters rejected the county’s levy lid lift. The message was clear: residents are not looking to pay more in property […]
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.
Joint statement of Governor Bob Ferguson and Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller on west coast oil pipeline
OLYMPIA — Governor Bob Ferguson and Washington Department of Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller offer the folllowing joint statement regarding the Oct. 1 decision by the Canadian Major Projects Office to list the West Coast Oil Pipeline as a “Project of National Interest”: “We are disappointed in the decision today by the Government of Canada to list the proposed oil pipeline as a project of national interest. The classification puts the project on a [
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
Guest Column by Jennifer Swanson
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. In April, 60.67% of San Juan County voters rejected the county’s levy lid […]
Due to high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison, all San Juan County beaches are closed until further notice.
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, […]