Island News

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

Burn permits now local on Orcas Island

Submitted by Orcas Island Fire & Rescue.

Seven Orcas Island artists featured in Santa Monica exhibition

Seven Orcas Island artists are showing their work in Southern California this fall in “Orcas Island A|B Collective,” an exhibition at The Shala, the gallery and showroom of Tim Clarke Design in Santa Monica. The show opened Oct. 9 and runs through Nov. 9.

October 23: Join the SJPT and walk the Beecher Preserve on Lopez

Ward and Doris Beecher’s gift protects 35 acres of Lopez forest, and years of care from partners and volunteers are helping it grow healthier every season. Join Dean Dougherty, San Juan Preservation Trust Senior Director of Stewardship, on Friday, October 23, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm to see it up close. We still have […]

San Juan Island Fire Dept. will issue $500 fine if property owner has 3 false alarms in one year

LWVSJ Observer Corps*: Fire District #3 Commissioners Meeting summary of the October 20, 2026 meeting. Robin Garcia, Finance Officer, received a special parking space sign in recognition of her service and her upcoming retirement in June of 2027.  Andy Guiterrez of the Fire Preservation Board gave a presentation on a Fire Museum that will be […]

Town to flush main water transmission line overnight November 3-4

The Town of Friday Harbor will flush the water transmission line from the treatment plant on Wold Road to town Tuesday, November 3 through Wednesday, November 4, 2026.  Per state Department of Health regulations, lines require occasional flushing to remove accumulated minerals, sediment, and organic materials.  Crews will perform the work at night when water […]

Town to match $7,500 in November donations to the food bank

Donations made in November to the Town of Friday Harbor’s “Harbor Life Ring” utility assistance fund will again be matched up to a total of $7,500 and forwarded to the Friday Harbor Food Bank.  Anyone may donate at Town Hall.  Utility customers may also donate by marking the Harbor Life Ring line item on their […]

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 […]

Emilio Santiago: Enthusiastically endorses Katherine for county 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 […]

Suden: Endorses Katherine for District 3 county council member

Join Me in Voting for Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council Katherine is a leader who listens & collaborates to find solutions that work for the wellbeing of the community.  Please join me & vote Katherine Bryant Ingman for Council position #3. Elizabeth Suden Lopez Island

Reeves and Petterson: Katherine is the right person to represent District 3

Katherine 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 […]

Bigelow: Katherine Brings Leadership and a Voice for Our Future

I wholeheartedly endorse Katherine. 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 […]

Terri Gudgel Mason supports Swanson for county Council

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 […]

Guest Column: Jennifer Swanson – Why I am running for county council

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 & Girls Club, then became a teacher. When we moved […]

Gaylord:  Swanson is 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, […]

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 […]