Island News
Local headlines from around the San Juans
SJICF to Offer Workshop, Understanding Nonprofit 990s, for Donors, Board Members, and Organizational Leaders
As the first of a new workshop series, the San Juan Island Community Foundation (SJICF) invites nonprofit donors, board members, and leadership to a workshop entitled Understanding Nonprofit 990s on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at the San Juan Island Community Foundation offices at 640 Mullis Steet in Friday Harbor. Each year, most […]
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 […]
Dec. 5 and 6: Winter Flea & Craft Market at county fairground
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 […]
Jeremy Nash: Heads Up Friday Harbor, Utility Rates!
The Town of Friday Harbor is getting ready to raise utility rates again. At Thursday’s Town Council meeting, staff proposed 2027 increases of 7.5 percent for water, 3 percent for sewer, 4.5 percent for refuse and 25 percent for stormwater. For an in-town single family residence, the Town’s example would take the basic monthly charges […]
Merri Ann Simonson: San Juan Island and County real estate market summary
The third quarter results for San Juan Island and San Juan County, for the most part, reflected a downward direction when compared to 2025 for the same period in both volume and transaction numbers. Per the NWMLS, the dollar volume year-to-date on San Juan Island was $108,388,919 with a total of 99 transactions. This reflects […]
Advertising Rates
SAN JUAN ISLANDER ADVERTISING RATES Example of Premium Ad Premium Ads 600 pixels wide by 400 pixels $100 a week | $360 a month Posted above or below photo of the day Large Tile Ad 200 pixels wide by 400 pixels $50 a week | $160 a month Posted in the middle of the home […]
Jeremy Nash: San Juan County by the Numbers
San Juan County recently put out a press release announcing that the Council had adopted the 2027 budget. After all the kerfuffle over the budget this year, I wanted to see what they had actually come up with and try to put the whole thing into perspective for myself. That led me into the County’s […]
Governor Ferguson Commits to Addressing WSF Engine Room Crew Workforce Crisis
The Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA) represents 417 licensed and unlicensed engineers who operate, repair, and maintain the fleet of vessels at Washington State Ferries (WSF). A growing workforce crisis boiled over this week when crew call-outs resulted in major service disruptions. Eric Winge, the MEBA representative for WSF, shared developments today: “Our union leadership […]
Merri Ann Simonson Real Estate Update: 2026 Market Snap Shot
Here is our September 2026 Market Snap Shot. The report indicates that 2026 is trending very similar to 2025, even with international turmoil. It feels as if year-ending 2026 will close out very similar to 2025 as well.
Easements Keep the Co-op Running
OPALCO does not comment on active legal matters, but some misinformation in a recent King 5 article needs to be addressed. The pole site in question was on the property mentioned, with the previous owner’s permission, prior to the current owners’ purchase of the land. The pole was upgraded in 2023 and is 103 feet […]
Port to use $650k grant to pave Jensen’s and Shipyard Cove’s driveways
LWVSJ Observer Corps: Friday Harbor Port Commission, September 25, 2026 A new lease was approved for San Juan Canvas with all terms remaining identical with the previous agreement and with a five-year extension. A new lease was approved for San Juan Air’s Hangar 80 (Units A & B) with all terms remaining the same except […]
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 […]