Island News
Yogalele-curious? There’s no better time to try it out
||| FROM ANITA ORNE ||| What is Yogalele? It is a unique practice that combines stretching and live music, and you are the heart of it! Both the yoga and ukulele aspects work for every body, every experience level. All poses and chords are taught and can be modified to suit any abilities. Yogalele works your body through gentle stretches, poses, and occasional balance challenges. Yogalele works your brain as you coordinate your body, your instrument, and your breathing. Classes […]
EWUA | Progress deserves recognition. Questions deserve answers
||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| Progress deserves recognition. Over the past several months, Eastsound Water Users Association has made a noticeable effort to improve communication with its members. We’ve seen The Source newsletter, Deep Dive articles, the educational series on the New Clark Well & Treatment Plant, a new online dashboard, published financial summaries, and more frequent updates than we’ve received in years. Those are positive developments. Members have asked for better communicatio
Records, requests and rejections: Sheriff’s Log update
The Sheriff’s Log is back!
SJC sheriff’s log
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office responded to the following calls.
Seaplane emergency landing aftermath | Cleanup and investigation
In the midst of a thunder and lightning storm, a Kenmore seaplane heading from Lake Union to Roche Harbor headed north to avoid the storm, then took a 180-degree turn to Shallow Bay on Sucia Island to make an emergency landing on July 23. It was carrying 10 passengers and a pilot. After landing, the floatplane caught fire and came to rest against rocks.
News Brief | Suspected arsonist in custody in Spokane
||| FROM KING 5 SEATTLE |||
Updated August 3: Sheriff’s Log July 1-6, 2026: Dog seriously injured by neighbor’s dog, car fire, fireworks, assaults, illegal U-turn
San Juan County Sheriff’s Log July 1 and 2, 2026. San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is no longer providing the sheriff’s log. The following information is from incident reports received after San Juan Islander Editor Sharon Kivisto filed a public records request for the incident reports from July 1-7, 2026. The files received so far […]
Blood Drive August 4 in Friday Harbor; August 5 in Eastsound
Code Red: Emergency Need for Blood Donors Patient need is outpacing donations, and our local blood supply has hit emergency low levels. We urgently need 1,000 donors every day to ensure patients in Pacific Northwest hospitals have immediate access to lifesaving transfusions for cancer treatments, trauma care, and birth complications If you’re feeling healthy—especially if […]
Annual Rick Campbell Memorial Hot Rod Show at Lug Nuts August 1, 2026
The Annual Rick Campbell Memorial Hot Rod Show featured dozens of vehicles in Friday Harbor August 1, 2026. Photos by Matt Pranger
Expect WSF delays on Tuesday
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Several routes may experience sailing delays or cancellations Tuesday, Aug. 4, due to crew availability and vessel repairs. Impacts may vary throughout the day, and scheduled service will operate whenever possible. We will send route specific information as soon as impacts are confirmed. If you are traveling Tuesday, please check for updates before travelling for the latest information. We’re doing everything we can to keep vessels crewed and running, an
It’s time to fish out those face masks
Smoke from wildfires across the state will threaten air quality in Western Washington this week ||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| Amid harsh winds and hot, dry weather, wildfires sparked across Eastern and Central Washington this weekend. Over 700 structures were destroyed and more than 60,000 people were evacuated in Spokane. Large fires also burn near the Colville Reservation and Lake Chelan, among other places. Smoke from those wildfires could come for Western Washington as weather forecasters h
Second encounter of CWR 2026 outer coast research trip
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 06:55 AM ObservEnd: 01:34 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss Other Observers: Taylor Redmond, Jess Schultz Pods: J, K, L IDsEncountered: J16, J19, J22, J26, J27, J31, J36, J37, J38, J39, J40, J41, J42, J44, J45, J46, J47, J49, J51, J53, J56, J58, J59, J62, and J63 K12, K14, K16, K20, K22, K27, K33, K35, K36, K37, K38, K42, K43, K45, and K47 L22, L25, L54, […]
News Brief | About those Spokane wildfires on Monday
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| Three wildfires are burning the edges of Spokane, the second-largest city in Washington, after they surged over the weekend. Hundreds of structures have been damaged and tens of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes. All three of the wildfires — the Old Trails, Autumn Lane and Fairview fires, known together as the Spokane Complex fires — were at 0% containment Monday morning. READ FULL ARTICLE
Larsen joins entire WA delegation in requesting expedited emergency declaration for devastating wildfires in Spokane
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined Washington state’s entire Congressional delegation in a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson’s request last night for an expedited Emergency Declaration for the devastating wildfires sweeping through Central and Eastern Washington state. On Saturday, Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency and issued a
Oregon singer/songwriter Alice Di Micele in concert Odd Fellows Hall
||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG for ORCAS ODD FELLOWS ||| Oregon singer/songwriter Alice Di Micele Concert brings her soulful blend of earthiness and groove to Orcas Island at the Odd Fellows Hall on Friday, August 7 at 7:00pm. Praised by Bonnie Raitt for her “earthiness & groove,” DiMicele delivers music that is heartfelt, funky, and deeply connected. Tickets are available on a sliding scale of $20–$50, with advance tickets recommended. For more information and tickets, visit AliceDiMicele.com or Human
Scam Alert! Fake emails seeking payment for permit fees
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Over the last several weeks, the San Juan County Department of Community Development (DCD) has received reports of scammers sending fake invoices with San Juan County logos, specifically impersonating DCD and the County’s Hearing Examiner. Some of these scams are very sophisticated, using AI to pull permit data and impersonate County staff. We are taking cybersecurity steps on our end to try and stop these criminals. In the meantime, we ask that the p
Town Council in special meeting August 6
||| FROM JENNIFER KREMBS for TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Council and the Planning Commission will hold a joint special meeting after the regular business meeting on August 6, 2026, to participate in an AWC/RMSA mandatory training for elected and appointed officials regarding land use. The training will take place in Council Chambers located at 60 Second Street, and it is expected to last approximately two hours. For more information, contact the Town […]
Rick Campbell Memorial Hot Rod Show
After More Than Seven Months Waiting for a Home, Diesel Is Ready for His Next Chapter
Meet Diesel, the two year old, Boxer Pitbull mix with a heart of gold! This sweet cuddle bug made his way into the care of Animal Protection Society – Friday Harbor (APS-FH) during the holiday season and, despite being a wonderful companion, has yet to find his forever home. Diesel has watched many dogs come […]
San Juan County Council considering options to keep Eastsound Village Green open
LWVSJ Observer Corps: summary of the San Juan County Council Regular Meeting July 28,2026 meeting. Council approved a letter to the community regarding recent hate speech and another to Governor Ferguson regarding increased risk of shipping accidents and spills from new oil transportation projects, with copies to be sent to other concerned parties. Council held […]
Imagination Library of Washington Secures Philanthropic Support Needed to Restore Free Book Program for 40,000 Washington Children
The Imagination Library of Washington (ILWA) announced a pair of new grants that will help restore Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free, high quality, age-appropriate books each month to Washington children from birth to age five. Major commitments from the Roots & Wings Foundation and The JTMF Foundation will stabilize ILWA’s 50% book-cost match […]
15th Annual Orcas Artist Studio Tour this coming weekend
||| FROM ZOE OSENBACH for ORCAS ARTIST STUDIO TOUR ||| Explore beautiful Orcas Island on a 3-day studio tour with 35 island artists! August 7 through 9, 11am – 5pm. Follow the signs for a unique glimpse into the vibrant artist community on our beautiful island. This free, self-guided tour is a long-standing island tradition and grants visitors access to the intimate, creative, and inspiring spaces of talented local artists. See artists at work, discover new processes, and hear how […]
LWVSJ Observer Corps | County Council regular meeting July 28, 2026
||| FROM BARBARA SHARP for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| Council approved a letter to the community regarding recent hate speech and another to Governor Ferguson regarding increased risk of shipping accidents and spills from new oil transportation projects, with copies to be sent to other concerned parties. Council held a brief public hearing regarding the Land Bank Dolphin Bay Road Property on Orcas Island, followed by a public hearing regarding the siting of an Essential Public Facility on Shaw [
Orcas Island Artworks features new photography by Robert Dash
||| FROM B.J. ARNOLD for ORCAS ISLAND ARTWORKS ||| Robert Dash’s new work explores lives beneath the Salish Sea. He’ll showcase his underwater imagery of Salish Sea marine life. Dash’s work celebrates art and science, showing natural patterns and textures while exploring themes of conservation and biodiversity. His work has been shown and published nationally and overseas. Recently he has taken his photographic interest underwater, visiting Salish Sea coastlines with his partner, artist Ranna M