Island News
Planning Scars from the San Juans: Looking back to 2024 by Marc Santo
Three months after my office burned down in the Friday Harbor arson fire that took the Windermere offices, the Crow’s Nest, and a handful of other business back in 2022, I voluntarily left a senior GIS role with the geospatial giant ESRI in order to accept my first local government job. On July 5, 2022, […]
New research shows harvesting chinook before they mature is shrinking salmon and reducing future returns
A new study by researchers at the Wild Fish Conservancy and Raincoast Conservation Foundation has found that marine salmon fisheries along the Pacific coast typically harvest Chinook too early in their life cycle, before they reach their full size as adults. The implications from this are far reaching for fisheries, future Chinook runs, and the […]
Merri Ann Simonson Real Estate Update: San Juan Island Market Snapshot
Here is our Market Snap Shot for the end of May. We reviewed the median home price for the 5-month period in 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025 and the prices reflect an increase in all price categories, except one. The trend may be returning to upward median home prices in 2026, […]
John Payne Geyman, MD 1931 – May 28, 2026
John Payne Geyman, MD, a devoted husband, father, physician, pilot, educator and advocate for health care reform passed away peacefully at his home in Friday Harbor, WA, on May 28, 2026, at age 95. Born in Santa Barbara, CA in 1931, John graduated from Princeton University in 1952, served three years in the Navy, and […]
Steve McMurtrie died June 4, 2026
Beloved Friday Harbor resident Steve McMurtrie passed away peacefully at home last Friday, after calling San Juan Island home for the past 37 years. Known for his warm smile and cheerful spirit, Steve never missed an opportunity to wave or stop and say hello. He deeply loved his island home, its natural beauty, and the […]
San Juan County WA Sheriff’s Log June 3 – 9, 2026: Sunk boat, fraud, speeding, missing man found
San Juan County Deputies responded to 127 calls from June 3-9, 2026 including: A Lopez deputy responded to a report of persons rescued from a sinking vessel. Two recreational shrimp harvesters were rescued by Good Samaritans after their vessel took on water and sunk. Both persons were treated by Lopez Fire and EMS and were […]
Town of Friday Harbor earned its 11th Well City Award
LWVSJ Observer Corps* summary of the Friday Harbor Town Council, June 4, 2026 meeting. Executive Assistant Greene presented an Annual Report on the Friday Harbor Arts Commission. Adrian Kilpatrick and Teresa Smith have stepped down from the Commission. Joining the Commission are Mary McCulloch and Councilmember Dyer. The Poetry Contest submissions are due by July […]
Everything you always wanted to know about the county budget
A 12-page graphic-heavy downloadable document summarizing San Juan County’s 2026 budget is available on line. The plethora of data includes sources of funding, comparisons to prior years, details on how reductions were made to balance the 2026 budget, projected shortfall for 2027, demographics of San Juan County, funding priorities, and the county’s organizational chart. The […]
Council may consider 2 new sales taxes
During the May 26, 2026 meeting, the County Council discussed strategies for balancing and preparing the 2027 budget. County Auditor Natasha Warmenhoven, Budget Analyst Dr. Molly Foote, and County Manager Jessica Hudson led a discussion with Council about the upcoming budget process and the projected financial challenges to presenting a balanced budget for next year. […]
2026 Home Funds available, applications due by July 13, 2026
San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) has released a Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) for the 2026 funding round for the Home Fund program. Applications will be accepted starting June 1, 2026, with response being due no later than July 13, 2026. HCS staff are available for pre-application meetings. Eligible recipients are nonprofit […]
Foundational Public Health Services staffing reduced after state grant funding cut
San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) is reducing staffing as a result of a cut in state grant funding that supports foundational public health services. Impacted staff were notified earlier this week their employment with us will be ending on June 30, 2026. The state grant is one that is primarily used to support staff […]
SJICF Awards $115,500 in Scholarships to Local Students
The San Juan Island Community Foundation (SJICF) is proud to announce $115,500 in new scholarship awards to 14 local students pursuing higher education. The scholarships support 10 graduating high school seniors entering college and four students continuing their studies in advanced degree programs. This year’s graduating high school seniors receiving awards are: Jerry Inskeep Legacy […]
Smiles for miles
After the two-hour ceremony, it was time to celebrate with family and friends. Then it was time for the graduates to board the bus and head off to grad night festivities. Matt Pranger photos
Diplomas, hugs, tears and $560,000 in scholarships
Fifty students received their diplomas on Saturday, June 6, 2026 in Turnbull Gym at Friday Harbor High School. The 51st member of the class was studying abroad in Germany. The ceremony included the processional, the history of the class, speeches by the Valedictorian and the Salulatorian, the slide show and the awarding of scholarships. The […]
Friday Harbor High School’s Class of 2026 receive their diplomas
Friday Harbor High School Class of 2026
Friday Harbor High School’s Class of 2026 received their diplomas in a traditional ceremony at 5 pm Saturday, June 6, 2026. The ceremony included the processional, the history of the class, speeches by the Valedictorian and the Salutatorian, the slide show and the awarding of scholarships. The scholarship dollar amount was an astounding $560,000. Photos […]
Kristina Girvan’s sculpture wins Governor’s Choice Award
Friday Harbor High School 9th-grader Kristina Girvan earned statewide recognition at the 53rd Annual OSPI Superintendent’s High School Art Show. Her ceramic sculpture, Octavious, received the prestigious Governor’s Choice Award from Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson. Girvan’s artwork was originally selected to represent the Northwest ESD 189 region, which includes five counties and serves approximately […]
LWVSJ Observer Corps*: San Juan Island School Board, May 27, 2026 The Board celebrated retiring employees: Ray Adams, school tech support; Tamara Carter, Speech & Language Pathologist; Myah Thompson, teacher; Al Turnbow, teacher: and Jose Domenech, Director of Finance. Two students (Charlotte & Hazel), 3rd and 4th graders, and teacher, Alex Finch, from Stuart Island School presented […]
San Juan County expects $346k less for Foundational Public Health Services for 2026-2027 budget
LWVSJ Observer Corps summary of San Juan County Board of Health, May 20, 2026 meeting. Director Mark Tompkins reported that ACH has a new CEO and Community Collaboration has received $20,000 for the Recovery Café. He presented a budget update for Foundational Public Health Services. He expected no budget claw backs for the 2025- 2026 […]
San Juan County WA Sheriff’s Log May 27-June 2, 2026: Burglaries, Domestic Violence with traumatic injuries…
San Juan County Deputies responded to 175 calls from May 27-June 2, 2026 including: On San Juan Island Deputies responded to a report of an in-progress residential burglary of an occupied home. The suspect left before deputies got there and the resident was unharmed. A Lopez citizen submitted a rifle to the Sheriff’s Office for destruction. […]
Orca Action Month Film Series Brings Free Documentary Screenings to San Juan Islands
Four Events. Six Documentary Films. One Urgent Story Throughout June the San Juan Islands are celebrating Orca Action Month with a remarkable series of free documentary film screenings dedicated to the story of the Southern Resident killer whales as well as the salmon, rivers, kelp forests, and communities whose fates are bound to theirs. The Orca […]
June 13: Three new sculptures created through Youth Sculpture Mentorship Program to be unveiled at Sculpture Park
Three new sculptures will be unveiled at 2 pm June 13 at San Juan Island Sculpture Park at Roche Harbor on San Juan Island. The sculptures were created by Kate Douglas, Kristina Girvan, and Penelope Moore through the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park’s Youth Sculpture Mentorship Program. Under the guidance of local bronze artist and advisory […]
San Juan Island EMS Earns American Heart Association Gold Award for 3rd Consecutive Year
Friday Harbor, Washington – San Juan Island EMS has been recognized by the American Heart Association with the 2026 Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Award, including the Target: Stroke Honor Roll — the third consecutive year the agency has earned this distinction. The award recognizes prehospital providers that demonstrate continued success in applying the most current, […]
San Juan County Council to hold budget-focused meetings on June 15, 16, 24
LWVSJ Observer Corps summary of San Juan County Council May 26, 2026 Regular Meeting. Council Chairman Paulsen read an adopted resolution recognizing June as Pride Month for San Juan County in support of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Budget planning and priorities were the main topics of discussion, with presentations from the Auditor’s office concerning the current […]