Island News
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 […]
WSF Weekly Report | 75th anniversary celebrations; engine room training; great kudo
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve On Monday, Washington State Ferries marked the 75th anniversary of the state taking over Washington’s ferry service. For 75 years, the state ferry system has connected communities across Washington and has been part of everyday life for millions of people. Ferries have carried workers, students, families, visitors and entire communities across Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. The state’s decision to take over ferry service
SJC Health & Community Services announces staffing reduction due to state grant funding cut
State grant funding cut necessitates staffing reductions while the department remains committed to delivering essential public health services. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) is announcing a reduction in staffing as a result from 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 on
Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Community Band celebrates America’s 250th anniversary
Submitted by the Orcas Island Community Band.
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 […]
LWVSJ Observer Corps | San Juan County Council May 26 regular meeting
||| FROM BARBARA SHARP for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| 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 budget shortfall and the need to continue to close a substantial gap between revenue and expenses. With increasing costs and stagnant revenues, Council is aware of havin
LWVSJ Observer Corps | San Juan County Board of Health, May 20, 2026
||| FROM BARBARA SHARP for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| 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 budget on FPHS grant funding. For the 2026-2027 budget, FPHS expects a budget reduction of $346,000, effective July 1, 2026. The director is working with human resources on next steps. Suggestions
San Juan Island Sculpture Park to unveil three new sculptures
Youth Sculpture Mentorship Program ||| FROM MARITA HOLDAWAY for SAN JUAN ISLANDS SCULPTURE PARK ||| These 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 board member Kristen Douglas-Seitz, the students participated in an immersive six-month experience exploring the complete sculptural process, from concept development and clay mode
You’re invited to Orcas Island Community Church to meet new pastor
||| FROM ALICIA WIGFIELD for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH ||| Join us this Sunday, June 7, at 10:00 a.m., for a special morning of worship, fellowship, and celebration as we welcome Scott Harris, who will be bringing his first message as the new Senior Pastor of Orcas Island Community Church. Whether you’re new to the island, searching for a church home, or simply looking for a place to connect, all are welcome. We would love the opportunity to meet you […]
In Memoriam | Robert (Bob) Alden Littlewood
||| FROM ERICA LITTLEWOOD ||| Our world has lost a brilliant, kind, funny, and talented soul. Robert (Bob) Alden Littlewood died on April 29, 2026, near his home on Orcas Island, Washington. Bob was born in Hempstead, New York on March 24, 1930, to William and Dorothy Cushman Littlewood. Early years were spent in Saint Louis, the Chicago area, and Garden City, NY, where Bob graduated from high school. Demonstrating the curiosity that would be a feature of his life, […]
Vikings earn multiple top-10 finishes at state track championships
By Declan O’Malley
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 […]
SJ EMS has 123 calls in April, Village at Harbor considers pursuing VA licensing
LWVSJ Observer Corps*: Public Hospital District # 1 May 27, 2026 meeting. Deputy Superintendent Evan Perrollaz for Superintendent Butler: PHD met with the Port of Friday Harbor for discussion; the Port is interested in infrastructure and the PHD is interested in housing. PHD met with Mark Tompkins of the San Juan County Health Services to […]
EDC Offers Workshop on Microsoft Copilot for Businesses and Nonprofits
The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) invites businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations to attend a free online workshop, Getting Started with Microsoft Copilot, on Thursday June 11th from 9:00am-10:00am via Zoom. Microsoft Copilot is an artificial intelligence assistant built directly into Microsoft 365 applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams. This practical workshop will […]
EDC Offers Workshop on Claude AI for Businesses and Nonprofits
The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) invites businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations to attend a free online workshop, Getting Started with Claude, on Wednesday June 10th from 9:00am – 10:00am via Zoom. Claude, developed by Anthropic, is one of the fastest-growing artificial intelligence platforms and is particularly well known for its writing capabilities, […]
School bus shuttle will be available for graduation
||| FROM SUZANNA SMITH for ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| Orcas Island School District is excited to celebrate the Class of 2026 on Saturday, June 13. To help make arrival easier for our guests during campus construction, a complimentary school bus shuttle will be available from 1:15 PM to approximately 2:15 PM. Shuttle Location: Community Church, 176 Madrona Street, Eastsound Guests are welcome to park in the church parking lot or adjacent grassy area and ride the shuttle to campus. Following
What should you do if you’re offered free medical services?
||| FROM MARGARET MILLS ||| I called Medicare to report three attempted fraud calls in two days. Medicare sent me this reminder, maybe worth publishing in Orcasonian? Phone callers asked me to confirm that I had Medicare A & B – “In order to inform you about additional services” or the like – If you can capture the caller’s number on your phone, and /or note how they identify themselves, Medicare fraud report services would like to have that information […]
Another EWUA operator resigns
||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| Today, June 3, 2026, another EWUA water operator submitted their resignation. Just days ago, more than 118 members signed an open letter requesting an independent third-party workplace investigation into interactions between management, the Board, and staff. The request followed a May 19 Board meeting attended by more than 75 members concerned about employee turnover, workplace conditions, and the long-term stability of the utility. The Board declined that request, c
Get help paying for Medicare
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Are you having trouble affording the medical care you need? If you are on Medicare, there are three programs that can help: Medicaid (called Apple Health in Washington state) The Medicare Savings Program (also called MSP, and Apple Health in Washington state) The Low-Income Subsidy Program (also called Extra Help or LIS) If your total income from all sources is less than $1,995 per month ($2,705 for a couple), you may be eligible […]
No jurors needed for June 8-12
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: JUNE 8-12, 2026 All jurors summonsed for the Jury Period beginning Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12, 2026 are excused. Thank you.