Island News
Library’s exhibiting artist for the month of August is Ayn Gailey
||| FROM ANDREA COHAN for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| This collection of Ayn’s work, entitled Roots and Remembrance, explores grief not as separation, but as an enduring bond. Layering heirloom photographs of the artist’s mother in Taiwan with contemporary photographs of the family and landscapes she left behind, the works weave together memory, ancestry and place. Hand-stitched threads become both physical marks and symbolic connections, suggesting the invisible ties between generations. Through t
August 6: Author talk by Shahn McGuire at Griffin Bay Bookstore
Shahn McGuire presents her book Sensitive Souls Thursday, August 6, 7:00 pm Griffin Bay Bookstore presents San Juan Island’s beloved marriage and family therapist, Shahn McGuire, reading from her book Sensitive Souls, Empaths, Intuitiveand Psychics: A Guide Book for People with Gifts for the World,, Thursday, August 6 and 7 pm in the Griffin Bay Bookstore Cafe. Shahn […]
August 9: Rotary Car Show is Sweeter this Year
Get ready for some serious car-gazing! The Rotary Car Show returns for its 18th year on Sunday, August 9, from 11 am to 3 pm, at San Juan Vineyard, 3136 Roche Harbor Road. Known for its relaxed, friendly atmosphere and scenic setting, the show welcomes custom, classic, agricultural, and alternative-fuel vehicles. Enjoy live music by […]
Building community and connection
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| On Wednesday evening, as the sun set over Turtleback and the full moon rose over Mount Constitution, dozens of community members gathered in support of the Pea Patch Community Campus. We shared stories and cheese served atop a canoe, sang and danced. The magic of Orcas on full display. Several community members spoke to the crowd about the great need to address the affordability crisis on Orcas Island. I was […]
Voters Urged to Use Ballot Drop Boxes as Mail Postmark Delays Put Ballots at Risk
From Katherine Bryant Ingman Campaign for San Juan County Council With the August 4th primary just days away, Katherine Bryant Ingman’s campaign is urging San Juan County voters who haven’t yet returned their ballots to use an official ballot drop box rather than the mail. Recent changes in how USPS processes mail mean postmark dates […]
Larsen seeks answers at Ferndale ICE facility
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “The President’s cruel immigration agenda has angered many of my constituents and struck fear in families around the region. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has been at the top of this agenda. I came to the Ferndale ICE holding facility today to get answers about this facility for my community. “Where I was not able to get complete answers, […]
Voters urged to use ballot drop boxes as mail postmark delays put ballots at risk
||| FROM KATHERINE BRYANT INGMAN CAMPAIGN FOR SJC COUNCIL ||| With the August 4th primary just days away, Katherine Bryant Ingman’s campaign is urging San Juan County voters who haven’t yet returned their ballots to use an official ballot drop box rather than the mail. Recent changes in how USPS processes mail mean postmark dates are no longer reliably tied to when a ballot is dropped off. Under a new rule that took effect on December 24, 2025, postmarks may reflect the […]
World-class musicians return for 29th Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival
Submitted by the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival.
Molly Joellen Sandwith (Capron) (Liebman) April 8, 1939 – May 23, 2026
Molly JoEllen Sandwith, born April 8, 1939, in Bellingham, Washington, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2026. She was the daughter of Oliver Sandwith and Virginia Reed Sandwith, and her life was deeply rooted in the history, community, and landscapes of the Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington. Molly came from families who were pioneers […]
Friday Harbor Town Council approves improving Spring St parking lot, renews inter-local agreement with county Public works
LWVSJ Observer Corps summary of Friday Harbor Town Council, July 16, 2026 meeting. The Mayor announced that Taylor Clark was hired by the Streets and Parks Department. The Council approved a resolution to make improvements to the town’s public parking lot on Spring Street. The Council approved a resolution renewing a longstanding inter-local agreement between […]
OPALCO Hosts Leadership Chats
In July the OPALCO leadership team hosted an open house with co-op members. About 20 islanders gathered with some of the OPALCO board and leadership team to discuss a wide variety of topics. Members had thoughtful comments on OPALCO power rates, energy conservation, the Decatur Island Solar Expansion project, battery storage, virtual power plants, rising […]
Yakima Out of Service until 4:45 pm, Inter-Island ferry back in service at 2:20
Yakima Out of Service until 4:45 pm The #1 Yakima will be out of service to start the day of Friday, July 31, due to crewing. The vessel is expected to return to service for the 4:45 p.m. Anacortes to Friday Harbor sailing. Rules have been relaxed and reservations have been blocked out of the […]
Council to resume 2027 budget and organization discussions at August 3 meeting
Council will continue its 2027 budget discussions while focusing on potential revenue options and organizational restructuring to help erase a $4 million budget gap. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is preparing for one of its toughest budget years in recent memory. Rising costs, capped property tax levies, unfunded state mandates, and declining financial support from the state and federal governments has left the Council with a projected budget shortfall of $4 million
Fire Safety on Public Lands: BLM Warns of Severe Weekend Weather Conditions
Fire restrictions remain in effect on all Bureau of Land Management public lands in Oregon and Washington. BLM officials urge visitors to research additional restrictions and closures for places they plan to recreate this weekend, as the National Weather Service has issued a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” Red Flag Warning for Saturday afternoon and evening. This rare warning signals exceptionally […]
OPALCO hosts leadership chats
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| In July the OPALCO leadership team hosted an open house with co-op members. About 20 islanders gathered with some of the OPALCO board and leadership team to discuss a wide variety of topics. Members had thoughtful comments on OPALCO power rates, energy conservation, the Decatur Island Solar Expansion project, battery storage, virtual power plants, rising demand and alternative renewable energy sources. Members seemed to enjoy the op
WSF Weekly Report | Recovering from busy weekend; Navy band on board; paddleboarder rescue
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve You may have noticed an increase in crew-related sailing cancellations over the past few weeks after a relatively long period of improved stability. I know how frustrating these disruptions can be, especially during the busy summer travel season. Like many industries, we are still building back our workforce following the pandemic. With support from Gov. Bob Ferguson and the Legislature, we have made significant progress
Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Celebrating 70 years of the Library Fair
Submitted by the Orcas Public Library.
News Brief | What goes into whale watching and what could put it at risk
||| FROM KOMO NEWS ||| Every time a tour boat, ferry or any of the other Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) members see a whale, they log it. Boats will put up a special flag, to let others know that there is a whale nearby, as the state has strict distance rules. “We have some of the most precautionary regulations when it comes to vessels and whales.” In our waters, we have more whales than we did a century ago, […]
Larsen introduces bill to study prison libraries
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Representative Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) introduced the Read for Reentry Act, legislation that would authorize a study into state and federal prison libraries in the United States to better understand and further the role of prison libraries in reducing the number of prisoners who return to prison. “Access to the world of books through libraries changes lives,” said Rep. Larsen.
A letter from San Juan County Council to community regarding recent hate speech
Council issues letter condemning hate and discrimination in response to the recent tagging of a local LGBTQ+ pride display ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| This past June, during Pride month, which was acknowledged by the county council through Proclamation, unknown individuals painted over a local LGBTQ+ Pride display. This is in the context of the almost immediate covering of similar displays the previous two years. And this year, it descended to a new low when it was tagged […]
JP & OK Rhythm Boys to support Grange in forthcoming concert
||| FROM ANITA ORNE for JP AND THE OK RHYTHM BOYS ||| On Friday, August 7, you can enjoy great tunes while helping out a great island institution! JP and the OK Rhythm Boys will be playing at the Orcas Island Grange at 7pm that evening and all profits will go to support the Grange. JP and the OK Rhythm Boys are JP Wittman, Gordon Koenig, and Anita Orne on fiddle, guitar, bass, and vocals with possible occasional forays onto […]
Cantwell, Colleagues Demand Answers About Trump’s Plans to Unlawfully Send ICE, Other Federal Agents to Polling Sites During Midterm Elections
Voters may see federal agents at ballot drop boxes and polling places this November, according to thousands of records uncovered at ICE, CBP U.S. law prohibits voter intimidation or deploying armed federal agents, military to polling places WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and […]
Explore your farm dreams with WSU Cultivating Success Courses
Registration is now live for Cultivating Success courses: Explore Your Farm Dreams and Whole Farm Planning. These are both excellent opportunities to find guidance on your farm planning, wherever you are in the process. Read on for details. Interested in starting a small farm? Wonder what it would take, and if you’re ready? Whether you’re in the planning stages or […]