Island News
Reservations available for WSF Fall sailing season
Vehicle reservations for the fall 2026 sailing season (Sept. 20 through Dec. 26, 2026) available starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21. For the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route, the two-week and two-day reservation releases will remain at 7 a.m. The fall 2026 sailing schedules are online: Anacortes/San Juan Islands Port Townsend/Coupeville To ensure a smooth and fair experience […]
August 5: Bird Walk at Sculpture Park
Join san Juan Island Sculpture Park on Wednesday, . August 5 from 8-10 am for our monthly bird walk with Tyler Davis. August is the last month to see our migratory birds before they begin their journey south. Bring your binoculars and good walking shoes.
The Room Knew It. Katherine for Council.
On July 15, 2026 the League of Women Voters held their Voter Forum in the heart of District 3, Lopez Island. In true Lopez fashion, it felt like the entire island was there, including an amazing contingent from Orcas. Okay, it wasn’t the entire island, but it was standing room only with over 80 folks […]
Larsen Demands Answers on Oil Spill Preparedness
WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 27, 2026, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, sent a letter to Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, to insist that the Coast Guard review and update its oil spill preparedness plans in light of a proposed new Canadian […]
Cindy Wolf: Ingman has the skills set needed to lead people
Katherine Bryant Ingman has the vision, strength of leadership and proven negotiating skills to take care of business for the people of San Juan County. She has a way of letting you know she is listening and clearly would rather put effort into finding a way to work shoulder to shoulder than waste time going […]
Tom Cowan: Strongly supports Ingman for county Council
I strongly support Katherine Bryant Ingman for District 3 County Council representative. She is well known on Lopez Island as a hard-working advocate for improving our community. Over the past decade, she has taken on some of Lopez Island’s hardest issues, including her role as manager of the Lopez Island Family Resource Center’s Food Share […]
Jamie Stephens: Ingman not afraid to take on and lead tough problems
Katherine is a leader. As a former District 3 County Council Member, I’ve watched her work in this community over the years, and I know a leader when I see one. When the University of Washington chose not to continue operating the Lopez Island Medical Clinic last year, Katherine, as president of the Catherine Washburn […]
Clark Cundy: Katherine Bryant Ingman leads with character
Katherine Bryant Ingman is a nonprofit leader with a decade of hands‑on community service on Lopez Island, running for County Council District 3 to deliver collaborative solutions on housing, transportation, and healthcare. Future‑Focused, Funding‑Savvy, Consensus‑Driven San Juan County is ready for a new type of leadership that brings fresh ideas, new funding strategies, and a […]
Support Swanson for county Council
Editor: Some of us have had the pleasure and opportunity to learn about Jennifer Swanson just recently, through the course of her campaign, while others of us have watched her serve our community for years. Our conclusions are the same: time and again, we’ve seen her tackle rigorous questions and difficult issues with integrity, preparation, […]
July 28: WA postal workers unite for Day of Action to protect the USPS
Public News Service: Postal workers in Washington state and across the country are joining together for a day of action July 28 to protect the U.S. Postal Service from what organizers call the threat of privatization. Supporters are calling on Congress to remove financial burdens on the Postal Service, protect and expand vote-by-mail, and invest in […]
San Juan Island Fire District will resume burn permit administration in the fall
LWVSJ Observer Corps*: Fire District #3 Commissioners Meeting, July 21, 2026 meeting. Commissioners approved a one-time contribution to Chief Monin’s retirement fund of $15,000, following a positive performance evaluation from the Special Meeting on July 2, 2026. Commissioners passed a resolution updating fiscal and financial policies for the district. The Fire District sent SJ County officials […]
OPALCO Students Earn Scholarships and Leadership Recognition Through the Nourdine Jensen Cooperative Youth Scholarship Program
In early July, six San Juan County students proudly represented Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO) at the 2026 Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association (ICUA) Youth Rally as part of the Nourdine Jensen Cooperative Youth Scholarship Program. The Nourdine Jensen Cooperative Youth Scholarship provides $1000 in scholarship dollars for each student to put towards continuing education […]
Critical fire weather creates high fire danger
Fire Officials Seek Public Cooperation Critical fire weather conditions, including Red Flag Watches and Warnings, are underway across the Geographic Area, creating an increased risk for rapid wildfire growth. Fire officials urge residents and visitors to help prevent wildfires by avoiding activities that could spark a fire, following local fire restrictions, and staying informed about changing conditions. The public should also monitor evacuation information and be prepared to act quickly if con
Friday Harbor APS awarded Grey Muzzle grant to help senior dogs
The Grey Muzzle Organization has awarded a significant grant to Animal Protection Society – Friday Harbor (APS-FH) to strengthen local efforts to support vulnerable senior dogs in our community. APS-FH is one of the select group of animal welfare organizations chosen nationwide from a highly competitive applicant pool. This funding will expand access to veterinary […]
July 25 Kenmore Air resumes flights
Kenmore Air Press Release: Friday, July 24, 2026 – 6:00pm (PDT) Update Kenmore Air will resume flight operations tomorrow, July 25, 2006. This decision follows our internal review and coordination with the appropriate authorities. Safety remains our highest priority, and we continue to cooperate fully with the NTSB’s investigation into Thursday’s incident. Any conclusions about contributing […]
Update on Kenmore floatplane crash
At approximately 5:15 p.m. July 23, 2026 one of Kenmore Air’s de Havilland DHC-3 Otter aircraft (flight #140 departing from Lake Union, Seattle) was involved in an accident in Shallow Bay near Sucia Island. There were ten passengers and one pilot on board. All survived the crash. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received the initial report […]
Kenmore Float Plane crashed near Sucia Island
Kenmore Statement: At approximately 5:15 p.m. today, July 23, 2026 one of Kenmore Air’s de Havilland DHC-3 Otter aircraft (flight #140 departing from Lake Union, Seattle) was involved in an accident in Shallow Bay near Sucia Island. There were ten passengers and one pilot on board. We can confirm that everyone aboard has been accounted […]
San Juan EMS responds to float plane crash in Shallow Bay
SJEMS Press Release: On July 23rd, 2026 at 5:15 pm, San Juan Island EMS responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a plane crash at Shallow Bay/Sucia Island. It’s reported that a pilot and 10 passengers were on board at the time of the crash. All 10 passengers and the pilot have been accounted for, and […]
Decades-long dataset shows which orcas are most at home in Puget Sound
UW News: Data spanning nearly half a century shows that endangered southern resident killer whales are spending less time in inland waters, whereas their larger cousins, Bigg’s killer whales, are increasingly present in Puget Sound.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration listed southern resident killer whales as endangered in 2005 after rapid population decline in the late 1990s. […]
Air quality information available online
Keep track of the air quality in your area by using the charts and maps on AirNow.gov. AQI Charts Fire and Smoke Maps The impact low air quality has on health is covered at https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/
How to find local food
Interested in local food? Find local food at farm stands, farmers markets, co-op markets, restaurants, grocery stores, food banks, by using the map at EatLocalFirst
July 28: False Bay Tidal Walk
Join marine ecologist and islander, Dr. Drew Harvell, for a guided walk around UW False Bay Marine Preserve during low tide! Park at the UW parking area on False Bay Rd by 9 am. Parking is limited, so carpool if you can! We will be walking out to the rocks at the mouth of False Bay […]
July 28: How are Sea Stars Faring in our Salish Sea Menagerie?
July 28th, 7:00 PM – Summer Lecture Series: How are Sea Stars Faring in our Salish Sea Menagerie? The Whale Museum & YouTube Hundred-year-old giant clams, coral kingdoms that rival human cities, jellyfish that glow in the dark, and sea stars with super strength: ocean invertebrates are among the oldest and most diverse organisms on […]
Way to help 3 women arrested by ICE in San Juan County, WA
Three women returning from a housecleaning job on an outer island July 7, 2026 were stopped by the US Coast Guard near Roche Harbor. ICE was contacted and two of the women were deported. The third woman was taken to the Tacoma Detention Center. The People’s Coalition of San Juan Island is reaching out to […]