Island News
Jennifer Swanson — The experience, the grit and the heart to lead | Column
By Kerwin Johnson, Gordon Koenig, Trish Lehman, Terri Gudgell Mason, Rhea Miller, Anita Orne, Bill Watson and Ron Zee
Reposado to play next Orcas Center summer concert
Submitted by the Orcas Center.
August 6 is Pollinator Day at Orcas Island Library
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The Orcas Island Library will host Pollinator Day on Thursday, August 6, featuring Russel Barsh and biologists from Kwiáht. The free, all-ages program will include outdoor pollinator observations on the Library’s south lawn from noon to 3 p.m., with a presentation beginning at 1 p.m. Participants will learn about the islands’ native bees, butterflies, flies, moths, and other pollinators—and the important role they play in supporting local plants,
Letter to Editor | Ingman is forward‑thinking, consensus‑building leader we need right now
||| FROM CLARK CUNDY ||| 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 collaborative approach to solving long‑term challenges. Katherine Bryant Ingman represents tha
Larsen demands answers on oil spill preparedness
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, 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 oil pipeline that will increase oil tanker traffic in the Salish Sea. “Section 7407 of the National Defense […]
Letter to Editor | Ingman has vision, leadership skills
||| FROM CINDY WOLF ||| 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 toe to toe. She has a great capacity for absorbing information, a genuine desire to address the current issues facing […]
Steps looking for provider to serve, support SJ families
Steps supports children & families on Orcas, and we’re looking for the right person to join us ||| FROM HEATHER TENORE for STEPS ||| For more than 40 years, Steps has partnered with families to meet the developmental needs of young children on Whidbey Island. We began serving families in the San Juan Islands in 2019 and in Anacortes in 2023, providing in-home therapy, developmental education, and family support for infants and toddlers. Our providers travel throughout the islands because […]
OPALCO outage caused by trip on the BPA system
Tuesday July 28 at 12:40 PM: All power is restored. The crews continue to investigate the cause of the outage this morning. Initially all of San Juan County except Lopez was without power due to a trip on the BPA system. Using our redundant power feeds most of the meters were restored within the hour. […]
Aviation Law Group Publishes Analysis of Kenmore Air Floatplane Crash Near Sucia Island
Aviation Law Group published an initial analysis of the Kenmore Air floatplane crash near Sucia Island, Washington, which occurred on July 23, 2026. The DHC-3 floatplane was carrying 11 people when it made an emergency landing near Sucia Island and subsequently caught fire. All 11 people aboard were rescued, although multiple individuals suffered injuries. The […]
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.
Letter to Editor | Why we support Katherine Bryant Ingman for Council
||| FROM LOVEL and BOYD PRATT ||| We heartily endorse Katherine Bryant Ingman for San Juan County Council District 3. Katherine has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to our island communities through her work in healthcare, food security, ferry advocacy, and countless volunteer efforts. She is an exceptional listener who brings people together, approaches challenges thoughtfully, and follows through on her commitments. We’re excited to see Katherine use these skills to improve programs and se
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, […]
New study: Largest-ever dataset of elemental concentrations in killer whales
New research suggests heavy metal intoxication is not a concern for endangered killer whales
Coming Up | Celebrating 70 Years of Library Fair
||| FROM INGRID MATTSON for ORCAS LIBRARY FAIR ||| This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Library Fair & Book Sale! Friends of Orcas Island Library (FOIL) work diligently all year to accept, sort, and box thousands of donated books dropped off by islanders over the year. If you love collectible art books, cookbooks, puzzles, history, and everything in between at true bargain pricing, plan to stop by the Library Saturday, August 8 from 10am-3pm. Books are generally $1 […]
Orcas Artist Studio Tour opens July 3
||| FROM MARJORIE TAYLOR for ORCAS VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE ||| The Visual Arts Committee of Orcas Center and the Orcas Artist Studio Tour are excited to present the Studio Tour Art Opening on Friday, July 31st, from 5:30-7 p.m. Join us in the Madrona Room and Orcas Center Lobby to preview the works of artists participating in this year’s Studio Tour. This free event features artists working in painting, printmaking, stone cutting, woodwork, blacksmithing, encaustics, ceramics, fiber arts, sculptur
Reposado to play next Orcas Center summer concert
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS ||| Orcas Center is proud to present its annual Summer Concert Series on the Village Green, bringing free, live music to the heart of Eastsound. This vibrant outdoor series, supported in part by Joe Brotherton and the Doe Bay team, celebrates community, creativity, and the magic of music under the open sky. All performances are free for the community and take place on Sundays at 5 p.m. The series runs through Aug. 30. The eclectic […]
Updated | Annual Orcas Fly-In will be here soon
||| FROM CHARLIE CATHEY for ORCAS ISLAND FLY-IN ||| Get ready for the annual Orcas Island Fly-In, happening from Friday to Sunday, August 7 through 9, 2026, at Eastsound Airport! This event is brought to you by Chapter 937 of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Pilots from all over the Pacific Northwest and Canada will be arriving, filling the field with a fantastic mix of aircraft, from homebuilt planes to vintage warbirds. The Fly-in will also offer commemorative t-shirts, sweatshirts