Island News

Letter to Editor | Tiger Construction partially demolishes local beloved memorial garden

||| FROM MAURICE AUSTIN ||| While improvements to the Orcas Island High School parking lot proceed apace, it was nonetheless frustrating to see the much-beloved grape plant chopped down and several fence posts removed. This could have been planned. Why wasn’t it? Indeed, Tiger Construction seems to care less not just about the memorial garden’s boundaries, but also about the faucet box, sprinkler, timer, and plants. Kudos for the individual who agreed to replace the fencing, temporarily, to keep

Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson

Larsen releases statement on Trump’s election speech

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “The President’s speech tonight should be about lowering costs and creating jobs. Instead, he will continue spreading lies about American elections. The truth is simple: Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. America’s elections are secure, transparent and run by state and local officials from both parties. “After the 2020 election, the CIA, the Department

Exchange Update | Styrofoam, swap meet, beach cleanup, more

||| FROM ORCAS RECYCLING SERVICE ||| Styrofoam Recycling Update In last month’s newsletter, we shared our mission to keep Styrofoam out of the landfill by using a Styrofoam densifier. This month, a team from The Exchange took a fact-finding trip to Whidbey Island to see a densifier in operation at an exciting new startup called Repurpose Whidbey. Learn more about the trip and find out how you can help make this project a reality! Learn More Reserve Your SWAP Meet […]

League of Women Voters of Washington launches “Four Questions” video series

 Featuring Washington Supreme Court candidates ||| FROM AMY PELOFF for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| SEATTLE — With five of the nine seats on the Washington State Supreme Court on the ballot this year, the League of Women Voters of Washington has launched a new online resource to help voters make informed decisions in one of the most consequential—and often least understood—parts of the ballot. Beginning today, voters can access “Washington Supreme Court Candidate Interviews: Four Questions,” a new

Genealogy Group to hold open meeting

||| FROM KATHI CISKOWSKI for ORCAS ISLAND GENEALOGY GROUP ||| The Orcas Island Genealogy Group is having an open meeting on Tuesday, July 21 from noon to 2 in the community room of the Orcas Island Public Library. There are two topics that will be discussed and hopefully information can be shared. The first will be the use of AI in genealogical research. The second is for addressing an interesting new twist in Canadian law called Bill C-3, Canadian Citizenship […]

Stitched Stories | A quilters showcase at Orcas Senior Center

||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Discover a beautiful display of local artistry this July and August at Orcas Senior Center! Visit weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to explore a vibrant collection of handcrafted quilts created by talented quilters in our community. Each quilt reflects creativity, craftsmanship, and personal stories woven into every stitch. From bold patterns to delicate details, this special exhibition celebrates the warmth, color, and inspiration of quilting traditi

Larsen votes No on Republican amendment to limit funds for humanitarian efforts

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN |||  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “I voted “no” on a Republican amendment that would have prohibited any diplomatic, humanitarian, development or security funding related to Israel. I support Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself. The amendment would have stopped critical U.S. efforts in the region to distribute humanitarian aid, resettle refugees, support security collaboration

News Brief | Gray whale deaths near record levels in WA

||| FROM KREM 2 NEWS via YOUTUBE |||

No jury duty for July 20-31

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: JULY 20-31, 2026 All jurors summonsed for the Jury Period beginning Monday July 20th through Friday July 17, 2026 are excused.  Thank you.  

Early Bird Passes available for Friday Harbor Film Festival

||| FROM FRIDAY HARBOR FILM FESTIVAL ||| Mark your calendars — Friday Harbor Film Festival returns to San Juan Island this October, opening the evening of October 22 and running through October 25 with powerful documentaries, filmmaker conversations, and island community. Early Bird Passes are on sale now through August 15, with the best pricing of the year on Patron and All-Access passes. Explore Passes Submissions Close August 1 — Last Call for Filmmakers Attention filmmakers! Time’s almost up

Thor Hanson book signing scheduled for Market Garden

||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Join award-winning conservation biologist and local author, Thor Hanson for an engaging talk and signing of his most recent bestselling book, Close to Home, The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door.  His book offers a hands-on natural history for any local patch of Earth, showing that we each can contribute to science and improve the health of our planet. When:  Thursday, July 16 from 1 – 2 pm What:  Thor Hanson talk and book […]

Leadership San Juan Islands recruiting for next class

||| FROM LEADERSHIP SAN JAN ISLANDS ||| Leadership San Juan Islands (LSJI) has begun recruiting for Class XVIII, running from December 2026 through May 2027. Information and the application are available on the website. https://lsji.org/ ZOOM link for July 16- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9711929268?omn=87661620425 Our twelve-day flagship program will include three overnight retreats on Orcas, San Juan and Lopez Islands, supporting our immersive learning objectives. 2026 – 2027 PROGRAM CALENDAR Ori

Olga Daze announces musical lineup

Olga Daze kicks off this Saturday, July 18, at 10:00 am ||| FROM SUSAN GORDON BENTLEY for OLGA DAZE ||| We’re pleased to announce a fantastic musical lineup arranged by Clint McCune. Starting with Speeces Pieces opening at 10:00am, music will be performed throughout the day until close at 2:00pm. Joining the lineup are Clint McCune, Minnow Stream, Dust Bunnies and JP and the OK Rhythm Boys. Don’t miss this chance to see Orcas’ finest musicians in person! All this […]

Poetry Gardens contest deadline July 31, 2026

||| FROM DENICE KULSETH for TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| Poems must be submitted by Friday July 31, 2026, to be entered in the Friday Harbor Poetry Gardens Contest sponsored by the Town of Friday Harbor and the Friday Harbor Arts Commission. Entry is free and open to San Juan County residents of all ages. Winners will be announced in October. Engravings of the 30 winning poems will replace the winners of the previous contest on display since spring 2023 […]

Land Bank July 2026 meeting and agenda

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting Friday, June 17. The meeting is scheduled from 8:45am – 11:10am via Zoom. The meeting will also be available for in person public attendance at the Mullis Community Senior Center on San Juan Island, WA. The public is invited to attend. Click HERE to download the agenda (includes Zoom meeting link) and meeting materials.  

Welcome to Orcas Island Health Care District monthly newsletter

||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| One of the most important things a health district can do is make sure the people it serves have access to clear, reliable information about their health care — what’s available, how to use it, and what’s coming. We are happy to introduce two new ways to stay connected — this newsletter and our new social media pages– so you always know what’s happening with health care on Orcas. The Orcas Island Health Care […]

Ready for Medicare?

||| FROM PEGI GROUNDWATER ||| Will you be turning 65, retiring or qualified for Social Security Disability Benefits for 24 months in the next year? Then you will be eligible to join Medicare. Enrollment in Medicare is not automatic for most people, so you’ll probably need to enroll. There is a lot of new information you’ll need to understand so you can enroll at the right time to avoid penalties, understand what Medicare covers and make an informed decision about […]

‘You Can’t Hide’ show for two nights at Orcas Center

Comedian Casey Skinner performs and leads workshop ||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center’s summer of comedy continues with another hilarious show for two nights of laughs. You Can’t Hide follows comedian Casey Skinner and his true story of accidentally landing in  “the most dangerous hotel in America” — the infamous Cecil Hotel — and the hilariously unhinged events that brought him back for one final night, with a murderer on the loose. Imagine Mr. Bean […]

Thunderpussy to play next Orcas Center summer concert

||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| 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 now through […]

NY Times bestselling and award-winning author coming to Darvill’s

||| FROM DARVILL’S BOOKSTORE & ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Please join Darvill’s Bookstore & the Orcas Library in welcoming NY Times bestselling and award-winning author Stacey Lee. Stacey will discuss her new historical YA novel “HEIRESS OF NOWHERE,” which takes place on Orcas Island in 1918. Stacey Lee is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of historical and contemporary young adult fiction, including The Downstairs Girl, a Reese’s Book Club YA pick, Luck of the Titanic, which receive

Acting classes this summer at Orcas Center

||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Acting class with Paula Russell begins Sunday, July 19, from 1 to 3:30 at Orcas Center. It runs every Sunday through Aug. 30, and is for ages 18-100+ with all levels of experience. The workshop is for everyone interested in exploring acting. No one way is the only way! Russell is a lifetime member of Actors Equity Association and SAG/AFTRA. She has been teaching actors for over 45 years, beginning with […]

Letter to Editor | Why I support Jennifer Swanson for County Council

||| FROM SOOZ STAHL ||| I’ve gotten to know Jennifer Swanson through operating the Shaw Island post office for the past two years. Shaw didn’t have a designated postal worker when USPS hired me for the role, and mail delivery was sporadic and unreliable. I had been working at the Shaw post office only a few months when we heard that the position might once again be discontinued. A firm and diligent advocate, Jennifer taught me the history of the […]

I’m Not the Church Lady | Recovering my willingness to not already know

The invitation to wonder is where real conversation begins ||| I’M NOT THE CHURCH LADY by ROSIE KUHN ||| A friend called the other day. He said, “Rosie, you are so brilliant. You could charge four times what you currently charge, and I guarantee more people would be knocking on your door.” First, I appreciated his acknowledgment. Second, I found myself triggered. Almost immediately, I dropped into an old, familiar landscape: guilt for not doing more, shame for not being […]