Island News
Updated August 3: Sheriff’s Log July 1-6, 2026: Dog seriously injured by neighbor’s dog, car fire, fireworks, assaults, illegal U-turn
San Juan County Sheriff’s Log July 1 and 2, 2026. San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is no longer providing the sheriff’s log. The following information is from incident reports received after San Juan Islander Editor Sharon Kivisto filed a public records request for the incident reports from July 1-7, 2026. The files received so far […]
Blood Drive August 4 in Friday Harbor; August 5 in Eastsound
Code Red: Emergency Need for Blood Donors Patient need is outpacing donations, and our local blood supply has hit emergency low levels. We urgently need 1,000 donors every day to ensure patients in Pacific Northwest hospitals have immediate access to lifesaving transfusions for cancer treatments, trauma care, and birth complications If you’re feeling healthy—especially if […]
Annual Rick Campbell Memorial Hot Rod Show at Lug Nuts August 1, 2026
The Annual Rick Campbell Memorial Hot Rod Show featured dozens of vehicles in Friday Harbor August 1, 2026. Photos by Matt Pranger
Rick Campbell Memorial Hot Rod Show
After More Than Seven Months Waiting for a Home, Diesel Is Ready for His Next Chapter
Meet Diesel, the two year old, Boxer Pitbull mix with a heart of gold! This sweet cuddle bug made his way into the care of Animal Protection Society – Friday Harbor (APS-FH) during the holiday season and, despite being a wonderful companion, has yet to find his forever home. Diesel has watched many dogs come […]
San Juan County Council considering options to keep Eastsound Village Green open
LWVSJ Observer Corps: summary of the San Juan County Council Regular Meeting July 28,2026 meeting. Council approved a letter to the community regarding recent hate speech and another to Governor Ferguson regarding increased risk of shipping accidents and spills from new oil transportation projects, with copies to be sent to other concerned parties. Council held […]
Imagination Library of Washington Secures Philanthropic Support Needed to Restore Free Book Program for 40,000 Washington Children
The Imagination Library of Washington (ILWA) announced a pair of new grants that will help restore Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free, high quality, age-appropriate books each month to Washington children from birth to age five. Major commitments from the Roots & Wings Foundation and The JTMF Foundation will stabilize ILWA’s 50% book-cost match […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
New Study Offers Largest-Ever Dataset of Elemental Concentrations in Killer Whales
From mercury and cadmium to selenium and zinc, the elements that accumulate in an animal’s body can offer valuable clues about its health and the environment it inhabits. A newly published study in the international journal PLOS ONE is helping scientists better understand what those clues look like in one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic marine […]
Health Dept holding immunization clinics on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan islands
SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. July 27, 2026 – San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) is making it easier for families to get their children up to date on required vaccines before next school year starts. This August, HCS is holding immunization clinics on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands. See our back-to-school clinic dates and details below! […]
July 29: Learn how to trace your heritage through Ancestry.com
Patrons of San Juan Island library have access to Ancestry.com while in the library. It contains a wealth of information including lists of passengers on ships arriving at Ellis Island, military service, census information and much more. Wednesday, July 29 from 6 to 8 pm in the library’s Main Salon the San Juan Island FamilySearch […]
August 6, 7, & 9, 2026: Alice Di Micele “Reverse the Flow” Album Release Tour
Oregon-based Americana/folk artist will perform a string of intimate shows in Washington’s San Juan Islands in support of her brand-new album “Reverse the Flow”. Alice will bring the emotionally resonant songs from “Reverse the Flow”, along with deeply felt classics and fan favorites, to a handful of warm, community-oriented venues. What to Expect • Soulful […]
Vehicle Auction
Abandoned Vehicle Auction Monday, August 3, 2026 at 10 am Preview from 9 to 10 am 1997 Mazda PU WA Lic #C59543Z Island Towing Impound Yard 600 Mullis St, Friday Harbor WA 98250 Must remove day of auction All Sales Final, as is, where is 360-378-7000
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 […]