Island News
Islanders encouraged to participate in transportation survey
Submitted by San Juan County.
Existing vacation rentals in Eastsound and Lopez Village need a provisional use permit by June 25
Submitted by San Juan County.
Call to artists: Community Show ‘Color, Texture & Pattern’
Submitted by the Visual Arts Committee of Orcas Center.
Classifieds
Abandoned Vehicle Auction Monday, June 22, 2026 at 10 am Preview from 9 to 10 am 1997-Isuzu Rodeo WA Lic # Unknown 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
June 20: Six events in one day including- 13th Three Lakes Marathon
June 20 | 7 am to 2 pm | Lakedale Resort | 4313 Roche Harbor Road | San Juan Island Join our annual celebration that has developed a reputation for excellence in community, health, fitness, family and FUN! 13th Three Lakes Triathlons, Olympic, Sprint and Youth distances and 23rd KINGS Market Half Marathon, 10k and […]
Here’s a sneak peek at 2026 OIGC Tour Gardens
||| FROM PERRI GIBBONS for ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Garden A: Warm Valley Farm If you think you know this farm from the many times driving by it to the ferry…. think again!! You will be amazed by the creative energy on display beyond the gates. Joel and Anna have worked hard to energize the property while staying true to the property’s long history, including early days as bulb growers, the orchard and the barn. I can’t wait to […]
Washington State Ferry engineers to hold press conference
Ask state to address workforce challenges driving unreliable ferry service ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRY ENGINEERS ||| What: Washington State Ferries Marine Engineers Press Conference When: 1 pm Wednesday June 17 Where: Colman Dock Washington State Ferry Terminal at Pier 52 (on upper level walkway outside the terminal) Why: With more than 750,000 visitors expected in Seattle during the FIFA World Cup, state agencies have promised that transportation infrastructure is prepared to handle the inc
Orcas Center art show opening on Friday, June 26
“The Ones That Made It” ||| FROM MARJORIE TAYLOR for ORCAS CENTER ||| The Visual Arts Committee of Orcas Center announces the opening of “The Ones That Made It,” a curated show of wood-fired ceramics by local artists Michael Rozzi, Mathew Haeuser, Yuriko, Sam and Ayame Bullock, Sharon Ho, Sean Roberts, Penny Sharp and Mary Jane Elgin on June 26, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Intrigued by the traditional craft of firing pottery using wood as fuel, they custom-built a kiln […]
The art of slow medicine: A conversation with Dr. Jennifer Simpson-Manske
Dr. Jennifer Simpson-Manske came to Orcas Island, never having been here before. What she found was a community that wanted good medical care and knew how important it was.
June 16: Government of Canada’s Efforts to Protect Southern Resident killer whales from vessel-related disturbance – VIRTUAL EVENT
The Whale Museum’s Summer Lecture Series continues on June 16th at 7:00 PM with a remote lecture from Haley Welsh and Emma Giesbrecht from the Government of Canada! “Government of Canada’s Efforts to Protect Southern Resident killer whales from vessel-related disturbance”. This lecture will be remote-only presented through Zoom. Representatives from the Government of Canada […]
June 26: 3rd Annual Salish Sea-wide Molt Blitz
June 26 | 2-4 pm, | East Sound | (Orcas Island) Are you one of the millions of Washington residents living on or near the Salish Sea? Join the Salish Sea-wide Molt Blitz on June 26 to contribute to the largest single-day dataset of crab molts collected in our state. Learn more about green crab and efforts […]
News Brief | World’s leading deepfake expert no longer trusts his own eyes
In the age of A.I., Hany Farid is struggling to prove what’s real before the internet decides for itself ||| FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES ||| Hany Farid has invented software to identify deepfakes. But the technology to create fake videos and images is improving too quickly to keep up. “I don’t trust anything. Every image I see, I’m drawing lines for shadows and doing geometry in my head, trying to figure out what I’m looking at. It’s over. Within […]
News Brief | Switzerland to vote on capping its population at 10 Million
Capping its population at 10 Million could reshape Switzerland ||| FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES ||| About 9.1 million people live in Switzerland — approaching too many, for many Swiss people. The country will vote on whether to take measures to cap its growing population at 10 million. Migration, not birthrates, is driving Switzerland’s population growth, and migration is what the initiative aims to stop. Some residents complain migration has threatened their way of life by, for example, replacing th
Marine Surveys | Science and stewardship in action
What’s happening in the County’s Marine Stewardship area? ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Department of Environmental Stewardship cares deeply about our marine environment; yet it is hard to know what’s really happening on the water without venturing out on a boat. You may have seen Marine Program staff busy conducting on-the-water surveys on one of the small county boats. By routinely monitoring the bays and inlets for derelict vessels, inventorying mooring buoys
County recognizes Juneteenth with proclamation and a day of observance
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is proud to recognize Juneteenth as National Independence Day. During the June 9 meeting, the County Council issued a proclamation recognizing and celebrating June 19 for its historical and cultural significance in the fight against slavery and racism. Additionally, County offices will be closed on Friday, June 19. Online services are available 24/7 at http://www.sanjuancountywa.gov. Offices will resume regular schedules on Monday, Ju
Communitywide climate survey extended through June 19
Take the survey to help build the next phase of the Climate Action Plan ||| FROM SJC DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ||| We want to hear from the community! To allow for additional inputs on our second Communitywide Climate Survey, the survey will stay open through June 19. San Juan County is developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP) to guide how we respond to climate change while protecting our community and environment. The County is inviting all residents to participate […]
WA State Ferries faces labor challenges
||| FROM KRISTIN HYDE for WSF MARINE ENGINEERS ||| What: Washington State Ferries Marine Engineers Press Conference When: 1 pm Wednesday June 17 Where: Colman Dock Washington State Ferry Terminal at Pier 52 (on upper level walkway outside the terminal) Why: With more than 750,000 visitors expected in Seattle during the FIFA World Cup, state agencies have promised that transportation infrastructure is prepared to handle the increased traffic. Washington State Ferries (WSF) has assured that the s
County Council needs to correct costly missteps before cutting services – editorial by Sharon Kivisto
Reading San Juan County’s Budget in Brief, you’re confronted with numerous reasons that the county is facing substantial budget shortfalls including among others inflation, limits on property tax increases, state and federal mandates, What isn’t included are the costs of the abrupt decision to fire the Department of Community Development current land use staff and […]
Rooted in community: Leadership transition at the Orcas Community Resource Center
Submitted by the Orcas Community Resource Center Communications Team.
Community survey about Transportation Plan open until July 15
San Juan County residents are invited to help shape the future of transportation services through our community survey for the Human Services Transportation Plan (HSTP). The survey is open now and we are collecting responses until July 15. Click here to take the survey! This survey is available in English and Spanish online. We also have […]
Larsen receives support from current and former elected officials
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| EVERETT, Wash. – Current and former San Juan County elected officials have resoundingly endorsed Rick Larsen for his reelection to Congress. Larsen has received endorsements from current and former county elected officials, including: San Juan County Councilmember Jane Fuller; San Juan County Councilmember Justin Paulsen; San Juan County Councilmember Kari McVeigh; former San Juan County Councilmember Jamie Stephens; former San Juan County Counci
Summer sailing schedule starts today (Sunday, June 14)
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Our summer sailing schedule starts Sunday, June 14, and runs through Sept. 19. Anacortes/San Juan Islands: We’ve made schedule adjustments to improve on-time performance. Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth: The #3 vessel will operate a full-day schedule on Saturdays and Sundays this summer. Last year, it operated half days on weekends due to limited crewing. Port Townsend/Coupeville: Starting Tuesday, June 16, the route will operate a two-boat schedule dail
I’m Not the Church Lady | It’s Spooky
||| I’M NOT THE CHURCH LADY from ROSIE KUHN ||| Whether you call it awakening, enlightenment, ascension, grace, expanded consciousness, or simply being fully alive, something seems to be happening. Ordinary people are having extraordinary experiences. They describe moments of profound clarity, unexpected knowing, waves of compassion, overwhelming love, deep stillness, and a sense of connection that transcends their usual understanding of who they are and how life works. And here’s the thing: the
Is your boat ready for the season?
Submitted by San Juan County.