Island News
Actors Theater of Orcas Island presents Ken Ludwig’s ‘Moon Over Buffalo’
Submitted by the Actors Theater of Orcas Island.
Council Member Jane Fuller moving to new Lopez Village office location
Beginning July 1, Fuller’s new office will be located at Lopez Island Family Resource building on Weeks Rd. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Please be advised that I am vacating my Lopez village office on 262 Weeks Road as of June 30th. From July 1 through the end of my term on December 31, 2026 I will be sharing an office with my SJC Health and Community Services colleagues (Candace Downey and Kate Coombs) on the ground floor […]
Mandy Troxel’s wool paintings featured at Orcas Artworks for July
||| FROM MANDY TROXEL for ORCAS ISLAND ARTWORKS ||| Mandy Troxel is the featured artist for the month of July at Orcas Island Artworks. For the occasion she has created “Goats on the Rock,” a wool-felted homage to agriculture in the San Juan Islands. Her largest piece to date, “Goats on the Rock” uses both wet-felting and needle-felting techniques, all with 100% sheep’s wool. The genre of this piece is called “wool painting,” though this is a slightly deceptive term: […]
Letter to Editor | Why I strongly support Jennifer Swanson for County Council
||| FROM RHEA MILLER ||| Over the years Jennifer Swanson has made relationship with a wide spectrum of citizens, community leaders, County department heads, legislators, and Council members. She is indeed a seasoned leader who can hit the road running on behalf of her constituents. Lately I have had the opportunity to accompany Jennifer as she shares with members of the public. I appreciate how she enjoys working with people and is eager to listen and learn. She has no pretension and […]
Better, not bigger | Airport runway rehabilitation update, construction schedule
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| Last Fall we announced our “Better, Not Bigger” airport pavement rehabilitation project — a partnership between the FAA, WSDOT, and the Port to resurface and reseal the runway, taxiways, and apron, preserving the airport’s current footprint for decades to come. Since then, we’ve worked closely with Granite Construction, Precision Approach Engineering, the FAA, WSDOT, and San Juan County to make sure we’re not only doing the right project, but doing it […]
Larsen statement on birthright citizenship ruling
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “The Supreme Court today has affirmed what anyone who has read the Constitution knows: people born in the United States are U.S. citizens. Once again, the President’s attempt to shred the Constitution by Executive Order has failed. “Thanks to the 14th amendment, birthright citizenship is a cornerstone of American history, culture and law. I stand
San Juan County Clerk Lisa Henderson named WSACC clerk of the year
Lisa Henderson, San Juan County Clerk Lisa Henderson is the recipient of Washington State Association of County Clerks 2026 Clerk of the Year award recipient. WSACC presents the Clerk of the Year award to a member who has demonstrated exceptional representation, service, training, and willingness to assist beyond the call of duty in support of […]
America 250 Special Events taking place July 2
Town of Friday Harbor Council members will attend the America 250 Special Events taking place on July 2, 2026. Activities will include planting new plants as part of the Town Beautification Project located at the Front Street garden beds from 10 to 11 a.m. Following the garden bed planting, Council will attend the Flag Retirement […]
Health Dept holding immunization clinics on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands
San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) is making it easier for families to get their children up to date on required vaccines. Throughout the summer, HCS is holding immunization clinics on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands. See our clinic dates and details below. Immunizations are a safe and proven way to prevent […]
‘It has been an honor to serve you’
Dr. Simpson-Manske bids farewell, for now, to former patients
Sally O’Brien’s Living by Principal workshop comes to Parish Hall
Sally O’Brien’s transformative Seven Living Principles workshop will take place Saturday, July, 18 from 9a–12p at the Parish Hall ||| FROM NIK SCHULZ ||| What if you could walk with Gandhi, Jesus, or Chief Seattle to work out your life questions? What if you had a spiritual guide to help you navigate and transform your life? Well, that magical time is now. Join Sally as she shares the channeled knowledge and insights of these and other ascended masters, consolidated into […]
Get immunized this summer with your local public health department
Sign up or stop by for one our clinics this summer to make sure you’re caught up before school starts ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) is making it easier for families to get their children up to date on required vaccines. Throughout the summer, HCS is holding immunization clinics on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands. See our clinic dates and details below! Immunizations are a safe and proven way […]
Town to have potential quorum for America 250 special events
||| FROM JENNIFER KREMBS for TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Council will potentially have a quorum for America 250 Special Events taking place on July 2, 2026. Council will participate in America 250 Day of Service activities before the regular business meeting. Activities will include participating in planting new plants as part of the Town Beautification Project located at the Front Street garden beds from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Following the garden bed planting,
John Dustrude 1930-2026
John Dustrude was born in the small town of Hartland, Wisconsin in January of 1930. The youngest of 3 kids, he had an older brother Robert and and older sister Shirley. He lived in Hartland all the way through primary and secondary school until he went to college at the University of Wisconsin where he […]
Donations needed for Olga Daze yard sale
||| FROM SUSAN GORDON for OLGA DAZE ||| Olga Daze returns on Saturday, July 18th and in addition to the fun and games, the tradition of the Island’s biggest and best yard sale continues. The nonprofit Olga Community Club would be most grateful for your donations. The funds raised through Olga Daze help maintain the Olga community’s charming Energetics Club building that dates back to 1913. Items will be accepted on July 3, 4 and 5 between 3:00PM and 6:00PM, […]
Ancient waters, new vision: Aqua Chautauqua sets sail through the Gulf Islands
A 150-year-old American tradition is taking to the water
It took a village to bring missing rescue dog back home on Shaw Island
After nearly a week on the run across Shaw Island, Naylor, a gentle poodle mix recently adopted from Animal Protection Society – Friday Harbor, is finally safe at home thanks to the determination of animal care staff, the Sisters who never gave up on him, the compassionate support of island residents, and one very persuasive […]
SJICF appoints Victoria Compton as Chief Development Officer
The San Juan Island Community Foundation (SJICF) has appointed Victoria Compton as Chief Development Officer, effective August 2026. This strategic addition to the leadership team is made possible through a generous grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and advances SJICF’s vision of expanding its impact across the island community by growing philanthropy, strengthening civic […]
Two talks about sea slugs by marine biologist – July 6 and July 7
Marine biologist Dr. Patrick Krug, the 2026 Illg distinguished lecturer will be presenting two talks in July in Friday Harbor. .One, a scientific lecture on July 6 and the other a public talk on July 7. Find out how sea slugs can help improve clear energy technology and wound healing. Learn how bad-tasting chemicals have yielded […]
CWR encounter #43-2 • Js and Ls
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 06:47 PM ObservEnd: 08:50 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss Other Observers: Rachel John, Taylor Redmond Pods: Southern Residents IDsEncountered: J16, J19, J22, J26, J31, J36, J37, J38, J39, J40, J41, J42, J44, J45, J46, J47, J49, J51, J53, J56, J57, J58, J59, J62, and J63 L55, L72, L82, L83, L91, L103, L105L106, L109, L110, L115, L116, L118, L122, L123, and L130 LocationDescr: Haro Strait EncSummary:
Center for Whale Research shares a full day with Js and Ls
||| FROM THE CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 02:48 PM ObservEnd: 05:07 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson, Joe Zelwietro Pods: J, L IDsEncountered: All Js All Ls less L54s and L12s LocationDescr: Becher Bay – Victoria’s waterfront EncSummary: Mark and Joe departed Victoria mid-afternoon, following up a report of a large group of killer whales heading east in the Juan de Fuca, near Sooke. With the strong flood push, they estimated that the whales […]
Coming to Orcas Center | Comedy show ‘The Ocean Hates You’
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| A former marine biologist turned comedian gives a voice to the ocean — and it’s not happy. “The Ocean Hates You” is a comedic and interactive show that dives into humanity’s messy relationship with the sea: the pollution, the overfishing, the bad decisions and why now more than ever, it’s time for change. Performed by former marine biologist turned comedian, Forrest Shaw, the hour-long presentation at Orcas Center on Saturday, July […]
I’m Not the Church Lady | Let go and let God? Hell, no
How can I let go and let God when I believe I was forsaken by him? ||| I’M NOT THE CHURCH LADY from ROSIE KUHN ||| Not everyone experiences firsthand the ravages of war, earthquakes, a diagnosis of a critical illness, or the unanticipated death of a loved one. But almost everyone knows what it’s like when something happens and the world as they know it shatters. In the wake of such devastation, most feel lost, abandoned—even God-forsaken. What once […]
Members push for answers as Eastsound Water Users Association works to keep water flowing and concerns addressed
Concerns over governance, staffing and fire protection coordination at the Eastsound Water Users Association came to a head at a June 16 board meeting, where roughly 50 members pressed the board for answers — even as General Manager Dan Burke and Board President Teri Nigretto pushed back on what they called an unfair characterization of the utility’s operations.