Island News

News Brief | Royal Caribbean ship arrives in Alaska with dead endangered fin whale on bow

||| FROM TRAVEL PULSE ||| A Royal Caribbean Group cruise ship arrived in Seward, Alaska, with a dead fin whale on its bow. A necropsy later revealed blunt force trauma consistent with a ship strike as the cause of death. “The examination revealed that the whale was pregnant, freshly dead, and in good nutritional condition, with plenty of blubber and muscle,” according to NOAA Fisheries Alaska. READ FULL ARTICLE

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Midnight Mutterings | Urban friends

||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| About the photograph. I am in Bellingham visiting my son and Molly and Rose Cats. A few days ago Rose escaped the house and was hiding in the weeds of the uncared-for garden in the front yard of my son’s house. I am no longer shocked by the deer that wander the streets and yards of Bellingham. These deer are twice the size of Orcas deer and just as bold. I was watching […]

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Sheriff’s Report | June 17 – 23, 2026

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 26-003564 Found Property 09:19:26 06/17/26 A Deputy on San Juan Island received a report of found property. The Deputy was given a bag of keys. It is unknown who the keys belong to. The keys were booked into evidence as found property. 26-003584 Unwanted Person 15:59:10 06/17/26 A Deputy on Orcas Island responded to a report of an unwanted person in the Doe Bay area. The person was contacted […]

PHD approves letter of intent and sales agreement for employee housing

LWVSJ Observer Corps summary of Public Hospital District # 1 May 27, 2026 meeting. Village at the Harbor: Director Tina Levasheff introduced the new Assistant Director, Elise Johnson, who started work June 17. Ms. Johnson is an RN with experience in long term care and has family ties on San Juan Island. She will oversee […]

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Car goes over cliff in nat’l forest, NAS Whidbey assists in rescue

NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. – A Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island assisted in the rescue of four individuals involved in a vehicular accident near T-Rex Falls in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest near Wilkeson, Wash., on June 26,2025. Early this morning, Station SAR Whidbey was notified by […]

sharon@sanjuanislander.com Federal, Latest Posts Read

Library Youth Program | How about a free chess workshop?

||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY ||| Please join local teen Lamai Hons for a free chess workshop at the Orcas Island Public Library. This chess workshop is an incredible opportunity to develop chess skills and have a great time! There will be snacks provided, and the Orcas Island Public Library will host meetings. Beginners of all ages 12 and above are invited to join the OI state-winning chess team members in a multi-week program designed to help […]

Orcas Christian School summer carnival set for community celebration

||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| Orcas Christian School will host its inaugural Summer Carnival on the school campus, inviting families from across the community for a day centered on faith, fun and family activities. The event is scheduled for July 3rd, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Orcas Christian School campus, located at 107 Enchanted Forest Road. Organizers say the carnival will feature a mix of games, activities, food and family-friendly entertainment designed to bring the community together

Actors Theater to bring ‘Moon Over Buffalo’ to Grange stage

||| FROM ACTORS THEATER OF ORCAS ISLAND ||| In “Moon Over Buffalo,” a delightful and hilarious backstage farce by Ken Ludwig, we meet Charlotte and George Hay, a struggling acting duo on tour in Buffalo in 1953. Their repertoire features a quirky rendition of “Cyrano de Bergerac” and Noel Coward’s “Private Lives.” As fate would have it, they have a golden opportunity to impress legendary director Frank Capra, who is on his way to catch their performance. However, the chaos […]

Environmental comedy show comes to Friday Harbor

||| FROM TRACIE MERRILL and JESS NEWLEY for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| The Whale Museum and Friends of the San Juans are partnering to host an ocean-themed comedy show with Forrest Shaw at Brickworks on Monday, July 13 at 7 PM! Forrest Shaw, former marine biologist turned comedian, gives a voice to the ocean—and trust me, it has some things to say. “The Ocean Hates You!” dives straight into pollution, overfishing, climate change, plastic, and all the many ways humans […]

Licensing and Recording office closure

San Juan County Auditor’s Office, Licensing and Recording counter closed July 2 & 3 ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Auditor’s office, vehicle/vessel licensing and recording counter will be closed on Thursday, July 2 and Friday, July 3 in recognition of the Independence Day holiday. We apologize for any inconvenience this closure may cause. We will return to our regular counter hours (Mon-Thurs, 10am-4pm) on Monday, July 6. We wish everyone a safe and happy […]

WSF Weekly Report | Half way thru World Cup; 75th anniversary wrap-up

||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve As we reach the midpoint of Seattle’s six FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches, I’m pleased to report our service has successfully managed demand. We have spent months, and in some ways years, preparing for higher ridership and busier terminals. We built in extra resilience for this event by planning for relief vessels. These boats can step in if another ferry has a mechanical problem that cannot be […]

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

Column, News Read

WA Secretary of State: Statement on federal ruling striking down Trump’s Executive Order on mail-in voting

OLYMPIA — Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs applauded a federal ruling Thursday that blocks President Trump’s unconstitutional March 2026 Executive Order on mail-in voting for the November General Election. The order and a proposed rule by the U.S. Postal Service would require states to submit lists of voters who are eligible to receive ballots to the USPS. This would give the federal government control over who can and […]

sharon@sanjuanislander.com Elections, Latest Posts Read

Connie Erickson Redling July 10, 1941 – June 13, 2026

Connie Erickson Redling, age 84, peacefully entered into the arms of Jesus on June 13, 2026, while residing at Sherwood Assisted Living in Sequim, Washington. Her best friend and some of her family were by her side. She is now free from her battle with cancer and many other health challenges. Connie was born on […]

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July 13: Environmental Comedy Show Comes to Friday Harbor

The Whale Museum and Friends of the San Juans are partnering to host an ocean-themed comedy show with Forrest Shaw at Brickworks on Monday, July 13 at 7 PM! Forrest Shaw, former marine biologist turned comedian, gives a voice to the ocean—and trust me, it has some things to say. “The Ocean Hates You!” dives […]

sharon@sanjuanislander.com Event Read

Town needs Spring street clear for street cleaning before the parade

No parade seating allowed in the street before 8 a.m. July 4 The Spring Street roadway must remain clear the morning of Saturday, July 4 to allow the Town’s street sweeper to clean the road in preparation for the holiday parade. Items may be placed on the sidewalk, but the public is not permitted to […]

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Surge in oil tanker traffic threatens Salish Sea, Southern Resident Orcas, and shoreline communities

||| FROM LOVEL PRATT for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| Friends of the San Juans is raising urgent concerns over a dramatic increase in oil tanker traffic in the Salish Sea driven by expanding Canadian tar sands pipeline projects and new proposals to fast-track oil export infrastructure to Canada’s Pacific coast. Canada is Fast-Tracking a New Tar Sands Crude Oil Pipeline Canada is advancing plans to expedite permits for major infrastructure projects, including ports, pipelines, and transportation

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Biggs encounter logged by Center for Whale Research

||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 12:40 PM ObservEnd: 01:50 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson, Joe Zelwietro Pods: Bigg’s killer whales IDsEncountered: T049C LocationDescr: South of Sheringham Point EncSummary: Mark and Joe departed Victoria early in the day to complete a survey of the central Juan de Fuca Strait. The weather was ideal, and they made it as far as Sombrio Point before turning back to the east. Wandering male T049C had been […]

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Here’s what’s happening at Senior Center in July

||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Orcas Senior Center offers a variety of ongoing classes, social groups, wellness activities, and creative programs throughout the month. All programs are open to everyone, regardless of age, and new participants are always welcome. A full calendar with dates and times is available at www.orcasseniors.org/calendar-of-events. This Month at the Senior Center: Fitness & Wellness: Chair yoga, Feldenkrais Arts & Creativity: Art with Carla, quilting, need

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Island Health issues community statement on physician transition

||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HOSPITAL DISTRICT ||| As a Hospital District, we want to share appreciation of the community members and patients of Dr. Simpson-Manske who have shared comments in a variety of ways. During our Public Hospital District Board Meeting on Wednesday June 24th, we had 16 community members that shared public comment, 41 individuals who submitted written public comment ahead of time, and acknowledge the 465+ individuals who have signed the petition. We thank you for your input […]

No jurors needed June 29 – July 3

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: JUNE 29 – JULY 3, 2026 All jurors summonsed for the Jury Period beginning Monday June 29 through Friday July 3, 2026 are excused. Thank you.