Island News
Larsen honored with Henry M. Jackson Award
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF. U .S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| EVERETT, WA – Today, Economic Alliance of Snohomish County (EASC) and Herald Media named Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) the recipient of the 2026 Henry M. Jackson Award. “It is an honor to represent my friends and neighbors in Northwest Washington in Congress, and it is a responsibility I never take for granted,” said Rep. Larsen. “Scoop Jackson set an example for me in public service. We both had the privilege of representing […]
Due April 30 | Real and personal property taxes
The 2026 tax statements have arrived. Pay your taxes online, by secure drop box, or by mail. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The first half of property taxes and personal property taxes are due and payable to the San Juan County Treasurer on or before April 30, 2026. Find information regarding the 2026 tax season on the San Juan County Treasurer’s website. (http://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/314/Treasurer) Payments received in person, via our secure payment box, online, or postmarked af
2026 fire fighter awards ceremony on San Juan Island
||| FROM SAN JUAN ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| San Juan Island Fire & Rescue hosted their annual awards ceremony on Friday, April 10, 2026. The event celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of 2025 and a transformative year. “The annual event is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our team,” said Fire Chief Noel Monin. “Our awards ceremony allows us an opportunity to recognize the hard work of our district staff and many volunteers who wish to protect our […]
Letter to Editor | Support for San Juan County levy lid lift
||| FROM CLINTON and KATHRYN GAUTHIER ||| As a lifelong Friday Harbor resident and third-generation islander, I have seen many levy asks. I feel compelled to speak on the current proposal because my wife, Kathryn, and I share a combined 45 years of experience with 4-H. We are not just supporters; we are products of its mission. Our story began through 4-H leadership opportunities on Orcas Island. Between my 25 years of 4-H experience locally and Kathryn’s 20 years in […]
Our Blue Marble | Film fest, arts, nature & climate events
||| FROM SAN JUAN MAKERS GUILD ||| Earth Day Orcas Film Fest, Art, Poetry, Science Workshops this Week include contemplation, inspiration, and stewardship. Film Fest Registration is Open! Stewardship themes for land and sea touch key topics of our time. Register for password access. Streaming begins Apr 17th and runs through the 26th. Big Thanks to Friday Harbor Film Festival. Earth Day Film Fest Registration https://www.fhff.org/earthweek2026 April 15th: Climate Resilience and Solutions. Commu
Letter to Editor | In support of San Juan County levy lift
||| FROM ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| On behalf of the Orcas Community Resource Center, we are writing to share our perspective on the proposed Levy Lid Lift. As a social service agency on Orcas Island, we work every day with individuals and families who are doing everything they can to stay afloat—yet are often one unexpected event away from losing their footing. We are deeply concerned about the potential loss of county-funded programs that many of our neighbors rely […]
Youth Fishing Derby welcomes families back to Cascade Lake on April 25
||| FROM FIONA J. STONE for ORCAS ADVENTURES ||| A favorite island tradition returns this spring as the Bill Yarlott Annual Youth Fishing Derby takes place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, inviting young anglers and their families to spend the day outdoors at Cascade Lake. Timed with the opening of fishing season, the derby offers kids under 16 the chance to cast their lines starting at daybreak and take part in a relaxed, community-centered event that has been bringing families […]
2026 candidate filing week is May 4 – 8
During filing week, candidates may submit their filings online, by email, by fax, or in person at the San Juan County Elections Office at 55 Second Street, Suite A, Friday Harbor ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| If you have ever wanted to be an elected official, now is your opportunity. Candidates who wish to run for office this year can submit their names for the ballot during the upcoming candidate filing period from May 4 to May 8, […]
OIFR responds to three simultaneous calls including fatal accident, structure fire
||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| On the afternoon of April 13, 2026, Orcas Island Fire & Rescue (OIFR) was dispatched to three separate incidents simultaneously, requiring the department to divide personnel and resources across multiple scenes. Medical Aid At 3:29 pm OIFR units responded to an aid call at the medical center and required air transportation utilizing Island Air. Motor Vehicle Accident — At 3:57 pm, OIFR EMS and Rescue divisions responded to a […]
Earth Day Orcas hands-on learning for all ages
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Your local public health team wants to remind you of a few tips to help make your spring season as fun and healthy as possible. Before you start cleaning your shed, garage, or cabin this season, there are some safety precautions you should take to protect yourself against hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). HPS is a severe, and sometimes fatal, respiratory disease contracted from rodents. Any activity that puts you in contact […]
Orcas Christian students bring spring garden to life through hands-on learning
||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| Red radishes, crunchy with early spring promise. Spinach leaves curl and stretch, green in the gentle breeze. Carrot tops push through newly softened soil. After winter’s stillness, life is returning — and at Orcas Christian School, students are sparking that renewal through collaboration and hands-on projects that engage both mind and body. Kindergarten through fifth-grade students have worked together this year on several cross-curricular projects, including
Conservation Land Bank Commission to travel to Orcas for upcoming meeting
The meeting will be held at the Orcas Island Fire Station ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold its regularly scheduled April 17 meeting on Orcas Island. The meeting is scheduled from 8:30am – 11:10am via Zoom. The meeting will also be available for in person public attendance at the Orcas Island Fire Station, 45 Lavender Lane, Eastsound, WA. The public is invited to attend. What: San Juan County Conservation Land Bank […]
The president is having an actual mental breakdown. Will the vice president take action?
||| FROM MILES TAYLOR for DEFIANCE.ORG ||| Sunday night into Monday morning, the president of the United States conducted an all-night social media binge that would alarm any reasonable observer, whether or not he was the president, and which cemented a growing sense of dread about Trump’s mental stability. It began at 9:03 p.m. with a savage, 334-word screed against Pope Leo XIV, attacking the first American-born pontiff as “WEAK” and “terrible for Foreign Policy.” It continued at 9:49 p.m. […]
April 28, 2026, Special Election | Vote Early! Sign! Send!
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| All registered voters in San Juan County will receive a ballot for the Special Election on April 28, 2026. This election will include measures for San Juan County and the Lopez Island Park and Recreation District. San Juan County is proposing a regular property tax lid lift of $0.85 per $1,000 of assessed value to sustain public health, safety, and essential community services. The Lopez Island Park and Recreation District, established during the […]
Kenmore Air returns with seasonal Friday Harbor–Victoria seaplane flights
Daily 30-minute flights now through October 31, with fares starting at $124 one-way ||| FROM SCOTT MEIS for KENMORE AIR ||| Kenmore Air has resumed its seasonal seaplane service between Friday Harbor Marina on San Juan Island and Victoria, B.C.’s Inner Harbour, offering a quick and seamless way for islanders to cross the border from dock to downtown in 30 minutes. Operating daily through October 31, the route offers a relaxed alternative to traditional travel: no TSA lines, no airport […]
Letter to Editor | The cost of a ‘No’ vote on county levy
||| FROM NATHAN KESSLER-JEFFREY ||| As we all consider the County’s proposed levy lid lift, I hope we take a moment to consider the true impact of a “no” vote. I’m a property owner, and yeah, voting ‘yes’ will increase taxes about $22 per month to maintain services. But a no vote will cost us so much more. A ‘no’ vote comes with significant and lasting costs to our community. The working plan if the levy doesn’t pass is for […]
News Brief | Did you feel one of the 18 earthquakes this morning?
||| FROM KOMO NEWS ||| An active swarm of earthquakes has been detected far offshore of Washington state, but experts say it is not a threat to people on land in the Pacific Northwest. The network reported that 18 quakes were detected as of noon on April 12, with a magnitude ranging up to 4.2. PNSN stressed that the swarm does not pose a hazard to the PNW onshore region, READ FULL ARTICLE
Letter to Editor | Proposed blubber detoxification technique for female killer whales
||| FROM RIKKI SWIN ||| One of the biggest threats to endangered Southern Resident killer whale calves (and others worldwide) is exposure to man-made toxins such as PCBs, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), and other persistent pollutants. These toxins accumulate in the mother’s thick layer of blubber over her lifetime and are passed to the calf in high concentrations through her milk during nursing—often with devastating effects on the calf’s developing immune system. Salmon, which accumulate these tox
Letter to Editor | In support of San Juan County Levy Lift
||| FROM KATIE FLEMING ||| Please understand that I am writing this letter as a private citizen, not in my capacity as a county employee or in any way affiliated with my employer. I’ve lived on San Juan Island for 15 years, and I feel lucky every day that this is home – the place where I’m raising a family. The natural environment here isn’t a backdrop to our lives, it’s the heart of them. Hiking through forests, spending sunny […]
News Brief | The ocean is no longer pure: Scientists find human chemistry woven into the seas
||| FROM THE DAILY MAVERICK ||| If an alien civilisation arrived on Earth and dipped a probe into the ocean, what would it find? These substances are no longer just contaminants drifting through the water. They are part of the water’s chemistry. Traditionally, scientists searched for a limited list of known chemicals – perhaps a dozen or two – using targeted methods. This study took a different approach. Across ecosystems – from estuaries to coral reefs to the open ocean […]
Letter to Editor | No on levy lid lift
||| FROM CINDY CARTER ||| San Juan County is requesting a levy lid lift to $.85/$1000 of property value. The statement on the county website is the same levy rate that was approved in 2019. What they fail to mention is that in 2019, from the San Juan Assessor’s information, the value of the taxable land was 7,543,576,994. (yes, that’s $7+ billion dollars!) This year’s (2026) taxable land value is $14,659,653,033. That means that we would basically double the taxes […]
Peace to All Nations Tour coming to Odd Fellows
||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG for ORCAS ODD FELLOWS ||| Peace to All Nations Tour featuring Adrian Xavier & Ska Island bringing reggae, ska, and dub.to the Odd Fellows Hall on April 17. The event will also include performances by local favorites Minnow Creek and DJ Blazey Blaze. Doors open at 8:00pm. Tickets: $15 in advance / $20 at the door. Advance tickets are available online at https://linktr.ee/skaisland
Letter to Editor | We need code updates. Code updates need the county levy lift
||| FROM CHRIS & CHOM GREACEN ||| A “yes” vote on the levy lid lift is a vote to protect the core services that make island life possible: public safety, public health, senior services, and the basic infrastructure of local government. San Juan County faces a projected $3.7 million shortfall in 2027, equal to roughly 12–13% of the general fund. Of all the property taxes we pay, only about 9% supports the county’s general operations. The county has balanced its […]
Larsen welcomes major disaster declaration for NW Washington, urges fast relief for flood-hit families, communities
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| EVERETT, WA – Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) today welcomed the Major Disaster Declaration for Washington state following the severe storms and flooding that hit the state in December. “This is great news for the Northwest Washington communities that were hit hard by the December floods and need federal support to recover,” said Rep. Larsen. “Yesterday, I visited flood-affected communities, including meeting with the mayors of Nooksack, Sumas