Island News
Local couple buys Sea View Theatre | OIFF to operate
An Eastsound treasure has been saved for generations to come thanks to an island couple.
EDC and Washington Lawyers for the Arts to host free workshop: Protecting Artists in the Modern World
Submitted by the Economic Development Council.
Vikings baseball continues play during Spring Break
By Declan O’Malley
Town and County councils discuss ferries, affordable housing and more at joint meeting
Submitted by San Juan County.
TEDxOrcasIslandLive: ‘All of Us’
Join Orcas Center for a screening of a set of the latest TED Talks from TED2026, Saturday, April 17, 7-9 p.m. on Center Stage. We’ll be sharing the videos and hosting a brief conversation afterward. Come enjoy this evening of learning with the latest ideas worth spreading from speakers you may recognize or may not have heard of before. Free tickets are available at www.orcascenter.org.
OIHS track meet on April 29
Submitted by Amy Carlson and The Booster Team.
SJC sheriff’s log
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office responded to the following calls.
Thank you for making MAG’s school music benefit a success! | Letter
We are grateful to the Orcas Island community for joining us on Sunday, March 29, at our benefit concert for school music, and for sharing in a standing ovation for the OISD music teacher and Strings Director, Mrs. Pamela Wright, in tribute to her 24 years of teaching in the public school. During her tenure, Mrs. Wright taught many classes of K-3 General Music and built an award-winning strings program for middle and high school musicians from scratch. She plans to retire at the end of this year
ROAM: Art and literary pop-ups
Submitted by HALO.
Edge of the Salish Sea | Art, poetry, science walk and workshop
Submitted by event organizers.
Solvitur ambulando: Orcas Island resident launches immersive walking tour
There is a Latin phrase that Rusty Diggs carries with her on every walk: solvitur ambulando — it is solved by walking. For Diggs, a 25-year resident of Orcas Island, those words are more than a motto. They are the philosophy behind a new venture she hopes will change the way visitors experience one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved destinations.
Mark Sawyer | Passages
Mark Andrew Sawyer, age 60, passed unexpectedly on April 2, 2026, due to a tragic boating accident.
Orcas resident dies in single-car collision in Eastsound
An Orcas resident has died after a single-car collision on Enchanted Forest Road on April 13, around 4 p.m. According to Sheriff Eric Peter, the other occupant of the car was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
A legacy in every note: Orcas Island honors retiring strings director Pamela Wright
What began as the 2026 Music Advocacy Group Community Concert, benefiting the Orcas Island School District music program, held in the gymnasium at Orcas Island High School, became something far more personal on this Sunday afternoon — a heartfelt, tearful send-off for strings director Pamela Wright, who will retire at the end of this school year after 24 extraordinary years at Orcas Island Schools.
Orcas Island Fire & Rescue brings Hollywood glamour to annual awards banquet
By Darrell Kirk
Locally supported Meals on Wheels programs support seniors’ ability to age well in the islands
Submitted by SJC.
SeaDoc Society hires new scientist, expanding its impact
by Justin Cox
Share your feedback: County and partners are developing tools to manage human/wildlife interactions
Submitted by San Juan County.
County seeks voter approval for levy lid lift
Decades of capped revenue, runaway inflation and a creative labor deal have left the County at a financial crossroads. San Juan County is asking voters to approve a property tax levy lid lift in the April 28 special election — a measure officials say is essential to preserving the public health, safety and community services that island residents depend on every day.
Bringing it home: Sea-level rise impact and response planning for Orcas | A climate solutions workshop
Submitted by Earth Day Orcas.
Update on proposal for limited deer hunting on Orcas Island
Submitted by San Juan Island.
SJC Department of Environmental Stewardship hosts 2026 hazardous waste roundup events across the islands
SJC Department of Environmental Stewardship is hosting hazardous waste collection events, giving residents and businesses the chance to legally dispose of poisonous, flammable, corrosive and hazardous materials.
Island Allies of Indigenous Lifeways supports tribally managed hunting at North Shore Preserve
By Jaime Beechum and Caitlin Leck
Judy Tepley’s work showcased
The work of Judy Tepley will be on display now through May 31 at the Orcas Healing Arts Center, featuring beaded paintings and embroidered spheres. Through May 30, beaded spheres and embroidered temari spheres are on display at the Orcas Island Library. Both shows include needlework in various forms using seed beads and thread.