Island News
June 6: Bach & Jacquet – Salish Sea Early Music Festival – Friday Harbor
Spanish harpsichordist Irene Roldán from Basel, Switzerland and baroque flutist Jeffrey Cohan present “Bach & Jacquet”, a program celebrating Johann Sebastian Bach and French composers whose influence he benefited from, including Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, Louis Couperin and Pancrace Royer, in the seventh 2026 Salish Sea Early Music Festival program. Born 20 years before […]
June 6: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH – Salish Sea Early Music Festival – Lopez Island
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH – Saturday, June 6 on Lopez Island at 6 PM (not 6:30!) · Irene Roldàn, harpsichord · Jeffrey Cohan, baroque flute Award-winning harpsichordist Irene Roldán (www.ireneroldan.com) was born in southern Spain in 1997. Described by the press as one of the most prominent Spanish harpsichordists on the international scene (ABC Sevilla), Irene currently lives and works in Basel, Switzerland. She gained […]
June 27: PARDESSUS DE VIOLE, FLUTE & GUITAR – Salish Sea Early Music Festival – Lopez Island
Saturday, June 27 | 6 PM: | Grace Church | Lopez Island —PARDESSUS DE VIOLE, FLUTE & GUITAR · Annalisa Pappano, pardessus de viol and treble viol · William Simms, baroque guitar and theorbo · Jeffrey Cohan, baroque flute The French royal court musical establishment generated a vast amount of music, to be represented by works of Jean-Baptiste […]
June 10: BACH & JACQUET – Salish Sea Early Music Festival – Eastsound
BACH & JACQUET · Irene Roldán (Basel, Switzerland), harpsichord · Jeffrey Cohan, baroque flute Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 5 PM at Orcas Adventist Fellowship Church Eastsound Irene Roldán, who was honored with the prestigious Bach Prize and an additional special award at the XXXIII. International Bach Competition held in Leipzig, Germany, interprets Johann Sebastian Bach, Élisabeth Jacquet […]
June 30: French Perspective —Pardessus de Viole, Flute, & Guitar – Orcas Island
June 30 | 5 pm | Orcas Adventist Fellowship Church, Eastsound · Annalisa Pappano, pardessus de viol and treble viol ·William Simms, baroque guitar and theorbo · Jeffrey Cohan, baroque flute —PARDESSUS DE VIOLE, FLUTE & GUITAR The French royal court musical establishment generated a vast amount of music, to be represented by works of […]
San Juan County WA Sheriff’s Log May 20-26, 2026: Road rage, belligerent bar customer, unwanted tree trimming
San Juan County Deputies responded to 211 calls from May 20 – 26, 2026 including: In the early morning hours of May 24, a San Juan deputy was dispatched to a report of a citizen assist involving an individual who was unable to remove handcuffs. The deputy removed the handcuffs and advised the individuals involved […]
May 30: May-Fly Kite Gathering at Jacksons Beach
$120,000 grant funding available to promote 2027 tourism in Friday Harbor
The Town of Friday Harbor has a total of $120,000 in grant funding available to promote events and activities taking place within the town in 2027. The Town’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) will select among activities designed to attract or entertain tourists or to operate tourism-related facilities owned or operated by nonprofit organizations. Preference […]
WA reporters call for AI regulations and higher wages
Washington News Service: Reporters at five newspapers in Washington and Idaho went on strike for one day this week after a year of bargaining with McClatchy over artificial intelligence guardrails and higher wages. The union says McClatchy, which owns the papers, has refused to pay reporters enough to live in the communities they cover. Kristine Sherred, a […]
San Juan Island Fire and Rescue Commission stymied by the county about the Burn Permit Program
LWVSJ Observer Corps summary of San Juan Island: Fire District #3 Commissioners Meeting May 19, 2026. Chiefs Kuetzing and Hartzell congratulated and swore in five of six new recruits known as the “solid six” starting off the Commissioners Meeting: Emilio Santiago, Dominick Tarantelli, Stewart Bell, Max Mattox, and Madison Miller. John de La Haye was […]
To free up parking, Port of Friday Harbor pausing solar canopy project
LWVSJ Observer Corps: Friday Harbor Port Commission, May 8th, 2026 meeting. A Marina slip holder with a parking permit expressed concern over the delay in constructing the upper parking lot solar canopy and its adverse impact on parking availability. The Port will pause the project over the summer to alleviate parking pressures and it will […]
Town Council approves $62k for utility rate study
LWVSJ Observer Corps*: Friday Harbor Town Council, April 16, 2026 meeting. Council passed Ordinance 1839 , preliminary approval for the Holliwalk Planned Residential Development Application. The Council approved $62,930 for a Utility Rate Study on water, stormwater and sewer. The Community and Planning Director reported that an incident occurred at Ace Hardware on April 15 […]
End of school year message from SJISD Superintendent Fred Woods
Some people call it spring fever. Others have labeled it senioritis. Whatever the name, students know that vacation is only days away, and the anticipation is evident. As we finish the final chapter of another successful school year at the San Juan Island School District, there is once again a great deal to celebrate across […]
May 26: WSF hosts 2 online community meetings
Washington State Ferries is hosting two online community meetings on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. This is a great chance to share feedback and ask WSF questions. Topics to be covered include the upcoming FIFA World Cup, an updated pet policy, new vessel construction, and WSF Service Contingency Plan. Both meetings will cover the same topics, […]
Solemn ceremony at Memorial Park on Memorial Day 2026 in Friday Harbor
Under overcast skies, veterans from American Legion Post 163, Legion Auxiliary National Historical Park personnel, Boy Scouts. and the Lady dressed in black representing widows. The parade route goes from Court Street to Second Street to Spring Street and ends at Memorial Park where the 105-year-old monument stands. It was the first monument in Washington […]
Larsen’s Bipartisan Bill Invests $580 Billion in Job-Creating Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02)’s BUILD America 250 Act passed out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bipartisan, five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill continues historic investments in Washington state started by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 (BIL). “Every day is Infrastructure Day in Northwest Washington,” said Rep. Larsen. “The BUILD America 250 […]
County’s Climate Survey asking for input from citizens
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 in its second communitywide climate survey to help shape a future that reflects community values and priorities. Given the current budget restraints and […]
Mike Vouri: Miss Me’s Last Day
Captain Frank Birchak scowled as we approached the province chief’s headquarters buildings in Cao Lanh, just down the street from Special Forces Camp B-43. I was 15 minutes late getting to the jeep, waylaid by a nasty case of the trots. Worst of all, he’d had to kick open the screen door to our hooch […]
Friday Harbor Golf brings home 2 medals at State Championship; Orcas golfer captures State Title
Spokane, WA — Friday Harbor High School capped its postseason run with a standout showing at the WAII State Golf Championship, held May 19–20 at Liberty Lake Golf Club. Two Wolverines—senior Jack Hess and sophomore James Hollingsworth—earned their way into the elite state field and both returned home as medalists. The boys’ division was limited […]
Six new recruits sworn in as San Juan Island Fire and Rescue firefighters
Friday Harbor, WA – San Juan Island Fire & Rescue proudly welcomed six new firefighters into the ranks during a swearing-in ceremony held at Station 31 on Mullis Street. All of them are neighbors across San Juan Island. Fire Department leadership, firefighters, and family members attended the ceremony, celebrating a milestone moment in the recruits’ […]
Kiwanis Club partners with EDC to boost local trade-school opportunities
The Kiwanis Club of Friday Harbor has strengthened its commitment to supporting local youth pursuing careers in the trades through a new partnership with the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC). Club members recently met with EDC Director Victoria Compton and staff member Liam Watson to explore ways to expand training access and encourage […]
Roche Harbor Neighborhood Association commended for maintaining Firewise USA status
Letter to Editor: San Juan Island Fire & Rescue wants to commend a Firewise Community partner – the Roche Harbor Neighborhood Association – and many volunteers for all their hard work in May to maintain Firewise USA status. Thank you for being such proactive leaders and for looking out for all of us! The recent […]
Is this your vessel adrift near Waldon Island?
United States Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a report of an adrift vessel in the vicinity of Waldron Island. If this is your vessel, or if you have any information regarding the vessel or its owner, please contact the Sector Puget Sound Command Center at (206) 217-6001.
Robert Leroy (Bob) Wingate June 20, 1947 – April 16, 2026
Robert Leroy (Bob) Wingate was born on June 20, 1947, in Tacoma to parents, Elvera Mantifel and Rex Wingate. He was one of the five boys. His surviving brothers are Greg (Jan) and Doug (Laurie). Bob is predeceased by his parents and brothers Byron and Dennis. He loved his mom and dad, and his brothers […]