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Prism Local News

Island County, Washington
"Your Local News, Powered by AI Journalism"

About Island, WA

Population
Approximately 87,000 residents
County Seat
Coupeville, Washington
Coverage Area
209 square miles on Whidbey and Camano Islands

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Newsroom monitoring local Island, WA developments. Next update cycle in 53 minutes.

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Whidbey Island St. Patrick’s Parade March 17 at 4:30 p.m. Oak Harbor
Community

Whidbey Island St. Patrick’s Parade March 17 at 4:30 p.m. Oak Harbor

Pioneer Way will turn green on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, when Oak Harbor’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 4:30 p.m.; arrive by 3 p.m. for the Blessing and Kissing of the Barney Stone.

Sarah Chen3m read
Freeland revives sea glass float hunt March 28; Callahan's supplies 600+ floats
Community

Freeland revives sea glass float hunt March 28; Callahan's supplies 600+ floats

Freeland will revive the South Whidbey sea-glass float scramble at Freeland Park on March 28, 2026, with Callahan’s supplying more than 600 handcrafted glass "Sea Floats"; entry is free.

Sarah Chen3m read
What to See and Hours at Island County Historical Museum in Coupeville
Community

What to See and Hours at Island County Historical Museum in Coupeville

Plan a visit: Island County Historical Museum at 908 N.W. Alexander St. in Coupeville is open daily (donation admission) and houses Indigenous artifacts, a dugout canoe, an early car, and maritime exhibits.

Marcus Williams6m read
Study urges Coupeville to start small wastewater reuse pilot with phased approach
Government

Study urges Coupeville to start small wastewater reuse pilot with phased approach

A study released March 2, 2026 recommends Coupeville begin small with a wastewater reuse pilot and says engineers propose a phased approach for implementation.

Marcus Williams3m read
Gray Whales Spotted in Saratoga Passage, Sandy Point and Langley Feb. 24-26
Community

Gray Whales Spotted in Saratoga Passage, Sandy Point and Langley Feb. 24-26

Multiple observers reported gray whale activity near Whidbey Island between Feb. 24 and Feb. 26, 2026, with Orca Network logging a Feb. 24 sighting near Sandy Point and feeding off Mabana and Hidden Beach.

Sarah Chen2m read
Rock Solid Marathon and Half Return to Coupeville Feb. 28 with Charity
Community

Rock Solid Marathon and Half Return to Coupeville Feb. 28 with Charity

Runners set out from the 1907 Captain Whidbey Inn at 8:00 a.m. on Feb. 28 for the second annual Rock Solid Marathon & Half, with all event profits pledged to The Rock Solid Foundation.

Lisa Park2m read
aJane Glass Studio Opens in Coupeville; Arrianne Bright Teaches March 21
Business

aJane Glass Studio Opens in Coupeville; Arrianne Bright Teaches March 21

Coupeville’s aJane Glass Studio opens to the public during Musselfest March 7 with 30-minute make‑it projects ($40 sand dollar, $30 necklace); Arrianne Bright leads a translucent window‑art workshop March 21 (10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.).

Sarah Chen2m read
Windermere Whidbey Warns Sellers of Five Costly Whidbey Island Mistakes
Business

Windermere Whidbey Warns Sellers of Five Costly Whidbey Island Mistakes

Whidbey Island sellers risk losing equity if they misprice, ignore full selling costs (commissions 5–6% cited), try FSBO, sell while underwater, or fail to disclose repairs, Windermere warns.

Sarah Chen5m read
Deception Pass State Park Practical Guide: Parking, Tides, Safety, When to Visit
Community

Deception Pass State Park Practical Guide: Parking, Tides, Safety, When to Visit

Plan ahead: bring a Discover Pass, check tide charts for Rosario Beach low tides, and arrive before 11 a.m.—several lots, launches and a pier remain limited or closed after winter storm damage.

Lisa Park5m read
Whidbey Climate Action launches free monthly Island Conversations series in Langley
Community

Whidbey Climate Action launches free monthly Island Conversations series in Langley

Whidbey Climate Action now runs free monthly "Island Conversations" at St. Hubert’s Community Room, 804 3rd St., Langley, meeting at 6 p.m. the first Thursday of each month; email info@whidbeyclimate.org.

Marcus Williams2m read
Freeland mover Backbreakers NW marks 15 years, returns to sole founder ownership
Business

Freeland mover Backbreakers NW marks 15 years, returns to sole founder ownership

Freeland mover Backbreakers NW marks its 15th year as founder Jeff Hansen resumes sole ownership after a recent split that spun off the Skagit outpost opened in 2021.

Sarah Chen2m read
Benefit BBQ March 13 Supports Near-100-Year Baby Island Saratoga Club
Community

Benefit BBQ March 13 Supports Near-100-Year Baby Island Saratoga Club

A $15 BYOB benefit BBQ at Baby Island Saratoga Club will raise funds for the near-100-year neighborhood hall; RSVP by March 9, call David Stenberg at 425-269-7999.

Lisa Park2m read
Windermere Warns Whidbey Rentals Tight, Recommends Buying Within Five Years
Business

Windermere Warns Whidbey Rentals Tight, Recommends Buying Within Five Years

Windermere Whidbey’s Feb. 25, 2026 guidance flags tight rental inventory on Whidbey Island and national analysts say buying generally pays off over a five-plus year horizon.

Sarah Chen3m read
45-Year-Old NAS Whidbey Sailor Charged with Possessing Child Pornography
Government

45-Year-Old NAS Whidbey Sailor Charged with Possessing Child Pornography

NAS Whidbey sailor Rylan S. Davis, 45, was charged Feb. 26 in Island County Superior Court with two counts of possessing depictions of a minor in sexually explicit material.

Marcus Williams1m read
WhidbeyHealth and HealthTech Dispute Emerges Ahead of Contract Review
Healthcare

WhidbeyHealth and HealthTech Dispute Emerges Ahead of Contract Review

Medical staff urged WhidbeyHealth’s board to pursue dissolution of its management contract with HealthTech, saying a “functional and trustworthy working relationship” no longer exists.

Lisa Park2m read
res plumata opens Body of Work at Koneksi Gallery exploring chronic illness
Community

res plumata opens Body of Work at Koneksi Gallery exploring chronic illness

res plumata’s Body of Work opened March 4 at Koneksi in Clinton and runs through March 30, featuring a winged papier-mâché lamp and a concussion series born from an October traumatic brain injury.

Lisa Park3m read
Whidbey Playhouse in Oak Harbor Celebrates 60 Years of Community Theatre
Community

Whidbey Playhouse in Oak Harbor Celebrates 60 Years of Community Theatre

Whidbey Playhouse marks its 60th year in Oak Harbor and is mounting a fundraiser gala as volunteers push to pay for urgent building repairs.

Sarah Chen2m read
Whidbey Builder Dan Neumeyer Pursues Client-Funded Affordable Housing Model
Community

Whidbey Builder Dan Neumeyer Pursues Client-Funded Affordable Housing Model

Dan Neumeyer of Jade Craftsman Builders is asking clients to donate directly to an in-house fund to support affordable housing efforts on Whidbey Island.

Marcus Williams2m read
Oak Harbor Lions Host Diamond Jubilee Seafood Extravaganza and Crab Feed
Community

Oak Harbor Lions Host Diamond Jubilee Seafood Extravaganza and Crab Feed

Celebrate 75 years with up to two pounds of steamed crab per guest at the Oak Harbor Lions' Diamond Jubilee on March 7 at the Elks Lodge, 155 NE Ernst St.

Sarah Chen2m read
Navy Announces Field Carrier Landing Practice Window, OLF Coupeville Operations This Week
Government

Navy Announces Field Carrier Landing Practice Window, OLF Coupeville Operations This Week

NAS Whidbey issued FCLP windows for OLF Coupeville; landing practice was scheduled late Monday and late Tuesday for the Jan. 26 week, with no Ault Field operations and community contacts posted.

James Thompson3m read
Island County March 2026 Natural Resources Newsletter Features Keynote, Volunteer Opportunities
Community

Island County March 2026 Natural Resources Newsletter Features Keynote, Volunteer Opportunities

Island County’s five-page March 2026 Natural Resources newsletter offers free Shore Friendly site visits and lists contacts for MRC meetings, volunteer programs, and DNR beach walks.

Sarah Chen3m read
Coupeville Council Questions Noise, Context of June Revolutionary War Reenactment
Community

Coupeville Council Questions Noise, Context of June Revolutionary War Reenactment

Coupeville will host a Revolutionary War reenactment June 6-7 on the community green, with organizers planning loud black-powder demonstrations while Mayor Molly Hughes assured the council, "big noise, no projectiles."

Marcus Williams2m read
Oak Harbor Main Street Art Walk Set for Feb. 28 Downtown
Community

Oak Harbor Main Street Art Walk Set for Feb. 28 Downtown

Oak Harbor Main Street Association staged an Art Walk Feb. 28 on Pioneer Street, featuring local visual artists, live music and a roster of downtown merchants from 1–4 p.m.

Lisa Park2m read
Freddy, 8-Year-Old Military Working Dog, Retires at NAS Whidbey Island
Community

Freddy, 8-Year-Old Military Working Dog, Retires at NAS Whidbey Island

NAS Whidbey Island held a Feb. 12 farewell for Freddy, an 8-year-old Dutch shepherd who finished six years of Navy service and — per Navy photo captions — will retire with K9 handler Miguel Romero.

Lisa Park3m read
Oak Harbor launches survey on Garry oak protection, urban forest management plan
Government

Oak Harbor launches survey on Garry oak protection, urban forest management plan

Oak Harbor asks residents to complete a 28-question, roughly 10-minute survey to shape its first Urban Forest Management Plan and Tree Inventory, including views on Garry oak protection.

Marcus Williams3m read
Oak Harbor CAB Agenda Includes Island County Homeless Plan, Seeks Members
Government

Oak Harbor CAB Agenda Includes Island County Homeless Plan, Seeks Members

Oak Harbor published a March 4 CAB agenda that includes an Island County homeless‑housing plan presentation and shows the board seeking three adult members plus a student representative.

Marcus Williams3m read
Island County Commissioners March 3 Meeting Includes Three-Minute Public Comments
Government

Island County Commissioners March 3 Meeting Includes Three-Minute Public Comments

Island County adopted a six-year Capital Improvement Plan and Clean Water Utility program and told staff to keep pursuing Freeland wastewater pilot funding and report back.

Marcus Williams3m read
House Bill Allowing Island Communities to Run Passenger-Only Ferries Heads to Senate
Government

House Bill Allowing Island Communities to Run Passenger-Only Ferries Heads to Senate

The House approved House Bill 1923, the Mosquito Fleet Act, by an 84-11 vote; Rep. Greg Nance says it now goes to the Senate transportation committee with the session ending March 12.

James Thompson3m read
Lynda Mercy convicted of 2021 Whidbey murder with firearms enhancement; sentencing scheduled
Community

Lynda Mercy convicted of 2021 Whidbey murder with firearms enhancement; sentencing scheduled

Lynda Mercy, 67, was convicted by a Whatcom County jury of second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement in the 2021 killing of South Whidbey resident Thomas Flood; sentencing is March 10.

Sarah Chen2m read