 Ballot drop box at the Island County Administration Building on Camano Island. Photo by Catherine Reid.
Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 43rd week of 2026.
Due to the increase in fuel moisture levels and a return to more typical seasonal weather patterns, Sheriff Felici has lifted the burn ban.
- The Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners was held on Tuesday, October 20; video recording here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/5e28ff8f-4cc1-4fe4-b02d-592a0e27d66b.
- This is the first time I am aware of that there were no Commissioners physically in the Board Room for a Tuesday meeting (you know my story, but all three of us had good reasons for why we couldn’t be there). But it didn’t really matter—no public comments were offered and there were no regular session items or public hearings on the agenda. So it was okay that both members of the quorum attended virtually—but I wouldn’t want it to become a regular thing.
- The agenda for the Tuesday, October 27th meeting: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/1045b5c3-9be9-4b3b-b954-886885a3a737. On that agenda: the three franchise public hearings shown below. I have been assured that at least one of my colleagues will be physically in the room next Tuesday to chair the meeting, recognize public comment, and manage the public hearings. I will once again attend virtually, sitting on my couch with my foot elevated.
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Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 am, unless otherwise noted):
- Tuesday, Oct 27: Clinton Water (franchise)
- Tuesday, Oct 27: Hope View (franchise)
- Tuesday, Oct 27: Unit. Owners Assoc. of Utsalady (franchise)
- Tuesday, Nov 3: 2027 Planning Work Plan and Planning Docket
- Tuesday, Dec 1: PBRS
- Monday, Dec 7: 2027 Budget & Levies
- Tuesday, Dec 8: New Code: Unified Approach to Code Enforcement
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Work Session. There was no work session this week due to lack of quorum. The next work session will be held on Wednesday, November 4, and the agenda will be posted by Friday, October 30 here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.
- The Board of Health met Tuesday afternoon; agenda https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter - docaccess-9d8aa1645ec637aef040aaa9aa9e51bc; video recording: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16319/Board-of-Health-10202026-Video-MP4.
- The BOH was introduced to the new Executive Director of Island Senior Resources (ISR), Alex Seymour, mark 0:17:54 in the video recording. ISR has been serving seniors in our county for over fifty years, and served almost 100,000 meals in 2025. According to the US Census, seniors are the only population in the United States experiencing a rise in poverty—all other groups are declining in poverty or holding steady. We also heard another reminder that ISR needs volunteer drivers for medical trips. If you’d like to donate to ISR, go here: https://senior-resources.org/donate/.
- November is American Diabetes Month in Island County, mark 0:33:51.
- We approved the Island County Public Health 2026 – 2036 Strategic Vision, mark 0:52:19.
- The November BOH meeting is cancelled.
- The Council of Governments (COG), the Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO) and the Island Local Integrating Organization (ILIO) will all meet next Wednesday, October 28th; all three groups use the Zoom link which can be found on their agendas.
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Public Health Update:
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National Drug Takeback Day is tomorrow, Saturday Oct 24th. Langley City Hall, 10 am – 2 pm. Clear out your medicine cabinets and help keep our community safe! Safely dispose of your expired or unwanted prescription medications. And yes, that includes pet meds too!
- Good News: Water Quality in Island County is Improving! Preliminary results show that Island County saw an improvement in water quality! We are excited to continue that trend into Water Year 2027.
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The fall rainy season will begin soon, and we can all help by reducing pollution carried by rainwater: Fix oil leaks and clean up after any spills; Pick up after pets regularly; Keep up to date with routine septic inspections and maintenance. Septic Inspections are required every 3 years for conventional systems, and yearly for alternative systems. Learn more and find homeowner resources at https://www.islandcountywa.gov/672/Homeowner-Support.
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Port of South Whidbey: There is a levy proposition on the ballot for voters in the South Whidbey Port District. Tomorrow morning, Saturday the 24th at 10:30 am, the Port is holding a public Q&A Session at the Bayview Fire Station to answer your questions about this levy proposition.
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Whidbey Island Conservation District, 2032 Long Range Work Plan -- Seeking Public Input.
- Whidbey Island Conservation District is made up of local staff with professional expertise and a board of volunteer supervisors, all of whom have a personal investment and interest in improving the quality of life in our community. They do this through non-regulatory, free, in-person technical assistance and education for the long term conservation of our shared natural resources. Help inform the natural resource priorities, program development, and project implementation during the next five years of our conservation district's professional goals. All responses are collected anonymously with the option of adding contact details for follow-up conversations. To provide input, fill out their "3 Questions in 3 Minutes" survey.
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Conservation District Long Range Plan: 3 Public Meeting Opportunities in October, available in-person and via Zoom.
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Wednesday, October 28, Oak Harbor Library Meeting Room HH137, 5 - 7 pm. Zoom link and registration
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Thursday, October 29, Coupeville Public Library Meeting Room, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, Zoom link and registration
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Friday, October 30, Langley Public Library meeting room, 2:30 – 4:30 pm, Zoom link and registration
- For questions, accessibility request, and Zoom troubleshooting, email Hannah or call (360) 682-7943
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Whidbey Climate ACTION is accepting applications for Whidbey Climate Fund Grants through October 31. For more info, see: https://www.whidbeyfoundation.org/apply-for-a-whidbey-climate-fund-grant/.
- This time of year, I usually try to note as many local Halloween activities as possible in this newsletter.
- Coupeville is going full witches’ broomsticks with their Practically Magic Halloweekend celebration starting this weekend. “From family-friendly pumpkin races to not-quite-midnight margaritas, there’s enchantment for everyone in the heart of historic Coupeville.” See https://www.practicallymagichalloweekend.com/ for more information.
- Langley Main Street is featuring its Spooktacular Langley tomorrow, Saturday October 24, downtown from 2:30 – 5 pm. Obviously I can’t be one of the Thriller zombies this year…but I’ll bet other zombies will rise up in song. For more details about Spooktacular Langley, go here: https://www.langleymainstreet.org/2026/10/31/574253/spooktacular-langley/.
- Langley’s 2026 Trunk or Treat will be held Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM at South Whidbey High School, organized by South Whidbey Fire/EMS.
- The Backyard Alternative Fitness Playground at the Langley Community Center will host a haunted house on Oct 31, with a Scaredy Kid Maze in the afternoon and a Fright Night Maze from 5:30 - 9 p.m. Admission costs $5.
- The Clinton Chamber of Commerce and Thirsty Crab Brewery will host their annual Trunk-or-Treat Halloween event on Friday, October 31, 2025, from 4:00–7:00 pm at Thirsty Crab Brewery, Clinton, WA. Live DJ and dog costume contest. https://www.facebook.com/events/2423394444524148/.
- North Whidbey Fire & Rescue Firefighters Association, Station 25 2720 Heller Rd., Oak Harbor, “Trunk or Treat”, Friday October 30 from 5 – 8 pm.
- STAR Behavior Consulting will hold a sensory-friendly Trunk or Treat from 4 - 6 p.m. on Friday Oct 30 at 35 SE Ely St. in Oak Harbor. The event welcomes children of all abilities, and costumes are optional.
- Pioneer Way in downtown Oak Harbor, Saturday Oct 31, 3 - 6:30 p.m. “No Tricks Safe Treats”: Businesses will hand out candy along the closed street, with music, face painting and a costume contest.
- I took my first (very shaky) steps yesterday! I’m using a boot, but still! I am determined to return to my normal meetings with citizens at the WiFire Community Space in Freeland on Monday, December 7, at 3 pm. Hope you can join us then.
Melanie
Today is National Horror Movie Day. I’ve been binging Vincent Price movies the last couple of days.
“Darkness falls across the land…the Midnight Hour is close at hand…” ~from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”
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