Here’s a thought…
“The question is whether or not you choose to disturb the world around you, or if you choose to let it go on as if you had never arrived.”
ANN PATCHETT
A big thank you from Orcas Community Foundation
Collective Giving for the Win! ||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| Thank you for joining us during this year's Holiday GiveOrcas campaign and showing support for 33 incredible community-driven programs that make Orcas Island truly extraordinary. The season of giving shined brightly over the past 10
County Council passes 2026 budget but prepares for ongoing financial discussions in 2027
The adopted budget includes cuts to staffing and other reductions across department operating expenses. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During the December 9 meeting and public hearing, the San Juan County Council adopted the 2026 budget. This adopted budget includes cuts to staffing and other reductions across department
Letter to Editor | What’s going on at Eastsound Water Users Association?
||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| I am an ex-employee at EWUA. I worked there for 4 years in the role of Billing & Membership Specialist. All statements below reflect my personal views and consist of verbatim questions submitted to the EWUA Board and the responses received. Here’s a list of
LWVSJ Observer Corps | Board of Health December 10, 2025
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| The Accountable Communities for Health resumed its CEO search. The Community Collaboration Committee provided $100,000 for the dental access program. The North Sound Behavioral Health Organization is working on a behavioral health emergency co-response program with the Sheriff’s Office. The
County opens cultural access application materials & recruits for new review board
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Cultural Access program is one step closer to awarding funding to local organizations in support of access to culture, science, art, and history education and experiences. Now, application materials are live, and recruitment for the advisory board is underway! About
News Brief | Are killer whales and dolphins helping each other hunt off B.C. coast?
||| FROM WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ||| HALIFAX – Scientists have found evidence that two unlikely collaborators — killer whales and dolphins — may be helping each other find and feast on salmon off the coast of British Columbia. Recordings picked up “this audible crunch as the whale bites down, then
Gathering our bearings | Island Stewards end-of-year update
|||FROM ISLAND STEWARDS ||| As we close out 2025, I keep returning to the rhythm of the islands and how they reveal it to anyone patient enough to listen. This has been a year of the islands showing their strain, but also a year of honest conversations and quieter forms
WSF Weekly Report | Kaleetan remains out of service; online community meetings coming up; sea level prepardness
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve With good reason, in my communications over the last few weeks I have been openly upbeat about our performance metrics. We are seeing real momentum. It is important, though, to acknowledge the challenges that continue to test
One night special | Free screening of new documentary ‘The Librarians’
||| FROM WOODY CISKOWSKI ||| There will be a one-night-only free screening of the new documentary The Librarians. The event will be Thursday December 18 at 7pm at Sea View Theatre. The screening is hosted by Woody Ciskowski. The Librarians premiered at Sundance film festival and is currently showing around
Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Welcome to our weekly feature, Occam's Razor, from local artist S.C. Watson.
Heavy rainfall this week increases threat of landslides
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Seattle WA 619 AM PST Thu Dec 11 2025 San Juan County-Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties- Cascades of Snohomish and Northern King Counties- Cascades of Southern King County- Cascades of Pierce and Lewis Counties- Foothills and Valleys
News Brief | Every U.S. state along Canadian border is hurting financially due to decline in tourists from Canada: new report
||| FROM THE NATIONAL POST ||| Declining Canadian tourism is adversely affecting American businesses in every state along the U.S.-Canada border. The decline has arisen from President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Canada, as well as his imposition of several rounds of tariffs, amid repeatedly broken off trade talks. As
LWVSJ Observer Corps Notes | San Juan County Council December 9, 2025
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| The Council convened as the governing body of the Lopez Solid Waste District and approved the 2026 budget up 4.8% from 2025. The budget included increased tipping fees to cover higher costs for electricity, fuel and Skagit tipping fees. After
Holiday Magic at Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Step into the season at Orcas Senior Center, where a charming selection of holiday decor is available for free or by donation until December 25. Stop by 62 Henry Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will
Committed to health care stability for Orcas islanders | OIHCD update
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| In April of this year, voters approved Proposition 1, a temporary 10-year levy lid lift proposed by the Orcas Island Health Care District board. During our levy town hall meetings, the board committed to three key work areas as the basis for
PeaceHealth United General responding to flood risk
||| FROM ANNE WILLIAMS for PEACEHEALTH UNITED GENERAL ||| SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash. – With direction from Sedro-Woolley officials, United General Medical Center is in the process of transitioning inpatients to home or other healthcare facilities due to flood risks. The Emergency Department remains open. We are reaching out to patients with
