Here’s a thought…
“If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.”
SAMUEL ADAMS
Orcas Center presents “No Time To Waste” + Jaeger & Reid
Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m. | Center Stage, Orcas Center ||| FROM PATRICIA BENNETT for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center will present an evening of documentary film and live music on Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m. on Center Stage. The program opens with “No Time To Waste,” a
Larsen | What we accomplished this September
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| September has been another busy month working on the issues that matter to people across Northwest Washington. Here are a few highlights from the month: Supporting Washington's maritime economy: I joined maritime leaders at the Port of Everett for a
Soroptimists launch Live Your Dream award
||| FROM HEATHER SPAULDING for SOROPTIMISTS INTERNATIONAL OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| Soroptimists International of Friday Harbor is now accepting applications for its annual Live Your Dream Award. The deadline is Nov. 15. This award of up to $4,000 is for a woman in San Juan County who is the primary
Your 2026 Friday Harbor Film Festival experience starts now
Plan your festival, reserve your seats ||| FROM FRIDAY HARBOR FILM FESTIVAL ||| The 2026 Film Guide and Festival Schedule are live, and passholders can now start building their Festival experience! With 34 feature documentaries and 20 shorts to choose from, plus a full rundown of the Program Guide, filmmakers,
I’m Not the Church Lady | I’m really tired of this
||| I'M NOT THE CHURCH LADY by ROSIE KUHN ||| The other night, I was lying in bed ruminating about a conflict with a friend. You know how that goes—the conversation that isn’t actually happening is happening brilliantly in my head. What I could say. What I’m afraid to say.
Community budget with Council Chair Justin Paulsen event scheduled Sept. 30 on Lopez
The San Juan County Council Chair and District 2 Representative will hold a meeting with the community to discuss the County budget and related fiscal challenges at the Lopez Island Library Community Room from 5:30-7:00 p.m. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Council Chair and District
CWR encounter with Biggs Killer Whales
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 07:48 AM ObservEnd: 08:40 AM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Other Observers: Gary Sutton, Tasli Shaw, Mollie Alexandra Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T060D, T060E, T069, T069C, T069F, T109B, T109B3, T109B4, T109B5, T109B6 LocationDescr: Christopher Point EncSummary: Mark, Gary, Tasli, and Mollie got what friend and colleague
LWVSJ Observer Corps | San Juan County Council 9/22/26
||| FROM BARBARA SHARP for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| The County Council approved a Joint Letter to Washington State Ferries supporting the System’s long-range planning. The council appointed applicants to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District. After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved
Port Commission will hold regular meeting on Monday
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, September 28th at 4:00 p.m. online via Zoom and in-person at the airport terminal conference room. Access and agenda information can be found at portoforcas.com.
Orcas Island Pride shares important information about ballots this November
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND PRIDE ||| So much of what we do as a Pride organization is centered around joy - but even we must sometimes contend with the reality that our rights are being threatened and actively being repealed in parts of the country. Many people like to think
Ingman on San Juan County healthcare access
||| FROM KATHERINE BRYANT INGMAN, CANDIDATE FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCIL ||| San Juan County faces real access to healthcare challenges. We're rural and remote. Our population is aging, and Medicare reimbursement brings in less revenue than private or marketplace insurance. This puts financial pressure on local providers. Many islanders
ORS/The Exchange and SJC Environmental Stewardship host upcoming hazardous waste roundup event
Residents are invited to safely dispose of household chemicals at October 3rd collection event on Orcas ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Department of Environmental Stewardship and ORS/The Exchange are hosting a hazardous waste round-up collection event, giving island residents the chance to legally and responsibly
‘Coffee with Kari’ offers islanders on Lopez time with Councilmember Kari McVeigh
The fifth ‘Coffee with Kari’ of the year will take place on September 26 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. at the Lopez Library ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| District 1 Council representative Kari McVeigh is hosting another ‘Coffee with Kari’ event on Lopez Island – an opportunity to ask questions,
Letter to Editor | My vote is for Jennifer Swanson
||| FROM TINA ECHEVERRIA, PH.D. ||| I have known Jennifer since she moved to Shaw Island with her family over 20 years ago. If I were to describe her in a few words they would be; fully engaged with family and community. She is deeply involved with both. I have
WSF Weekly Report | Record breaking summer ridership; peak season surcharge ends
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve We welcomed a record number of people on board this summer. More than seven million riders traveled with us from June 14 through this past Saturday. That’s our highest summer ridership since 2019, and nearly 130,000 more
Meeting of Friends of Orcas Library scheduled
||| FROM ADRIENNE WALKER for FRIENDS OF ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The Friends of the Orcas Island Library will hold their annual meeting on Sunday, October 11th at the Orcas Island Library, from 4:30 pm - 6 pm. During the meeting, we will be electing new members to the Board
