Here’s a thought…
“It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.”
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.
OIFR monitoring ferry ramp disruption; emergency medical transport plans in place
||| FROM CHIEF KIMPLE for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Orcas Island Fire & Rescue (OIFR) has protocols in place with multiple options for transporting patients off island. OIFR is aware of the ferry ramp disruption affecting Orcas Island and is following the situation closely. Washington State Ferries found
Vehicle restrictions continue at Orcas ferry landing
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| During a recent inspection, engineers found cracks in the steel under the transfer span, the part of the slip that raises and lowers to meet up with the ferry to allow vehicles to drive on and off. Repair update, Nov. 13: Repairs to the
County issues a Declaration of State of Emergency due to WSF disruption at Orcas Island
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During the November 10 meeting, the San Juan County Council issued a declaration of a state of emergency due to critical structural damage at the Orcas Island ferry terminal which has severely limited access of goods and services to the island. The declaration
Midnight Mutterings | The water came up
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| Just like the weather forecast predicted, we were in for an extra high tide overnight and this morning when I looked out at the yard at Obstruction Pass, there it was, in the yard, and covering the garden, flooding even the highest bed
In Memoriam | Sharon Douglas
||| FROM MIKE DOUGLAS ||| Sharon Douglas Sharon Douglas passed away at home peacefully in her sleep on November 6. Sharon lived on Orcas for 50 years and loved the Island and being part of the island community. She and her family have been long time Deer Harbor
Medicare help is here
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Have you received a letter telling you your medical plan is ending? Learned your premiums are going up? Has your health changed this year? Between October 15 and December 7, you can choose the plan that provides your best coverage for
Recognizing our community partnerships
||| FROM ORCAS SENIOR CENTER and ORCAS ISLAND LIONS CLUB ||| As the season of giving approaches, Orcas Senior Center and Orcas Island Lions Club want to recognize the partnerships that support our community and clarify how donations help. OSC’s recent holiday gift catalog highlighted caregiver respite without crediting the
WSF Weekly Report | Vehicle restrictions in place on Orcas;
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve Earlier this week, my deputy, John Vezina, and I joined Washington State Ferries’ department heads in Mukilteo for our annual two-day strategic planning session. We hold this meeting each year around this time, and I think the
Bigg’s whales encountered by CWR
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 03:11 PM ObservEnd: 04:56 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss Other Observers: Rachel John, Taylor Redmond Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T49A, T49A3, T49A4, T49A5, T49A6, T49A7, T50D, and T50B1 LocationDescr: Spieden Channel and Stuart Island
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.
Medicare help Is here
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Have you received a letter telling you your medical plan is ending? Learned your premiums are going up? Has your health changed this year? Between October 15 and December 7, you can choose the plan that provides your best coverage for
Senior Center | Recognizing our community partnerships
||| FROM ORCAS SENIOR CENTER and ORCAS ISLAND LIONS CLUB ||| As the season of giving approaches, Orcas Senior Center and Orcas Island Lions Club want to recognize the partnerships that support our community and clarify how donations help. OSC’s recent holiday gift catalog highlighted caregiver respite without crediting the
With ferry service compromised, The Exchange asks community to hold on to trash
||| FROM PETE MOE for ORCAS RECYCLING SERVICES ||| With heavy trucks temporarily prohibited from using the Orcas Island ferry terminal, The Exchange is asking island residents to hold on to their household trash for as long as possible to help reduce pressure on the island’s waste disposal system. The
Washington residents call on Gov. Ferguson, Director Sixkiller, and state agencies to oppose Pacific Link Pipeline and supertankers
Friends of the San Juans submits petition urging Washington leaders to use every available tool to protect the Salish Sea ||| FROM LOVEL PRATT for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| Between October 5 and November 4, 2026, 1,240 people, including 1,052 residents of Washington State, signed Friends of the
Health Care District in special budget, levy hearing
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island Health Care District will hold a Special Board Meeting on Thursday, November 12th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Conference Room - 33 Urner Street, Suite 4, Eastsound. The meeting will include the Public
