Here’s a thought…
“There is one tradition in America I am proud to inherit. It is our first freedom and the truest expression of our Americanism: the ability to dissent without fear. It is our right to utter the words, “I disagree”.”
NATALIE MERCHANT
LWVSJ Observer Corps | San Juan County Council, October 27, 2026
||| FROM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SAN JUAN ||| The San Juan County Council convened at the Orcas Island Fire and Rescue Center. After presentation by Facilities Director Greg Sawyer, the Council voted to set a public hearing for November 24, 2026, at 9:15 a.m., to consider a Resolution Authorizing
CWR encounter with J Pod
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 12:06 PM ObservEnd: 01:41 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Pods: J IDsEncountered: J27, J31, J39, J56 LocationDescr: Sombrio Point EncSummary: Mark left Victoria on Mike 1 at 0830 and headed west out on the Juan de Fuca
Council approves ‘home fund’ funding for three affordable housing projects
In total, the Council awarded $3,734,596 in REET funding and $310,000 in sales tax funding. The County has now awarded approximately $19 million in grants for affordable housing projects across the islands through the Home Fund since 2019 ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| This week, San Juan County
Letter to Editor | Why I changed my vote to Sean O’Donnell
||| FROM COLIN WILLIAMS ||| At a recent community lunch, the conversation turned, as it does this time of year, to the election. Doug McDonald mentioned that his nephew is Judge Sean O'Donnell, a candidate for Position 4 on the Washington State Supreme Court. I admitted I'd already marked Ian
County deliberates pausing essential public facility siting on Shaw Island, reevaluates path forward
Given current budget constraints, staff is evaluating how to prioritize time and resources across the county ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During this week’s Council meeting, the siting process for an Essential Public Facility (EPF) for Public Works on Shaw Island was reviewed. The County may choose to
Sportsmen Club invites you to win a Thanksgiving turkey
||| FROM PAT MUFFETT for ORCAS ISLAND SPORTSMEN CLUB ||| The Orcas Island Sportsmen Club invites the public to come out and win their Thanksgiving Turkey at the 71ST annual fall Turkey-Time Family Fun Shooting Contests. The shoot is on Saturday November 14th from l0 am to 4 pm at
Join the Orcas Island School Board
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| Are you passionate about our schools and the future of Orcas Island students? We invite you to consider serving as the next Orcas Island School District Board Director for District #2! Our schools are at the heart of our island community, and strong
Larsen urges voters to return ballots to drop boxes and pushes back on new USPS policy
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) expressed concerns to the United States Postal Service (USPS) about delays in postmarking ballots delivered in Northwest Washington. “Between August and October 2026, I visited local election offices in Whatcom, Skagit,
Multiple county advisory board & committee seats open
Key positions on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Clean Water Advisory Committee, Agricultural Resources Committee, and other boards are open ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is seeking volunteers to serve on various boards and committees that help shape daily life in
Letter to Editor | Katherine Bryant Ingman is full of energy, optimism, determination
||| FROM ROSE KAPOLCZYNSKI ||| I got to know Katherine Bryant Ingman when UW Medicine announced it was no longer going to operate the Lopez Island clinic, leaving islanders scrambling to keep the clinic open. That crucial moment for Lopez showed me Katherine’s grit and determination. As President of the
County DEM seeks public input on disaster preparedness
Complete a short survey ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Department of Emergency Management (www.islandsready.org) is updating the County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, which outlines local natural hazard risks and identifies strategies to reduce their impacts. The current plan is available at: https://www.sanjuanco.com/DocumentCenter/View/21421/HazardMitigationPlan As
About my two hours observing SJC Elections Office this morning
||| FROM ALEXANDRA GAYEK ||| Important Voter Information I served as an Election Observer at the San Juan County Elections Office in Friday Harbor for two hours this morning (Oct. 27), following sending a pile of questions about our elections process and security to County Elections Manager Camolyn Armstrong. Some
Orcas Island Clothing Bank draws about 400 over two days
||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| The Orcas Island Clothing Bank welcomed approximately 400 people over two days Oct. 24-25, offering community members an opportunity to find clothing and other household items while giving gently used goods a second life. The event was held at the Orcas Christian School (OCS)
Guest Opinion | San Juan Islands need an AI skills test for small businesses
||| FROM GLEB TSIPURSKY for DISASTER AVOIDANCE EXPERTS ||| Washington is receiving a new federal industry-driven workforce training grant. The state’s listed industries include AI and data-center infrastructure, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing. But people working in small island businesses also deserve the skills to assess automated decisions. Consider an inn
Larsen continues to press ICE for answers about local activity
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) wrote to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding Larsen’s visit to ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) suboffice in Ferndale on October 9th: “I support HSI’s mission to
Coming to Odd Fellows | The failed attempts to halt North Korea nuclear weapons program
What happens when diplomacy, nuclear science, and international security collide? ||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND ODD FELLOWS ||| Join nuclear safeguards and nonproliferation expert Mark Schanfein on Friday, November 7 at 7pm at Odd Fellows Hall for Assignment North Korea: The Failed Attempts to Halt Their Nuclear Weapons Program, an inside
