Here’s a thought…
“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.”
ANSEL ADAMS
Salish Sea Early Music returns with Olena Zhukova, Jeffrey Cohan
||| FROM JEFFREY COHAN for SALISH SEA EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| Our special guest Ukrainian Olena Zhukova, just arrived from Kyiv. joins baroque flutist Jeffrey Cohan in offering an 18th-Century European Tour for Flute and Harpsichord on Tuesday, February 24 at 5:00 PM at the Orcas Adventist Fellowship Church in
Upcoming/ongoing services/events at Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Monthly Hearing Services Stacie Nordrum, Au.D., CCC-A, from Island Hearing Healthcare, provides hearing care at Orcas Senior Center every first Thursday of the month. To secure your slot, it is advisable to schedule your appointment well in advance, as availability fills
Orcas Talks Money | Free spending & savings workshop
||| FROM THE RESOURCE CENTER COMMUNICATIONS TEAM ||| Financial anxiety is a common reality for many, but a clear plan can turn that anxiety into confidence. On March 3rd at 5:30 p.m., the Orcas Community Resource Center will host a supportive, confidential workshop titled "Spending & Savings" at the Orcas
Butterflies Event at Odd Fellows Hall
Sunday, February 22nd, 2:00-3:30pm at Odd Fellows Hall ||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG for ODD FELLOWS HALL ||| Everyone seems to have heard about the Island Marble; but what about the Ochre Ringlet and Propertius Duskywing? Discover the amazing world of our islands' butterflies and moths with Kwiaht ecologist Russel Barsh and
Larsen joins entire WA delegation in supporting governor’s request for major disaster declaration to unlock individual assistance for WA flooding victims
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined Washington state’s entire congressional delegation in a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve Governor Bob Ferguson’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance to help repair state infrastructure damaged in December’s
Morris Plumbing & Heating announces new ownership
||| FROM SUSAN ANDERSON for MORRIS PLUMBING & HEATING ||| If you’ve ever built or remodeled a house on Orcas, replaced a failed water heater or had new kitchen/bath fixtures installed, chances are Morris Plumbing & Heating provided the service. “If it’s under your floor or behind your wall, we
Midnight Mutterings | The Mighty Hunter
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| Most of us have an evening meal at home, if we aren’t among the few who have dinner in a restaurant or bar nightly. Those of us who eat at home have various habits that ensure there are groceries ready to cook or
Sheriff’s Report | February 11 – 17, 2026
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 26-000841 Welfare Check 05:27:58 02/11/26 Lopez Island Deputies were dispatched to a Welfare Check. An individual was transported to PIMC for further evaluation. The incident was documented. 26-000846 Trouble Unknown 13:27:38 02/11/26 A Lopez Deputy responded to a 911
Letter to Editor | Decatur (who paid?) It’s not outright DECEPTION, but…..
||| FROM RIKKI SWIN |||
Salish Current | Contagious cancer poses possible threat to Salish Sea clams
Researchers monitor rare transmissible cancers spreading through two local species. ||| FROM THE SALISH CURRENT ||| What if cancer, already one of the deadliest diseases known to the animal kingdom, suddenly became contagious? The basket cockle (left) and the eastern soft-shell (right) have developed transmissible cancers. (Eli Voorhies /
Latest from Lekanoff | How your stories shape my work
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF ||| I want to be clear and transparent with you. At House Policy Cutoff, every Tribal-focused bill I sponsored or led has died. These bills addressed public safety, salmon recovery, emergency response, data sovereignty, justice system coordination, housing, and infrastructure—issues that directly
Public Health Hot Topic | Child and adolescent immunization schedule recommendations
West Coast Health Alliance, WA Department of Health, and San Juan County Health & Community Services continue to recommend the American Academy Pediatrics (AAP) Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Board of Health signed a letter reaffirming their commitment
Rep. Ramel | Facts Over Fear: Strengthening communities, advancing solutions, upcoming town halls
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. ALEX RAMEL ||| With four weeks remaining in this 60-day legislative session, I want to share an update on several priorities I’ve been working on at the Capitol – particularly tax fairness, cost-of-living pressures, climate action, and government accountability. These issues are often the
Port will meet on Monday
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, February 23rd 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.
Red foxes on San Juan Island test positive for avian influenza
Please do not handle wildlife, especially if it looks sick. There are no reported human cases of avian influenza in San Juan County. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Two red foxes on San Juan Island have tested positive for avian influenza. At this time there are no confirmed human
WSF Weekly Report | John Vezina stands in for Steve Nevey
||| FROM JOHN VEZINA for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from John Steve’s out this week, delegating his authority, including the WSF Weekly Update, to me. I appreciate his trust and his modeling good leadership in using his leave and prioritizing his well-being. This has also made me reflective on
