Here’s a thought…
“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”
READER BOARD
Densmore’s artwork featured at Library for April
||| FROM ANDREA COHEN for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| David Densmore will be April’s featured artist in the Art in the Library series at the Orcas Island Library. David has been capturing the beauty and spirit of Orcas Island in his paintings for many years, and his style continues to
Town parking lot closure April 7 and 8
||| FROM JENNIFER KREMBS for TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| Residents are advised of a temporary closure of the Town parking lot located at 330 Spring Street across from Wells Fargo Bank, April 7 through mid-day on April 8, 2026, for parking lot improvements. The Streets and Parks Department will
Let’s talk public transit for Orcas & the San Juan Islands
||| FROM COLIN WILLIAMS for FRIENDS OF RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ||| Hosted by the Friends of Rural Public Transportation Tuesday, April 7, 2026 1:45 PM - 3:30 PM Orcas Island Public Library Community Room Online Meeting Link Imagine Orcas & the San Juan Islands where... You can hop on a
Award-winning illusion, music, puppetry show + free magic workshop
||| FROM PHINA PIPIA ||| Hailed as “Imaginative, intelligent, and strangely mesmerizing” by the San Diego Union Tribune, Phina Pipia brings award-winning solo show to the Orcas Island Odd Fellows Hall A tuba lights the way, beds make music, paintings come to life, and a radio delivers a message from
Don’t forget! Join the community meeting on April 6 to review the Critical Areas Ordinance update
YOU'RE INVITED to comment on the first draft! Join County staff on Monday, April 6, from 6:00-8:00 pm to ask questions and learn more about the regulations included in the CAO ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is updating its critical areas protections, also referred to
News Brief | Trump issues order attempting to change rules for mail-in voting
||| FROM THE WASHINGTON POST ||| President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Tuesday that purports to change rules for mail ballots even though the president has limited authority over elections. Elections experts called the order legally questionable and noted that courts blocked the major provisions of an executive
Vegetable Gardening Workshop with Dr. Carol Miles set for April 11
During the event, San Juan County Master Gardeners will be available to answer attendees’ specific gardening questions, from soil challenges to pest troubleshooting ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The WSU Extension San Juan County Master Gardeners invite the community to kick off the 2026 gardening season at a
Orcas celebrates Trans Day of Visibility
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND PRIDE ||| Today is Trans Day of Visibility. Today, we honor our trans brethren that have passed away, and celebrate the lives of those of us still living. We did a screening of the film Heightened Scrutiny in February alongside a Q&A with the director, Sam
Independent Bookstore Day celebrates its 13th anniversary
Darvill’s Bookstore is happy to announce our participation in the 13th Anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day ||| FROM SARA FARISH for DARVILL'S BOOKSTORE & COFFEE BAR ||| This year, Darvill’s Bookstore & Coffee Bar on Orcas Island is celebrating with a full day of events for book lovers of all
No jurors needed for April 6-10
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: APRIL 6-10, 2026 For the Jury Period beginning Monday April 6th through Friday April 10th, 2026, all jurors are excused. Thank you.
Collision course | WSF terminates contract for streamlining reservations
Ferry stakeholders feel the pain as nearly $3 million in public spending may come up empty ||| FROM THE SALISH CURRENT ||| Earlier this month, a Washington State Ferries project manager unexpectedly terminated a standing $8 million contract to upgrade and modernize ferry ticketing and reservations, potentially placing $3 million
News Brief | Judge orders Trump administration to halt ballroom construction unless Congress OKs it
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| “The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” the federal judge wrote in the ruling. The judge ruled that any construction work that’s necessary to ensure the
Share Your Feedback | County & partners are developing tools to manage human/wildlife interactions
Update: During the upcoming April 21, 2026 meeting, the Council is expected to set a public hearing for May 12. Previous versions of this article stated that the public hearing would be on the 21st, but the hearing is not yet scheduled. It will likley occur on May 12. The
News Brief | In the past decade, Washington has become one of the most expensive states to live in
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE STANDARD ||| Drawing from an array of federal and state data, a new analysis shows the state’s cost of living rising faster than the national average over that time, with only California, New Jersey, Hawaii and Washington, D.C. considered more expensive in 2023. “The story is
A Life Close to Nature | Center for Whale Research honors Tamar Griggs
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| An adventurous spirit who sailed across the Atlantic in her early twenties, a mother, a nature photographer, an author, and a lifelong supporter of wildlife and whale conservation, Tamar Griggs lived a life deeply connected to the natural world. Recently, we were deeply
Locally supported Meals on Wheels programs support seniors ability to age well in the islands
In 2025, the County’s Senior Nutrition Program produced over 38,000 meals – serving 16,269 in-person lunches to 606 seniors and delivering 21,809 meals to 245 seniors ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| For many older adults in the islands, ‘Meals on Wheels and More’ provides more than nutritious food.
