Here’s a thought…
“There are many forms of patriotism and telling the truth is one of them.”
ANDERSON COOPER
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.
LWVSJ Observer Corps | San Juan County Council May 26 regular meeting
||| FROM BARBARA SHARP for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| Council Chairman Paulsen read an adopted resolution recognizing June as Pride Month for San Juan County in support of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Budget planning and priorities were the main topics of discussion, with presentations from the Auditor’s office concerning the current
LWVSJ Observer Corps | San Juan County Board of Health, May 20, 2026
||| FROM BARBARA SHARP for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| Director Mark Tompkins reported that ACH has a new CEO and Community Collaboration has received $20,000 for the Recovery Café. He presented a budget update for Foundational Public Health Services. He expected no budget claw backs for the 2025- 2026 budget
San Juan Island Sculpture Park to unveil three new sculptures
Youth Sculpture Mentorship Program ||| FROM MARITA HOLDAWAY for SAN JUAN ISLANDS SCULPTURE PARK ||| Kristen Douglas Seitz, teacher Kate Douglas, artist title "Crann Bethadh" These sculptures were created by Kate Douglas, Kristina Girvan, and Penelope Moore through the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park’s Youth Sculpture Mentorship Program. Under the
You’re invited to Orcas Island Community Church to meet new pastor
||| FROM ALICIA WIGFIELD for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH ||| Join us this Sunday, June 7, at 10:00 a.m., for a special morning of worship, fellowship, and celebration as we welcome Scott Harris, who will be bringing his first message as the new Senior Pastor of Orcas Island Community Church.
In Memoriam | Robert (Bob) Alden Littlewood
||| FROM ERICA LITTLEWOOD ||| Robert (Bob) Alden Littlewood Our world has lost a brilliant, kind, funny, and talented soul. Robert (Bob) Alden Littlewood died on April 29, 2026, near his home on Orcas Island, Washington. Bob was born in Hempstead, New York on March 24, 1930, to
School bus shuttle will be available for graduation
||| FROM SUZANNA SMITH for ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| Orcas Island School District is excited to celebrate the Class of 2026 on Saturday, June 13. To help make arrival easier for our guests during campus construction, a complimentary school bus shuttle will be available from 1:15 PM to approximately
What should you do if you’re offered free medical services?
||| FROM MARGARET MILLS ||| I called Medicare to report three attempted fraud calls in two days. Medicare sent me this reminder, maybe worth publishing in Orcasonian? Phone callers asked me to confirm that I had Medicare A & B - "In order to inform you about additional services" or
Another EWUA operator resigns
||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| Today, June 3, 2026, another EWUA water operator submitted their resignation. Just days ago, more than 118 members signed an open letter requesting an independent third-party workplace investigation into interactions between management, the Board, and staff. The request followed a May 19 Board meeting attended
Get help paying for Medicare
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Are you having trouble affording the medical care you need? If you are on Medicare, there are three programs that can help: Medicaid (called Apple Health in Washington state) The Medicare Savings Program (also called MSP, and Apple Health in Washington state)
No jurors needed for June 8-12
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: JUNE 8-12, 2026 All jurors summonsed for the Jury Period beginning Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12, 2026 are excused. Thank you.
Have a garden question? Ask an Orcas Master Gardener
Saturday June 6th at the Market Garden Nursery ||| FROM JULIA TURNEY and JAY LUCAS for ORCAS MASTER GARDENERS ||| Do you have a question about your soil, have a problem with your fruit tree, or are thinking about starting a garden? Is something bugging your plants, or you are
San Juan County announces 2026 Home Fund notice of funds available
Applications will be accepted June 1 to July 13, and staff are available pre-application meetings now ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) has released a Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) for the 2026 funding round for the Home Fund program. Applications
Orca Action Month film series brings free documentary screenings to San Juans
Four Events. Six Documentary Films. One Urgent Story ||| FROM ELLEN ROBERTS & KAREN PALMER for ORCA ACTION MONTH ||| Throughout June the San Juan Islands are celebrating Orca Action Month with a remarkable series of free documentary film screenings dedicated to the story of the Southern Resident killer whales
Pamela Wright retirement set for June 20
||| FROM ALICIA WIGFIELD for ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT |||
Orcas Island Library invites community to 4th annual summer nature sketching event
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The Orcas Island Library is pleased to invite community members of all ages to its 4th Annual Summer Nature Sketching Event on Thursday, June 11, at 5:00 p.m. at the Orcas Island Library Park. Led by local biologist, naturalist, and nature
