Here’s a thought…
“The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.”
GEORGE ORWELL
Rick Larsen | Before you return your ballot, read this
Encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same ||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| Washington has one of the strongest vote-by-mail systems in the country. But recent changes to U.S. Postal Service transportation operations mean some mail may not receive a postmark on the same
Orcas Island Food Bank announces new interim Executive Director
||| FROM CALI BAGBY for ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK ||| As the Orcas Island Food Bank continues to work to serve our clients and the community in the best way possible, the Food Bank Board has engaged Michele Bart of Purposeful Consulting Group, LLC as interim executive director while our
Health Care Board to meet Sept. 23
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island Health Care District will hold a regularly scheduled board meeting on Wednesday, September 23rd from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Orcas Island Library, 500 Rose Street, Eastsound. The public packet is available below. 01. 2026_09_23 Agenda_Regular_Board.pdf 02. 2026_09_08
Test your earthquake preparedness on October 15
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for SAN JUAN COUNTY DEPT. OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| While earthquakes in the islands are rare, San Juan County is smack in the middle of some of the highest risk quake country anywhere. Being prepared for the eventual catastrophic earthquake is a basic responsibility of every
New clinic providers meet & greet September 22, 2026
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| Island Primary Care - Orcas clinic has welcomed two new Providers over the past six months, Cameron Fralick, PA-C, and Paula Whitmire, MD. In order for community members to meet these new providers outside of clinic appointments, Orcas Island Health Care District
Orcas Center | When a cello recital meets a clown show
Karen Hall's 'Delusions and Grandeur' ||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Come for the music, stay for the existential crisis as genre-blurring jester and cellist Karen Hall peels back the layers of formality, leaving you with only the humanity and insanity of the artist behind the instrument.
LWVSJ Observer Corps | SJC Board of Health September 16, 2026
||| FROM BARBARA SHARP for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| Arlesia Bailey is the new executive director of Accountable Communities of Health (ACH). Evergreen Recovery has posted two job positions, based in the county and in partnership with the SJC Sheriff’s Department. Northwest Regional Council (NWRC) approved a 3% budget
Updated | Coming to Orcas Center | Kids Got Talent show
UPDATE: The time for Saturday's show has been changed to 6 p.m. ||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center’s annual youth talent show will highlight the island's youngest performers who will sing and dance, do skits or play an instrument. The show is on Saturday, Sept.
Yoga & Ukulele Thursday mornings at Orcas Center
||| FROM ANITA ORNE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Yogalele’s fall season is now in session! Join us Thursday mornings from 8:30 to 9:15am in the Madrona Room at Orcas Center to stretch and strum, pluck and smile, experience savasana, and possibly learn a few new moves and chords. All levels
Coming to Orcas Center | Yungchen Lhamo in concert with Rafe Pearlman
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Internationally acclaimed Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo, recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Artist Award from the City of Kingston Arts Commission and the Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs, will make her first-ever visit to Orcas Island this fall. She will perform
Orcas Christian School brings generations together for Grandparents Lunch
||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| The lunch at Orcas Christian School (OCS) was filled with conversation, laughter and familiar faces as students welcomed grandparents and other special guests for the school’s first Grandparents Lunch. Held in celebration of Grandparents Day, the event brought around 25 grandparents and guests to
Katherine Bryant Ingman on San Juan County budget
||| KATHERINE BRYANT INGMAN for SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCIL ||| San Juan County is set to spend more than it takes in for 2027. To legally balance the budget, it needs to cut $3.7 million. This didn't happen overnight. In April 2026, a levy lift failed, with over 60% voting
Letter to Editor | Civic engagement beyond ballot box
||| FROM JENNIFER SWANSON, CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY COUNCIL ||| This week, I had the pleasure of experiencing community engagement, up close on both Waldron and Lopez Islands. Last Sunday, I visited the Waldron community and had several informative conversations. I heard their concerns about receiving county services on a remote
Letter to Editor | Why I support Swanson for Council
||| FROM SHEILA GAQUIN ||| I’m voting for Jennifer Swanson for County Council, District 3 position, and I hope you will too. I have known Jennifer for more than 20 years and have seen her in numerous community service roles, including school board, Ferry Advisory Committee, The Shaw Community Land
Fall sailing schedule starts this Sunday, September 20
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Our fall sailing schedule starts Sunday, Sept. 20 and lasts through Dec. 26. Port Townsend/Coupeville: The route will continue two-boat service until Oct. 5, when it returns to one-boat service until next spring. This is one week earlier than planned, due to vessel maintenance. Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth: From early October through early November, the
Midnight Mutterings | About lying
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| Have been thinking about lying lately and why it’s so disturbing. My conclusion is that part of why it is so confusing to me is that it makes me question my own perceptions. Can I really have been so wrong about what I
