Here’s a thought…
“There’s rarely been a bigger political mess in a national security strategy than we’re now undergoing.”
GENERAL BARRY MCCAFFREY (RET.)
Time Check | Sigh…Here we are again
||| FROM CBSNEWS.COM ||| Daylight saving time, the yearly time change colloquially known as daylight savings, is set to start for 2026, meaning most Americans will lose an hour of sleep when they "spring forward" this weekend. For nearly 20 years, the annual ritual of moving clocks an hour ahead
Latest from Lekanoff | Thanks for joining + House budgets
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF ||| To everyone who joined our recent town halls - in person, online, and by phone - thank you for showing up with thoughtful questions, honest concerns, and deep love for our communities. These conversations matter. They ground my work in Olympia
You’re invited to OPAL’s Annual Meeting
||| FROM OPAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ||| OPAL’s 2026 Annual Meeting, an opportunity to hear updates, celebrate milestones, and connect with the community that makes affordable housing possible on Orcas Island. Thursday, April 23 · 5:00–6:30 PM · Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall During the meeting, we’ll share highlights from the
OPALCO asks to roll back restrictions on Decatur solar site
Plans for a new solar project on Decatur Island in San Juan County have met with yet another complication after new deed restrictions on the proposed site. ||| FROM SALISH CURRENT ||| Orcas Power and Light Cooperative — aka OPALCO — is asking the county to revise the restrictions on
Rep. Ramel | What we’re fighting for in the final stretch: Housing, safety, & dignity
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. ALEX RAMEL ||| We are in the final stretch of the 2026 legislative session. Last week, we passed our proposed budgets in the House. Now we are working with the Senate to negotiate final budgets. I look forward after session to sharing a full
Midnight Mutterings | Columnists
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| I’ve never personally known a columnist before I became one of sorts, here on The Orcasonian a few years ago. I hardly know what to think of daily columnists in big newspapers when I find it difficult to produce a tiny product every
Seasonal opening of Orcas Island Historical Museum
Beginning Saturday March 21st, Exhibits and Main Gallery on Display ||| FROM PARKER PAVITT for ORCAS ISLAND HISTORICAL MUSEUM || The Orcas Island Historical Museum in Eastsound is soon to be open for the season! We invite you to step through our doors and into a rich past of unique
Sheriff’s Report | February 25 – March 3, 2026
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 26-001139 Weapon Safekeeping 10:19:00 02/25/26 A Lopez Deputy took in a firearm for safekeeping at the reques tof a Lopez citizen. 26-001141 Accident-HitRun 11:23:34 02/25/26 An Orcas Island Deputy responded to an accident hit and run incident in Eastsound.
Forest Stewardship course for landowners to start March 23
||| FROM ELSA HAUN for WSU EXTENSION FORESTRY ||| WSU Extension Forestry is offering its Forest Stewardship Coached Planning Course for San Juan County landowners this spring on Mondays, March 23–May 18, 2026. This hybrid program helps forest property owners assess tree health, reduce wildfire risk, manage wildlife habitat, identify
Orcas Christian School kicks off Reading Month with school-wide activity
||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| Students at Orcas Christian School (OCS) kicked off Reading Month early with a school-wide reading station event designed to spark excitement about books and bring students together across grade levels. During the activity, students were organized into multi-age groups, encouraging connection and collaboration among
Darvill’s drop-in Romance Book Club picks for 2026
Smart. Sexy. Occasionally scandalous ||| FROM AYN GAILEY for DARVILL'S ||| Join us at Darvill’s for our low-commitment romance book club where the only requirement is curiosity. Read the book… or don’t quite finish it. Either way, come for the conversation, stay for the wine, and leave with new friends. We meet 5:30
WSF Weekly Report | Remembering first WSF woman; Puyallup rescue; Daylight Savings reminder
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve March is Women’s History Month, and Sunday, March 8 marks International Women’s Day. It’s an opportunity to recognize the women who keep this system running every day. When I was 16 years old, fresh out of school
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.
News Brief | The sea is higher than we thought and millions more are at risk, study finds
||| FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ||| Climate change’s rising seas may threaten tens of millions more people than scientists and government planners originally thought because of mistaken research assumptions on how high coastal waters already are, a new study said. One simple way to understand that is that many studies
SJIF&R develops 2026-2045 Strategic Plan
We bring character, we exhibit camaraderie, we serve to protect the community ||| FROM AMY TAYLOR for SAN JUAN ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Executive Summary This plan summarizes projected revenues and expenditures over twenty years. All figures are based on the 2026 Budget. The plan provides an annual estimate
Garden Club | Learn from expert farmer, Lori Ann David
JOIN US AT 9:30 AM (just before the program) for social time, and feel free to bring something for the Sharing Table! ||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Please join the Orcas Island Garden Club on Wednesday, March 18th when we welcome Lori Ann David to share her expertise about PNW Winter
