Here’s a thought…
“Nothing limits intelligence more than ignorance; nothing fosters ignorance more than one’s own opinions; nothing strengthens opinions more than refusing to look at reality.”
SHERI S. TEPPER
Letter to Editor | Why I’m voting for Katherine Bryant Ingman
||| FROM ELIZABETH SUDEN ||| Join me in voting for Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council. Katherine is a leader who listens & collaborates to find solutions that work for the wellbeing of the community. Please join me & vote Katherine Bryant Ingman for Council position #3.
Letter to Editor | Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council
||| FROM BRETON CARTER ||| Katherine is a thoughtful and intentional leader who is truly dedicated to serving our island communities. Whether volunteering as a high school track coach or leading the Catherine Washburn Medical Association when the Lopez Clinic sought a new provider, she brings professionalism and a deep
Update on Orcas School drinking water
||| FROM ORCAS SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATIONS TEAM ||| Improvements Continue Our commitment to improving school drinking water continues through our partnership with the Washington State Department of Health. Fixtures replaced The district replaced fixtures identified for corrective action. Follow-up testing has returned those meeting the state's lead-testing threshold to normal service. Filtration
Sheriff’s Guild endorses Ron Krebs for election as Sheriff
||| FROM ISAAC NORTON for SJC DEPUTY SHERIFF'S GUILD ||| We, the Members of the San Juan County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild, by majority vote endorse Ron Krebs for election as Sheriff. The Sheriff’s Office is at critically low staffing levels and being the only 24/7 department in San Juan County
Assessor’s Office presents a ‘Levy Transparency Tool’
Estimate property tax amounts for levies on the 2026 November 3 ballot ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The Assessor’s Office created a “Levy Transparency Tool” to help voters understand how levy propositions affect taxes. The tool includes summaries of levy propositions on the upcoming ballot and a comparison
Why I’m a candidate for 40th Legislative District representative
||| FROM JOSEPH SEGAULT ||| My name is Joseph Segault, and I am proud to announce that I am running for Washington State Representative, 40th Legislative District, Position 2, representing all of San Juan County and portions of Whatcom and Skagit counties. I was raised on Orcas Island and have
Letter to Editor | Katherine Bryant Ingman is my first choice
||| FROM MIA KARTIGANER ||| Among my favorite takeaways from attending Leadership San Juan Islands was my friendship with Katherine Bryant Ingman. She is immediately smart, capable, warm and friendly. Always a first choice for team projects. Rarely in life is someone’s trajectory so clear and so clearly aligned with
EWUA members petition to explore public ownership
||| FROM EWUA PUBLIC UTILITY PETITION COMMITTEE* ||| More than 50 EWUA memberships have signed a petition supporting a formal, non binding evaluation of whether Eastsound’s water utility should be transferred to public ownership through the Eastsound Sewer and Water District (ESWD). Bringing water and sewer together could offer important community
No jurors required for Oct. 26 – Nov. 6
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 6, 2026 All jurors summonsed for Jury Duty beginning October 26th, are excused. Jurors with summonses for the week beginning November 2nd, need to check beginning next Thursday, October 27th to see if they are needed.
CWR encounters new baby orca
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| The Center for Whale Research is happy to report that a new calf has been born in the Southern Resident killer whale population. On October 19, 2026, CWR researchers observed a very young whale traveling with J35. The calf, designated J65, is very
EWUA Board Meeting | Public utility petition, Clark Well costs, Board election
||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| The Eastsound Water Users Association (EWUA) Board met Tuesday evening, October 20, 2026 with several notable developments involving public ownership, capital expenditures, and the upcoming Board election. Members Preparing Petition to Explore Public Ownership During the meeting's only public comment, an EWUA member informed the
How about a night of improv with island friends?
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH-SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Improv: Last Thursday Night is the place for improvised comedy on the island, held on the last Thursday of every month. The next event is Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Black Box. Improv groups and players borne from
Larsen, colleagues succeed in delaying new CBP rule harming access to lower-cost medications
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “In the past few months, my office has received dozens of messages from constituents worried about how they are going to afford prescription medications if the Trump administration's
The Art of Stillness | Christian Carlson at Crow Valley Gallery
||| FROM AYN GAILEY for HALO ||| “Place has become a pendulum swing for me between life in the Skagit Valley and life on Orcas Island — one busy showing artists at Perry + Carlson Gallery [in Mt. Vernon] and one very quiet. Always between them is the Sea and
Local fire districts now issue burn permits; Available as of Oct. 12
Residents can apply for burn permits via their local fire district. There is no change in cost, and permits can be obtained quickly and easily online ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Beginning this 2026-2027 burn season, the local fire districts will be processing all burn permits for residents.
Letter to Editor | We support Jennifer Swanson for San Juan County Council
||| FROM JANICE AND PHILIP EKSTROM ||| For many years Jennifer has been at the center of making the Shaw community run smoothly. She serves effectively as a leader on local and county boards, a careful and patient listener, respectful of others' opinions. We are eager to see her courtesy, wisdom and
