Here’s a thought…
“To be clear, we don’t know if A.I. models are conscious. I don’t know. I’m genuinely uncertain.”
CHRISTOPHER OLAH
Emmanuel’s summer Market Day helps Orcas islanders all year
||| FROM LYNN BAKER for EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH ||| Warm homes. Good food. Help in need. Services for seniors. And, for students, a chance to learn to fly. These are the gifts to Orcas islanders from shoppers at July’s Market Day, the annual rummage sale of Emmanuel Episcopal Church. From
Artworks featured artist for October is Maria Papademetriou
||| FROM B.J. ARNOLD for ORCAS ARTWORKS ||| Orcas artist Maria Papademetriou describes her work is a kind of visual storytelling used to create a narrative, mood,, or message. "My creative process is multilayered and intuitive, using found objects, ceramics, and old photographs. "From a very early age, 4 to
Midnight Mutterings | Hand II
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| I’m calling this ‘Hand II because I think I wrote a column years earlier called ‘Hand’ about my brother’s serious injury to his right hand when he was eight years old that put him into an six+ hour surgery followed by months in
Council candidate shares what voters are saying
||| FROM JENNIFER SWANSON, CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 ||| During the course of my campaign for County Council, I have had countless conversations with people across the islands and have learned a great deal about their concerns. These conversations have given form to how I will, as councilmember,
Town of Friday Harbor Proclamation | Hope to live free of abuse
||| FROM TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, October is recognized nationally as Domestic Violence Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, domestic violence is a complex and pervasive public health crisis that affects individuals without regard to age, race, gender, education, religious, economic, or societal lines; and WHEREAS, domestic violence is
Supporting our strong community
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| Strong communities are built by people who choose to engage, learn, and lead, and this fall we have several ways to support that work on Orcas. In August, Eric Liu visited Orcas Island for our National Nonprofit Day program, Beyond
Getting to Know Katherine | People-first leadership & proven results
||| FROM KATHERINE BRYANT INGMAN FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCIL ||| Excellent council members bring neighbors together, build on community strengths, identify solutions by focusing on shared goals, and lead through change and crisis with empathy and compassion. I have a proven, professional track record of effective community facilitation, mediation,
Joint statement of Governor Bob Ferguson and Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller on west coast oil pipeline
||| FROM WASHINGTON GOVERNOR BOB FERGUSON ||| OLYMPIA — Governor Bob Ferguson and Washington Department of Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller offer the folllowing joint statement regarding the Oct. 1 decision by the Canadian Major Projects Office to list the West Coast Oil Pipeline as a “Project of National Interest”: "We
November 3, 2026, General Election Ballots | Vote! Sign! Ballot Box it!
All registered San Juan County voters will receive a ballot for the 2026 General Election. Ballots will be mailed on October 9 ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Mark your calendars for the upcoming General Election on November 3! Races for important Federal, State, and County positions will appear
In Memoriam | Doug Marshall
||| FROM MICHELL (MITCH) MARSHALL ||| It is difficult to find the words to say goodbye to someone who has been an important part of my life. My beloved husband, Doug Marshall, passed away on September 15 with me by his side. Doug Marshall Doug loved this island,
WSF Weekly Report | Reducing fleet age; week without driving challenge; Nevey’s 5-year anniversary
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve Today marks my five-year anniversary at Washington State Ferries. I joined WSF in 2021 as operations director and stepped into my current role in the spring of 2024. When I arrived, we were facing unprecedented crew shortages
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.
Orcas Airport is now open – two days early
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| A few moments ago the A2,A3 and A4 barricades were removed as well as all midfield and east side hangar barriers, ORS is 100% open, two days early! A huge thanks for your flexibility, understanding, safe ops and professionalism throughout the
Free immunization clinics for children to protect against influenza and COVID
Free influenza and COVID-19 immunizations for all children 6 months through 18 years old this October! Please note, while we hope to have sufficient COVID-19 vaccine availability, there may be shortages and delays in the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Protect your family
Experience a night of fingerstyle guitar with Calum Graham
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Fingerstyle guitarist Calum Graham will bring his intricate, genre-bending playing to the Orcas Center stage on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at www.orcascenter.org. Born in British Columbia and now based in Victoria, Graham has spent nearly two
Learn to fly in 2027
Three OAA scholarships now open ||| FROM ALLAN TONE for ORCAS AVIATION ASSOCIATION ||| Have you ever watched a small plane lift off Runway 34 at Orcas Island Airport and thought, “That could be me”? This year, it really could — and the island needs you up there. The Orcas
