Here’s a thought…
“No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices.”
EDWARD R. MURROW
A love letter to island volunteers
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| As we reflect on the heart and soul of our island during this Volunteer Appreciation Month, we are filled with immense gratitude for the spirit of volunteerism that defines this place we call home. Orcas Island is extraordinary not just
San Juan County begins process to update Critical Areas Ordinance
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is updating its critical areas protections with the support of a consultant team from Facet LLC. The County is required to protect five different kinds of critical areas and, because the protection regulations are adopted as ordinances, they are known
Letter to Editor | About that public works project on Shaw
||| FROM ELIZABETH HANCE ||| Public Works is planning a future for Shaw Island that it neither asked for nor wants. This future would include heavy industrial activity inconsistent with the spirit and intent of the Shaw Subarea Plan. Thirty years ago, 80% of the Shaw community voted “to protect
New daily service schedule, growing ridership & other insights on County’s pilot transport services
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| After completing the first week of its pilot project, San Juan County is sharing an update regarding its Marine Transportation Services. These services include emergency barge and foot-passenger transportation during disruptions to Washington State Ferry (WSF) service as well as travel to and
Emilio Alejandro Santiago wants to serve as your next Mayor of the Town of Friday Harbor
||| FROM EMILIO ALEJANDRO SANTIAGO ||| Emilio is an energetic and sociable archaeologist and cartographer that fell in love with the Friday Harbor community when he first washed ashore in 2017. His eleven years of work in cultural resource protection and historic preservation for government land management agencies such as
Weekly WSF Report | Tour de Lopez; Earth Day; summer reservations
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve Tuesday marked the 55th anniversary of Earth Day – a time to spotlight environmental issues and reflect on our shared responsibility to protect the planet. This year’s call to action urged us all to unite around renewable
Orcas to welcome Native American Canoe Journey May 21
||| FROM GERI & DAVID TURNOY ||| For the last three years, we have had the honor of hosting a Native American Canoe Journey on Orcas, and we have this special opportunity again this year. There will be a welcoming ceremony when several Native American canoes arrive at the Olga dock
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.
Report of person missing from Lopez
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Sheriff's is looking for any information on the whereabouts of the missing Lopez community member. One of our detectives is working this case and has sent out a law enforcement bulletin to our neighboring agencies on the mainland. We
The greening of transportation on Orcas Island
||| FROM BRUCE BENTON ||| When my wife, Patricia, and I moved from Maryland to Orcas in 2020, I was struck by the extent to which vehicle emissions were the major source of pollution on the island. There was a solution. But it required finding some way to incentivize Islanders
Student Art Exhibit opening Friday, April 25
||| FROM THE A-OK TEAM ||| You are invited! Come enjoy the Annual Student Art Exhibit Opening Friday, April 25th 4:30 - 6:00pm Orcas Center Featuring Orcas Island Elementary, Middle and High School artwork. High School presentations start at 5:30pm. Check out this amazing all school event on the Orcas Center events page. Refreshments and Our
LWVSJ Observer Corps Notes | San Juan County Council April 22, 2025
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| The council proclaimed May 1 Law Day and the month of May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. A new parks and fair employee, the new Human Resources Director, two new assessors and a new superior
World Central Kitchen adapts as Gaza cut off from aid and supplies
||| FROM WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN ||| In Gaza, World Central Kitchen is among the last organizations still able to cook meals. The IDF has shut all crossings to shipments, including humanitarian relief. We are now nearing the end of our supplies—and the limits of what’s possible. The humanitarian crisis grows
Jurors excused Monday, April 28 through Friday, May 2
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| For the jury period beginning Monday, April 28th through Friday, May 2nd, all jurors are excused. Thank you.
Wildfire smoke continues to impact local air quality
Skagit, Whatcom counties, Bellingham among cleanest areas for ozone ||| FROM NORTHWEST CLEAN AIR AGENCY ||| Wildfire smoke that smothered Washington communities at times with harmful fine particles in recent summers also impacted local air quality, according to the yearly national “State of the Air” report. The American Lung Association’s
The best protection against measles
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Measles cases continue to increase throughout the United States. But there is a way to protect yourself, your family, and your community. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the strongest protection against measles. It has a long history of providing safe
