Here’s a thought…
“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.”
ANSEL ADAMS
Public Health Hot Topic | Child and adolescent immunization schedule recommendations
West Coast Health Alliance, WA Department of Health, and San Juan County Health & Community Services continue to recommend the American Academy Pediatrics (AAP) Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Board of Health signed a letter reaffirming their commitment
Rep. Ramel | Facts Over Fear: Strengthening communities, advancing solutions, upcoming town halls
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. ALEX RAMEL ||| With four weeks remaining in this 60-day legislative session, I want to share an update on several priorities I’ve been working on at the Capitol – particularly tax fairness, cost-of-living pressures, climate action, and government accountability. These issues are often the
Port will meet on Monday
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, February 23rd at 4:00 p.m. online via Zoom and in-person at the airport terminal conference room. Access and agenda information can be found at portoforcas.com.
Red foxes on San Juan Island test positive for avian influenza
Please do not handle wildlife, especially if it looks sick. There are no reported human cases of avian influenza in San Juan County. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Two red foxes on San Juan Island have tested positive for avian influenza. At this time there are no confirmed human
WSF Weekly Report | John Vezina stands in for Steve Nevey
||| FROM JOHN VEZINA for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from John Steve’s out this week, delegating his authority, including the WSF Weekly Update, to me. I appreciate his trust and his modeling good leadership in using his leave and prioritizing his well-being. This has also made me reflective on
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.
Letter to Editor | Open letter to Legislature about WSF card surcharge
||| FROM BOB DISTLER ||| Washington State Ferries has announced that, beginning March 1, it will add a 3% surcharge to “all card transactions.” The so-called Durbin amendment to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act passed in 2010 specifically bars surcharges on debit card transactions, whether processed
Open letter to community from Sheriff Eric Peter
||| FROM SHERIFF ERIC PETER ||| Fellow community members, It is with a heavy heart that I share this message. Throughout my career and life, I have faced numerous injuries and health challenges that have led to several chronic conditions I manage each day. The past year, 2025, was especially
Letter to Editor | Compare: OPALCO General Manager compensation is huge
||| FROM RIKKI SWIN |||
Guest Opinion | Root cause of struggles at EWUA
||| FROM FRED KLEIN ||| Perhaps a bit of history from the point of view of a long time member and former board member of EWUA would be helpful for the membership to understand, confront and deal with the current chaos. Once upon a time…for many years since its inception
Beaverton Marsh Trail open house March 4
Stop by for an in-person update on the grant-funded project to develop a boardwalk across the marsh ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Join Conservation Land Bank staff and commissioners at the Mullis Community Senior Center on Wednesday, March 4, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, for an open house about
“Grease” is rolling into Orcas Center this spring
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| We’ve got chills — and they’re multiplying. It’s not just the word, it’s happening! That’s right, “Grease” is rolling into Orcas Center this spring. An all-local cast is revving up to present this classic musical on the main stage, directed by
Land Bank Commission to meet Friday
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting Friday, February 20. The meeting is scheduled from 8:45am – 11:10am via Zoom. The meeting will also be available for in person public attendance at the San Juan Island
Canoe Island Music Camp with JP and the OK Rhythm Boys
||| FROM ANITA ORNE for JP AND OK RHYTHM BOYS ||| Registration is now open for Canoe Island Music Camp 2026! Join JP and the OK Rhythm Boys for a weekend of music and fun on Canoe Island, May 2-3. The trio (Gordon, JP, and Anita) will offer workshops for
New calf reported in L Pod | Welcome L129
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| We’re happy to report that Center for Whale Research biologists documented a brand new calf with L pod on February 16, 2026 near Race Rocks, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The calf, designated L129, was travelling with L55 matriline, and was
News Brief | High severity blazes influence bee species
||| FROM THE WILDLIFE NEWS ||| To the degree that wildfires are seen as somehow non-destructive, it is usually couched in phrases like the fire was low intensity and most trees “survived” the blaze, as if tree survival is the important criterion for judging wildfires. We hear constantly about “good
