Here’s a thought…
“There are many forms of patriotism and telling the truth is one of them.”
ANDERSON COOPER
Strengthening civic culture on Orcas Island
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| Earlier this week, 52 nonprofit board members and staff gathered to bring fundraising into focus on Orcas Island. What may have been surprising to some, was that much of the workshop didn’t focus specifically on asking for donations. Successful nonprofits
Zuckerberg’s Launchpad visits Orcas Island
||| FROM ROBERT AUSTIN ||| LAUNCHPAD current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of LAUNCHPAD data. Photo by
UN report warns AI could soon use 3% of world’s electricity and more water than we need to drink
||| FROM THE CONVERSATION ||| One argument often used to quell concerns about the rising energy and resource demand of data centers is that artificial intelligence (AI) models will need less in the future as they improve and become more efficient. But this seemingly logical thinking is a trap, according
Sheriff’s Report | May 27 – June 1, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 26-003064 Found Property 08:18:11 05/27/26 A credit card was found on San Juan Island and turned into the Sheriff's office which was booked into the property and evidence room. No known contact for the owner. 26-003066 Found Property 09:55:17
Legacies of D-Day | June 6, 1944
||| FROM DOUGLAS MARSHALL ||| Before dawn, a seasick 22-year-old 2nd Lieutenant and his mortar platoon climbed into their landing craft and motored three hours toward the French province of Normandy, on a day code-named D-Day and toward a place code-named Utah Beach. Approaching the shore, the ramps of their
WSF Weekly Report | 75th anniversary celebrations; engine room training; great kudo
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve On Monday, Washington State Ferries marked the 75th anniversary of the state taking over Washington’s ferry service. For 75 years, the state ferry system has connected communities across Washington and has been part of everyday life for
SJC Health & Community Services announces staffing reduction due to state grant funding cut
State grant funding cut necessitates staffing reductions while the department remains committed to delivering essential public health services. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) is announcing a reduction in staffing as a result from a cut in state grant funding that
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.
LWVSJ Observer Corps | San Juan County Council May 26 regular meeting
||| FROM BARBARA SHARP for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| Council Chairman Paulsen read an adopted resolution recognizing June as Pride Month for San Juan County in support of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Budget planning and priorities were the main topics of discussion, with presentations from the Auditor’s office concerning the current
LWVSJ Observer Corps | San Juan County Board of Health, May 20, 2026
||| FROM BARBARA SHARP for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| Director Mark Tompkins reported that ACH has a new CEO and Community Collaboration has received $20,000 for the Recovery Café. He presented a budget update for Foundational Public Health Services. He expected no budget claw backs for the 2025- 2026 budget
San Juan Island Sculpture Park to unveil three new sculptures
Youth Sculpture Mentorship Program ||| FROM MARITA HOLDAWAY for SAN JUAN ISLANDS SCULPTURE PARK ||| Kristen Douglas Seitz, teacher Kate Douglas, artist title "Crann Bethadh" These sculptures were created by Kate Douglas, Kristina Girvan, and Penelope Moore through the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park’s Youth Sculpture Mentorship Program. Under the
You’re invited to Orcas Island Community Church to meet new pastor
||| FROM ALICIA WIGFIELD for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH ||| Join us this Sunday, June 7, at 10:00 a.m., for a special morning of worship, fellowship, and celebration as we welcome Scott Harris, who will be bringing his first message as the new Senior Pastor of Orcas Island Community Church.
In Memoriam | Robert (Bob) Alden Littlewood
||| FROM ERICA LITTLEWOOD ||| Robert (Bob) Alden Littlewood Our world has lost a brilliant, kind, funny, and talented soul. Robert (Bob) Alden Littlewood died on April 29, 2026, near his home on Orcas Island, Washington. Bob was born in Hempstead, New York on March 24, 1930, to
School bus shuttle will be available for graduation
||| FROM SUZANNA SMITH for ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| Orcas Island School District is excited to celebrate the Class of 2026 on Saturday, June 13. To help make arrival easier for our guests during campus construction, a complimentary school bus shuttle will be available from 1:15 PM to approximately
What should you do if you’re offered free medical services?
||| FROM MARGARET MILLS ||| I called Medicare to report three attempted fraud calls in two days. Medicare sent me this reminder, maybe worth publishing in Orcasonian? Phone callers asked me to confirm that I had Medicare A & B - "In order to inform you about additional services" or
Another EWUA operator resigns
||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| Today, June 3, 2026, another EWUA water operator submitted their resignation. Just days ago, more than 118 members signed an open letter requesting an independent third-party workplace investigation into interactions between management, the Board, and staff. The request followed a May 19 Board meeting attended
