Here’s a thought…
“We must do democracy. That goes far beyond simply casting your vote. We must all actively champion the causes that ensure the common good.”
MARTIN LUTHER KING III
Letter to Editor | I’m voting for our future
||| FROM LILY STOVALL ||| I am 21 years old, raised on Lopez. I moved back while pregnant and have been living here since with my fiancé and daughter who is now 9 months old. I’ve known Katherine since I was little and have seen how she’s always been there
Letter to Editor | Jennifer Swanson brings people together
||| FROM BRAD & NANCY ZAKES ||| We support Jennifer Swanson for San Juan County Council Position 3. Jennifer has shown great leadership and the ability to bring people together to create creative and workable solutions to many of the challenges of those living in San Juan County in a
The Pacific Salmon Treaty isn’t working for salmon, orcas, or salmon-dependent communities, coastwide movement tells US and Canadian leaders
As the Pacific Salmon Commission discusses the treaty’s future behind closed doors, salmon advocates rally in Sequim and call on both countries to Let Our Salmon Come Home ||| FROM ADRIAN TUOHY for LET OUR SALMON COME HOME ||| SEQUIM, Washington—Salmon advocates from across the coast rallied in Sequim, where the
CWR Encounter #90 with Bigg’s Killer Whales
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 11:18 AM ObservEnd: 12:50 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss Other Observers: Rachel John, Taylor Redmond, Rachel Carbary Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T35A, T35A1, T35A1A, T35A2, T35A3, T35A5, T49A, T49A3, T49A4, T49A5, T49A6, T49A7, T50D,
Letter to Editor | Katherine Bryant Ingman on environment, conservation
||| FROM KATHRINE BRYANT FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCIL ||| Protecting the environment is essential to preserving San Juan County's way of life, economy, and natural beauty. Clean water, healthy forests, productive farmland, thriving marine ecosystems, and access to our shorelines are central to what makes these islands such a special
LWVSJ Observer Corps | San Juan County Board of Health Oct 21, 2026
||| FROM BARBARA SHARP for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SAN JUAN ||| Community Collaboration Council: Approved funding for Safe San Juans ($20K); and San Juan Island Winter Shelter ($15K), with a full time shelter at the fairgrounds’ Marie Boe Building. Behavioral Health ASO: A temporary agreement will maintain the Intensive
Larsen, Dexter introduce bill to stop Trump admin from rolling back veterans’ benefits
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) introduced the Veteran Breast Cancer Fairness Act to restore male breast cancer as a presumptive illness under the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act). October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month,
Questions about San Juan County’s new Generative AI Use Policy
||| FROM ELISABETH ROBSON ||| San Juan County has adopted a policy governing the use of generative AI by County employees. It lists approved AI tools, including Microsoft Copilot, Claude, Grammarly, and Canva, and also includes tools such as Verkada security cameras with facial recognition and KnowBe4 AIDA that could
CWR encounter #89 with Bigg’s Killer Whales T60D+T60E
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 10:04 AM ObservEnd: 11:32 AM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Pods: J IDsEncountered: All of J Pod LocationDescr: Otter Point EncSummary: Mark left Victoria harbour at 0830 to take advantage of the perfect weather and survey the western Juan
Washington, Denmark establish formal ties around maritime and industrial expertise
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR BOB FERGUSON ||| SEATTLE — Governor Bob Ferguson and Ambassador Karen Eva Abrahamsen, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Denmark in the United States established a new era in trade and partnership between Washington and Denmark with the signing of the first cooperative agreement
Guitar virtuosos Frank Vignola and Pasquale Grasso at Orcas Center
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH-SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Two of today's most acclaimed jazz guitarists will share the stage at Orcas Center on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. Frank Vignola has been the go-to guitarist for an extraordinary range of artists, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Tommy Emmanuel,
Port Commission will meet on Monday
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting to include the 2027 Budget Hearing on Monday, October 26th at 4:00 p.m. online via Zoom and in-person at the airport terminal. Access information as well as the Agenda,
Help our community thrive. Volunteer at the Food Bank
||| BY THE ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK COMMUNICATIONS TEAM ||| In 2025, 40% of island households (1,160 households) relied on the Orcas Island Food Bank to help meet their nutritional needs, freeing up money for other necessities, such as gas, heating fuel, medical care, and housing. As seasonal work winds
Letter to Editor | Why I support Katherine Bryant Ingman for Council
||| FROM EMILIO SANTIAGO ||| This is a rallying cry to my fellow San Juan Islanders! I enthusiastically support Katherine Bryant Ingman for San Juan County Council, and I hope you will too. District 3 covers Lopez, Shaw, and Decatur, but we all know that our County Council's decisions affect
Coming home to community
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| It's Homecoming season, and not just for Orcas Island High School, but for all of us who feel that familiar pull back toward the people and places that make us feel a sense of purpose and belonging. Homecoming is about
Neighbor to neighbor shelter seeking community volunteers
||| FROM ALICIA WIGFIELD for NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR SHELTER ||| Neighbor to Neighbor Shelter opens November 8, and we’re looking for volunteers to help welcome and support our neighbors. There are lots of ways to pitch in—whether you can take a shift, help with laundry, or make a meal. Morning
