Here’s a thought…
“If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.”
SAMUEL ADAMS
OISD Strategic Planning | Building our future together
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island School District is beginning a new Strategic Planning process to help shape the future of our schools. The goal is to celebrate what’s working, identify opportunities for growth, and establish clear priorities that improve experiences and outcomes for students. Your voice
David B. Williams comes to Orcas Library for ‘In the Range of Fire and Ice’
What stories can a mountain range tell? ||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| On Wednesday, October 7 at 6:00 p.m., the Orcas Island Public Library welcomes award-winning author and naturalist David B. Williams for a special conversation about his book, In the Range of Fire and Ice:
LWV interviews WA Supreme Court candidates
All 10 Supreme Courts candidates, provide vital — nonpartisan — information for voters ||| FROM AMY PELOFF for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| With a majority of state Supreme Court seats in play on the Nov. 3 ballot and controversial issues likely to come before the justices, the League of
Guest Opinion | San Juan County has a spending problem…
and it’s got nothing to do with the Department of Environmental Stewardship ||| FROM KEVIN RANKER ||| The County Council is considering a budget that eliminates the Department of Environmental Stewardship as an independent department in order to “save money” - which history has shown means there is no independent
Friday Harbor Poetry Gardens contest winners announced
||| FROM JULIE GREENE for TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| The Town of Friday Harbor and Friday Harbor Arts Commission have announced the winners of their third Poetry Gardens Contest. A blind judging process was used to review 162 entries submitted by San Juan County residents. Selection of the 30
OCS students develop leadership skills at Sunset Lake Camp
||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| Orcas Christian School high school and middle school students returned Thursday from a week at Sunset Lake Camp in Wilkeson, Washington, where they joined students from several small Adventist schools for activities focused on leadership, worship, teamwork and personal growth. OCS high school students
Orcas Center presents “No Time To Waste” + Jaeger & Reid
Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m. | Center Stage, Orcas Center ||| FROM PATRICIA BENNETT for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center will present an evening of documentary film and live music on Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m. on Center Stage. The program opens with “No Time To Waste,” a
Larsen | What we accomplished this September
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| September has been another busy month working on the issues that matter to people across Northwest Washington. Here are a few highlights from the month: Supporting Washington's maritime economy: I joined maritime leaders at the Port of Everett for a
Soroptimists launch Live Your Dream award
||| FROM HEATHER SPAULDING for SOROPTIMISTS INTERNATIONAL OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| Soroptimists International of Friday Harbor is now accepting applications for its annual Live Your Dream Award. The deadline is Nov. 15. This award of up to $4,000 is for a woman in San Juan County who is the primary
Your 2026 Friday Harbor Film Festival experience starts now
Plan your festival, reserve your seats ||| FROM FRIDAY HARBOR FILM FESTIVAL ||| The 2026 Film Guide and Festival Schedule are live, and passholders can now start building their Festival experience! With 34 feature documentaries and 20 shorts to choose from, plus a full rundown of the Program Guide, filmmakers,
I’m Not the Church Lady | I’m really tired of this
||| I'M NOT THE CHURCH LADY by ROSIE KUHN ||| The other night, I was lying in bed ruminating about a conflict with a friend. You know how that goes—the conversation that isn’t actually happening is happening brilliantly in my head. What I could say. What I’m afraid to say.
Community budget with Council Chair Justin Paulsen event scheduled Sept. 30 on Lopez
The San Juan County Council Chair and District 2 Representative will hold a meeting with the community to discuss the County budget and related fiscal challenges at the Lopez Island Library Community Room from 5:30-7:00 p.m. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Council Chair and District
CWR encounter with Biggs Killer Whales
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 07:48 AM ObservEnd: 08:40 AM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Other Observers: Gary Sutton, Tasli Shaw, Mollie Alexandra Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T060D, T060E, T069, T069C, T069F, T109B, T109B3, T109B4, T109B5, T109B6 LocationDescr: Christopher Point EncSummary: Mark, Gary, Tasli, and Mollie got what friend and colleague
LWVSJ Observer Corps | San Juan County Council 9/22/26
||| FROM BARBARA SHARP for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| The County Council approved a Joint Letter to Washington State Ferries supporting the System’s long-range planning. The council appointed applicants to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District. After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved
Port Commission will hold regular meeting on Monday
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, September 28th 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.
Orcas Island Pride shares important information about ballots this November
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND PRIDE ||| So much of what we do as a Pride organization is centered around joy - but even we must sometimes contend with the reality that our rights are being threatened and actively being repealed in parts of the country. Many people like to think
