Here’s a thought…
“Every government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship’s captain has to avoid a shipwreck.”
GUY DE MAUPASSANT
Washington’s ferry system in the middle of one of the largest transitions in its history
Can today's boats last long enough for tomorrow's to arrive? ||| FROM KOMO-TV SEATTLE ||| The current WSF fleet reflects decades of underinvestment in vessel construction, according to ferry leaders. Construction recently began on the Wishkah, one of three new hybrid-electric ferries scheduled to enter service between 2030 and 2032.
San Juan County begins search for next local health officer
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County announced at the last Board of Health meeting that Dr. Amy Harley will conclude her service as the Local Health Officer for San Juan County at the end of her current contract in 2027. Dr. Harley has served as the
2026 Wooden Boat Rendezvous coming to Deer Harbor
||| FROM WARD FAY, JIM WAITE and BILL SYMES for WOODEN BOAT SOCIETY OF THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS ||| The Wooden Boat Society of the San Juan Islands will host this year’s Wooden Boat Rendezvous at Deer Harbor Marina, Orcas Island, on Tuesday September 8. The annual Rendezvous is a
CWR Encounter #55 | Bigg’s Killer Whales
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 04:22 PM ObservEnd: 04:36 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson, Joe Zelwietro Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T069E LocationDescr: Seabird Rocks EncSummary: Upon departing the T041s and aiming for “home”, Mark and Joe were pleasantly surprised to happen
Public Hearing continued on proposed Ordinance No. 1841 | New regulations for short term rentals
||| FROM DENICE KULSETH for TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| The Friday Harbor Town Council is accepting public testimony on proposed Ordinance No. 1841, which would establish new regulations for accommodations of 30 days or less. The proposed regulations would apply to hotels, bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, and other
Compass Health to purchase county building in Friday Harbor, continuing long-term services locally
State funding and a decades-long county partnership secure the building's future ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Compass Health, a community-based healthcare agency supporting youths and adults, is purchasing the building it has been leasing long-term from San Juan County located at 520 Spring Street in Friday Harbor, thanks to
I’m not the church lady | Living inside a world that mistakes appearance for essence
||| I'M NOT THE CHURCH LADY by ROSIE KUHN ||| Can I continue being who I am when being who I am doesn’t produce the response I so hope for? Only once, that I can remember as a child, did I have the experience of another human being seeing me—straight
CWR Encounter #54 | Bigg’s Killer Whales
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 03:45 PM ObservEnd: 04:11 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson, Joe Zelwietro Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T041,T041A,T041A2,T041A3,T041A4 LocationDescr: Pachena Point EncSummary: After an already successful survey day along the outer coast, one half of the research team
CWR encounter #53 • Northern Resident Killer Whales C and G Pod
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 11:45 AM ObservEnd: 12:55 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson, Joe Zelwietro Pods: Northern Resident IDsEncountered: C6 matriline: C8, C22, C27 G31 matriline: G31, G54, G103, G84, G96, G131 G34 matriline: G70, G71, G89, G98 with calf G62
Be sure to visit County Fair’s Ag tent
||| FROM REBECCA MOORE for SAN JUAN COUNTY EXTENSION ||| Curious about where your food comes from? Wondering what organizations support local farms, gardens, and food security? Looking for fun, hands-on activities for the whole family? The Ag Tent in the Green Village at the San Juan County Fair, August
Working together to feed our island communities
||| FROM THE RESOURCE CENTER COMMUNICATIONS TEAM ||| Island communities know that the best solutions happen when we work together. That spirit of collaboration was recognized this month as the Orcas Community Resource Center was awarded a $150,000 grant from the North Sound Accountable Community of Health (ACH) to lead
Celebrate Chinook Salmon’s homecoming at Glenwood Springs on Orcas Island
||| FROM KEVIN CODY for LONG LIVE THE KINGS ||| On Saturday, September 12, Long Live the Kings (LLTK) is hosting our annual Return of the Kings Celebration to welcome our iconic Chinook salmon back as they return home to spawn at Glenwood Springs on Orcas Island. The free community
Midnight Mutterings | Mooney
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| At the end of June this summer, I was sitting on the beach with my new friends from India (and their lovely 1.5 (as they said) year old daughter. (One of the things I love about English is that even if both parties
Guest Opinion | Open letter to State Board of Education
||| FROM DR. KARI LYNN SCHUH ||| Dear Chair Fertakis and Members of the Washington State Board of Education, I am unable to attend your August 12 meeting in person, but as you consider adopting the FutureReady resolution, I hope you will allow me to put one very important request—and
4H members talk with livestock market auctioneer
||| FROM KATHLEEN MORRIS for SAN JUAN COUNTY 4H ||| Recently members of San Juan County 4H interviewed long time auctioneer for the 4H Livestock Market Auction, Tom Pasma. Aurora Miller (club reporter), Louie Averna and Geo Averna from Orcas Fur & Feathers and Skyler Capps club reporter from Lopez
WSF Weekly Report | Construction underway for new boats
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve Yesterday in Florida, we celebrated the start of construction on our newest vessel, Wishkah. The steel cutting ceremony is an exciting milestone. It marks the beginning of something many Washingtonians have been waiting a long time to
