Has theOrcasonian outgrown its britches?
It may seem so...but you can help. We just need new britches. ||| BY LIN MCNULTY, EDITOR ||| A recent notification from theOrcasonian's webhost has rocked our reality. BlueHost has advised us that we need to upgrade our hosting due to our online presence exceeding our ability to maintain our
Gardening with mushrooms in the PNW Garden Club presentation
JOIN US AT 9:30 AM (just before the program) for social time, and feel free to bring something for the Sharing Table ||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Please join the Orcas Island Garden Club on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, when we welcome Alex Winstead to share helpful advice for
News Brief | Saving old trees might save lives
||| FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES ||| Many cities across the country, including New York, have been planting trees in neighborhoods where cooling shade has been sparse because of neglect in decades past. But a new study has found that simply adding trees is not enough: To get the most from
Orcas Island Jazz Festival is back for a new season
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| From Brazilian rhythms and contemporary jazz to New Orleans soul and an all-star festival finale, the Orcas Island Jazz Festival brings acclaimed musicians from around the region and beyond to the heart of Orcas Island. Whether you’re a lifelong jazz fan
Understanding Alzheimer’s | A conversation with Dr. Robert Rubey
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| What do we actually know about Alzheimer's disease, and how has our understanding changed over time? Join us at Orcas Senior Center on Wednesday, September 9 at 1:00 p.m. for a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Robert Rubey, a retired psychiatrist whose
Rep. Larson | No family should have to navigate the immigration system alone
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSON ||| The Administration's immigration enforcement agenda is tearing families apart, creating fear throughout our communities, and harming our local economy. That is why I visited the ICE holding facility in Ferndale to conduct congressional oversight and get answers for the people
News Brief | Judge rules WA utility can take land for data center power lines
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| Grant County Public Utility District filed a lawsuit to condemn parts of their properties last year because their land sits in the path of a planned transmission line designed to carry more electricity to Quincy, Washington’s de facto data center hub. An attorney for
School District paving progresses across campus
||| FROM ERIC WEBB for ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| We are excited to share another positive update on the progress of our summer campus improvement projects! Our second full day of asphalt paving concluded on Friday, bringing the total amount of asphalt delivered and placed to 667 tons of
CWR Encounter with Biggs
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Encounter Report ObservBegin: 02:36 PM ObservEnd: 03:44 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Michael Weiss Other Observers: Charli Grimes, Lily King, Rachel John, Aspen Kendrick-Cisneros Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T35A, T35A1, T35A1A, T35A2, T35A3, T38A, T38A2, T38A3 LocationDescr: San Juan Channel and President
SJC Land Bank meets on Friday
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY CONSERVATION LAND BANK COMMISSION ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting Friday, August 21. The meeting is scheduled from 8:45am – 11:10am via Zoom. The meeting will also be available for in person public attendance at the Mullis Community Senior Center
Town to hold special meeting with County Council
||| FROM TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Council and San Juan County Council will hold a special joint meeting on August 20, 2026, from 9:00 a.m.-11:20 a.m. The special meeting will take place in San Juan County’s Legislative Hearing Room located at 55
San Juan County outdoor burn ban notice
County issues outdoor burn ban in the face of elevated fire dangers and dry conditions ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Per the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the fire danger level in San Juan County has been upgraded to HIGH. Therefore, no outdoor burning is allowed except
CWR Encounter #59 | Bigg’s Killer Whales
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 02:30 PM ObservEnd: 03:59 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Michael Weiss Other Observers: Charli Grimes, Taylor Redmond, Lily King, Navi Zwart, Henry Moreau-Smith Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T100, T100C, T100F LocationDescr: Haro Strait EncSummary: After the T100s passed
Questions worth asking at EWUA Board meeting tomorrow
||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| The EWUA Board meets tomorrow, August 18 at 5:00 PM at the Eastsound Firehall. With no July Board meeting and several recent updates from EWUA, here are some questions I hope we can get answers to: Clark Well What is the current total project cost?
Ferry Alert | Expect delays on State Route 20 south of Anacortes Aug 17- Sept 4
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Reminder - If you travel on State Route 20 between Anacortes and Whidbey Island, expect delays starting at 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17 through 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4. The highway will be reduced to one lane of alternating traffic 24 hours/day at Campbell Lake Road, while
CWR encounter #58 • Bigg’s Killer Whales
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 03:37 PM ObservEnd: 05:05 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Michael Weiss Other Observers: Charli Grimes, Navidad Islam-Zwat, Henry Moreau-Smith, Aspen Kendrick-Cisneros, Taylor Redmond Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T65B, T65B1, T65B2, T65B3 LocationDescr: San Juan Channel EncSummary: After promptly
