Here’s a thought…
“If you put fences around people, you get sheep. Give people the room they need.”
WILLIAM L. MCKNIGHT
Ferry Alert| Ana/SJs alternate schedule through 12/22
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| The Tillikum is currently operating as the #3 vessel, due to the Kaleetan being out of service. Beginning Saturday, Dec. 20, the Salish will operate as the #3 vessel, and the Tillikum will move to the #4 vessel interisland position. This change allows the
Increased rains increase threat of landslides
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Seattle WA 116 PM PST Tue Dec 16 2025 San Juan County-Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties- Cascades of Snohomish and Northern King Counties- Cascades of Southern King County- Cascades of Pierce and Lewis Counties- Foothills and Valleys
Health Care District in special board meeting tomorrow
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The Board Meeting Public Packet is available below. Agenda 02. 2025_11_18 OIHCD Claims Payment Request.pdf 03. 2025_12_02 OIHCD Claims Payment Request.pdf 04. 2025_12_16 OIHCD Claims Payment Request.pdf 05. OIHCD Financial Report Oct 2025.pdf 06. OIHCD Financial Report November 2025.pdf 07. 2025.12.12 -
News Brief | Food and fossil fuel production causes $5bn of environmental damage every hour
||| FROM THE GUARDIAN ||| The Global Environment Outlook (GEO) report, which is produced by 200 researchers for the UN Environment Programme, said the climate crisis, destruction of nature and pollution could no longer be seen as simply environmental crises. The science is good. The solutions are known. What is
Celebration of Life for Linda Peth
||| FROM KELLY PETH ||| Celebration of Life for Linda Peth will be held from Noon to 3 pm on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at Orcas Island Odd Fellows Hall, 112 Haven Rd, Eastsound, WA 98245. SEE ALSO
Holiday Fun | Secret Santa book exchange at Orcas Library
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Join us on Saturday, December 20 at 3:00 PM for a cozy winter gathering filled with stories, surprises, and holiday cheer! Bring a wrapped book you love (or think someone else will!) and trade it anonymously with fellow readers. New twist:
CWR encounters Rare Bigg’s Sightings
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 12:29PM ObservEnd: 14:04PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson, Joe Zelwietro Other Observers: Austen Holland-Roy and Rachelle Hayden Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T241, T241A, T241B, T241A1, T241A2 LocationDescr: Sherringham EncSummary: With the San Juan field team working with the entire
Emmanuel Episcopal Church to present Jazzin’ with the Classics for Christmas
||| FROM JEFFREY COHAN for JAZZIN' WITH THE CLASSICS FOR CHRISTMAS ||| Emmanuel Episcopal Church presents the 16th annual JAZZIN' WITH THE CLASSICS FOR CHRISTMAS, featuring rhythm & blues vocalist Jaz Lund and her father, jazz pianist, flutist and clarinetist Martin Lund, classical flutist Jeffrey Cohan and bassist Paul Gabrielson
From Pilot to Payoff | SJC’s 32hr work week pilot project brings fiscal savings & workforce gains
The final report on the 32-hour work week found critical financial savings, improvements to recruitment and retention efforts, and promising productivity measures in less sick time used, fewer voluntary employee separations, and lower employee turnover. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Adopted as a cost-savings measure in 2023, San
Local youth lead mock Town Council meeting
||| FROM DENICE KULSETH for TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| The Town of Friday Harbor, in collaboration with Friday Harbor Middle School, hosted an educational event for seventh-grade students to engage with local government through a mock Town Council meeting on November 17, 2025. This is the second year the
WSF/fire departments coordinate during High Wind event today
||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Due to high winds preventing air medical transport, OIFR had two ambulances aboard the WSF Issaquah transporting critical patients to mainland hospitals this evening. The ferry also picked up a third ambulance from Lopez Island with another patient. One
Monthly Land Bank Commission meeting and annual retreat, Friday, December 19
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY CONSERVATION LAND BANK COMMISSION ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold an abbreviated monthly meeting and annual retreat Friday, December 19. The monthly meeting is scheduled for 8:40am – 9am. The annual retreat is scheduled for 9am – 2pm. The meeting will be in person
News Brief | Is the Pacific Northwest ready for an influx of climate refugees?
||| FROM KUOW RADIO ||| Climate migration is difficult to study, and even harder to predict. But some researchers say a historic population shift has already begun. But we may see an even bigger population boom here as climate change makes more places unlivable. READ FULL ARTICLE and to listen
An invitation to our community | Join the conversation on Public Transit
||| FROM COLIN WILLIAMS for FRIENDS OF RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ||| Friends of Rural Public Transportation (FORPT) (https://forpt.org/) continues to advocate for a public transit pilot in the San Juan Islands. As we move forward, we wanted to take a moment to share an overview of our work and invite
Garden Club | Time to think about fire safety
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| With rainy day weather and long nights, fire safety might be the last thing on the minds of the Orcas community. But, with winter’s slower pace, it might be just the right time to plan ways to protect our home and property. In
Get ready for the Polar Bear Plunge on New Years Day
||| FROM TOBY COOPER for POLAR BEAR PLUNGE ||| Orcas Island Rowing Association Presents the Legendary New Year's Day Polar Bear Plunge Thursday, January 1, 2026 – Plunge at 11 am sharp! Come to CASCADE LAKE – MAIN BEACH and PICNIC SHELTER!! Come early. Meet the Rowing Team. FUN AND
