Here’s a thought…
“The things we admire in men — kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling — are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest — sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest — are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first, they love the produce of the second.”
JOHN STEINBECK
Help stop invasive marine crabs: Join a molt search training
||| FROM ELISE COPE for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| Friends of the San Juans invites you to help protect the Salish Sea’s marine ecosystem by learning how to identify and report European green crab molts (shed shells) on local beaches. Once trained as a community science volunteer, you’ll
Artworks featured artist for June is Marjorie Taylor
||| FROM BJ ARNOLD for ORCAS ISLAND ARTWORKS ||| Orcas Island Artworks is proud to present a new feature wall by multidisciplinary artist Marjorie Taylor, a former psychology professor whose passion for creativity and unconventional materials has earned international acclaim. The display offers a fresh departure from her popular “vegan
New Garden Club member opportunity | Book Club
OIGC Member's Book Club Sunday, June 8, 5 p.m. at the Orcas Public Library ||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Calling all garden lovers and book enthusiasts! We are excited to announce the launch of the Orcas Island Garden Club’s very own Book Club — a space where we’ll
‘Worlds of Color’ art show at Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Visit Orcas Senior Center, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, May 5 through the end of June, to experience Worlds of Color—a vibrant two-person art exhibition featuring local artists Susan Slapin and Gail Anderson-Toombs. Gail, a self-taught
Join us at upcoming Leadership San Juan Islands informational open houses
||| FROM GRETCHEN KRAMPF for LEADERSHIP SAN JUAN ISLANDS ||| Leadership San Juan Islands (LSJI) has begun recruiting for Class XVII, running from November 2025 through April 2026. Information and the application are available on our website. Candidates, from across the Islands, will be selected based upon the following criteria:
Larsen requests nearly $37 Million for 15 local projects in Fiscal Year 2026 spending bill
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) has requested $36,773,695 for 15 local projects in the Fiscal Year 2026 spending bill. Larsen submitted the requests to the House Appropriations Committee as the Committee begins work on legislation to fund the federal
Sheriff’s Report | May 21 – May 27, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, MAY 21 25-002966 Traffic Violation 09:24:22 05/21/25 Orcas Island Deputies responded to a report of a traffic offense. The reporting party stated that a driver had driven through a work zone. The suspect was contacted, and the incident was documented. 25-002967
Summer is calling
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| The first few days of warmer weather have finally arrived and the summer calendar of community events is filling up. I love this feeling of anticipation of what’s to come - the school year ending, spring greens popping up in
The Orcas Grange welcomes you
Grow Together with Our Community Arts & Agriculture Hub ||| FROM PARKER PAVITT for ORCAS ISLAND GRANGE ||| The Orcas Grange #964, an island institution since 1931, is excited to celebrate another year of community togetherness, learning, and sharing. The Orcas Grange strengthens individuals, families, and communities through grassroots action,
The story of the 2025 Legislative Session
Advancing good things. Preventing harm. Holding the line. Walking forward, together. ||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF ||| This year, our work in Olympia called on every ounce of wisdom, courage, and commitment we had. The 2025 legislative session was one of challenge and complexity—but also of resilience,
Trump administration publishes list of sanctuary cities and counties to target
||| FROM WALL STREET JOURNAL ||| The Trump administration on Thursday named counties and cities in more than 30 states, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, as sanctuary jurisdictions it could go after for not complying with federal immigration laws. President Trump has threatened to pull federal
Un-bee-lievable | 250 million bees escape after semi spills load in Whatcom County
||| FROM KOMO-TV SEATTLE ||| A buzzworthy story is unfolding in Whatcom County, where 250 million bees have escaped after a semi-truck carrying boxes of the insects lost part of its load. The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) first reported a closure on Weidkamp Road around 8:40 a.m. Friday. About
WSF Weekly Report | $900M from state budget; Wenatchee goes electric; WSF 74th anniversary
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve Gov. Bob Ferguson signed the 2025-2027 state budgets last week. I’m excited to share that nearly $900 million from the transportation budget will go to capital projects for our ferry system. More than half of that money
Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Welcome to our weekly feature, Occam's Razor, from local artist S.C. Watson.
Orcas Island Health Care District – Board of Commissioner Seat 5 vacancy
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| Following the voluntary resignation of District Commissioner Dave Zoeller effective 05/28/2025, The Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD) has formally nominated Trey Holland for the appointment to fill that vacancy at a special board meeting held on 05/28/2025. The OIHCD Board of
Thank you, Orcas Island, for celebrating community
||| FROM LYNN WHITE for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| The community came together for a beautiful day at Parish Hall and the Labyrinth to celebrate the nonprofits that make a difference on Orcas Island every day. With strong local participation and support from the Orcas Island Community Foundation’s Partners
