News Brief | Switzerland to vote on capping its population at 10 Million
Capping its population at 10 Million could reshape Switzerland ||| FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES ||| About 9.1 million people live in Switzerland — approaching too many, for many Swiss people. The country will vote on whether to take measures to cap its growing population at 10 million. Migration, not
Marine Surveys | Science and stewardship in action
What’s happening in the County’s Marine Stewardship area? ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Department of Environmental Stewardship cares deeply about our marine environment; yet it is hard to know what’s really happening on the water without venturing out on a boat. You may have
County recognizes Juneteenth with proclamation and a day of observance
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is proud to recognize Juneteenth as National Independence Day. During the June 9 meeting, the County Council issued a proclamation recognizing and celebrating June 19 for its historical and cultural significance in the fight against slavery and racism. Additionally,
Communitywide climate survey extended through June 19
Take the survey to help build the next phase of the Climate Action Plan ||| FROM SJC DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ||| We want to hear from the community! To allow for additional inputs on our second Communitywide Climate Survey, the survey will stay open through June 19. San Juan
WA State Ferries faces labor challenges
||| FROM KRISTIN HYDE for WSF MARINE ENGINEERS ||| What: Washington State Ferries Marine Engineers Press Conference When: 1 pm Wednesday June 17 Where: Colman Dock Washington State Ferry Terminal at Pier 52 (on upper level walkway outside the terminal) Why: With more than 750,000 visitors expected in Seattle during
Larsen receives support from current and former elected officials
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| EVERETT, Wash. – Current and former San Juan County elected officials have resoundingly endorsed Rick Larsen for his reelection to Congress. Larsen has received endorsements from current and former county elected officials, including: San Juan County Councilmember Jane Fuller; San
Summer sailing schedule starts today (Sunday, June 14)
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Our summer sailing schedule starts Sunday, June 14, and runs through Sept. 19. Anacortes/San Juan Islands: We’ve made schedule adjustments to improve on-time performance. Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth: The #3 vessel will operate a full-day schedule on Saturdays and Sundays this summer. Last year, it operated half days on weekends due to limited crewing. Port Townsend/Coupeville: Starting Tuesday, June 16, the route will operate a two-boat schedule daily through Oct. 12.
I’m Not the Church Lady | It’s Spooky
||| I'M NOT THE CHURCH LADY from ROSIE KUHN ||| Whether you call it awakening, enlightenment, ascension, grace, expanded consciousness, or simply being fully alive, something seems to be happening. Ordinary people are having extraordinary experiences. They describe moments of profound clarity, unexpected knowing, waves of compassion, overwhelming love, deep
Midnight Mutterings | Planning for cats
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| Planning for cats. is, at best, an oxymoron. As is the term ‘domesticated cat.’ I could have called this column ‘Oh no! Not cats again.’ One more thing before I start writing this: I’m in the ferry line at Orcas Landing, eventually headed
Tuesday’s EWUA board meeting is a ‘must attend’
||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON for EWUA STEWARDSHIP ALLIANCE ||| We are calling upon all concerned EWUA members to attend the upcoming Tuesday board meeting 6/16 5pm at the Firehall. The EWUA board has rejected calls for a 3rd party investigation into the ongoing crisis of a toxic workplace and continuing operator
SJI Museum of Art | SJIMA Summer Exhibitions June 12
Two Parents, One Son. A Century of Vision. ||| FROM BARBARA MARRETT for SAN JUAN ISLANDS MUSEUM OF ART ||| For the first time, the work of world-famous photographer Imogen Cunningham, her husband, Roi Partridge, and their son, Rondal Partridge are being shown together. This groundbreaking exhibition tells an intimate
A benefit of prioritizing natural areas for conservation without public access
||| FROM TANYA WILLIAMSON for SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| Discovered during recent monitoring at Entrance Mountain Preserve on Orcas Island, this petite pink wildflower is extremely sensitive to trampling; heedless hikers can cause serious damage to the population of an area if they step on them. Commonly known as
Sheriff’s Report | June 3 – 9, 2026
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 26-003240 Citizen Assist 09:54:21 06/03/26 An Orcas Island Deputy responded to a citizen needing assistance in the Eastsound area. The Deputy learned that the citizen was a victim of fraud, however, did not incur a financial loss. The incident
The Big Chautauqua show is coming to Odd Fellows Hall
||| FROM ERIC MORRIS ||| The Big Show is at the Odd Fellows Hall on Haven Road @ 7pm Saturday June 20. Featuring internationally known performers including the Flying Karamazov Brothers, Artis the Spoonman, The Fighting Instruments of Karma Marching Chamber Band /Orchestra and more! It’s a knock-your-socks-off extravaganza full
Join Us for Orca Sing 2026
||| FROM CONOR AGNEW for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| Join your friends and neighbors at Lime Kiln Point State Park on Saturday, June 20th at 7:00 PM for Orca Sing 2026! Bring your friends, family, and a picnic to enjoy the beauty of the park and the Salish Sea while
Harvesting immature Chinook is shrinking salmon and reducing future returns, new research finds
Study shows that millennia-old practice of fishing in rivers could restore salmon size ||| FROM EMMA HELVERSON for WILD FISH CONSERVANY ||| A new study by researchers at the Wild Fish Conservancy and Raincoast Conservation Foundation has found that marine salmon fisheries along the Pacific coast typically harvest Chinook too
