Here’s a thought…
“Don’t ask me who’s influenced me. A lion is made up of the lambs he’s digested, and I’ve been reading all my life.”
GIORGOS SEFERIS
‘Tis the season for annual apple tasting, including fresh-pressed cider
||| FROM MICHELLE HASSEBROCK for ORCAS ISLAND. HISTORICAL MUSEUMS ||| Kwiaht will be joining the Museum on Saturday, October 4th from 12:30-2:30pm. Come and sample dozens of varieties of local apples, enjoy fresh-pressed cider (courtesy
Larsen fights to expand health care access, lower costs
Republicans’ proposed government funding bill will drive up health care costs for all ||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) is fighting for
Fall sailing schedule in San Juan Islands starts Sept. 21 thru June 13, 2026
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| For the first time in over 20 years, the fall sailing schedule for the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route will stay in place through winter and spring, providing additional service
Guest Opinion | Request by OPALCO for essential public facilities
||| FROM JOE SYMONS ||| I write to the SJC Planning Commission (PC) and if the email address so directs, to County Council (CC). I urge the PC to disallow OPALCO’s request for an EPF
OIFR Open House | Explore your community EMS, Fire & Rescue Team
Discover Volunteer Opportunities While Learning About Island Emergency Services ||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Orcas Island Fire & Rescue invites the community to Station 21 on Saturday, October 4th
Fall back together: Join the Great Islands Clean-Up on October 4
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| “I can’t think of a more rewarding way to spend a Saturday afternoon,” said Katie Johnson, San Juan County Marine Project Coordinator. She’s referring to the Great Islands
Interested in learning about the sheriff substation move on Lopez? Join us for a brown bag lunch
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Sheriff’s Office is planning to move the Lopez Island substation to a new site. This move is planned to bring in a new building to
County calls for bids for extraction of surplus gravel on Waldron; public bid begins Oct. 1
The County will also negotiate a Gravel Extraction Lease with the successful bidder for the purchase of the gravel ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is holding a bid opening for
Now Available | Best available science & GAP analysis for critical areas ordinance update
The County's goal is to adopt an updated CAO by March of 2026. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is updating its critical areas protections, also referred to as the Critical
Center for Whale Research | An update on J36
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| On September 12, 2025, researchers at CWR, along with our colleagues at SR3 and SeaDoc Society, documented 26-year-old female southern resident J36 carrying a dead female calf. Sadly,
Robust year ahead for Orcas Center
Role Out to preview 2025-26 season ||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Meet the staff of the Orcas Center, pictured above, during the Role Out. As the leaves turn and kids return
OCS students launch discount card fundraiser for Hawaii mission trip
||| FROM STAFF AT ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| Orcas Christian School will serve others abroad this school year with a trip to Hawaii during spring break, and students are taking a unique approach to raising
2025 Orcas Island pickleball tournament results
$10,000 raised and winners all around ||| FROM SUZANNE OLSON for ROTARY PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT ||| In its eighth year at Buck Park, the Orcas Island Rotary Pickleball Tournament raised $10,000 for the Orcas community. Tournament
Letter to Editor | Waldron cats in need of home
||| FROM MILES BATTLES ||| I’m a high school volunteer at Orcas APS. There are seven cats up for adoption rescued from a feral colony on Waldron Island: Thistle, Poppy, Bramble, Foxglove, Anise, Hazel, and
No jurors needed for September 22 – October 3
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: SEPTEMBER 22 - OCTOBER 3, 2025 All jurors summoned for the two week jury period beginning Monday September 22nd through Friday October 3rd are excused. Jurors
Save your spot at the Exchange SWAP meet this Saturday
||| FROM ORCAS RECYCLING, THE EXCHANGE ||| Got stuff you want to sell but don’t want to mess with a garage sale? Don’t bother! Just load up your car or truck and bring it to
