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
LWVSJ Observer Corps | Board of Health December 10, 2025
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| The Accountable Communities for Health resumed its CEO search. The Community Collaboration Committee provided $100,000 for the dental access program. The North Sound Behavioral Health
County opens cultural access application materials & recruits for new review board
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Cultural Access program is one step closer to awarding funding to local organizations in support of access to culture, science, art, and history education and
Gathering our bearings | Island Stewards end-of-year update
|||FROM ISLAND STEWARDS ||| As we close out 2025, I keep returning to the rhythm of the islands and how they reveal it to anyone patient enough to listen. This has been a year of
WSF Weekly Report | Kaleetan remains out of service; online community meetings coming up; sea level prepardness
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve With good reason, in my communications over the last few weeks I have been openly upbeat about our performance metrics. We are
One night special | Free screening of new documentary ‘The Librarians’
||| FROM WOODY CISKOWSKI ||| There will be a one-night-only free screening of the new documentary The Librarians. The event will be Thursday December 18 at 7pm at Sea View Theatre. The screening is hosted
Heavy rainfall this week increases threat of landslides
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Seattle WA 619 AM PST Thu Dec 11 2025 San Juan County-Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties- Cascades of Snohomish and Northern King
News Brief | Every U.S. state along Canadian border is hurting financially due to decline in tourists from Canada: new report
||| FROM THE NATIONAL POST ||| Declining Canadian tourism is adversely affecting American businesses in every state along the U.S.-Canada border. The decline has arisen from President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Canada, as well
LWVSJ Observer Corps Notes | San Juan County Council December 9, 2025
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| The Council convened as the governing body of the Lopez Solid Waste District and approved the 2026 budget up 4.8% from 2025. The budget included
Holiday Magic at Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Step into the season at Orcas Senior Center, where a charming selection of holiday decor is available for free or by donation until December 25. Stop
Committed to health care stability for Orcas islanders | OIHCD update
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| In April of this year, voters approved Proposition 1, a temporary 10-year levy lid lift proposed by the Orcas Island Health Care District board. During our levy
In Memoriam | Steven Edward Henigson, 1938 – 2025
||| FROM JEAN HENIGSON ||| Steve Henigson, 1938-2025 Steve Henigson cared deeply about justice, examined issues critically, and was unhesitant in speaking up to defend his beliefs. He had a keen sense of
WA delegation requests expedited emergency declaration for devastating storms, atmospheric rivers hitting WA
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Washington state’s entire Congressional delegation sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson’s request last night
County Council adopts 2025 Comp Plan update | Leaves several items for further discussion in 2026
The County undertook this project as part of its 2025 Growth Management Act Periodic Update ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During the December 9 meeting and public hearing, the San Juan County Council
Regional flooding / travel advisory for islanders
The flooding forecast for Skagit County may impact both Highway 20 and I-5. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Island residents and businesses who are planning on mainland travel this week should be aware
All jurors excused December 15-19
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: December 15-19, 2025 All jurors summonsed for the week beginning Monday, December 15th through Friday, December 19th 2025, are excused. Thank you.
Holiday tips from The Exchange
||| FROM ORCAS RECYCLING/THE EXCHANGE ||| Grinding for Good Learn More Our next big goal? Repurposing food waste and organic material here on the island! We’ve got big plans for continuing to turn waste into
