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
K47 | New calf reported in K Pod
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| On December 10, the Center for Whale Research team received reports and images from Orca Network and Orca Conservancy of a small calf accompanying K pod in Puget
Midnight Mutterings | Thinking about Japan-Part 2
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| If memory serves, Kyoko, Susumu and Yuki (age4) were the third or fourth Japanese family to move into the house next door in Seattle in the 1980s. I
Sheriff’s Report | December 3 – 9, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3 25-008249 Domestic Dispute or Assault 08:48:04 12/03/25 An Orcas Island Deputy responded to a domestic incident in the Eastsound area. The Deputy learned that
A big thank you from Orcas Community Foundation
Collective Giving for the Win! ||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| Thank you for joining us during this year's Holiday GiveOrcas campaign and showing support for 33 incredible community-driven programs that
County Council passes 2026 budget but prepares for ongoing financial discussions in 2027
The adopted budget includes cuts to staffing and other reductions across department operating expenses. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During the December 9 meeting and public hearing, the San Juan County Council adopted
Letter to Editor | What’s going on at Eastsound Water Users Association?
||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| I am an ex-employee at EWUA. I worked there for 4 years in the role of Billing & Membership Specialist. All statements below reflect my personal views and consist of
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
