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
Joining Medicare in 2026?
||| FROM PEGI GROUNDWATER for SHIBA ||| Enrollment in Medicare is not automatic for most people, so you’ll probably need to enroll. There is a lot of new information you’ll need to understand so you
Double check for upcoming jury duty
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: JANUARY 20-23, 2026 Jurors in groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 who are summonsed for the jury period beginning Tuesday January 20th through Friday January 23rd,
Decatur Island releases survey results
Survey administered by Decatur Island Alliance December 2025 ||| FROM DECATUR ISLAND ALLIANCE ||| Decatur Island Alliance, a 501c(3) non-profit registered in Washington state, was created in the first quarter of 2025 by a group of
Community event to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
Sunday, Jan. 18, 3-5 pm Emmanuel Parish Hall, 242 Main Street, Eastsound ||| FROM SHARON ABREU ||| On Sunday, Jan. 18, from 3-5 pm at the Emmanuel Parish Hall in Eastsound, there will be a
News Brief | Washington bill would round cash transactions to the nearest nickel
||| FROM KOMO-4 NEWS ||| Without clear guidance, cash-only businesses have been unsure of how to handle rounding, which can create confusion and errors in transactions. HB 2334 solves this problem by putting clear rules
Spring sailing season reservations open Tuesday, Jan. 27
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Vehicle reservations for the spring 2026 schedule (March 22 through June 13) will be available at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27. To ensure a smooth and fair experience during this high-demand
Washington State Ferries 2025 Year in Review
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Washington State Ferries made significant headway in 2025. We reached notable operational milestones by delivering more dependable service. We also unveiled North America’s largest hybrid-electric vessel and strengthened our
Federal 12-Month Endangered Species Act finding for Olympic Peninsula steelhead
||| FROM EMMA HELVERSON for WILD FISH CONSERVANCY ||| Today, NOAA Fisheries issued its 12-month finding on the petition to list Olympic Peninsula steelhead under the Endangered Species Act acknowledging long-term population declines, reduced productivity,
Land Bank to hold monthly meeting on January 16
The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting Friday, January 16. The meeting is scheduled from 8:45am – 11:10am via Zoom. The meeting will also be available for in person
SJC Master Gardeners open 2026 Native Plant Sale for online ordering January 24
||| FROM VICKI LEIMBACK for SAN JUAN MASTER GARDENERS ||| Calling all nature lovers and garden enthusiasts! The eagerly awaited 2026 Native Plant Sale officially launches online at 8:00 AM on January 24, offering island
Seedy Saturday celebrates seed sharing and community traditions
||| FROM SAN JUAN ISLAND GRANGE ||| The San Juan Island Grange will host the Fourth Annual Seedy Saturday, Saturday, January 31, from 2-4pm, offering a free, community seed swap rooted in long-standing traditions of
Protect yourself in the New Year | Respiratory illness reminders
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS. ||| Each year, respiratory illnesses are responsible for millions of illnesses and thousands of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. In addition to the virus that causes influenza
Fingerstyle guitarist to take journey through strings, stories at Orcas Center
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Experience the spellbinding artistry of Hiroya Tsukamoto, a master of fingerstyle guitar and evocative storytelling that transcends cultural boundaries. Praised by Acoustic Guitar Magazine for his
Letter to Editor | An open letter to Eastsound Water Users
||| FROM DAN GOTTLIEB ||| In June of 2024, my wife was assaulted in the parking lot of Eastsound Water. In October 2024, Eastsound Water’s insurance company acknowledged the claim. In March 2025, the insurer
Olga Strawberry Council annual meeting on Tuesday
||| FROM SELBY LIGHTHILL for OLGA STRAWBERRY COUNCIL ||| The Olga Strawberry Council Board of Directors will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, January 13, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will include a brief
Letter to Editor | So, you are thinking about investing in silver or gold?
||| FROM ROBERT AUSTIN ||| Some of you may have noticed that the price of gold and silver has gone a little bit crazy, of late. For example, silver, which rarely has changed much in
