Here’s a thought…
“The competition between Nature and the economy is deep and broad.
In the short term, the economy usually wins. In the long term …?”
BILL APPEL
Reminder | SJC Master Gardeners native plant sale still open for online orders
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ||| The San Juan County Master Gardeners remind island residents that the 2026 Native Plant Sale is in full swing, with online ordering open now through March 9,
Letter to Editor | OPALCO bill too high? Here’s why…
||| FROM RIKKI SWIN ||| As a concerned OPALCO member, I am writing to highlight factors contributing to our high electricity rates and to encourage open discussion. These issues affect all members, and constructive dialogue
It’s time for ticks | A message from Kwiaht
||| FROM RUSSEL BARSH for KWIAHT ||| Tick season is here! In the San Juan Islands, ticks go “questing” for new hosts from January through June, usually peaking in March and April. While ticks are
Honoring four decades of spill response in San Juan County
||| FROM BILL SYMES and ELAINA THOMPSON ||| One day in 1985, oil and oiled birds began washing ashore on the west side of San Juan Island. Arresting and then remediating the resulting damage to
News Brief | Scientists are using drones to sniff out deadly diseases in whales
||| FROM AZ ANIMALS US ||| Scientists used drones to collect whale blow, allowing them to test for diseases without harming or stressing the animals. The study detected cetacean morbillivirus in Arctic whales for the
Guest Opinion | OPALCO is building without consent
||| FROM KAREN PEARSON ||| OPALCO's posting on January 20th 2026 of December 2025 Member Survey "Materials" Results is a building Materials list. "Materials" means physical objects for manufacture and construction. Materials does not mean
Final report available for county’s Marine Transport Services pilot project
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During the Council retreat earlier this month, County staff discussed past and future efforts to support transportation initiatives throughout the islands. One of the most notable initiatives from
No Place Like Loam | Landscape as orientation: Inheritance
||| NO PLACE LIKE LOAM by ALEX TAMAYO-WOLF ||| We moved from Ohio when I was in fourth grade. 1978. I loved it there. A small town that knew itself. Friends who showed up without
Island Stewards | Grounded participation in a time of change
||| FROM ISLAND STEWARDS ||| Humans have been adapting to accelerated change for a long time, often without being given real choices about how that change unfolds. Since the industrial revolution, daily life has been
Hands Across the Water travels to Salt Spring Island
||| FROM NATALIE ZOHAR for HANDS ACROSS THE WATER ||| Organizers from Hands Across the Water attended the December Board Meeting for the Orcas Community Resource Center. Hands Across the Water celebrated the bonds of
Larsen joins entire WA delegation in supporting governor’s request for major disaster declaration to unlock individual assistance for WA flooding victims
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined Washington state’s entire Congressional delegation in a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve Governor Bob Ferguson’s request for a
Conor Anderson announces OPALCO candidacy
||| FROM CONOR ANDERSON ||| Conor Anderson Conor Anderson (see candidate bio below) is running for OPALCO’s open District 2 Board seat, and he has scheduled time to hear Coop Members’ concerns and
Two male killer whales encountered in the fog
Encounter #4 • Bigg's Killer Whales ||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 12:20 PM ObservEnd: 01:21 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Other Observers: Rachelle Hayden Pods: Bigg's killer
Support Bill HB 2395 — shared moorage
||| FROM THE ONBUOY CREW ||| An integral part of OnBuoy’s mission is to reduce anchor damage through shared moorage. We just received an update on a legislative proposal we have been spearheading, which aims
OPALCO survey results are In
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| OPALCO has been engaging the co-op membership in the realities facing the energy world. Things are changing due to climate impacts, carbon reduction legislation,
