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
OIFR seeks community properties for firefighter training
||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Orcas Island Fire & Rescue (OIFR) is looking for properties and structures to use for firefighter training. Whether you have a new construction project,
News Brief | Orcas islander Jas Ikeda remains in an Israeli prison
||| FROM KING-5 TV||| "Israeli naval forces recently captured over 400 activists, including at least 22 Americans, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea” ORIGINALLY FROM KING-5 TV "When you have somebody in a small
OPALCO renewable energy community meetings recap
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| A few weeks ago, the OPALCO team held a series of community meetings about local, renewable energy. The meetings were held at all three
J36 and J Pod documented off San Juan Island
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 12:52 PM ObservEnd: 03:25 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss Other Observers: Rachel John, Taylor Redmond Pods: Southern Resident: J Pod
2025 San Juan County WSU Master Gardeners Garden Workshop Series
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY WSU MASTER GARDENERS ||| The series includes 4 one-hour presentations with additional time for questions and discussion. Our speakers are scientists, authors, naturalists, professional gardeners, and accomplished Master Gardeners who
Guest Opinion | AI’s dirty secret
Washington is subsidizing toxic data centers ||| FROM ELISABETH ROBSON ||| While the world marvels at the promise of artificial intelligence, a darker reality hums beneath the surface: the sprawling data centers that power AI
Port Commission approves ‘better – not bigger’ option for airport
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| At the Port’s September 2025 regular meeting your commissioners approved a motion to formally accept the FAA’s funding award and engage Granite Construction in Bellingham for
Larsen releases statement on Trump administration raising costs by cancelling clean energy projects
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF. U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| EVERETT, WA – Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after the Trump administration announced the cancellation of funding for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub
Worm composting workshops coming up at The Exchange
||| FROM PETE MOE for ORCAS RECYCLING/THE EXCHANGE ||| The Exchange is sponsoring another round of workshops that will help you keep your household food waste out of the landfill and turn it into dark,
CWR documents fantastic encounter with J Pod
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 09:29 AM ObservEnd: 16:28 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Michael Weiss, Darren Croft, Katie Jones Other Observers: Rachel John, Taylor Redmond Pods: Southern Resident:
Council to review 2025 Comp Plan update at series of fall meetings
Council will review recommendations from the Planning Commission, accept public comments, and hold a public hearing, during a series of upcoming meetings. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is updating its
Orcas Island Garden Club presents Growing Anemones, Ranunculus, and Peonies by Anne Long
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| LEARN FROM FLOWER FARMER, EDUCATOR, AND OWNER! Wednesday, October 15th, 10 am (at the Fire Station in Orcas) NEW! Join us for coffee and social time at 9:30
Rosario Strait tidal energy project update from OPALCO
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| September 30, 2025 was the last day to make public comments on the Rosario Tidal Energy Project as part of the public process with
All beaches in San Juan County closed to recreational shellfish harvesting
DOH has closed recreational shellfish harvesting at all beaches due to unsafe levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The Washington State Department of Health has closed recreational shellfish
Letter to Editor | Will County Council stand by its proclamation on rights of southern residents?
||| FROM ELISABETH ROBSON ||| Dear Council Members, In 2023, this body took a forward-thinking step by passing the Proclamation of the Rights of the Southern Resident Orcas. In it, you recognized that these beings have
