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
Larsen statement on Trump administration denying flood mitigation funds following December floods
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “This is an unacceptable decision for the families and businesses that I represent," said Rep. Larsen. “The disaster
Center for Whale Research celebrates Earth Day and 50 years
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| This Earth Day, we're celebrating the Southern Residents and the beautiful, interconnected ecosystem in which we have been studying these extraordinary whales. Since 1976, the Center for Whale
Kwiaht finds urgent weed control measures on Indian Island
||| FROM RUSSEL BARSH for KWIAHT ||| Kwiaht’s Indian Island stewardship team made a disheartening discovery last week while checking nesting birds and trail conditions: a large lush patch of wild weedy and stinky Bur
Community engagement continues for Odlin County Park facility upgrades
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Parks, Recreation, & Fair Department is seeking to construct a new facility to serve as a visitor contact station, maintenance facility, and office for
Be ‘Plastic Free in the Salish Sea’ this boating season
A FREE boat shrink wrap recycling program kicks off this summer in the San Juans ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Department of Environmental Stewardship and Plastic Free Salish Sea
Letter to Editor | OPALCO the elephant in the room
||| FROM RIKKI SWAN ||| OPALCO (YOU) purchased 2 million dollars worth of solar panels for the Bailer Hill microgrid. Those panels? Still sitting outside the Friday Harbor office under tarps, gathering moss and questions.
Wildfire smoke still impacting local air quality, national report says
Skagit, Whatcom counties, Bellingham among cleanest areas for ozone ||| FROM NORTHWEST CLEAN AIR AGENCY ||| Harmful fine particles in wildfire smoke continue to show impacts on air quality in northwest Washington, according to the
Decatur solar expansion project continues with modification to site plan
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| The OPALCO Board held a special board meeting on Tuesday, April 21 to discuss the Decatur Community Solar project and determine next steps. In
Earth Day celebrations all week in the islands
||| FROM EARTH DAY ORCAS ||| Nature, Peace, Arts, & Song The week is full of ways to honor the Earth and strengthen our values for stewardship, peace, and compassion for all life. Come celebrate
News Brief | Lyrid meteor shower to peak Tuesday night, with better views than usual
||| FROM SCIENCE ALERT ||| This year's Lyrid meteor shower is getting a boost thanks to a dim crescent moon. Skywatchers could see 10 to 20 shooting stars per hour soar across the spring sky,
Guest Opinion | Regarding the stand-off between OPALCO and the people who actually live on Decatur
||| FROM SHANNON MATTILA ||| I just read that Clara Park, OPALCO’s attorney, stated that "Decatur Island residents are for the solar expansion” ..that is completely false. Someone is creating a false narrative to support their
There’s No Place Like Loam | Summer pruning
||| THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE LOAM by ALEX TAMAYO-WOLF ||| The Thirty Percent Rule There’s a number that floats around pruning advice. Thirty percent. If you prune, you know exactly what it means. It’s the
Earth Day 2026 | Protecting our home planet
Our Blue Marble is our one and only Home Planet ||| FROM MARCY MONTGOMERY for EYE OF THE WHALE ARTS ||| Earth Day, Orcas Style is a vibrant nature, arts and science celebration with something
Orcas Garden Club president’s message
||| FROM ROBIN SULLIVAN for ORCAS GARDEN CLUB ||| I have officially been a gardener for almost three years now. Long enough to feel confident, but not quite long enough to stop Googling, “what is
San Juan Climate Convergence strengthens county-wide resilience, partnerships
||| FROM CHOM GREACEN for MADRONA INSTITUTE ||| Climate resilience work touches every corner of island life including how we power our homes, move through our community, steward our forests and waters, and grow our
