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
Guest Opinion | We currently enjoy 90% renewable, 100% carbon free energy – what is OPALCO doing?
OPALCO leadership, years of financial mismanagement, and entrenched tenure ||| FROM RIKKI SWIN ||| I am writing as a concerned OPALCO member to directly question the Board President, the entire Board of Directors, and the
Letter to Editor | Put a stop to this trash
||| FROM KIM SECUNDA ||| Below is a photo of Ruralite magazine trash clogging up the post office. Literally all three cans overflowing. Stop it. Have opt in only or electronic magazine. This has to stop.
Ditch the screen and connect to birds, to nature, and with each other
Take part in The Great Backyard Bird Count of 2026 ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank, in conjunction with the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center (JLSRFC),
OPALCO to hold virtual community town hall
||| FROM JO LANGE for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| OPALCO invites members to a virtual town hall with our leadership team to ask questions and share feedback. We've been seeing an increased level
Learn from scientist/ecologist Peter Guillozet as he speaks about backyard ponds
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Please join the Orcas Island Garden Club on Wednesday, February 18th when we welcome Peter Guillozet to speak about Below the Surface of Backyard Ponds: Beneficial or Harmful? We are
County publishes guide for reviewing OPALCO’s proposed solar project on Decatur Island
Members of the public interested in engaging in the County’s review of OPALCO’s project can use this guide. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Department of Community Development (DCD) received an
Mid-Sale Reminder | SJC Master Gardeners native plant sale still open for online orders
Orders placed online will be available for pickup on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at convenient locations on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Master
Noxious Weeds | Does winter mean ‘time for a break’ or is it an opportunity?
Use this winter to get ahead of your weeds before the growing season hits. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| While winter conditions slow plant growth and may encourage us to stay indoors, this
Guest Opinion | OPALCO and the double entendre
||| FROM RIKKI SWIN ||| I'd like to respond to the OPALCO criticism of my column regarding our high rates: Quoting OPALCO: " Krista from OPALCO here. This article is so rife with misinformation it’s hard
CWR | A sunny encounter with Bigg’s
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 10:50 AM ObservEnd: 11:30 AM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss, Katie Jones Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T34A, T34A2, T34B, T37,
Letter to Editor | Renewable energy done right
Powering our future without sacrificing our lands ||| FROM EVA SCHULTE for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| The Town of Friday Harbor approved an important proposal from the Port of Friday Harbor last week
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
