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
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
CWR logs another Biggs encounter
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 01:50 PM ObservEnd: 03:03 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss, Katie Jones Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T90, T90B, T90C, and
CWR logs encounter with Biggs whales
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 02:40 PM ObservEnd: 03:27 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T019, T019B, T019C, T49B, T049B3, T049B4, T049B5, T117A,
Earth Day | Loving this place is not enough. We must protect it, too.
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY ||| This Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22nd at 6 pm, Orcas Island Public Library, sponsored by Friends of the San Juans, welcomes the community to Salish
News Brief | A mysterious new pod of killer whales is making waves near Seattle
||| FROM PEOPLE ||| Three previously unrecorded orcas have been spotted near Seattle multiple times in recent weeks Researchers believe the transient pod may have traveled from Alaska The rare sightings have delighted whale watchers
Guest Opinion | Board responsibility and credibility in the Decatur matter
||| FROM ALAN MIZUTA, et. al ||| What Happened Before This Was Published On April 14, 2026, thirty individuals and one community organization from the Decatur community formally asked the OPALCO Board to defer the
Guided bird walk May 6th 8-10am at San Juan Islands Sculpture Park
||| FROM MARITA HOLDAWAY for SAN JUAN ISLANDS SCULPTURE PARK ||| As we step into the migratory season don't miss this opportunity to walk with our knowledgeable bird guide and advocate Tyler Davis. Bring your
