Here’s a thought…
“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”
READER BOARD
Guest Opinion | Another Eastsound Water essay
||| FROM THOMAS OWENS ||| A Path Forward Eastsound Water’s ongoing turmoil is multi-faceted involving both tense Board-Membership interactions and instability in internal operation. While these two elements of the Association’s crisis are certainly intertwined, it is instructive to examine them separately to begin to visualize a path forward for
Larsen invites students to participate in 2026 Congressional Art Competition
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) is inviting high school students who live or attend school in Washington’s Second Congressional District to showcase their artistic talents in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. “I am encouraging the many gifted young artists in Northwest Washington to submit their artwork
County Council travels to Orcas Island for upcoming March 24 meeting
The meeting will be held at the Orcas Island Fire Station meeting room ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Council will hold its regularly scheduled March 24 meeting on Orcas Island. The public is invited to join the three councilmembers and County staff at the meeting
Ladies of Laughter coming to Orcas Center
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Ladies of Laughter® is an organization and national competition dedicated to providing a platform for female comedians to showcase their unique humor, jumpstart their careers, and promote women in the comedy industry. Often referred to as a "career builder for women
March Turtleback march returns on March 21
Celebrate the Equinox and 20 years of conservation hiking up and over Turtleback Mountain ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Turtleback Mountain Preserve turns 20 this year and we're celebrating with an “Up and Over” hike Saturday, March 21! Join staff for a walk, north to south, and learn
In Memoriam | Janet McBride Wells, 1930 – 2025
||| FROM ROBERT HERRUP ||| Jan Wells ended her earthly journey in her Eastsound home of nearly 44 years at the age of 95. Janet McBride Wells, April 7, 1930 - July 9, 2025 Shortly after the birth in Toronto, Canada of Janet Mary McBride, the second daughter
CWR logs encounter with inbound J Pod
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 10:55 AM ObservEnd: 03:00 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss, Katie Jones Pods: J IDsEncountered: J16, J19, J22, J26, J27, J31, J35, J36, J37, J38, J39, J40, J41, J42, J44, J45, J46, J47, J49, J51, J53,
Did you know? San Juan County processes passport applications at the Courthouse
Weekly appointments and online tools make it easy to update your information here in San Juan County ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Clerk’s Office is a sub-agent for the Seattle Passport Agency. This means that your local Clerk’s Office can process applications for new
Jurors excused March 16-20
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: MARCH 16-20, 2026 All jurors summonsed for the jury term beginning Monday, March 16th through Friday, March 20th, 2026, are excused. Thank you!
Kwiaht: Preparing for the next avian flu outbreak
||| FROM RUSSEL BARSH for KWIAHT ||| The San Juan Islands experienced an outbreak of highly-pathogenic avian flu (H5N1) from mid-November to mid-January. It probably began in lower San Juan Channel, between Cape San Juan and Davis Head, most likely introduced by southward-migrating Cackling Geese. The geese shared it with
Rock Island Communications reaches nearly 7,000 subscribers and secures $16.5 Million grant for broadband expansion
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for OPALCO ||| Rock Island Communications (RIC), OPALCO’s locally owned internet subsidiary, is celebrating a decade of remarkable growth. Rock Island now has almost 7,000 subscribers across San Juan County. Now the company is gearing up for its next major expansion with a $16.5 million Broadband
As Alaskan Chinook crisis deepens, Federal Court imposes deadline on overdue endangered species act decision
||| FROM EMMA HELVERSON for WILD FISH CONSERVANCY ||| Today we’re sharing an update on Wild Fish Conservancy’s effort to secure a timely federal decision on the status of Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon under the Endangered Species Act. After NOAA Fisheries missed its statutory deadline, a federal court has
Wind advisory in effect Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Seattle WA 216 PM PDT Tue Mar 10 2026 San Juan County-Foothills and Valleys of the North Cascades- Foothills and Valleys of Snohomish and Northern King Counties- Foothills and Valleys of Central King County-Foothills and Valleys of
Ferry Alert | High winds expected to impact service through Wednesday night
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| All ferry passengers should be prepared for possible service disruptions starting this afternoon through late Wednesday night due to high winds. Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Port Townsend/Coupeville routes: With stronger winds in the north, we expect these routes to be most impacted by severe
America has been rejecting Kings since 1776 | Join us
||| FROM INDIVISIBLE SAN JUAN ISLANDS ||| Indivisible San Juan Islands (ISJI) participates in the third NO KINGS national protest. **We, the people, have the power and are claiming it together. No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.** America has been rejecting Kings since 1776! What began in 2025 as a
Urgent need for advocates for long-term care residents in NW Washington counties
||| FROM KRISTIN HYDE for LONG TERM CARE OMBUDS ||| An estimated 4,000 Washingtonians live in 103 long-term care homes in Northwest Washington, including nursing homes, assisted living and adult family homes. Many residents don’t have frequent visits from family or friends who can ensure their rights are respected and
