Here’s a thought…
“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”
MARK TWAIN
Orcas Center holding auditions for The Lightning Thief
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center will hold open auditions Nov. 4 and 5 for its spring production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. Auditions are free and open to teens ages 12 and up and adults. The show is directed by Katie Zwilling,
Write in Jeff Asher for Sheriff
||| FROM JEFF ASHER, CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY SHERIFF ||| Wow! I am truly taken aback by the outpouring of support encouraging me to run for Sheriff. Thank you all for the calls and texts requesting my participation in the upcoming Sheriff's election. When I was first asked to consider this
No jurors needed for October 19-23
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: OCTOBER 19-23, 2026 All jurors summonsed for Jury Duty beginning October 19th, are excused. Thank you.
Advance care planning workshop at Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Your voice, your choice — but only if you speak up now. Join Orcas Senior Center for a free Advance Care Planning Workshop, presented by Hospice of the Northwest, on Wednesday, November 4 at 1 p.m. Life is unpredictable. Advance care
San Juan County receives $660k public safety grant
The grant program, administered by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, was introduced into state law in 2025 as part of an effort to increase public safety funding across the state ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County has received a $660,000 grant from the Washington
Construction begins on Eastsound public float ahead of 2027 re-opening
Crews expect to finish the in‑water work—including pilings and anchorage—and return the dock to its pre‑closure condition before year’s end ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Repairs to the pilings at the public dock in Eastsound are expected to begin in November. This much-anticipated project will address key maintenance
NEWS BRIEF | Hostile Waters: Orcas in peril
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| The Seattle Times will continue to explore and expose the plight of the southern resident killer whales, among the most-enduring symbols of our region. We’ll examine the role we have played in their decline, what we can do about it and why it matters.
There’s always something happening at the Exchange
||| FROM ORCAS RECYCLING/THE EXCHANGE ||| Let’s Shred! The Exchange has partnered with Bellingham-based A-1 Shredding to offer secure document destruction. Customers can drop off documents in secure, locked bins located at The Exchange. A-1 Shredding will periodically bring its mobile shredding truck to Orcas Island to destroy the collected
Letter to Editor | I strongly support Katherine Bryant Ingman for San Juan County Council District 3
||| FROM AMANDA SPARKS ||| I am pleased to share my strong support for Katherine Bryant Ingman. I worked closely with Katherine during the pandemic as we strengthened hunger relief systems across San Juan County. Throughout that challenging time, I witnessed her ability to balance immediate needs with long-term solutions.
Can you spell F-U-N? The 4th Annual Orcas Island Adult Spelling Bee returns
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Calling all word nerds, spelling enthusiasts, and brave souls willing to face the dictionary! The 4th Annual Orcas Island Adult Spelling Bee returns on Friday, October 23, at 7 p.m. at the Orcas Center, promising an evening of friendly competition, community
Deadline approaching | Pay your property taxes before Oct 31
The second half of property taxes and personal property taxes are due Saturday, October 31, 2026 ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The deadline is approaching to pay the second half of property and personal property taxes: Saturday, October 31, 2026. The San Juan County Treasurer’s Office is making
Community comes together for fall ‘Great Islands Cleanup’
Islanders carry on the legacy of caring by clearing over 2,000 pounds of waste from our beaches ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Across the San Juan Islands this fall, community members came together to clean beaches, shorelines, roadsides, and favorite island places as part of the bi-annual Great
C Street Brass returns to the islands for two free community concerts
||| FROM CHRISTOPHER PEACOCK for ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| C Street Brass will return to the San Juan Islands October 26 and 27 as part of the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival’s Musicians-in-Residence program. Known for their energetic performances and wide-ranging musical style, the ensemble moves comfortably between traditional
Letter to Editor | In support of Jennifer Swanson, my mom, for County Council
||| FROM SOPHIA SWANSON ||| I believe that my mom’s candidacy for county council is both unexpected and a long time coming; that is to say, it’s such a natural role for her to step into. The depth to which she cares for our community is obvious: she served on
Letter to Editor | I support Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council
||| FROM SHARON ABREU ||| Although I acknowledge that we here in San Juan County are fortunate to have two strong candidates running for County Council District 3, I have decided to endorse Katherine Bryant Ingman for the position. I appreciate Katherine's energy, and I see her as an independent
Letter to Editor | Ron Krebs shares his commitment to community
||| FROM RON KREBS, CANDIDATE FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF ||| To the Citizens of San Juan County, As we approach the upcoming election, I want to share my priorities for the San Juan County Sheriff's Office and my commitment to the community we serve. Having served as your Sheriff
