Here’s a thought…
“There are many forms of patriotism and telling the truth is one of them.”
ANDERSON COOPER
Larsen defends reproductive health care
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined more than 250 House and Senate Democrats in filing an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to overturn a Fifth Circuit decision that would restrict access to mifepristone by reinstating a requirement that the drug be
Have a garden question? Ask an Orcas Master Gardener
Saturday May 9th at the Market Garden Nursery ||| FROM ORCAS MASTER GARDENERS ||| Do you have a question about your soil, have a problem with your fruit tree, or are thinking about starting a garden? Is something bugging your plants, or you are curious about identifying a plant or
SJC’s Agricultural Resources Committee to host farmer listening session on meat processing
The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will be held virtually on Zoom ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Agricultural Resources Committee (ARC) is hosting a listening session and information sharing opportunity for farmers to discuss access to
Join Garden Club for permaculture presentation
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| LEARN FROM PERMACULTURIST, STEWARD, AND PASSIONATE GARDENER, TAJA WICKS Wednesday, May 20th, 10 am (at the Orcas Center or by Zoom) JOIN US AT 9:30 AM (just before the program) for social time, and feel free to bring something for the Sharing
News Brief | The world is about to get a preview of life in 2035
||| FROM NEW YORK TIMES ||| A climate monster is growing right now in the Pacific Ocean, perhaps the most fearsome El Niño since before scientists even began modeling them. The El Niño building right now, and expected to crest around the end of next year, arrives on top of
Leadership San Juan Islands schedules annual meeting
||| FROM GRETCHEN KRAMPF for LEADERSHIP SAN JUAN ISLANDS |||
No jurors needed for May 11-15
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: MAY 11-15, 2026 All jurors summonsed for the Jury Period beginning Monday May 11th through Friday May 15th, 2026 are excused. Thank you.
Re-elect Natasha Warmenhoven as San Juan County Auditor
||| FROM NATASHA WARMENHOVEN, CANDIDATE FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY AUDITOR ||| Natasha Warmenhoven is proud and excited to announce her candidacy for re-election as San Juan County Auditor. Over the last four years, Natasha has served the residents of San Juan County with a commitment to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and
I spent eight years as Orcas Island’s hospice nurse; here is what I saw
...and what I am building before I go ||| FROM DEBRA O'CONNER, R.N. ||| I have been enormously fortunate in my nursing career — from midwife at birth to midwife for the dying. It is one of the oldest professions there is, and I am proud to have walked both
OPAL seeks finance, operations director
||| FROM OPAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ||| OPAL is hiring a new Director of Finance and Operations to step into the shoes of Kim Jaeger, who will retire after the new person is hired. Kim has served as OPAL’s Director of Finance and Administration for the past three years. She
Farm Transfer 101 Webinar supports future of farming in the San Juan Islands
The webinar will be held on Tuesday, May 26 from 12:00–1:30 PM and is open to anyone interested in the future of farmland in the San Juan Islands ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild and WSU San Juan County Extension invite farmers, landowners,
Free Kindergarten transition event at Camp Orkila on May 11
||| FROM THE RESOURCE CENTER COMMUNICATIONS TEAM ||| The Orcas Community Resource Center invites families to a free Kindergarten Transition event on Monday, May 11, from 5–7 pm at Camp Orkila’s Main Lodge. Designed for children entering kindergarten in Fall 2026 and their parents/caregivers, the evening features hands-on activities, social
Update | Proposed deer hunting at Turtleback Mountain and north shore preserves
After a series of public meetings and additional community input, the Land Bank Commission will discuss delaying the proposal and exploring ways to continue seeking public input during the May 15 commission meeting. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The Conservation Land Bank has proposed limited deer hunting on
Auditor seeks writers of arguments against ballot measures
If you are interested in writing an argument against the measure, please contact the Auditor at elections@sanjuancountywa.gov or (360) 378-3357. Statements are limited to 250 words and are due by May 11, 4:30 PM. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Auditor Natasha Warmenhoven is seeking people
Rep. Rick Larsen files for reelection
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| EVERETT, Wash. – Rick Larsen filed for reelection on May 4. In the next Congress, Larsen will work to lower costs for working families, including child care, health care, housing, groceries and gas. He will continue delivering federal funding to
Heather Lee announces candidacy for county auditor
||| FROM HEATHER LEE ||| My name is Heather Lee, and I am pleased to announce my candidacy for San Juan County Auditor. Heather Lee I served as Chief Deputy Auditor for San Juan County for three years, through March 2026, working across elections, licensing, and financial operations
