Here’s a thought…
“If you put fences around people, you get sheep. Give people the room they need.”
WILLIAM L. MCKNIGHT
County Council selects operators for marine transportation pilot project
San Juan County will provide marine transit options, at no cost to the public, for interisland travel during disruptions to Washington State Ferry (WSF) service as well as travel to and from the mainland (Anacortes) on a daily basis. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During this week’s March
Jurors excused, April 7 – 11
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: APRIL 7-11, 2025 For the jury period beginning Monday, April 7th through Friday April 11th, all jurors are excused.
Loyalty to Earth | Loyalty to the natural world
"One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds." -- Aldo Leopold, author of Sand County Almanac ||| LOYALTY TO THE EARTH by ELISABETH ROBSON ||| Loyalty, in its truest form, is a bond of devotion. It is not abstract; it
Reminder: Auction event for Gathering of the Eagles Canoe Journey coming to Orcas this Friday
||| FROM GERI and DAVID TURNOY for GATHERING OF THE EAGLES CANOE JOURNEY ||| The Gathering of the Eagles canoe journey organizer is holding an art auction benefit on Orcas Island this Friday, April 4, from 5:00-7:00 PM at the Oddfellows Hall in order to raise funds for the journey.
Securing Your Farm’s Future | Legal tools for farm succession
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County farmers can gain essential legal insights for farm succession planning by attending a free virtual workshop hosted by WSU San Juan Extension on April 9 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. Attorney Dylan LeValley of Adams & Duncan Lawyers, a real
ONBUOY readies for upcoming boating season with green boating events around Puget Sound
||| FROM DARREN AUSTIN for ONBUOY ||| OnBuoy, SPC, is thrilled to introduce their initiative to address the challenges of increased boating tourism to the San Juans and minimizing the environmental damage caused by increased boating traffic to the islands. Learn more and meet founder Darren Austin at an upcoming
Vote Yes on the Orcas Health Care District Levy – Proposition 1
||| FROM JUDY SCOTT ||| This month, Orcas Island voters will be asked to approve an increase in the Orcas Island Health Care District levy to support our island’s healthcare system. I urge our community to come together and vote YES on this crucial measure. Yes, any increase in property
Spring has sprung – and so have noxious weeds
What to look out for this Spring ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Noxious Weed Control Program is preparing for spring weeds – and you should be, too! The spring adage, “April showers bring May flowers,” could use an update in a fast-changing climate. With longer
OPALCO’s member appreciation event celebrating local power
OPALCO Annual Member Festival: April 25, 3-6 pm ||| FROM KRISTSA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| Get ready for the most electrifying event of the year – the OPALCO Annual Member Festival! Mark your calendars for April 25, when San Juan County Fairgrounds will be transformed into
Safety reminders for Douglas/Bailer Hill Rd improvement project on SJI
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Public Works Department is kicking off the Douglas/Bailer Hill Road Improvements Project this month, and is sharing safety reminders for drivers. Throughout the length of the project, vehicle speeds will be reduced to 35MPH in the construction zone. This area
Discover drumming and/or middle eastern dance at your Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Experience the Joy of Drumming! Discover the joy of drumming with the Spirit of Drumming Group at Orcas Senior Center Tuesdays at 11 a.m.! This beginner-friendly group focuses on exploring the elements of drumming. There’s no cost to participate—just bring a
Guest Opinion | Concerns about the Rosario Tidal Energy Project
||| FROM ELISABETH ROBSON ||| On Friday, March 28, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) sent out notifications that OPALCO has applied for a draft license application for their Rosario Strait Tidal Energy Project; OPALCO posted about this application on Saturday, March 29 here in the Orcasonian. The application is 523
Letter to Editor | In response to ‘a life diminished’
||| FROM SUZEY FRANK ||| Thank you, Marie. A life diminished indeed! For the past 25 years, right round 2:30pm, I’ve gotten into the pool to teach our Island’s kids to swim. In all of those years there has been a steady stream of lap swimmers, aerobics participants, family swimmers,
SJC Monthly News Digest – March 2025
This column is part of a series detailing San Juan County’s recent news. Follow along each month to learn about important County projects, Council initiatives, department updates, and more. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Establishes Interim Inter-Island Transportation Services as RFP Process Continues This week,
Earth Day Month in the San Juans
||| FROM EARTH DAY ORCAS & FRIENDS ||| We are delighted to share news that several local community collaboratives are hosting month-long learning, making, and celebration events in the San Juan Islands. Each island has it’s own unique calendar of events and a shared goal of increasing respect and protection
Dr. Strangelove from National Theatre Live at Orcas Center
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center brings the iconic film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb to the big screen on April 3 at 6pm, reimagined with a stellar cast led by Seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan. This groundbreaking
