Here’s a thought…
“Peace is not something we ask for — it’s something we practice, together.”
WALK FOR PEACE
OPAL purchases Crosswind Apartments
Another eight rentals affordable for households of moderate and middle incomes ||| FROM QASIM ALI DINO for OPAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ||| Eight more apartments on Orcas Island will become permanently affordable rentals with OPAL Community Land Trust’s purchase of the Crosswind Apartments. Thanks to the generosity of a family
Free America Walkout
||| FROM INDIVISIBLE SAN JUAN ISLANDS ||| Indivisible San Juan Islands rallies residents to join the national mass-mobilization walkout, Free America, Tuesday, January 20, 2026, organized by the Women’s March. We will walk out of work, school, and commerce because a Free America begins the moment we stop cooperating with
Keeping what holds us | An Island Stewards reflection from the week of Solstice
||| FROM ISLAND STEWARDS ||| The week of the solstice arrives without settling. Weather moves back and forth. Forecast models disagree. Neighborhoods and infrastructure on the mainland are already damaged by flooding, while the possibility of snow here hangs unresolved, and the winds of change blow wild and continual as
Sheriff’s Report | December 17 – 30, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17 25-008558 Trespassing 10:44:01 12/17/25 An Orcas Island Deputy responded to a trespassing incident in the downtown Eastsound area. The Deputy learned that the landlord wanted his tenant trespassed from the property that the tenant is renting. The incident was
2026 applications now open for Dakota Creek Industries marine trades apprenticeship program
||| FROM CARRIE KING for DAKOTA CREEK INDUSTRIES ||| Dakota Creek Industries, Inc. is now accepting applications for its Marine Trades Apprenticeship Program. This paid program combines hands-on, on-the-job training in a working shipyard with structured classroom instruction, creating a direct pathway into long-term, family-wage maritime careers. Apprentices work alongside
Roller skating is back on Orcas
||| FROM ALICIA WIGFIELD |||
Wolfchild in concert at Orcas Center to kick off New Year
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Wolfchild is a Portland, Ore.-based Cinematic Folk Rock band with influences ranging from the immersive earthy sounds of Gregory Alan Isakov, Lord Huron, and The Paper Kites to the contemporary experimentation you might expect from Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, or Andrew
SJC Monthly News Digest | December 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 ||| County Council Passes 2026 Budget but Prepares for Ongoing Financial Discussions in 2027 During
Jury Duty? Check here
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: JANUARY 5-16, 2026 Jurors in groups 4, 5, 6 and 7 who were summonsed for the jury period beginning Monday January 5th through January 16th, are to report for jury duty on Wednesday January 7th at 8:30 am in the lobby
Update on Con’s Pit Stop and call for proposals
||| FROM EMILIE ROBINSON for CON'S PIT STOP ||| Con’s Pit Stop closed last month, following an announcement on social media. We are now inviting proposals as we determine next steps for both the business and the building. Con’s has been a vital resource for full time islanders for many
San Juan County 2025 Year-In-Review | Housing projects, dental clinics, infrastructure updates & more
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is proud to present the 2025 Year-In-Review, highlighting key accomplishments, notable projects, and the breadth of programs and services provided to island communities. The public is encouraged to access the document on the County website by scrolling the PDF below,
Community Foundation | Reflections of generosity
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| As 2025 draws to a close, I want to express my deepest gratitude for the care and generosity you've shown throughout this year. Your contributions have made Orcas Island the strong and resilient community it is today. Together, we've navigated
2026 community dental clinic dates announced
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) is excited to announce the dates for the 2026 Community Dental Clinics on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands. Community Dental Clinics serve people on Medicaid or those who do not have dental insurance and
Guest Opinion | EWUA continues to seek off-island contractors
||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| As EWUA continues to lose operators they seek off-island contractors to fill vacant positions. There is already one contractor in place, this will be the 2nd. Eastsound Water is working around the employees unionization efforts by trying to hire contractors. Their new job posting on
End-of-year town hall recap with Councilmember Fuller | County priorities, challenges, & what’s ahead
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| On December 4, 2025, San Juan County Councilmember Jane Fuller, District 3, hosted a Town Hall meeting at the Lopez Community Center. During this event, councilmember Fuller shared updates with the Lopez community about current County issues, outlined plans for the County in
Port of Orcas will meet today
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, January 5th at 4:00 p.m. in-person at the airport terminal. The Agenda can be found at portoforcas.com.
