Here’s a thought…
“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”
READER BOARD
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program state benefits are now available
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The very popular produce program benefitting lower income older adults is back this spring. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) funded by Washington State, will provide lower income seniors with an electronic benefits card that can be used to purchase $80 in
Guest Opinion | Terminal chaos
||| FROM MICHAEL RIORDAN ||| Chaos erupted yesterday at the Orcas Island ferry terminal — a harbinger of what may occur in July after the management transition there. The Issaquah ferry from Anacortes had been canceled, but somehow WSF didn't notify the Orcas landing attendants until well after vehicles were
County announces resurfacing of nearly 11 miles of roads this summer
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Public Works Department is announcing its annual summer road resurfacing schedule to chip seal nearly 11 miles of roads on San Juan and Orcas Islands. Chip sealing is a pavement treatment that extends the life of the road surface. Learn
No peace at PeaceHealth | Bellingham St Joseph’s hospital workers to go on strike Monday
||| FROM KRISTIN HYDE for SEIU HEALTHCARE ||| Bellingham, Washington – A supermajority of workers organized as Peace Health United and represented by their union SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, authorized a strike to begin Monday, May 12th. Workers including CNAs, housekeeping, trauma registrars, phlebotomists, imaging technicians and other essential hospital staff
Fire protection classifications | Impact on Orcas Island
||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| In October of 2024 the Community Protection Class (PC) rating for Deer Harbor (Fire Station 24) and Orcas Landing (Fire Station 26) areas increased to PC9A (Deer Harbor) and PC9 (Orcas Landing) from the previous rating of PC6. Orcas
Incident at Henry Island | A day in the life
||| FROM BILL SYMES and ELAINA THOMPSON ||| At 8:23 AM on a sunny Friday, May 3, 2024, Elaina Thompson answered her ringing phone to find herself speaking to the US Coast Guard. For most folks, a call from the Coast Guard would be a bit of a surprise, to
Let’s make waves—today is game day
||| FROM FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| Every day is thrilling when you are one of the local nonprofits featured in this spring’s #GiveOrcas campaign—but today, May 8, is when it really gets exciting. For 24 hours only, the nonprofit with the most unique online donations (even $10 will
Adrift | The housing search, sadly, goes on
||| ADRIFT by LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| With only a couple of weeks before our moving deadline, the search goes on for housing on the island where I have been living since before the turn of the last century -- 1991. With the passing of our landlord, we have
Community comes together for successful 2025 Spring Great Islands Clean-Up
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Over 300 volunteers joined forces this April for the 2025 Spring Great Islands Clean-Up, showing the true power of community action. From local families and school groups to kayak crews and visitors from Seattle, volunteers came together to clean up 171 miles of
Island son dancing in Seattle
||| FROM AYN GAILEY ||| Following their Kennedy Center performance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet troupe is coming to Seattle this weekend, which means it's a chance to see Orcas Islander dancer, Aristotle Luna, perform. Here's a bit about the show: Complexions Contemporary Ballet exhilarates audiences with their boundary-defying fusion of modern
Call for artists at Orcas Center
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| The Visual Arts Committee (VAC) of Orcas Center is excited to announce the next community art show: Orcas Retrospectives with Featured Artist Peter Fisher in the lobby. Installation Day: Thursday, May 22nd from 10:15am – 12pm Art Opening: Friday, May 23rd 5:30pm
Congratulations Orcas Middle School
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| Orcas Island Middle School is being recognized by the Washington State School Recognition Program for its performance during the 2023–2024 school year. The school is being recognized for Growth for English learner students. Washington State School Recognition Program recognizes schools that have "made
Jurors excused, May 12 – 23
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| For the two week jury period beginning Monday, May 12th through Friday May 23rd, all jurors are excused. For the one week jury period beginning Monday, May 19th through Friday May 23rd, jurors need to call in beginning Thursday afternoon May 15th
Auditor seeks writers of argument against Lopez library, school dist. ballot measures
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Auditor Natasha Warmenhoven is seeking people interested in writing arguments against the Lopez Island Library and Lopez Island School District ballot measures for the voters’ guide. To ensure an informed electorate, and in accordance with state law, every district that
Resource Center highlights community health worker services
||| FROM RESOURCE CENTER COMMUNICATION TEAM ||| The Orcas Community Resource Center is proud to participate in the OICF GiveOrcas campaign, running now through May 15th, with a special focus on sustaining their vital Community Health Worker services for island residents. Community Health Workers serve as essential bridges between healthcare
Public notice regarding Doe Bay Water Users Association forum
||| FROM JUDY WHITING for DOE BAY WATER USERS ASSOCIATION ||| Doe Bay Water Users Association (DBWUA) and the Washington Department of Health (DOH) invite you to attend a Water Use Efficiency Goal Setting Public Forum on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at the Doe Bay Community Association / Doe Bay
