Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Welcome to our weekly feature, Occam's Razor, from local artist S.C. Watson.
Winter storm watch in effect, Saturday evening through Monday morning
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Seaatle WA 133 PM PST Thu Jan 30 2025 San Juan County-Western Whatcom County- Including the cities of Friday Harbor and Bellingham ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Heavy snow
Everyone has an impact | How to start reducing your environmental footprint
As fires tear through California and Trump sets back efforts to curb the rise of global temperatures, what can individuals do to make a difference? ||| FROM THE GUARDIAN ||| 2024 was the hottest year on record. Average global temperatures rose to 1.6C above preindustrial levels, according to data from
Dakota Creek Industries, Inc. is proud to celebrate its 50th year in business
||| FROM CARRIE KING for DAKOTA CREEK INDUSTRIES ||| As a cornerstone of our legacy, we continue to invest in the future of the skilled trades through our formalized Apprenticeship Program. We apprentice four trades: Marine Electrician, Production Welder, Machinery Assembler, and Shipfitter-Fabricator. Dakota Creek Industries Apprenticeship Program: The Apprentice
San Juan County is prepared for inclement weather – and you should be, too
Public Works Department provides snow removal tips for residents and reminders of street priorities and phases of removal. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is pleased to provide the public with a reminder of Public Works services, priorities, and mission during inclement weather. Additionally, there are
What’s next for renewable energy in San Juan County: Part 3 of 3
The Bailer Hill Microgrid project on San Juan Island is a future Community Solar and battery storage site ||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| In “Part 1: Why Local, Renewable Power Generation,” OPALCO outlined the critical point we are at as an essential service that
Bellingham Chamber Music Society announces inaugural Harmony Chamber Music Festival for youth
||| FROM JENNIFER WEEKS for BELLINGHAM CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY ||| All events will be held in Heiner Hall at Whatcom Community College. Harmony Chamber Music Weekend March 29th & 30th. Application Deadline: February 15th Who can apply to these festival events? Students aged ~13-18 from Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, or
Guest Opinion | Chaos, cruelty of a wannabe king
||| FROM JANET ALDERTON ||| We are all being affected by the chaos and cruelty of a wannabe king. We must speak out and ACT when the Trump administration violates our values. I am a member of LIFT, a group of women supporting immigrants on Orcas Island with Free Immigration Legal
Aida – Met Opera at Orcas Center
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Don’t miss your chance to see Aida, Verdi’s epic tale of love, power, and jealousy at Orcas Center Tuesday, February 4 at 12pm. Filmed live in HD, these on-screen events from the Metropolitan Opera offer a diverse sampling of the world’s best
Reservations available for new spring sailing season
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Vehicle reservations for the spring 2025 schedule (March. 23 through June 14) will be available today, Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. To ensure a smooth and fair experience during this high-demand period, we will also continue using a virtual waiting room during the reservations
San Juan County Sheriff’s Office statement on immigration issues
||| FROM SHERIFF ERIC PETER for SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office (SJCSO) continues to prioritize public safety, fairness, and trust within the community while upholding state law, county code, and ensuring that every member of the community feels secure. In line with RCW
Exciting News: PlayFest is returning
||| FROM MELINDA MILLIGAN for ACTORS THEATER OF ORCAS ISLAND ||| After a few years on hold, we are thrilled to announce the revival of PlayFest, the beloved Actors Theater of Orcas Island production that celebrates our community's creative talent. This year, we are reviving some of the best plays
Larsen, Sykes lead T&I democrats letter on Trump infrastructure freeze
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| Washington, D.C.—Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D-WA), Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Emilia Sykes (D-OH) and the remaining 29 Democratic Committee Members sent a letter to U.S. Department
LWVWA endorses SB 5400 supporting local news journalism
||| FROM AMY PELOFF FOR LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| The League of Women Voters of Washington announced today its strong endorsement for Senate Bill 5400 in support of local journalism. This bill will enable grants to support news journalists covering civic affairs in underserved communities. Funding will come from a surcharge
Permit review times, long-range planning, & recruitments
DCD Leadership Provides Winter Update ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During this month’s Council retreat, staff from the Department of Community Development (DCD) provided a winter progress update since the October and July check-ins. DCD leadership reviewed permit review times, the status of long-term planning projects, and recruitment efforts for open positions.
Canada sued over delay in protecting endangered killer whales
An 'imminent threat' assessment in November 2024 set a ticking legal clock that requires two ministers to recommend an emergency order to Cabinet — but they have yet to do so. ||| FROM BURNABY NOW ||| Six environmental groups are suing two federal ministers over a delay in issuing an
