Here’s a thought…
“Peace is not something we ask for — it’s something we practice, together.”
WALK FOR PEACE
Gusts up to 55mph until 11pm tonight
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Seattle WA 351 PM PST Thu Dec 18 2025 San Juan County-Lowlands of Western Whatcom County-Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties-Island County- Including Anacortes, Langley, Mount Vernon, Bellingham, Sedro-Woolley, Freeland, Burlington, and Friday Harbor 351
Checking in with J Pod and J45
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 10:44 AM ObservEnd: 02:16 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Other Observers: George Hamilton Pods: J IDsEncountered: J16, J19, J22, J26, J27, J31, J35, J36, J37, J38, J39, J41, J42, J45, J47, J49, J51, J56, J62 LocationDescr: Victoria
County Float at MacKaye Harbor on Lopez Island closed due to storm damage
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Due to recent storm damage, the float at MacKaye Harbor Marine Facility on Lopez Island is closed until further notice. The County’s Public Works Department has been monitoring the condition of the facility throughout recent weather events, and for the safety of the
Could Mount Baker be tapped for geothermal energy? Salish Current reports
State officials and clean energy developers investigate the potential of tapping into the nearby volcano. ||| FROM THE SALISH CURRENT ||| Seen from afar, Mount Baker appears to be a sleeping giant, a glacier-armored peak lying in repose. Mountaineers who have reached the summit know that the stratovolcano is very
Larsen, WA democratic members demand answers from ICE on deteriorating conditions and inadequate food, medical care, access to legal counsel at NWIPC
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U .S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Democratic members of Washington state’s congressional delegation sent a letter to Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons expressing grave concerns with conditions at the Northwest ICE Processing
San Juan County Sheriff’s Office investigates mail thefts
If you see suspected mail thieves, please call the Sheriff’s Office to make a report. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| The Sheriff’s Office has received several reports of stolen mail and packages in recent weeks. On December 11, 2025, deputies recovered over 250 pieces of suspected stolen
LWVSJ Observer Corps | County Council, December 15, 2025
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| The council heard about a study of the environmental impact of vessels in the county. Aerial surveys of county waters of 16 popular mooring locations from May to September counted 10,196 boats outside marinas, peaking in July and August. Boats
Larsen celebrates wins for Washington State in Coast Guard Authorization Act
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U .S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act (CGAA) as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act: “The Coast Guard Authorization Act invests
Whale Museum’s Marine Naturalist Training Program opens registration for 2026
||| FROM CONOR AGNEW for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| The Whale Museum has opened registration for the 2026 spring and summer sessions of the Marine Naturalist Training Program! This course includes an in-depth treatment of the ecology and conservation of local marine species, presented by highly-trained local naturalists,environmental educators, and
This time it’s the wind
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Seattle WA 109 PM PST Wed Dec 17 2025 San Juan County-Foothills and Valleys of Pierce and Southern King Counties-Foothills and Valleys of Thurston and Lewis Counties- Lowlands of Western Whatcom County-Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern
Regional healthcare leaders, elected officials convene for 2nd in series of strategic roundtables in NW WA
||| FROM AMY DRURY for PEACEHEALTH ||| Bellingham, Wash. – On Monday, Dec. 8 a diverse group of healthcare leaders and elected officials and their representatives from across Northwest Washington gathered for the second in a series of high-impact roundtables focused on advancing regional health priorities. The event is a
Victory for affordable housing | Council approves development agreement for Argyle project
The project is situated on San Juan County-owned land and is estimated to provide 35-40 units of affordable rental housing. In addition to providing land for the project, the County has also committed $1.79 million to the project. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| At the December 9 Council
News Brief | America by Mid-Century and what climate change will do
||| FROM THE ATLANTIC ||| Many places may become uninhabitable. Many people may be on their own. We would do well today to study the ways that climate change has already reshaped the American landscape. Over the next 30 years or so, the changes to American life might be short
2026 dog licenses now on sale
New ‘Celebrity Dog’ announced in support of dog licenses available December 11th ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Auditor’s office is ready for the 2026 dog licensing season! Each year, the department has the pleasure of recognizing a ‘Celebrity Dog’. This year our office is
No Place Like Loam | You don’t prune heritage trees. You keep them company
||| NO PLACE LIKE LOAM by ALEX TAMAYO-WOLF ||| Sarah Lefton called from Once in a Blue Moon Farm about pruning their heritage orchard. I drove out on a clear day on Orcas Island—cool, bright, restrained. The sun wasn’t warming anything yet. It was just showing what was there. I’d
Improv classes for all ages begin in January at Orcas Center
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Kyle Duncan Graham and Orcas Center are offering a series of improv classes starting this January. Sign up at www.orcascenter.org; click on events and classes and then classes. For all sessions, wear close-toed shoes and bring a bottle of water. The
