Here’s a thought…
“The belief in the possibility of a short decisive war appears to be one of the most ancient and dangerous of human illusions.”
ROBERT LYND
Piano music and art together in concert at Orcas Center
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Pianist Marina Grozdanovic will be performing music composed in France from the Baroque to the Impressionist era, by composers Rameau, Couperin, Chopin, Debussy and Ravel at Orcas Center. Each piece will be accompanied by paintings or photographs on the big screen,
County to test vote counting equipment in April
Testing will take place on April 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Elections office will conduct a “Logic and Accuracy” test of ballot tabulating equipment used for the County’s April 28, 2026, Special Election. The test is scheduled for April 7,
Lions Club Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4
||| FROM MARY MEREDITH for ORCAS ISLAND LIONS CLUB ||| The Orcas Island Lions Club continues its long tradition of the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, to be held this year on Saturday, April 4th at Cascade Lake in Moran State Park. The Hunt will begin at 10am sharp. There will
No jurors needed for March 30 – April 2
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: MARCH 30 - APRIL 3, 2026 For the Jury Period beginning Monday March 30th through April 3rd, 2026, all jurors are excused. Thank you.
Share Your Feedback | County & partners developing tools to manage human/wildlife interactions
The County is seeking to define common messaging, identify strategies to manage wildlife/human interactions, and ways to educate the public. Your experiences and feedback are welcome! ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| In an effort to manage interactions between island wildlife and the public, the County is seeking public
Bird Walks are back at the SJI Sculpture Park
Join us April 1st 8-10am for the first walk of the season ||| FROM MARITA HOLDAWAY for SAN JUAN ISLANDS SCULPTURE PARK ||| Great news bird fans! The San Juan Islands Sculpture Park will start hosting its monthly Bird Walk series beginning Wednesday, April 1, from 8–10 a.m. Led by
SAMA: To Listen coming to Orcas Center
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| “SAMA: To Listen” follows filmmaker Darek Mazzone, composer Peter Culshaw and entrepreneur musician John Goodfellow as they journey through Turkey, Morocco and Malaysia, engaging with musicians, instrument makers, spiritual leaders, and community elders rooted in Sufi traditions. Through intimate conversations and
Climate and Sustainability Advisory Committee seeks youth & San Juan Island members
Apply by May 1st to help steer climate action in San Juan County ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is accepting applications for volunteer three positions on its Climate and Sustainability Advisory Committee. District 1 (San Juan, Stuart, Brown, Henry) - 4-year term Youth Representative (age
Health Care District board to meet
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT BOARD ||| The Orcas Island Health Care District Board will hold a regularly scheduled board meeting on Wednesday, March 25th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Orcas Island Library, 500 Rose Street, Eastsound. The Board Meeting Public Packet is available below.
The Whale Museum opens registration for the 2026 Virtual Gear Up Workshop
||| FROM TRACIE MERRELL for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| The Whale Museum has opened registration for the 2026 Gear Up Workshop! This year’s workshop will take place virtually on Thursday, April 30 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and will prepare participants for the field season ahead. This event is
Existing vacation rentals in Eastsound & Lopez Village need a provisional use permit by June 25
The permit process is open until June 25, 2026, and can be completed through the mail or in person ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| If you operate a vacation rental in Eastsound Village or Lopez Village, it is a requirement to apply for a provisional use permit to
High winds expected to impact WSF service through Tuesday evening
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| All ferry passengers should be prepared for possible service disruptions through Tuesday evening due to high winds. Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Port Townsend/Coupeville routes: With stronger winds in the north, we expect these routes to be most impacted by severe weather. This could
Orca Action Month plans are underway
||| FROM REIN ATTEMANN for ORCA ACTION MONTH ||| It’s that time again! June is Orca Action Month in the Pacific Northwest, and the Orca Salmon Alliance is looking forward to all kinds of activities throughout the region. Orca Action Month (a.k.a Orca Month) is an annual series of events
Letter to Editor | OPALCO board candidate observations
||| FROM RIKKI SWIN ||| OPALCO Board Candidate observations: District 1: Drew Gislason: He comes across as the candidate best equipped to push back on expensive, low-payback solar microgrids if they don't deliver rate relief or reliability gains — while still supporting smart local generation where it makes technical and economic
Guest Opinion | The ClearWater commitment is a framework for institutional integrity
Transparency is the essential mechanism through which governing boards earn the trust of their constituency. ||| FROM THOMAS OWENS ||| Boards that do not operate at the level of transparency expected by their constituency will be continually questioned and challenged resulting in an increasing level of distrust of their goals
Conservation donor fills funding gap on Orcas Island
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Last August, the Land Bank was ecstatic to announce the acquisition of a 23.8-acre waterfront property located on Orcas Island’s East Sound – home to 1,300 feet of undeveloped shoreline, including a 260-foot pocket beach, a small intermittent stream, open fields and forest.
