Here’s a thought…
“We are not an endangered species ourselves yet, but this is not for lack of trying.”
DOUGLAS ADAMS
News Brief | Are killer whales trying to share food with people?
||| FROM GOOD GOOD GOOD ||| Among their own whale circles, they have long shared their prey with one another, but a new study has recorded wild orcas were spotted trying to share their food with human beings. Wild whales have been documented approaching humans on their own, dropping a
See what’s ongoing at Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Create comfort with fidget quilts Join Brenda Bacon at Orcas Senior Center for a creative Fidget Quilt workshop on Wednesday, February 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. This hands-on session is designed to guide participants in crafting small, tactile quilts that
Guest Opinion | We currently enjoy 90% renewable, 100% carbon free energy – what is OPALCO doing?
OPALCO leadership, years of financial mismanagement, and entrenched tenure ||| FROM RIKKI SWIN ||| I am writing as a concerned OPALCO member to directly question the Board President, the entire Board of Directors, and the General Manager regarding the co-op's persistent pursuit of costly and questionable initiatives, including microgrid installations
Letter to Editor | Put a stop to this trash
||| FROM KIM SECUNDA ||| Below is a photo of Ruralite magazine trash clogging up the post office. Literally all three cans overflowing. Stop it. Have opt in only or electronic magazine. This has to stop. Put it on the agenda and please advertise more broadly, and sooner before a town
Standing Up for Our Community | A legislative update from Alex Ramel
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. ALEX RAMEL ||| In this year’s short legislative session, we have passed our first major deadline this week: House of Origin Cutoff. By February 4th, bills not tied to the state budget must be voted out of committee to stay alive. After this date,
Jigsaw Puzzle event at the library
||| FROM WOODY CISKOWSKI for ORCAS LIBRARY ||| Do you love jigsaw puzzles? Put your skills to the test and join fellow puzzle fans for an afternoon of fast-paced, friendly, speed puzzling at the Orcas Island Library! Teams of four will race to complete a 500-piece puzzle. All teams will receive the same puzzle, but
Midnight Mutterings The best place on Orcas Island for fainting
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| I don’t have permission to name the place specifically, and you might think you recognize it from my brief description, but your guess might be wrong. On the other hand you might be right, but not need a place to faint, but you might want
San Juan County brings mobile passport devices to Lopez
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| As a convenience to the Lopez Island community, the San Juan County Clerk’s Office is hosting a “Passport Day” to accept passport applications. Join County staff at the Lopez Island Library on February 11 from 10 am-4 pm to process applications for first-time
Medicare’s Preventive Benefits | Why they matter
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Taking care of your health before problems arise is essential—and Medicare helps make that possible. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers many preventive services to detect conditions early. Medicare Part B also includes an annual wellness visit, a yearly appointment
Sheriff’s Report | January 28 – February 3, 2026
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28 26-000569 Theft 10:34:49 01/28/26 A San Juan Deputy took a report of a cold theft. Items were taken within the prior 4 months. No suspect information was available, and a report was generated. 26-000577 Wanted Person 14:46:32 01/28/26 Orcas
Latest from Lekanoff | Legislative session is moving quickly
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF ||| The session is moving quickly - we've already passed the Policy Committee Cutoff! I wanted to take a moment to share an update on the work I’ve been doing on your behalf, from advancing policies that support housing stability and community
Midterm mania as Trump summons state election officials to D.C.
||| FROM WHAT A DAY ||| Trump’s FBI summoned state election officials from across the country for an unusual briefing on “preparations” for the midterms, What A Day has learned. At least one top state official is deeply concerned. The FBI is organizing a mysterious conference call in late February
Local author releases new book, Superposition | Here’s an interview
||| FROM TAMAYO WOLF ||| Reality is narrowing—coming to an unexpected end. A gifted physicist discovers that probability itself is collapsing—that the universe is converging toward a single, irreversible outcome. Her attempt to escape that fate fractures more than space and time. It creates something else: a sentient force born
WSF Weekly Report | Still battling availability issues | Go Hawks!
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Feb. 5, 2026 This week brougaht another reminder of how fragile our ferry system is. We simply don’t have enough vessels available to cover unexpected issues. Tuesday night, Kitsap had to be removed from service because of an engine issue. That
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.
Ditch the screen and connect to birds, to nature, and with each other
Take part in The Great Backyard Bird Count of 2026 ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank, in conjunction with the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center (JLSRFC), invites nature enthusiasts, birdwatchers and families to join in The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC)
