Here’s a thought…
“Peace is not something we ask for — it’s something we practice, together.”
WALK FOR PEACE
San Juan County resident camping reservations open February 24 | Set up your account now
This special benefit for San Juan County residents to enjoy our County parks opens in February. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Parks, Recreation & Fair Department is pleased to announce our Resident Reservation Camping program will open in February, allowing locals the first chance to
Port Commissioners are meeting today at 4pm
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, December 15th at 4:00 p.m. online via Zoom and in-person at the airport terminal conference room. </spa Access and agenda information can be found at portoforcas.com.
Letter to Editor | Support our EWUA operators
||| FROM SARA PELFREY ||| This article (https://kingcountywtd.com/2025/12/12/stranded-but-steady-operator-keeps-carnation-treatment-plant-running-during-atmospheric-river/) was recently published on King County's site, highlighting the importance of our water operators, especially when we have unexpected events like the historic flooding that happened during the recent atmospheric river on the mainland. Our Water/Wastewater Operators are essential utility workers for
Auditor seeks writers of argument against San Juan Island School District No. 149
The San Juan Island School District No. 149 approved a measure that would authorize the District to levy the following excess taxes, in place of an expiring levy, on all taxable property within the District. The measure needs an argument against it. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San
Create comfort with fidget quilts at Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join Brenda Bacon at Orcas Senior Center for a creative Fidget Quilt workshop on Wednesday, December 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. This hands-on session is designed to guide participants in crafting small, tactile quilts that offer comfort and engagement for
Port Commissioners will meet on Monday
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, December 15th at 4:00 p.m. online via Zoom and in-person at the airport terminal conference room. Access and agenda information can be found at portoforcas.com.
PeaceHealth Peace Island’s new CT scanner expands imaging capabilities
||| FROM ANNA WILLIAMS for PEACE ISLAND MEDICAL CENTER || After months of work and anticipation, PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center last month served its first patient on a new, state-of-the-art CT scanner. The new machine, a Siemens Somatom X.cite CT scanner, marks a big leap forward for Peace Island's
Larsen | Washington delegation demands answers on BP pipeline leak
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Kim Schrier, MD (WA-08), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Emily Randall (WA-06), Adam Smith (WA-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) called on BP to answer questions surrounding the November leak
Ramel | Strong communities start with stable funding
||| FROM REP. ALEX RAMEL ||| Across the 40th District, the last several months have been a powerful reminder of why sustainable, equitable revenue is essential to our wellbeing. Whether we’re talking about stable access to healthcare, the future of childcare in our communities, or the construction of desperately needed
K47 | New calf reported in K Pod
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| On December 10, the Center for Whale Research team received reports and images from Orca Network and Orca Conservancy of a small calf accompanying K pod in Puget Sound. The next day, researchers Mark and Maya Sears followed up on these reports and
Midnight Mutterings | Thinking about Japan-Part 2
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| If memory serves, Kyoko, Susumu and Yuki (age4) were the third or fourth Japanese family to move into the house next door in Seattle in the 1980s. I had begun to lose interest in my exotic next door neighbors and didn’t rush to
Sheriff’s Report | December 3 – 9, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3 25-008249 Domestic Dispute or Assault 08:48:04 12/03/25 An Orcas Island Deputy responded to a domestic incident in the Eastsound area. The Deputy learned that this incident was related to a previous incident which had been investigated and documented. 25-008251
Larsen votes in favor of 2026 Defense Authorization Bill
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bipartisan NDAA passed the House by a final vote of 312 to 112 and
A big thank you from Orcas Community Foundation
Collective Giving for the Win! ||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| Thank you for joining us during this year's Holiday GiveOrcas campaign and showing support for 33 incredible community-driven programs that make Orcas Island truly extraordinary. The season of giving shined brightly over the past 10
County Council passes 2026 budget but prepares for ongoing financial discussions in 2027
The adopted budget includes cuts to staffing and other reductions across department operating expenses. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During the December 9 meeting and public hearing, the San Juan County Council adopted the 2026 budget. This adopted budget includes cuts to staffing and other reductions across department
Letter to Editor | What’s going on at Eastsound Water Users Association?
||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| I am an ex-employee at EWUA. I worked there for 4 years in the role of Billing & Membership Specialist. All statements below reflect my personal views and consist of verbatim questions submitted to the EWUA Board and the responses received. Here’s a list of
