Here’s a thought…
“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”
READER BOARD
Tides of March celebrates 18 years of Indian Island stewardship
||| FROM RUSSEL BARSH for KWIAHT ||| Last summer, more than three thousand people walked across the flats to Indian Island on daytime minus tides. Most of them were met by Kwiaht scientists, Orcas volunteers, and the 2025 Indian Island Youth Steward, Solomon Ross. The Indian Island Marine Health Observatory
Excused from jury duty for March 2-6
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| All jurors summonsed for the jury term beginning Monday, March 2nd through Friday, March 6th, 2026, are excused.
Breathe Deep—AIR returns April 11
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The All Islands Read (AIR) annual community book event returns on Saturday, April 11, at 11:00 a.m., at Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall. This free event is a collaboration between Orcas Island Public Library and HALO (Hub for Arts & Literature on
Agriculture speakers series
March 4th, 11 - 12 pm on Zoom ||| FROM AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE ||| If you own or manage farmland and are interested in lower property taxes, this informative Q&A will help clarify what qualifies for CUFA (Current Use Farm and Ag) valuation, what documentation matters, and how assessments are
Orcas Island Fire & Rescue responds to fully involved residential structure fire
||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| At 2:55 a.m. on Monday, February 23, Orcas Island Fire & Rescue (OIFR) was dispatched to a residential structure fire on Thimbleberry Lane. Crews arrived to find the home fully involved, with multiple structures and vehicles threatened. The occupant
Beaverton Marsh Trail update open house
||| FROM CONSERVATION LAND BANK ||| Join Conservation Land Bank staff and commissioners at the Mullis Community Senior Center on Wednesday, March 4, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, for an open house about the Beaverton Marsh Trail! Peruse project maps and the proposed design, which will connect the Town of
Letter to Editor | Grandparents for vaccines
||| FROM DALE HEISINGER ||| I am a grandparent of five grandchildren and a retired pediatrician and, as expected, I advised my two sons to get their children vaccinated, which they did. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children should receive 12 vaccinations by age 6 protecting them against
Free course for caregivers in 2026 on Orcas Island
A free six-week course for family caregivers to build the skills to take care of themselves as they care for others ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County and Northwest Regional Council are offering a free six-week course for unpaid family caregivers of San Juan County. This
No Place Like Loam | Four season gardening in the maritime northwest
A Guide to Growing Year Round: Part 1 ||| NO PLACE LIKE LOAM by ALEX TAMAYA-WOLF ||| What to Plant in February in 40–45°F Soil My grandparents kept a garden before the war. It was a hobby then. Orderly. Pleasant. A place to kneel in good weather and admire yourself.
Have ideas to improve building codes & permitting?
Join the County’s Building Advisory Council ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is seeking volunteers to serve on the Building Advisory Council – a group that assists the County Council and the Department of Community Development (DCD) with the orderly implementation of current and future code changes
Larsen applauds SCOTUS slapping down Trump’s tariffs
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “I am glad that the Supreme Court has taken action to strike down President Trump's tariffs and lower prices for Americans since Republican leadership in Congress refused to do so. I will continue to lead legislative efforts to end pointless tariffs and bring
Letter to Editor | Clark Well & Treatment Plant
Episode 1: History and questions that remain ||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| Eastsound Water’s General Manager recently released the first installment of a new email series titled “The New Clark Well & Treatment Plant.” The full text is available on the EWUA website here: https://www.eastsoundwater.org/clark-well-story-episode-1/ Episode 1 focuses primarily on
Orcas Center winter fundraiser | Soda Shop Sock Hop
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Before the last two Saturday performances of Grease — March 7 and 14 — join Orcas Center for a “Soda Shop Sock Hop” dinner fundraiser. For $49, you will enjoy a meal and beverages by the Lower Tavern, ice cream floats
Summit Assistance Dogs being raised on Orcas
||| FROM JODY FOX for SUMMIT ASSISTANCE DOGS ||| Exciting news from Orcas Island! I’m puppy raising Summit Assistance Dogs’ newest litter of future service dogs in training! These puppies are just beginning their journey to become highly skilled mobility service dogs for people living with disabilities across the Pacific
Health Board to meet on Monday
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT BOARD ||| The Orcas Island Health Care District Board will hold a Special Board Meeting on Monday, February 23rd from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. in Maria's Room at the Orcas Island Library, 500 Rose Street, Eastsound. The Board Meeting Public Packet is available below. Agenda 02. 2026_02_10
SE winds headed our way through Sunday afternoon
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Seattle WA 942 PM PST Sat Feb 21 2026 San Juan County- Including Friday Harbor 942 PM PST Sat Feb 21 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM TO 3 PM PST SUNDAY... * WHAT...Southeast
