Here’s a thought…
“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”
MARK TWAIN
WSF Weekly Report | Reducing fleet age; week without driving challenge; Nevey’s 5-year anniversary
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve Today marks my five-year anniversary at Washington State Ferries. I joined WSF in 2021 as operations director and stepped into my current role in the spring of 2024. When I arrived, we were facing unprecedented crew shortages
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.
Orcas Airport is now open – two days early
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| A few moments ago the A2,A3 and A4 barricades were removed as well as all midfield and east side hangar barriers, ORS is 100% open, two days early! A huge thanks for your flexibility, understanding, safe ops and professionalism throughout the
Free immunization clinics for children to protect against influenza and COVID
Free influenza and COVID-19 immunizations for all children 6 months through 18 years old this October! Please note, while we hope to have sufficient COVID-19 vaccine availability, there may be shortages and delays in the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Protect your family
Experience a night of fingerstyle guitar with Calum Graham
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Fingerstyle guitarist Calum Graham will bring his intricate, genre-bending playing to the Orcas Center stage on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at www.orcascenter.org. Born in British Columbia and now based in Victoria, Graham has spent nearly two
Learn to fly in 2027
Three OAA scholarships now open ||| FROM ALLAN TONE for ORCAS AVIATION ASSOCIATION ||| Have you ever watched a small plane lift off Runway 34 at Orcas Island Airport and thought, “That could be me”? This year, it really could — and the island needs you up there. The Orcas
Take charge of your health at upcoming Senior Center screening
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Life Line Screening will be at Orcas Senior Center on Thursday, October 22 offering safe, painless, and non-invasive preventive health screenings—services not typically included in a routine physical. By participating, you can take a proactive step toward protecting your health and
All San Juan County beaches closed to recreational shellfish harvesting
Due to high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison, all beaches are closed until further notice ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| As of Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has closed recreational shellfish harvesting in San Juan County due to unsafe levels of Paralytic
No jurors required, October 5-9
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: OCTOBER 5-9, 2026 All jurors summonsed for Jury Duty beginning October 5th, 2026 are excused. Thank you.
Letter to Editor | Swanson will be a great addition to county council
||| FROM CAROL CRISS ||| I endorse Jennifer Swanson for County Council. She is a great listener, and strives for communication, not conflict, to resolve issues. She has worked to better our community through communication and respectful dialog. She considers all sides of an issue before making a decision, and
Orcas Youth Chorus is back
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Don't miss this fabulous opportunity to work with local musician, Stormy Hildreth, for a reboot of the Orcas Youth Chorus! Middle and High School Students are welcome to attend this weekly class on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 in the Black Box to expand their
Shoe Drive provides shoes for 60 island children
||| FROM ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| The Orcas Community Resource Center is grateful to continue its long-time partnership with the Sons of the American Legion through the annual Shoe Drive, which provided shoes for 60 island children this year. This ongoing effort helps ensure local children have comfortable, properly fitting shoes
Weather delays work at Port of Orcas
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| Due to weather conditions, the crew at Port of Orcas is shutting down operations, and we are taking a weather day. This delay will push the runway opening and extend the remaining soil placement and hydroseeding work through Thursday. Our current
Letter to Editor | My enthusiastic endorsement of Jennifer Swanson
||| FROM SHIRLEY SPRENGER LANGE ||| I have been a voter in San Juan County for more than 50 years and am writing to enthusiastically endorse Jennifer Swanson for County Commissioner. Jennifer and I worked together on the Shaw Island school board for several years. During her term as
Japanese music masters Také to Ito perform at Odd Fellows
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS ISLAND ODD FELLOWS ||| The sounds of traditional and contemporary Japanese music come to Orcas Island when Také to Ito, featuring koto master Curtis Patterson and shakuhachi master Bruce Huebner, perform at Odd Fellows Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 8. Také to
Letter to Editor | Candidate’s dreams are spendy
||| FROM BILL WATSON ||| I read Katherine Ingman Bryant’s goals to improve health care services in San Juan County and was struck by one glaring omission: How much will all of this cost—and where will the money come from? San Juan County is facing a serious budget crisis. Health Services have already
