Here’s a thought…
“No one, I mean no one, has the right to sit in judgment of who’s American enough.”
MICHELLE OBAMA
Guest Opinion | The issues surrounding our National Parks
||| FROM JOSLIN BROETJS BAIRSTOW ||| As a resident of Orcas Island, I have the privilege of being surrounded by natural landscapes and beautiful parks. Theodore Roosevelt, commonly known as the conservation president, believed that our forests, mountains, prairies, and deserts are sacred spaces that should be protected for future
May library art exhibit
||| FROM ANDREA COHEN for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The photographs of Lewis Francis are on exhibit at the Orcas Island Library for the month of May. Originally from Gibraltar, Lewis moved to California in the 1990’s and moved to Orcas a few years ago. His show of black-and-white landscape photographs,
Traffic accident claims lives of Orcas islanders
||| FROM SOURCE ONE ||| CHELAN - A three-vehicle crash on U.S. 97 in Chelan County left three people dead and two others injured late Friday night, according to a Washington State Patrol press memo. The collision occurred around 9:11 p.m. on May 1 near milepost 233 along the highway,
Farm Transfer 101 webinar supports future of farming in the San Juans
||| FROM REBECCA MOORE for WSU SAN JUAN COUNTY EXTENSION ||| The San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild and WSU San Juan County Extension invite farmers, landowners, and community members to attend Farm Transfer 101: Planning for the Future of Your Farm in the San Juan Islands, a 1.5-hour introductory webinar
Alex Ramel | 40th District legislative update
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. ALEX RAMEL ||| The last time we connected, the legislative session had almost concluded, but additional work remained as we passed the final state supplemental budgets, and the Governor signed legislation into law. My colleagues – Senator Lovelett and Representative Lekanoff, and I have
Artworks features Alexis Terry Bouchard for May
||| FROM B.J. ARNOLD for ORCAS ISLAND ARTWORKS ||| The Orcas Island Artworks presents these new paintings by artist Alexis Terry Bouchard as the featured artist for the month of May. She paints and makes art to connect to and show her appreciation and curiosity of the natural world. She
Earth Day Honors | Local hero appreciation
||| FROM MARCY MONTGOMERY for SAN JUAN MAKERS GUILD ||| Earth Day Orcas is a unique and inclusive embrace of nature, arts, music, science and dance that celebrates a shared commitment to protecting the Salish Sea’s environmental wonders, and the Earth at large. We invite you to join in honoring
Midnight Mutterings | Kilkenny
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| One of our favorite Orcasites sent a message from Kilkenny, Ireland, where she was passing through on an extensive trip. Her note made me think of a Kilkenny story of my own from decades ago. I did visit Kilkenny, Ireland, long after the
Sheriff’s Report | April 22 – 28, 2026
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 26-002223 Lost Property 08:13:13 04/22/26 A Deputy on Orcas Island assisted a citizen in reporting a lost wallet in the Eastsound area. The citizen was provided with information and the incident was documented. 26-002227 Accident-NonInj 09:17:10 04/22/26 A Deputy
Orca whales captured on camera in Deception Pass breathtaking encounter
||| FROM YOU TUBE |||
Letter to Editor | Eastsound Water’s “The Source” raises more questions than it answers
||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| Eastsound Water recently introduced a new member newsletter, The Source, presented as a step toward improved transparency and communication. Clear communication is welcome—but it is not the same as accountability. In recent months, members and employees have raised concerns about governance, financial oversight, staffing stability,
Happy May Day from the Land Bank
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| Director's Note Lincoln Bormann Happy May Day! One of the best things about living in the islands is the opportunity to watch spring unfold in all its splendor. This season hasn’t disappointed with spectacular wildflower displays throughout natural areas, and the successive
OCS students explore aviation history, Boeing production on Everett field trip
||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| On April 28, the Orcas Christian School (OCS) freshman class traveled to Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour for an educational field trip focused on aviation history, aircraft manufacturing and hands-on learning. Chaperones Kami Griffin and Mike Parnell accompanied the group during
Rep. Debra Lekanoff | A season of reflection, gratitude, and continued work together
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF ||| As we move into this next season, I find myself reflecting deeply on the 2026 legislative session: what we were called to protect, what we were able to advance, and the work that continues ahead of us. This session asked a
Project Updates | Community input redesigns proposed Odlin County Park project
Two community meetings and a small working group provided new ideas to adjust the design of the maintenance facility and public contact station to better address community concerns ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Parks, Recreation, & Fair Department is seeking to construct a new
WSF Weekly Update | Boating season opens; public service recognition; national bike week
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve At Washington State Ferries, community engagement is at the center of every decision we make. As a public system, we serve the people of our state and the many visitors who come to enjoy our beautiful region.
