Here’s a thought…
“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”
READER BOARD
2025 Comp Plan Update | Land use element available for review
Public comments specific to this element can be submitted by January 16 for review at the Planning Commission meeting on January 17 ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) as part of its 2025 Growth Management
Early bird registration now open for 2025 San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit
||| FROM REBECCA MOORE for WSU EXTENSION ||| Early Bird Registration is now open for the 13th Annual San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit, taking place on February 28 and March 1, 2025, on beautiful Lopez Island. Visit our website to register now: https://extension.wsu.edu/sanjuan/ag-summit/2025-san-juan-islands-agricultural-summit/ Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow
Fall Prevention Tai Ji Quan
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join Karol Wilson, DPT, for a three month fall prevention Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance® class at Orcas Senior Center. Karol, a Doctor of Physical Therapy with 30 years of experience, is excited to introduce this evidence-based program, developed
Back In Session: Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers of school bus safety
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| With school districts around San Juan County resuming classes in early January, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is reminding drivers of school bus safety laws and best practices. “It is never ok to pass a school bus with the stop-arm out,”
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.
2025 Art Exhibit Schedule at Orcas Center
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| The Visual Arts Committee is pleased to announce the 2025 exhibits at Orcas Center! Full descriptions of shows and themes are available at www.OrcasCenter.org. We are thrilled to welcome featured artists Peter Olesen, Peter Fisher, Zoe Osenbach, David Densmore, Alexis Bouchard, and
Prescription drugs just got cheaper for seniors
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. SENATOR PATTY MURRAY ||| Big news for seniors and families in Washington state and across the country: prescription drug costs are now capped at $2,000 a year for everyone on Medicare Part D, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Democrats passed to lower costs for families.
Tahlequah mourns loss of another calf as Center for Whale Research confirms death of J61
||| FROM KOMO NEWS ||| SEATTLE (KOMO) — The Center for Whale Research said they've received information that as of Wednesday, J35, also commonly referred to as Tahlequah, has been seen carrying the body of the recently deceased calf, J61, with her. The CWR said this behavior was seen previously in 2018
Happy New Year from Friday Harbor Film Festival
||| FROM FRIDAY HARBOR FILM FESTIVAL ||| Dear FHFF Friends, Filmmakers & Film Enthusiasts, Happy New Year from all of us at the Friday Harbor Film Festival! We hope the beginning of 2025 finds you well, inspired, and ready for another remarkable year of documentary film. Thank you for being
Garden Club to present ‘Where Have All the Insects Gone?’
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Please join the Orcas Island Garden Club on Wednesday, January 15th when we welcome Linda Gilkeson to speak about how global insect populations have crashed over the last coupled of decades and why this matters for our food supply, a healthy environment, and
Explore Evening Vinyasa Yoga
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Discover the enriching benefits of Vinyasa yoga with Karol Wilson, DPT, a seasoned physical therapist with 30 years of experience. Held Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the Orcas Senior Center, these sessions focus on restoring and enhancing strength, function, flexibility, and
County awards $1.9M in lodging tax grant funds to local organizations
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| To kick off the new year, San Juan County is pleased to announce funding from the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) to local organizations, non-profits, County departments, and exciting new events. This year, core funding was awarded to 11 entities and additional funds
Needlework Circle at Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join our weekly gathering for knitters, crocheters, embroiderers, and all needleworkers at Orcas Senior Center, every Friday at 2 p.m. Come hang out—no project required! Whether you haven’t knitted in years, want to learn to crochet, or just want to relax
Guest Opinion | A modest proposal
||| BY ROBERT AUSTIN ||| I have a modest proposal for 2025: let’s ban all political parties. Wait a moment, hear me out… candidates will discuss only their proposed policies and will detail which group of Americans they are intended to help or hinder, how much it will cost and
Researchers believe mother orca known for grieving 2018 newborn’s death has lost another calf
||| FROM PEOPLE.COM ||| Tahlequah, the killer whale who carried her dead calf and swam with him for 17 days in 2018, has likely suffered another loss. Per The Seattle Times, researchers believe the mother orca's newborn calf, who the Center for Whale Research discovered the calf on Friday, Dec. 20, and given
Joy of Middle Eastern Dance
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join Middle Eastern dance classes with Robyn W. Gordon on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. at Orcas Senior Center beginning January 8. Open to all ages and skill levels, these lessons are designed to suit individual paces, with foundational moves practiced continuously
