Here’s a thought…
“‘We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and a conviction depends on evidence and due process of law, and we will not walk in fear of one another. We won’t be driven by fear into an age of unreason.”
EDWARD R. MURROW
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.
Stewardship Guide helps visitors and locals protect what we love
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan Islands Stewardship Guide is a simple, visually engaging booklet created to help both visitors and residents protect our environment and way of life. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a lifetime, the Guide offers easy, effective tips for being
Local pilot to compete in annual all-women cross-country airplane race
Elizabeth Menozzi flying for 1st time in Air Race Classic, oldest air race of its kind ||| FROM ELISABETH MENOZZI ||| Elizabeth Menozzi Elizabeth Menozzi, a well-known local author, will take to the skies from June 17 to 20, 2025, in the 48th Air Race Classic (ARC), the
County Elections Disability Advisory Committee Annual Meeting June 10 at 9:00AM
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Are you seeking a meaningful way to contribute to our community? San Juan County Elections is seeking individuals with disabilities and service providers to persons with disabilities to serve on the Disability Advisory Committee. Washington State Law requires every county to have a
County extends permit burning season through June 15
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Due to favorable weather conditions and current fire risk assessments, the San Juan County Fire Marshal in conjunction with all Fire Districts have extended the residential burn permit season through Sunday, June 15, 2025. All current burn permits remain valid through that date,
Larsen votes NO on the Republican rip-off budget
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen released the following statement after voting against the Republican budget. The budget passed by a final vote of 215 to 214 with every House Democrat and two House Republicans voting no. “The Republican Rip-Off takes
Jurors for May 27-30 are excused
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: MAY 27-30, 2025 All jurors summonsed for jury duty beginning Tuesday, May 27th through Friday May 30th, are excused.
Gov. Ferguson signs 50 bills into state law on Saturday
||| FROM KING-TV SEATTLE ||| OLYMPIA, Wash. — Fifty bills were signed into Washington state law on Saturday by Gov. Bob Ferguson. This is in addition to the dozens he signed into law earlier this week. Here's what you should know about the bills that became law in Washington state
Guest Opinion | Regarding OPALCO solar project proposed for Decatur Island
||| FROM BRIAN L. GRANT, M.D. I am a longstanding homeowner on Decatur Island. I and a great many others strongly oppose the project proposed for the heart of Decatur, to create a solar farm of significant scale. Given our small population, it is worth noting that a petition against
New WA law will help ferry system, but there’s still work to do
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| As we approach the busiest season for Washington State Ferries, there is hope on the horizon that workforce shortages driving years of reduced and unreliable ferry service will be addressed. Gov. Bob Ferguson named fixing our ferry system a top priority during his campaign.
The San Juan County Fair is just around the corner | Register your exhibits online
Online exhibit registration opens Saturday, June 1st, and SJC Parks & Fair staff will be coming back to Orcas, Lopez & Shaw to pick up your non-perishable entries on August 9th! ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| After steady growth in the number of entries received, the San Juan
Island Air Ambulance reaccredited by CAMTS
||| FROM RICK FRASER for ISLAND AIR AMBULANCE ||| The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) is proud to announce that Island Air Ambulance, a fixed wing emergency medical transport service based in Friday Harbor, was once again awarded full accreditation at the critical care level this past
Maori program coming to Village Green on Thursday
||| FROM GERI AND DAVID TURNOY ||| All are invited to come to the Village Green in Eastsound this Thursday, May 22, from 12 noon until 4 pm, for a very special program featuring Whaia, "Fire," a Maori woman from Australia!! /Fire is traveling with the Native American canoe journey,
The Northwest’s electric grid deserves an upgrade
Up to 40 percent of the region’s grid could be suitable for reconductoring—for less than half the time and cost of building new transmission lines. ||| FROM SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE ||| The lights could soon dim on the Northwest’s climate goals unless the electric grid gets some serious TLC. The region,
Close To Home author at Darvill’s tomorrow evening
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY ||| Though rarely featured in nature documentaries or wildlife magazines, the average backyard or neighborhood park can yield new discoveries. In CLOSE TO HOME: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door, award-winning author and conservation biologist Thor Hanson helps us retrain our eyes to uncover
The joyful and kind gardener
||| FROM LAURA WALKER for ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| It’s that time of year when it’s easy to get carried away when surrounded by the beauty and variety of plants at a nursery. Guilty. I find it hard to resist the beautiful colors and textures. Just recently, I bought
