Here’s a thought…
“And, frankly, I would like to make the U.S.-Canada relationship boring again.”
RICK LARSEN
News Brief | WA island’s only resident supports transfer from feds to tribe
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| PROTECTION ISLAND, Jefferson County — Tens of thousands of birds touch down here. Protection Island is a national wildlife refuge because its bluffs provide some of the Salish Sea’s last undeveloped habitat for burrow-nesting seabirds. There is a debate about the birds that nest
Larsen urges Supreme Court to protect LGBTQ+ students from discrimination
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined more than 180 House and Senate Democrats in filing an amicus brief at the Supreme Court in the case of St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy. In this case, religious preschools are seeking an exemption from the
League of Women Voters | County Council regular meeting, August 25, 2026
||| FROM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| Council discussed an op/ed letter to the community about the risks of increased oil tanker traffic and how to coordinate statements with other concerned entities. Auditor Natasha Warmenhoven and Budget Analyst Dr. Molly Foote discussed the background of ongoing budgetary challenges and the
I’m Not the Church Lady | Once I master this relationship, I’ll finally be done
||| I'M NOT THE CHURCH LADY by ROSIE KUHN ||| The way to Love is not by trying to become more loving or lovable. It is by noticing all the ways I leave myself in the name of love—and learn to return back to me over and over again. Welcome
Health Care District to hold special board meeting on Monday
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island Health Care District will hold a Special Board Meeting on Monday, August 31st, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Orcas Island Library, 500 Rose Street, Eastsound. The meeting date was changed to accommodate the Town Hall
Bill Gates | The turbulent AI era is here. The choices we make now are critical
AI will either be the greatest equalizer ever invented, or the worst source of injustice ||| FROM BILL GATES ||| The transition to the AI era will be one of the most turbulent times in human history. Right now, we are not preparing adequately for that transition. If the world
Council letter to community | Increased oil tanker traffic in Salish Sea
Council's letter expresses concern for heightened risk of oil spills in the region; requests government partners to take all possible action to address risk ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| From Lime Kiln Park on the west side of San Juan Island, you can often spot the tall black
Update and construction schedule for Port of Orcas runway rehabilitation
Better, not bigger: Port asphalt production ||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| In June we shared an overview of our "Better, Not Bigger" runway rehabilitation project — a partnership between the FAA, WSDOT, and the Port to resurface and reseal the runway, taxiways, and apron, preserving the
Auditor’s Office presents 2027 Preliminary Budget to Council
Council Sets October 5 Public Hearing ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| At its meeting on Tuesday, Council received the 2027 first draft of the preliminary budget prepared by the Auditor’s Office. This important step follows a summer during which the County has worked diligently to reduce a projected
Strike up your band skills with Orcas Community Band
||| FROM KAREN KEY SPECK for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY BAND ||| Albert Schweitzer said, “There are two means of refuge from life: music and cats.” The Orcas Animal Protection Society can assist you with the cats and the Orcas Island Community Band can help with the music aspect. If you
Council letter to community | Increased oil tanker traffic in the Salish Sea
Council's letter expresses concern for heightened risk of oil spills in the region; requests government partners to take all possible action to address risk ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| August 25, 2026 From Lime Kiln Park on the west side of San Juan Island, you can often spot
WSF Weekly Report | Charging new ferries; new ticketing/reservation system
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve A question we get a lot is: When are you actually going to be able to charge the ferries? The easiest way to think about our new ferries is that they will work a lot like a
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.
Grannie’s Holiday Sale and more at Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Mark your calendars—Grannie’s Holiday Sale is back at Orcas Senior Center on Saturday, November 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.! Browse a wide array of festive décor, holiday treasures, and unique creations from local artisans. It’s the perfect place to
Orcas Center is now overseeing local dance programming
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Dance Collective is proud to launch its 6th season of programming under Orcas Center’s Arts Education Program. Many aspects of the program are familiar from ODC’s previous seasons with Parks and Recreation, and a few have been updated. ODC is
Free farm and ranch succession workshop offered Oct. 29 in Friday Harbor
||| FROM REBECCA MOORE for SAN JUAN COUNTY EXTENSION ||| Farmers, ranchers and agricultural landowners thinking about the future of their land or business are invited to Planning for the Future of Your Farm and Ranch: Land and Business Transfer Workshop, a free workshop on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 9
