Here’s a thought…
“No one, I mean no one, has the right to sit in judgment of who’s American enough.”
MICHELLE OBAMA
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.
I simply could NOT share this
Oh, those were the days, eh? Doesn't mean we can't do it again. ||| From LIN MCNULTY, Editor ||| Also, almost as good.
News Brief | Why mailing a paper check has become so risky
||| FROM THE WASHINGTON POST ||| According to a joint warning from the FBI and the U.S. Postal Service, check fraud is skyrocketing. Federal data shows that reports of check fraud nearly doubled from 350,000 in 2021 to 680,000 in 2022. This isn’t limited to personal checkbooks. Fraudsters are going
A new calf joins L Pod
||| FROM CENTER FOR ORCA RESEARCH ||| Our scientists observed the calf, designated L130 on June 14th and 15th as members of J and L pods traveled through the Salish Sea. Based on the calf's size, behavior, and physical characteristics, we estimate it to be between 1 and 3 months
LEADing into Summer
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| Orcas Island is abuzz with activity as the summer season picks up, and it’s a jam-packed month at the Foundation as well, reflected in the news we share today. Last week, I had the honor of helping the Orcas Island
First detections of highly invasive European green crab discovered on Orcas Island
Students from Orcas Island Middle School discover green crab molt while on a field trip ||| FROM WASHINGTON SEA GRANT CRAB TEAM ||| Evidence of invasive European green crab was detected for the first time on Orcas Island in May, when a Washington Sea Grant (WSG) Crab Team volunteer monitor
Get Ready | First outdoor summer concert is June 28
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center’s annual Summer Concert Series is back in the Village Green. All performances are free to the community. Kicking off the season is James Charles Howard, Jr., with local group Minnow Creek opening on Sunday, June 28, starting at 5
Join Orcas Hotel for live music every Sunday
||| FROM MICHAEL ANTONIA for ORCAS HOTEL ||| Every Sunday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Orcas Hotel is hosting live music with Ira Echo & Friends. This is something we started with our friends Caleb & Reeb who put on the Orcas Fest music festival. The idea is a
No jurors required for June 22-26
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: JUNE 22-26, 2026 All jurors summonsed for the Jury Period beginning Monday June 22nd through Friday June 26, 2026 are excused. Thank you.
The Exchange update
|||FROM THE EXCHANGE ||| Styrofoam Recycling Matures on Orcas The Exchange is taking the next step in Styrofoam recycling on Orcas Island. After three months of collecting Styrofoam at the Z-Wall, staff toured a commercial recycling operation in Kent and are exploring the purchase of a “densifier” to transform waste
Guest Opinion | About that dirt on Shaw
||| FROM ALEX MACLEOD ||| One way to view voters’ overwhelming rejection of the recent property-tax levy lid lift sought by the County Council is a lack of confidence in the council’s ability to wisely manage our tax dollars. The council, as we know, is trying to find ways to
Request for written public comment for Orcas Island Health Care District meeting
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island Health Care District will be holding our regularly scheduled Board Meeting on Wednesday June 24th from 5-7 PM at the Orcas Island Public Library. The Health Care District expects that individuals will be in attendance to share public comment
WSF engineers ask governor, lawmakers to address wage gap driving canceled and delayed sailings
Uncompetitive wages and reliance on overtime driving burnout, poor morale ||| FROM MARINE ENGINEERS BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION ||| Seattle, WA – At a press conference today at Colman Dock, Washington State Ferry engineers said a growing wage gap is driving burnout, poor morale, and hobbling the system’s ability to retain and
Antidote Dance Party | Celebrate the sun in Orcas Center black box
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| After Orcas Center's live comedy show at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 26, head over to the Black Box for Orcas Center’s next Antidote dance party, a celebration of the sun featuring live DJ sets from Clove4, Trybe, Schade Soundsystem, K!CEAG3,
News Brief | Salmon extinction on the Middle Fork Salmon River in the heart of Idaho
The genius in salmon to persist and thrive through change means this heart attack is still treatable ||| FROM IDAHO CAPITAL SUN ||| The Middle Fork Salmon River is the largest wild watershed in the Northwest. And thus a magnet for we who live near – and for visitors from
Maximize your future | Essential estate planning workshop
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join us Wednesday, July 8 at 1 p.m. for a valuable estate planning session led by local attorney Barbara Nesbet, JD, MBA. This presentation will cover the essentials of estate planning, including Wills and Powers of Attorney. Discover how you can
