Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
From Pilot to Payoff | SJC’s 32hr work week pilot project brings fiscal savings & workforce gains
The final report on the 32-hour work week found critical financial savings, improvements to recruitment and retention efforts, and promising productivity measures in less sick time used, fewer voluntary employee separations, and lower employee turnover. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Adopted as a cost-savings measure in 2023, San
Local youth lead mock Town Council meeting
||| FROM DENICE KULSETH for TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| The Town of Friday Harbor, in collaboration with Friday Harbor Middle School, hosted an educational event for seventh-grade students to engage with local government through a mock Town Council meeting on November 17, 2025. This is the second year the
WSF/fire departments coordinate during High Wind event today
||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Due to high winds preventing air medical transport, OIFR had two ambulances aboard the WSF Issaquah transporting critical patients to mainland hospitals this evening. The ferry also picked up a third ambulance from Lopez Island with another patient. One
Monthly Land Bank Commission meeting and annual retreat, Friday, December 19
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY CONSERVATION LAND BANK COMMISSION ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold an abbreviated monthly meeting and annual retreat Friday, December 19. The monthly meeting is scheduled for 8:40am – 9am. The annual retreat is scheduled for 9am – 2pm. The meeting will be in person
News Brief | Is the Pacific Northwest ready for an influx of climate refugees?
||| FROM KUOW RADIO ||| Climate migration is difficult to study, and even harder to predict. But some researchers say a historic population shift has already begun. But we may see an even bigger population boom here as climate change makes more places unlivable. READ FULL ARTICLE and to listen
An invitation to our community | Join the conversation on Public Transit
||| FROM COLIN WILLIAMS for FRIENDS OF RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ||| Friends of Rural Public Transportation (FORPT) (https://forpt.org/) continues to advocate for a public transit pilot in the San Juan Islands. As we move forward, we wanted to take a moment to share an overview of our work and invite
Garden Club | Time to think about fire safety
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| With rainy day weather and long nights, fire safety might be the last thing on the minds of the Orcas community. But, with winter’s slower pace, it might be just the right time to plan ways to protect our home and property. In
Get ready for the Polar Bear Plunge on New Years Day
||| FROM TOBY COOPER for POLAR BEAR PLUNGE ||| Orcas Island Rowing Association Presents the Legendary New Year's Day Polar Bear Plunge Thursday, January 1, 2026 – Plunge at 11 am sharp! Come to CASCADE LAKE – MAIN BEACH and PICNIC SHELTER!! Come early. Meet the Rowing Team. FUN AND
San Juan County resident camping reservations open February 24 | Set up your account now
This special benefit for San Juan County residents to enjoy our County parks opens in February. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Parks, Recreation & Fair Department is pleased to announce our Resident Reservation Camping program will open in February, allowing locals the first chance to
Port Commissioners are meeting today at 4pm
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, December 15th at 4:00 p.m. online via Zoom and in-person at the airport terminal conference room. </spa Access and agenda information can be found at portoforcas.com.
Letter to Editor | Support our EWUA operators
||| FROM SARA PELFREY ||| This article (https://kingcountywtd.com/2025/12/12/stranded-but-steady-operator-keeps-carnation-treatment-plant-running-during-atmospheric-river/) was recently published on King County's site, highlighting the importance of our water operators, especially when we have unexpected events like the historic flooding that happened during the recent atmospheric river on the mainland. Our Water/Wastewater Operators are essential utility workers for
Auditor seeks writers of argument against San Juan Island School District No. 149
The San Juan Island School District No. 149 approved a measure that would authorize the District to levy the following excess taxes, in place of an expiring levy, on all taxable property within the District. The measure needs an argument against it. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San
Create comfort with fidget quilts at Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join Brenda Bacon at Orcas Senior Center for a creative Fidget Quilt workshop on Wednesday, December 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. This hands-on session is designed to guide participants in crafting small, tactile quilts that offer comfort and engagement for
Port Commissioners will meet on Monday
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, December 15th at 4:00 p.m. online via Zoom and in-person at the airport terminal conference room. Access and agenda information can be found at portoforcas.com.
PeaceHealth Peace Island’s new CT scanner expands imaging capabilities
||| FROM ANNA WILLIAMS for PEACE ISLAND MEDICAL CENTER || After months of work and anticipation, PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center last month served its first patient on a new, state-of-the-art CT scanner. The new machine, a Siemens Somatom X.cite CT scanner, marks a big leap forward for Peace Island's
Larsen | Washington delegation demands answers on BP pipeline leak
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Kim Schrier, MD (WA-08), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Emily Randall (WA-06), Adam Smith (WA-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) called on BP to answer questions surrounding the November leak
