Here’s a thought…
“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”
MARK TWAIN
New analysis reveals major increase in vessel traffic through the Salish Sea
||| FROM LOVEL PRATT for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| A new analysis by Friends of the San Juans shows that ocean-going vessel traffic in the Salish Sea is projected to increase by nearly 2,000 additional shipping transits annually, including a dramatic increase in tanker traffic going to and
Port of Orcas to meet on Sept. 28
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, September 28th 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.
No jurors required for Sept. 28 – Oct. 2
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: SEPTEMBER 28 - OCTOBER 2, 2026 All jurors summonsed for Jury Duty beginning September 28th, 2026 are excused. Thank you. View it on website
Upcoming candidate forums in October
||| FROM JILL BELCOVSON for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS |||
Letter to Editor | Katherine Bryant Ingman is County Council leadership for our future
||| FROM SUE ROUNDY ||| Katherine Bryant Ingman represents the future leaders that I want to see locally and nationally. Energetic young people dreaming of a better future who are ready to listen and eager to work. I met Katherine years ago when she led the wonderfully successful gleaning program
AI developments necessitate moratorium on data centers
||| BY MICHAEL RIORDAN, SPECIAL TO THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| Almost every day the warnings are becoming more ominous. The looming threats posed by artificial general intelligence — an advanced version of AI also known as superintelligence, which exceeds any human capabilities — are potentially catastrophic. Knowledgeable insiders and practitioners
County Council completes series of September budget meetings; October 5th public hearing to follow
San Juan County Council recently completed a series of budget conversations in September 2026, following the August 25th release of the 2027 preliminary budget ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| At its meeting on Tuesday, Council wrapped up its last budget related discussion scheduled for the month of September
San Juan Islands Museum of Art presents Alison Stigora: Constellation
||| FROM WILLIAM MORROW for SAN JUAN ISLANDS MUSEUM OF ART ||| The San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) is proud to present Alison Stigora: Constellation, an immersive, site-specific installation created for the museum’s dramatic glass atrium. Commissioned by SJIMA, the exhibition brings together more than one hundred suspended
Island Voices | Come hear what your neighbors have to say
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Ten island writers. Ten unique voices. One night of stories, poems, essays, and the unexpected. Join the Orcas Island Public Library for Island Voices on Friday, September 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Emmanuel Parish Hall, an evening celebrating the writers and
Getting to know Katherine | What makes San Juan County home?
||| FROM KATHERINE BRIANT INGMAN for SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCIL ||| We moved to Lopez in 2014 after Joe landed a job at Spencer Spit State Park. I must admit, I was hesitant at first. I wasn’t sure how life on Lopez would mix with my plans to go to
No jurors needed for Sept. 28 – Nov. 2
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: SEPTEMBER 28 - NOVEMBER 2, 2026 All jurors summonsed for Jury Duty beginning September 28th, 2026 are excused. Thank you. View it on website
October highlights from Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Orcas Senior Center offers a variety of ongoing classes, social groups, wellness activities, and creative programs throughout the month. All programs are open to everyone, regardless of age, and new participants are always welcome. A full calendar with dates and times
Rick Larsen | Before you return your ballot, read this
Encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same ||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| Washington has one of the strongest vote-by-mail systems in the country. But recent changes to U.S. Postal Service transportation operations mean some mail may not receive a postmark on the same
Orcas Island Food Bank announces new interim Executive Director
||| FROM CALI BAGBY for ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK ||| As the Orcas Island Food Bank continues to work to serve our clients and the community in the best way possible, the Food Bank Board has engaged Michele Bart of Purposeful Consulting Group, LLC as interim executive director while our
Health Care Board to meet Sept. 23
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island Health Care District will hold a regularly scheduled board meeting on Wednesday, September 23rd from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Orcas Island Library, 500 Rose Street, Eastsound. The public packet is available below. 01. 2026_09_23 Agenda_Regular_Board.pdf 02. 2026_09_08
Test your earthquake preparedness on October 15
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for SAN JUAN COUNTY DEPT. OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| While earthquakes in the islands are rare, San Juan County is smack in the middle of some of the highest risk quake country anywhere. Being prepared for the eventual catastrophic earthquake is a basic responsibility of every
