Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
WSF Weekly Report | ADA anniversary; contract for new ferry propulsion; sailing stats
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve Tomorrow, July 26, is the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a watershed piece of legislation that instituted the protection of civil rights of people with disabilities across our nation. The ADA was intended to make public
Is B.C.’s precarious resident orca population swimming a path to extinction?
||| FROM PEACE ARCH NEWS ||| The southern resident killer whale known as Tahlequah captured global sympathy in 2018 when she pushed the body of her dead calf for more than two weeks in waters off British Columbia’s south coast. Some scientists and advocates called the scene a display of
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.
Understanding the Washington Cares Fund and Initiative 2124
||| FROM SARA PELFREY ||| The Washington Cares Fund, previously known as the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Act, is a pioneering effort in public long-term care insurance designed to support Washington state workers with the costs of long-term care services. This innovative program, funded by a 0.58% payroll deduction,
County seeks pro & con committee members for Land Bank statements in Voter’s Guide
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is seeking volunteers to write supporting and opposing statements regarding the proposed renewal of Land Bank funding. These statements are due by August 13 and will be placed in the Voter’s Guide for the upcoming November 2024 General Election. The
Free Concert and Street Taco Pop up
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND WINERY ||| THIS FRIDAY July 26: Free Live Music at Orcas Island Winery with PNW Favorite Nathaniel Talbot and Street Taco Pop Up with The West Side Kitchen. Doors at 5 PM , 2371 Crow Valley Road It's a busy life for songwriter and farmer Nathaniel
Guest Opinion | Tourism and us, Part II
||| FROM MICHAEL 'MJ' JOHNSON ||| While the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau continues to weaponize their mailing list by having just sent out their third round of action alerts to the County Council (see below), urging their membership to sign and send in their robo-letters of support, I've been reading
The 4 Lower Snake River Dams need to be removed
The Future of Southern Resident Orcas depends on it ||| FROM REMOVE THE DAMS.ORG ||| The Southern Resident Orcas are nearing extinction. While there are a total of 73 Orcas in L, J and K pods, there is currently only a few males of reproductive age among them, and nearly
Life returns to Ukrainian reservoir drained by Russian strike on dam
A year later, animals, birds and saplings are populating a new landscape of ponds and lagoons ||| FROM THE GUARDIAN ||| Standing in a scene of shimmering green, Vadym Maniuk pointed to a young white willow tree. “What happened here is a miracle,” he said. “Some of the saplings are
Can B.C.’s southern resident orcas be taken off the path to extinction?
||| FROM ST. ALBERT GAZETTE ||| The southern resident killer whale known as Tahlequah captured global sympathy in 2018 when she pushed the body of her dead calf for more than two weeks in waters off British Columbia's south coast. Some scientists and advocates called the scene a display of
Washington secures $28M for salmon habitat restoration projects
||| FROM FOX13 SEATTLE ||| U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) announced on Monday more than $28 million in funding for three projects in Washington state aimed at restoring habitats for threatened salmon species. The grants, awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Program, were
To stay or not to stay
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Relocation Most retired islanders came here to stay and contribute. Many do not have family or children nearby or available to help. Selling everything and moving to a nursing home on the mainland or starting over in a new community—frail and
Ferry system making a splash in upcoming WA governor election
||| FROM FOX13 SEATTLE ||| The state’s ferry system is emerging as a significant topic in this year’s gubernatorial race, with both candidates and voters expressing concerns about crew shortages, unreliable service, and outdated vessels. Efforts to address the ferry system’s problems are already underway, though progress will be slow
Guest Opinion | Tourism and us
||| FROM MICHAEL 'MJ' JOHNSON ||| Over the decades the overwhelming concern and the refrain from the people that live here regarding the numbers of tourists that visit our shores (including the number of, size of, and the duration of annual events), the amount of money being spent on tourism
August Bird Walk
||| FROM KRISTEN ARNIM for SJI SCULPTURE PARK ||| Join us at the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park on Wednesday, August 7 from 8-10am for our monthly bird walk with avid birder, Tyler Davis, leading the walk. His expertise will enhance your experience and knowledge of our local birds. Bring
PeaceHealth Family Medicine offering back-to-school sports physicals
||| FROM ANNE WILLIAMS for PEACEHEALTH PEACE ISLAND FAMILY PRACTICE CLINIC ||| The PeaceHealth Peace Island Family Practice clinic will be holding two all-day back-to-school sports physical clinics for both current and non-established patients ahead of the start of the fall athletics season: Wednesday, July 31, 8:30 a.m. to 4
