Here’s a thought…
“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”
MARK TWAIN
Letter to Editor | Why we’re voting for Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council District 3
||| FROM LOVEL AND BOYD PRATT ||| We proudly endorse Katherine Bryant Ingman for San Juan County Council District 3 this November. Katherine has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to our island communities through her work in healthcare, food security, ferry advocacy, and countless volunteer efforts. For example, as president of
The Exchange Update | September 2026
||| FROM THE EXCHANGE ORCAS RECYCLING SERVICES ||| Secure Your Load for Safer Roads As we head into the Fall Great Islands Cleanup, we’d like to remind everyone to properly secure trash in or on your vehicles, prior to transporting. Washington state law RCW 46.61.655 requires every vehicle driven or
Great Islands Cleanup and Hazardous Waste events
||| FROM HEATHER WALLACE for EXCHANGE ORCAS ||| Meet at the Eastsound Village Green at 10am for the 2026 Fall Great Islands Cleanup on Saturday, September 26th. (Additional opportunities starting September 19th (visit www.exchangeorcas.org/next-gicu for more info). Bags, vests and grabbers can be picked up starting Monday, September 21st at The
Ongoing San Juan County search for next local health officer
The County is requesting statements of qualifications from licensed physicians experienced in public health/local Health Officer duties ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Last month, San Juan County opened a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for qualified candidates interested in serving as the County’s next Local Health Officer. This Request
Play for pride, pleasure, prizes at upcoming Library event
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Calling all book lovers, trivia buffs, and literary know-it-alls! Put all those hours spent with your nose in a book to good use at Literary Trivia, Thursday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Orcas Island Public Library. Gather a team
Meeting tonight | EWUA’s recurring governance problem
EWUA’s Board meets tonight, September 15, 2026, at 5 p.m. at the Orcas Fire Hall ||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| EWUA’s Board meets tonight, September 15, 2026, at 5 p.m. at the Orcas Fire Hall. As of this morning, EWUA has not emailed or posted an agenda or formal notice
Larsen applauds $4.2 Million for local salmon passage restoration
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF. U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) is awarding $4.2 million to the Skagit River System Cooperative (Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community) for restoring fish passage to
‘Coffee with Kari’ offers islanders on San Juan time with Councilmember Kari McVeigh
The fourth ‘Coffee with Kari’ of the year will take place on San Juan on September 19 from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Skagit Valley College San Juan Center in Friday Harbor ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| District 1 Council representative Kari McVeigh is hosting another ‘Coffee with Kari’
Paws, pedals, and people this weekend at Orcas airport
||| FROM CHIP LONG for ORCAS ISLAND AIRPORT ||| Orcas Island airport has been part of our community since the 1940s. Most of us have stood at the fence, watched from Mt Baker Road, or picked someone up at our small terminal more times than we can remember. But almost
Land Bank to hold monthly meeting
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY CONSERVATION LAND BANK COMMISSION ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting Friday, September 18. The meeting is scheduled from 8:30am – 11:10am via Zoom. The meeting will also be available for in person public attendance at the Orcas Island Fire Hall, 45
Larsen statement on joint U.S.-Canada oil spill response exercise
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement: “On September 1, my staff observed a joint exercise between the U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard designed to simulate response
District Court and Prosecuting Attorney to relocate during courthouse renovations
Both offices are temporarily relocating from the historic courthouse to 545 Park Street to allow for structural renovations being funded through a matching grant from the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| District Court and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office are moving out
OIHCD thanks Island Health CEO as leadership transition is announced
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| On September 10th, Island Health notified the Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD) and announced to the larger community that their current Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Elise Cutter, would be stepping down in the coming months. OIHCD Superintendent Chord and the Board of
Orcas Christian School students take learning outdoors at annual campout and lake day
||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| Orcas Christian School students take learning outdoors at annual campout and lake day Orcas Christian School (OCS) high school students took their annual campout to Moran State Park this week, spending two nights outdoors while participating in activities designed to build community, encourage learning
Expert speakers highlight sustainable gardening at October workshop series
The San Juan County WSU Master Gardeners' online Garden Workshop series includes four live lunchtime Zoom presentations this October ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| As climate conditions continue to challenge gardeners across the Pacific Northwest, the 2026 San Juan County WSU Master Gardeners' Garden Workshop Series offers practical
I’m Not the Church Lady | Don’t start with me, Arne
||| I'M NOT THE CHURCH LADY by ROSIE KUHN ||| What happens when all our efforts to change what is have been exhausted—and presence is the only thing left? Even presence turns out not to look the way we imagine it will. Because sometimes presence is a paper bag, a
