Here’s a thought…
“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”
READER BOARD
SJC Monthly News Digest – January 2026
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Council Reviews Major Initiatives and Priorities for 2026 at Two-Day Retreat This January, the San Juan County Council completed a two-day retreat where they reviewed significant projects from 2025 and began setting priorities for 2026. Main topics included ongoing budget discussions, lobbying efforts
Shut it down! Friday, January 30
No work, no school, and no shopping ||| FROM WOMENS COALITION ||| This Friday, January 30, activists and communities across the United States are calling for a National Shutdown — a day of no work, no school, and no shopping — to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations
Community celebrates Pea Patch ground turning
Rep. Debra Lekanoff shares her support and belief in the project ||| FROM SUZANNE OLSON for PEA PATCH COMMUNITY CAMPUS ||| The sun was bright and the Orcas Island community came out in droves to help celebrate the Pea Patch Community Campus as the project prepares for site work to
Larsen supports impeaching Secretary Kristi Noem
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| EVERETT, WA – Today, Representative Rick Larsen released the following statement: “On Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem’s watch, federal agents killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Led by Secretary Noem, President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda has brutalized families and children here in Northwest Washington and across
Letter to Editor | OPALCO bill too high? Here’s why…
||| FROM RIKKI SWIN ||| As a concerned OPALCO member, I am writing to highlight factors contributing to our high electricity rates and to encourage open discussion. These issues affect all members, and constructive dialogue can help ensure the cooperative serves us economically. 1. We pay DOUBLE what our neighbors pay! 2.
Orcas Community Resource Center closes on building purchase, strengthening our future on Orcas
||| SUBMITTED BY ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| After eight years of calling 374 North Beach Road home, we are thrilled to share that on January 29, 2026, the Orcas Community Resource Center closed on the purchase of our building, securing a permanent home for the work we do alongside
San Juan County Sheriff’s Office statement | Two bills affecting voters and sheriffs
San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter releases a statement about two current bills being reviewed by the Washington State legislature. ||| FROM ERIC PETER, SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF ||| San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter released the following statement about two current bills being reviewed by the Washington State legislature:
Upcoming jury terms are excused
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: FEBRUARY 2-13, 2026 All jurors summonsed for the jury term beginning Monday, February 2nd through Friday, February 13th, 2026 are excused. If you were summonsed for Monday February 2nd through Friday February 6th you are also excused. Thank you!
It’s time for ticks | A message from Kwiaht
||| FROM RUSSEL BARSH for KWIAHT ||| Tick season is here! In the San Juan Islands, ticks go “questing” for new hosts from January through June, usually peaking in March and April. While ticks are still relatively uncommon here, compared to the East Coast, hundreds of island residents and visitors
Take it easy | Eagles tribute band to play at Orcas Center
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| While the Eagles may have the record for the #1 and #3 selling albums of all-time, hundreds of millions of people have never seen them play live. A big reason for that is that they quit touring for almost 14 years.
Guest Opinion | Get dark money out of politics (Part 1)
||| FROM INDIVISIBLE SAN JUAN ISLANDS ||| “92% of the time the candidate that raises the most money wins in the general election. (Source: Grossman. Niskanen Center. 10/29/2025) With the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010, the flood gates opened to unlimited corporate and dark money. A donor can give millions
Honoring four decades of spill response in San Juan County
||| FROM BILL SYMES and ELAINA THOMPSON ||| One day in 1985, oil and oiled birds began washing ashore on the west side of San Juan Island. Arresting and then remediating the resulting damage to shoreline and wildlife required action within the first few hours of the spill – but
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.
Health Care District Board to meet tomorrow
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT BOARD ||| Board Meeting - January 28, 2026 The Orcas Island Health Care District Board will hold a Regular Board Meeting on Wednesday, January 27th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Orcas Island Library, 500 Rose Street, Eastsound. The Board Meeting Public Packet
News Brief | Scientists are using drones to sniff out deadly diseases in whales
||| FROM AZ ANIMALS US ||| Scientists used drones to collect whale blow, allowing them to test for diseases without harming or stressing the animals. The study detected cetacean morbillivirus in Arctic whales for the first time, a highly infectious and often fatal disease. Researchers say drone sampling offers a
Guest Opinion | OPALCO is building without consent
||| FROM KAREN PEARSON ||| OPALCO's posting on January 20th 2026 of December 2025 Member Survey "Materials" Results is a building Materials list. "Materials" means physical objects for manufacture and construction. Materials does not mean information. OPALCO's use of "Materials" in their title sets the tone for objects, and tells
