Here’s a thought…
“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”
MARK TWAIN
Letter to Editor | Jennifer Swanson is the clearly superior Council candidate
||| FROM MIMI GARDNER GATES ||| Jennifer Swanson is clearly the superior candidate in the San Juan County Council election. Her experience is directly relevant to the goals of the SJC Council. The school district budgets she developed and managed as superintendent and oversaw as a school board member are similar to
Orcas Garden Club presents ‘why plant names change’
Botanical nomenclature, biology, the beauty of plants ||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Wednesday, November 11th, 10 am (at the Orcas Center or by Zoom) COME AT 9:30 AM (just before the program) for social time, and remember to bring something for the Sharing Table! Please join the Orcas
Wild Fish Conservancy serves notice of intent to sue over Alaska fisheries catching threatened, endangered Pacific Northwest Chinook without federal oversight
||| FROM EMMA HALVERSON for WILD FISH CONSERVANCY ||| SEATTLE, Washington—Nearly nine out of ten Chinook salmon caught in commercial fisheries along the South Alaska Peninsula in 2024 and 2025 originated outside Alaska, according to research from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). Yet these fisheries operate without
County Marine Facility Update | Council reviews aging infrastructure
Marine facilities are part of the County’s essential public transportation system, and the County anticipates significant challenges maintaining these facilities in the coming years ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During this week’s meeting, the San Juan County Council reviewed the conditions of the County’s marine facilities and the
Grannie’s Holiday Sale coming to Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Mark your calendars—Grannie’s Holiday Sale is back at Orcas Senior Center on Saturday, November 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.! Browse a wide array of festive décor, holiday treasures, and unique creations from local artisans. It’s the perfect place to
Jennifer Swanson is ready for the work
||| FROM JENNIFER SWANSON, COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATE ||| Jennifer Swanson Since February, I’ve been on the campaign trail, meeting people across our island county. I’ve been blown away by the passion residents have for this place and their commitment to its future. In conversation after conversation, I’ve been
Jury Duty: Excused for November 2-6
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: NOVEMBER 2-6, 2026 All jurors summonsed for Jury Duty beginning November 2nd, are excused. Thank you.
LWVSJ Observer Corps | San Juan County Council, October 27, 2026
||| FROM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SAN JUAN ||| The San Juan County Council convened at the Orcas Island Fire and Rescue Center. After presentation by Facilities Director Greg Sawyer, the Council voted to set a public hearing for November 24, 2026, at 9:15 a.m., to consider a Resolution Authorizing
CWR encounter with J Pod
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 12:06 PM ObservEnd: 01:41 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Pods: J IDsEncountered: J27, J31, J39, J56 LocationDescr: Sombrio Point EncSummary: Mark left Victoria on Mike 1 at 0830 and headed west out on the Juan de Fuca
Council approves ‘home fund’ funding for three affordable housing projects
In total, the Council awarded $3,734,596 in REET funding and $310,000 in sales tax funding. The County has now awarded approximately $19 million in grants for affordable housing projects across the islands through the Home Fund since 2019 ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| This week, San Juan County
Letter to Editor | Why I changed my vote to Sean O’Donnell
||| FROM COLIN WILLIAMS ||| At a recent community lunch, the conversation turned, as it does this time of year, to the election. Doug McDonald mentioned that his nephew is Judge Sean O'Donnell, a candidate for Position 4 on the Washington State Supreme Court. I admitted I'd already marked Ian
County deliberates pausing essential public facility siting on Shaw Island, reevaluates path forward
Given current budget constraints, staff is evaluating how to prioritize time and resources across the county ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During this week’s Council meeting, the siting process for an Essential Public Facility (EPF) for Public Works on Shaw Island was reviewed. The County may choose to
Sportsmen Club invites you to win a Thanksgiving turkey
||| FROM PAT MUFFETT for ORCAS ISLAND SPORTSMEN CLUB ||| The Orcas Island Sportsmen Club invites the public to come out and win their Thanksgiving Turkey at the 71ST annual fall Turkey-Time Family Fun Shooting Contests. The shoot is on Saturday November 14th from l0 am to 4 pm at
Join the Orcas Island School Board
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| Are you passionate about our schools and the future of Orcas Island students? We invite you to consider serving as the next Orcas Island School District Board Director for District #2! Our schools are at the heart of our island community, and strong
Larsen urges voters to return ballots to drop boxes and pushes back on new USPS policy
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) expressed concerns to the United States Postal Service (USPS) about delays in postmarking ballots delivered in Northwest Washington. “Between August and October 2026, I visited local election offices in Whatcom, Skagit,
Multiple county advisory board & committee seats open
Key positions on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Clean Water Advisory Committee, Agricultural Resources Committee, and other boards are open ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is seeking volunteers to serve on various boards and committees that help shape daily life in
