Here’s a thought…
“When the last tree is cut, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted; when to breathe the air is sickening, you will realize, too late, that wealth is not in bank accounts and that you can’t eat money.”
ALANIS OBOMSAWIN
Letter to Editor | Why we support Jennifer Swanson
||| FROM TERRI GUDGELL MASON, KERWIN JOHNSON, ANITA ORNE, RICK HUGHES, RHEA MILLER, GORDON KOENIG, BILL WATSON, TRISH LEHMAN, RON ZEE ||| Some of us have had the pleasure and opportunity to learn about Jennifer Swanson just recently, through the course of her campaign, while others of us have watched
Sucia Island plane crash up close shows bystanders’ heroics
||| FROM CBS NEWS |||
OPALCO students earn scholarships and leadership recognition through Nourdine Jensen Youth Scholarship Program
||| FROM JO LANGE for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| In early July, six San Juan County students proudly represented Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO) at the 2026 Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association (ICUA) Youth Rally as part of the Nourdine Jensen Cooperative Youth Scholarship Program. The Nourdine Jensen
Construction on the Pea Patch Community Campus has begun
Summer update on site work and fundraising success ||| FROM SUZANNE OLSON for PEA PATCH COMMUNITY ||| Summer is in full swing and so is the site work to prepare the Pea Patch Community Campus for construction! You may have noticed some big piles of dirt: the current work effort
Midnight Mutterings | Lindsey
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| Tonight I’m muttering about Lindsey Graham. But not about his politics. Nor about his fickle bromance with Donald Trump. I’m muttering about his death on July 11, 2026 and the cause of his death. That is: aortic dissection. Aortic dissection, particularly Type A,
Orcas Center Visual Arts Committee announces new community show
“Light and Shadow" to open on August 28 ||| FROM MARJORIE TAYLOR for ORCAS CENTER ||| For this show, the VAC welcomes artists to contribute pieces that reflect their own interpretation of the light and shadow theme. Space permitting, up to three pieces per artist will be accepted and all
Urgent | Final chance to donate blood this summer on San Juan & Orcas
||| FROM HANNAH MCNUTT for BLOODWORKS NORTHWEST ||| Right now, Bloodworks Northwest remains in Code Red emergency shortage, meaning we have less than a one-to-two-day supply of blood available for patients in our region. More than 60,000 appointments are still available before Labor Day. This shortage comes during the 100
Port commission will meet on Monday
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, July 27th 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.
WSF Weekly Report | 98,174 riders in one day; annual tribal canoe journey; fall reservations available
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve On Saturday, we welcomed 98,174 riders on board, our highest single-day ridership since 2019. That easily surpassed our previous post-pandemic high of 95,361 riders on July 26 of last year. Since 2020, we’ve had 10 days with
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.
Breaking News | Plane just went down at Sucia Island
Orcas Island Fire & Rescue later confirmed that everyone aboard had been rescued and was receiving medical care or being transported from the scene. Kenmore Air said everyone on board has been accounted for. According to the airline, two injured passengers were taken to a hospital in Bellingham, while two
Larsen stands firm against Trump’s unjustified war
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “Today I voted once again to stop the President from attacking Iran. All Americans have gotten out of this unjustified war is higher prices. Congress is sending a
Come to Market Day this Saturday for treats and treasures
||| FROM LYNN BAKER for EMMANUEL MARKET DAY ||| Crab pot! Pizza ovens! Hummel figurines! Yummy pies! Crow Valley pottery! Delightful treasures and useful tools await you this Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Market Day, Emmanuel Church’s annual sale. Come for the fun; take home great finds. The
‘James and the Giant Peach, Jr.’ features an all-local kids cast
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| As the culmination of Orcas Center’s summer theatre intensive, a group of young thespians is presenting a production of “Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach, Jr.” It’s a fantastical tale of a boy, his insect friends, and their amazing journey
Rotary Car Show is sweeter this year
Get ready for some serious car-gazing ||| FROM BARBARA MERRITT for ROTARY CAR SHOW ||| The Rotary Car Show returns for its 18th year on Sunday, August 9, from 11 am to 3 pm, at San Juan Vineyard, 3136 Roche Harbor Road. Known for its relaxed, friendly atmosphere and scenic
San Juan Island coffee shop ditches plastic cups
Third House Coffee owner Caleb Aldstadt made the switch on his own - and says it's saving him money ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| As communities around the world mark Plastic Free July, one local business didn't need a campaign to get started. Caleb Aldstadt, owner of Third
