Here’s a thought…
“Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime. Ask the infantry and ask the dead.”
ERNEST HEMINGWAY
2023 Lodging Grant applications due by September 29
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is pleased to announce the 2023 Lodging Tax Grant Application is now live. Applications are due by September 29, 2023 at 5:00pm. San Juan County has established a tourism facilities program, funded by a portion of the revenue collected under the State
WSF Weekly Report | Chelan mishap, Seattle/Bainbridge work, new flagpole at Bainbridge
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Chelan damaged after likely hitting Shaw Island shore It’s believed Chelan hit the northern shoreline of Shaw Island Sunday night. The boat was sailing into the eastern entrance of narrow Wasp Passage on its way to Friday Harbor when the incident occurred. There were
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.
Whaddaya say we dream big?
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| It has been said that the only requirement for a dream is a safe place to rest your head. I would like to think that is a possibility for all who call Orcas home. But we know the island has
Conservation Land Bank announces special meeting to discuss Watmough Bay Preserve addition
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission seeks input regarding future plans for the Watmough Bay Preserve Addition (formerly the Higgins property) located on Lopez Island. The meeting will be held in person at the Lopez Island Family Resource Center and available
Auditions at Grange next week for ‘Women Playing Hamlet’
||| FROM DOUG BECHTEL for ACTORS THEATER ||| The Actors Theater will hold auditions next week for the play "Women Playing Hamlet" which will be presented at the Grange the second and third weekends this November. Here is how this play is described: "Hamlet's a challenge for any actor, but
San Juan County Land Bank announces 2023 fall native wildflower sale
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The Salish Seeds Project announces its annual Fall Native Wildflower Sale, with more plants to choose from than ever. Buyers can reserve plants online September 12 – 17 and pick them up on Saturday, September 30 at locations on San Juan, Orcas, Lopez,
Fire Commissioners officially appoint Holly vanSchaick as our new Fire Chief
||| FROM KAT BARNARD for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Holly vanSchaick is the new Fire Chief for Orcas Island Fire & Rescue Holly vanSchaick is the new Fire Chief for Orcas Island Fire & Rescue. The Board of Fire Commissioners appointed Chief vanSchaick at the Regular
An open letter to the San Juan County community about wildfire risk and preparedness in the islands
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN, et. al, for SJC DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Fellow islanders, Following the catastrophic Maui fires earlier this month, there has been an understandably heightened level of concern about fire risk in the San Juan Islands. This includes what steps we can take to protect ourselves
Eastsound Water Users Association response
||| FROM EASTSOUND WATER USERS ASSOCIATION ||| You may have received an email from a former EWUA Board Director, Mr. Steve Smith, dated August 20, 2023. Mr. Smith has also posted a communication in The Orcasonian and perhaps other social media networks. The letter contains numerous false and misleading accusations
Letter to Editor | Very embarrassed person who opened his mouth without the facts
||| FROM JOHN ERLY ||| I have been very vocal about letting the new Fire Commissioners choice the next Chief. What I didn’t know was that in 2021, the board interviewed numerous candidates for the position. I also didn’t know that the Chief at the time had informed the board
The Whale Museum summer lecture series: Ongoing research to assess SRKW health
||| FROM TATE THOMPSON for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| Join us at The Whale Museum on September 7 at 7 p.m. for a lecture presented by Brad Hanson of NOAA Fisheries. The talk is FREE and open to the public. This presentation will review prior work by NOAA Fisheries and
San Juan Sculpture Park adds four new pieces
||| FROM KRISTEN ARNIM for SJI SCULPTURE PARK ||| New Art and Sculpture Park FAQs The San Juan Islands Sculpture Park is happy to announce the addition of four new sculptures in the park. Stop by and see them! “Rainforest Dream” by Leo Osborne can be found near the entrance
How to get federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) $$$ working for you
Island Way Workshop: September 6 @ 5 pm via Zoom ||| FROM SUZANNE OLSON for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| The new federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides billions in funding to help Americans prepare for a more affordable energy future! This virtual workshop will show you how to
Preliminary draft of San Juan Islands Destination Management Plan now available for public review
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is creating the San Juan Islands Destination Management Plan (SDMP) to thoughtfully guide visitation that both supports and enhances the unique quality of life, environment, and cultural heritage of the San Juan Islands. The goal for this project is to
Sheriff’s Office responds to single vehicle, double fatality accident on Orcas
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| On August 22, 2023, around 5:41 AM, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a single vehicle accident, possibly involving a fatality on Crow Valley Rd near the intersection of Pleasure Horse Rd. Multiple Deputies responded to the scene and
