Here’s a thought…
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man.”
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Updated: Invitation to artists and artisans to participate at holiday market & makery
||| FROM MARCY MONTGOMERY ||| Island made gifts, clothing, jewelry, woven and kitchen goods, candles, ornaments, wreaths and garlands, comforters, quilts, books, foods, beverages, toys, and functional and fine art that brighten winter life and bring joy are invited! The Makers Guild is hosting two distinct community events that are
Midnight Mutterings | A bucket of kittens
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTEREINGS BY JACKIE BATES ||| Finally, after so many tries, possibilities, disappointments, tragedy. (If you’ve ever heard of Fading Kitten Syndrome, you know of one sad possibility.) Then there is bad timing, my pickiness, circumstance, seasons passing without harvest. Now, though, we have kittens! Two beauties, grey tabby
Inslee and legislators begin rolling out reproductive freedom policies for 2023 legislative session
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| As increasing numbers of states begin to enact abortion bans and federal lawmakers vow to pursue a national ban, Gov. Jay Inslee and Democratic lawmakers met today in Bellingham to begin rolling out their choice-defending agenda for the 2023 legislative session.
News Flash: Real and personal property taxes due October 31
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Treasurer, Rhonda Pederson would like to remind county property owners that the second half property taxes and personal property taxes are due Monday, October 31. Payments received in person, via our secure payment box or postmarked after the October
Sheriff’s Report | October 12 – 18, 2022
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12 22-007470 Malicious Mischief 09:01:54 10/12/22 An Orcas Deputy responded to a report of vandalism at the newly completed Prune Alley improvement project. A report was taken. 22-007475 Found Property 10:23:51 10/12/22 An employee at the market found firearms that
Inslee wraps up a busy week
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| As other states enact abortion bans, Washington leaders prepare to enact new protections Gov. Jay Inslee and several state legislators met in Bellingham on Friday to begin rolling out the initial policies of a choice-defending agenda for the 2023 legislative session.
San Juan Island National Historical Park celebrates 150 years of peace today
||| FROM CYRUS FORMAN for SJI HISTORICAL PARK ||| 150 years ago today, Kaiser Wilhelm I, Emperor of Germany declared that the Haro Strait was the water boundary between the United States and Great Britain in the Pacific Northwest, making the San Juan Islands part of the USA. The Kaiser’s
Senior Center addresses effects of loneliness and social isolation on health
||| FROM JIM GLOZIER for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| The American Heart Association recently conducted a research study on the impacts of social isolation and loneliness on health. Those that experience these are at a 29% higher risk for heart attack and/or death and 32% higher risk for stroke. The
Weekly COVID update from State Dept. of Health
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 1,830,508 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 18. There have been 14,411 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent number of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
Letter to Editor | Vote ‘Yes” for road levy
||| FROM DAVID ZERETZKE ||| Please vote ‘Yes’ for the Road Levy - Proposition 1. The San Juan County road fund lacks sufficient funding to repair critical infrastructure in San Juan County. Your ‘Yes’ vote will address: 1) over a dozen marine facilities, 2) hundreds of
WSF Report: Support for (baseball) Mariners
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Showing our support for Mariners playoff run We partnered with the Seattle Mariners for an onboard celebration Friday, ahead of the weekend’s Major League Baseball American League Division Series home game. Tacoma, which was temporarily renamed Mariners “Good Vibes Only,” was
Letter to Editor | Krebs is the right person for the sheriff job
||| FROM RICK HUGHES ||| Hello, my name is Rick Hughes, and I live on Orcas Island. My wife and I operate Ray’s General Store and Pharmacy, Con’s Pit Stop and Island Life on Orcas and I served for eight years as the San Juan County Council member from district
‘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.
Be glad you vote in San Juan County
||| FROM DEMOCRACY DOCKET ||| 2022 Daily Docket — Thursday, Oct. 20 Here are some updates from today. As early voting is underway in Arizona, the secretary of state’s office has referred a report of voter intimidation to the Arizona attorney general and U.S. Department of Justice. Right-wing activists in Arizona have called
OPALCO has scheduled Eastsound power outage tonight
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ||| For businesses in the Eastsound core please be aware that OPALCO will be conducting a planned power outage tonight at 11:30 pm (to 5:00 am). The 289 meters in the Eastsound business core; from Lover’s Lane over to the Schools, down to
Letter to Editor | Linden Rhoads appointed to UW Board of Regents
||| FROM RICK RHOADS, PROUD FATHER ||| Today Gov. Jay Inslee announced the appointment of Linden Rhoads and the re-appointment of Blaine Tamaki to the University of Washington Board of Regents. Rhoads's term will start Oct. 24, 2022 and end Sept. 30, 2028. Tamaki's new term will end Sept. 30,
