Here’s a thought…
“If you put fences around people, you get sheep. Give people the room they need.”
WILLIAM L. MCKNIGHT
County seeks provider to administer Opioid Addiction Recovery Supports Program
Providers with relevant experience are invited to submit responses by October 6, 2025 ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Department of Health & Community Services invites agencies or organizations to review our Request for Proposal to administer the Opioid Addiction Recovery Supports (OARS) program. All RFP
Flotsam & Jetsam | Of beavers and bears, OH MY!
||| FLOTSAM & JETSAM by MAURICE AUSTIN ||| Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that
News Brief | Can AI teach us to speak ‘whale?’
||| FROM BUSINESS INSIDER ||| "Scientists are closer than ever to deciphering the secret language of sperm whales. AI could be the key." Originally reported by Business Insider Whales are highly intelligent, social creatures, so it makes sense that their songs and clicks are probably more than just random sounds.
Learn how to develop a sustainable small farm
||| FROM REBECCA MOORE for SAN JUAN COUNTY EXTENSION ||| Interested in farming? Not sure how to begin? Do you dream of beginning or expanding your own small farm? The Cultivating Success™ series of courses combines workshop and farmer-direct learning experiences to help foster the success of new and existing
Sharpen your stewardship skills at San Juan Islands forest owners field day
||| FROM ELSA HAHN for WSU EXTENSION FORESTRY ||| Washington State University Extension (WSU) and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are hosting a forestry field day for people who own forested and wooded property in the San Juan Islands. Learn about forest issues specific to the San
County announces 2025 hazardous waste round-up on Stuart Island
Safe Disposal Event Scheduled for September 13 at Stuart Island School ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County will hold a hazardous waste round-up on Stuart Island, Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Stuart Island School (532 Reid Harbor Road). This event
WSF | Service during Labor Day weekend
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Customers taking a ferry as part of their Labor Day travel plans should be prepared for a busy holiday weekend. Close to 400,000 people are expected to travel between Thursday, Aug. 28, and Monday, Sept. 1. The biggest crowds are anticipated on Saturday, Aug.
SJC Land Bank purchases Dolphin Bay Rd property on Orcas for salmon recovery, public access
The Land Bank adds a sixth preserve with water access on Orcas Island ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank is excited to announce the acquisition of a 23.8-acre waterfront property located on Orcas Island’s East Sound. The property hosts 1,300 feet of
Lessons from Decatur | Building trust for countywide energy security
A hopeful start, a hard lesson ||| FROM MEMBERS OF THE DECATUR COMMUNITY* ||| In 2018, Decatur Island became the first place in San Juan County to host a cooperative solar array. People here welcomed it. We believed in the promise of clean energy and were proud to play a
Center for Whale Research | Encounter #51 • Bigg’s Killer Whales, August 10, 2025
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 02:41 PM ObservEnd: 03:22 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T046B1, T046B1A, T046B1C, T046C2 LocationDescr: Southwest of Race Rocks/offshore Becher Bay EncSummary: Mark and Fin headed out to survey the Juan de Fuca
Opening Soon | Opportunity to apply for lodging tax annual grant program this September
LTAC funds support a variety of projects related to tourism events, infrastructure, and services. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is pleased to announce the 2025 Lodging Tax Grant Application will be live on September 2, 2025. Applications are due by October 3rd, 2025, at 5:00pm.
Health Care District Board meeting on Wednesday
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island Health Care District Board will hold a regularly scheduled board meeting on Wednesday, August 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 is available below. Agenda 02.
San Juan County 4-H celebrates record-breaking community support at 2025 Fair
||| FROM CLINTON GAUTHIER for SAN JUAN COUNTY 4-H PROGRAM ||| San Juan County 4-H would like to express its deepest gratitude to the community for an inspiring and successful 2025 San Juan County Fair. The fair highlighted the hard work of 82 4-H members who exhibited over 800 projects,
News Brief | $714M goes to Florida for our new ferries
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| "The road to new WA ferries is paved with $714M to Florida builder" Originally reported by Seattle Times Gov. Bob Ferguson’s selection of a Florida shipyard to construct three new ferries has led some local lawmakers to grumble about outsourcing $714 million worth of
Here’s what Senior Center is drumming up
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Experience the Joy of Drumming Discover the joy of drumming with the Spirit of Drumming Group at Orcas Senior Center Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.! This beginner-friendly group focuses on exploring the elements of drumming. There’s no cost to participate—just bring a
Letter to Editor | Will Orcasonians lose our fitness center?
||| FROM SYLVIA ALBRIGHT ||| I write this only as a member of Orcas Island Fitness Center; the views I express are merely my own. According to a Notice of Trustee’s Sale, the property at 188 A Street in Eastsound is set for sale next month, and there appears to be limited
