Here’s a thought…
“If you put fences around people, you get sheep. Give people the room they need.”
WILLIAM L. MCKNIGHT
The Co-op Way | Capital credit checks are in the mail
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| Just in time for the holiday season, more than $1.2M in capital credit checks are going out to longtime OPALCO members this month, as they do each year. As a co-op, OPALCO does not earn profits. Revenues over and
News Brief | Are Oregon data centers helping to drive an increase in cancer, miscarriages?
||| Some experts believe, that combination is leading to an alarmingly high concentration of nitrates in the drinking water that is driving up cancer and miscarriage rates in the area.
Flood watch posted by National Weather Service through Friday afternoon
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| Flood Watch National Weather Service Seattle WA 506 AM PST Sun Dec 7 2025 A series of wet weather systems moving across the region will increase the threat of river flooding early this week. Clallam-Grays Harbor-Island-Jefferson-King-Kitsap-Lewis-Mason- Pierce-San Juan-Skagit-Snohomish-Thurston-Whatcom- Including Fords Prairie, Silverdale, Bremerton, Tumwater,
News Brief | Artificial intelligence technology is ‘changing every sector of society’
||| FROM THE COOL DOWN ||| At its current rate of growth, 26-48.5 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent will fill the atmosphere, and 731 million to 1.125 billion cubic meters of water will be used up every year. This would be like adding five to 10 million vehicles to
Ukulele Kanikipila and/or Chair Yoga at Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join the Musical Fun Experience the joy of making music at Ukulele Kanikipila, Hawaiian for "play music," Mondays from 1 to 3 pm at Orcas Senior Center. This gathering is open to everyone with an interest in playing music for two
Guest Opinion | Should Washington lawmakers hide their records from the public?
||| FROM COLIN WILLIAMS ||| A case currently before the Washington Court of Appeals raises important questions about government transparency and our right to know how our legislators conduct the people's business. In West v. Washington State Legislature (Case No. 601044-II), open government advocate Arthur West challenges the Legislature's use
News Brief | WA man mauled by ICE dog
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., is calling for the immediate release of a Clark County man whose attorneys say was mauled by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement dog despite not resisting arrest. An ICE agent pretended to be a construction worker, claiming he had
Larsen statement on Trump Administration changes to immigration processes
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U .S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after the Trump administration announced changes to immigration processes: “Refugees and humanitarian nonprofits that support refugees should not be punished because of the actions of one violent person. “I supported the
Coastal flood advisory
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Seattle WA 1006 AM PST Sat Dec 6 2025 San Juan County-Lowlands of Western Whatcom County- Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties- 1006 AM PST Sat Dec 6 2025 ...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM
As the Paradigm Shifts | Dang it! There is love
What happens when I stop whining long enough to see what’s real? ||| AS THE PARADIGM SHIFTS by ROSIE KUHN ||| A while ago, in the middle of one of my self-pity parties — wailing on about not being loved, all alone — something unexpected happened. A quiet part of
Sheriff’s Report | November 26 – December 1, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26 25-008132 Unwanted Person 11:16:38 11/26/25 An Orcas Island Deputy responded to an unwanted person incident at a business in downtown Eastsound. The business owner wanted the person trespassed from the property. Subsequently the person was served a trespass notice.
Give Orcas | Every gift matters
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| A heartfelt thank you to the 500+ community members who have given gifts that matter this week! As of this morning, we are nearly a third of the way to our collective giving goal of $371,391. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR UNIQUE
‘Counting Orca’ free screening from Center for Whale Research
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| We’re excited to invite you to a FREE global virtual screening of 'Counting Orca’ on December 10th! To make the event accessible to viewers around the world, we’re hosting two online screenings. You’re welcome to join whichever time works best for you. Screening
SJIMA annual artists’ registry show will dazzle
||| FROM BARBARA MARRETT for SAN JUAN ISLANDS MUSEUM OF ART ||| Join us from December 12, 2025, through February 23, 2026, for the annual Artists’ Registry Show. This much-anticipated event brings together artists from throughout San Juan County, offering a unique opportunity to experience the diverse creative talents within
Letter to Editor | Regarding OPALCO rate hike
||| FROM ALLAN ROSATO and DARCEY MILLER ||| We are writing out of concern regarding OPALCO’s recently-announced plan to raise the fixed monthly service access charge for residential members. While this may appear to simplify the rate structure, it has a very real and very unequal impact on the people
WSF Weekly Report | Thanksgiving ridership up; technology partners selected to power new ferries; become a FROG
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve November was a strong month for Washington State Ferries. By every metric, our service is improving, and people are noticing. I’m hearing that from customers, community leaders, and partners across the region. I’m proud to share that we completed 99.2%
