Here’s a thought…
“I am so convinced of the advantages of looking at mankind instead of reading about them, and of the bitter effects of staying at home with all the narrow prejudices of an islander, that I think there should be a law amongst us to set our young men abroad for a term among the few allies our wars have left us.”
LORD BYRON
Protecting our homes, roads, and habitat | Sea level rise workshops this fall
The County is planning a series of community workshops to share information about sea level rise and solicit thoughts, concerns, and feedback from community members about how to address these challenges together. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is taking steps to better understand and plan
News Brief | Three things that could save your home from the next wildfire
||| FROM WASHINGTON POST ||| Originally reported by Washington Post "Why do some homes burn in wildfires while others do not? Researchers, insurers and government officials have been scrambling to answer this question, made urgent by a decade of deadly conflagrations: the Western fires in 2015, Paradise in 2018, Lahaina
Live cello concert coming to Orcas Library
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| For nearly 40 years, Gretchen Nicole Yanover has dedicated herself to the art of the cello, composing ambient music for her solo work and playing in more classical modes with an orchestra. Her devotion to her craft has led her to
Rain didn’t stop 2025 San Juan County Fair from shining
Thanks in large part to the inter-island pick-up and drop-off option, the number of exhibitor entries increased from last year and the Fairgrounds welcomed approximately 8,012 people over four days (for a total of 16,468 visits!) to join in the fun. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Even with
Guest Opinion | Vote-at-Home is the law—and it works
||| FROM WA STATE COUNTY AUDITORS ||| This oped was inspired by a thoughtful inquiry from a Stevens County voter, curious about the origins, security, and integrity of Washington’s voteathome system. Pend Oreille County Auditor Marianne Nichols promptly volunteered to join Stevens County Auditor Lori Larsen in coauthoring the response.
Thursday Sept. 11th – One Million Rising Event
Thursday, September 11th • 5:30 to 7:30 pm • SJI Grange ||| FROM INDIVISIBLE SJI TEAM ||| Join your fellow Indivisible members and others to learn how we can resist the Trump Administration’s authoritarian takeover of our country. As part of Indivisible National’s No Kings call to action, One Million
News Brief | More Whales at Niagara Falls Marineland will die
||| FROM CHCH ||| "More whales at Niagara Falls’ Marineland will die without urgent action, expert says" Originally reported by CHCH "After the whale death toll rose again recently, experts say whatever is done must be done urgently before more of the whales die." Read the full article
Have a garden question? Ask an Orcas Master Gardener
Now at the Market Garden Nursery ||| FROM JULIA TURNEY for ORCAS MASTER GARDENERS ||| Do you have a question about your soil, have a problem with your fruit tree, or are thinking about starting a garden? Is something bugging your plants, or you are curious about identifying a plant or insect? Master
News Brief | ‘We have a duty’ to protect our national forests
||| FROM CASCADIA DAILEY ||| "Saturday rally raises awareness about Roadless Rule change" Originally reported by Cascadia Daily "If the Trump administration is successful, the Roadless Rule repeal would allow for road building and logging activity across 58 million acres of national forest across the country. Around 400,000 acres in
In Memoriam | James A. Seeley, 1935 – 2025
||| FROM ALEX MACLEOD ||| Dr. James A. Seeley On July 4th, we lost our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Dr. James A. Seeley. Jim passed away peacefully at his home in Medina, three months shy of his 90th birthday after recently being diagnosed with lung cancer. Jim
Guest Opinion | Human intelligence research lab, amid LLMs?
||| ||| FROM DAVID STEPHEN ||| There is a recent [September, 1, 2025] report on SciTechDaily, “AI Is Not Intelligent at All” – Expert Warns of Worldwide Threat to Human Dignity, stating that, “AI is not intelligent in any human sense at all. It is a triumph in engineering, not in cognitive
News Brief | 14 wildfires continue to burn across state
||| FROM SEATTLE TIMES ||| "14 large wildfires burn across Washington as crews face rugged terrain, shifting weather" Originally reported by Seattle Times "State officials report 1,602 total fires in 2025, with 122,301 acres scorched as of Saturday, according to the Department of Natural Resources." Read the full article
Event | Island water at risk?
Local Experts Show How to Secure Our Future ||| FROM STEPHANIE PRIMA for SAN JUAN ISLAND GRANGE ||| Islanders from across the county are invited to join a free public panel on Thursday, September 19, 2025 at the San Juan Island Grange Hall. As summers grow hotter and drier, and
FH Film Fest | Hvaldimir screening, story of a Beluga Whale
||| FROM ELLEN ROBERTS and KAREN PALMER for FRIDAY HARBOR FILM FESTIVAL ||| Hvaldimir Screening FREE on September 12 at SJI Library and Lopez Island Library Bring your family and friends to enjoy the intriguing story of a beluga whale that was alleged to be a Russian military asset and
There is something especially for you at Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Chair Yoga: Enhancing Balance and Wellbeing for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Join us for Chair Yoga, a soothing practice tailored for seniors and those with disabilities, held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. This gentle technique incorporates the
OTILLO Swimrun returns to Orcas
||| FROM LARS FINANGER for OTILLO SWIM RUN ||| OTILLO Swimrun returns to Orcas Island on Sunday, September 14th for the 7th edition of the unique and grueling multisport event. The unique endurance race starts and finishes at the Rosario Resort offering easy access to the island's vast network of
