Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Get ready to pay more for a Washington state ferry ride
Fares will rise this fall. And next year there will be a new fee if you pay with a credit card. ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE STANDARD ||| A trip on a Washington state ferry will get more expensive this fall. The Washington State Transportation Commission on Wednesday approved fare hikes
WDFW to host meeting on planned westside Lake Rotenone treatment to remove invasive Northern Pike
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and San Juan County Conservation Land Bank (Land Bank) are co-hosting an in-person public meeting to hear community input on invasive northern pike management in Westside Lake on San Juan Island in San Juan County.
Fire Commissioners call special meeting for Monday
||| FROM JEN KRAUSS for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Special Meeting Agenda San Juan County Fire Protection District No 2, Board of Fire Commissioners Special Meeting | Monday, 08/11/2025, 3PM In person: 45 Lavender Lane, Eastsound, WA Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86474789527 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Call to Order & Welcome New Business 1.
Senior Center | Bringing mammograms to you
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| You don’t need to travel off-island for a mammogram. Assured Imaging is bringing mobile mammography to Orcas Senior Center, offering quick, convenient screenings right in our community. Whether it’s your first mammogram or part of your regular care, this is an
3 reports of cougar sightings on San Juan Island
||| FROM KING-TV SEATTLE ||| Three people reported cougar sightings on San Juan Island over the last three days, according to the San Juan County Sheriff's Office (SJCSO). The first two sightings occurred on Monday. A woman reported to 911 that she saw a cougar sitting on a stump when
San Juan Preservation Trust launches effort to protect 30 acres on San Juan
||| FROM KELVIN BAKER for SAN JUAN PRESERVATION TRUST ||| The San Juan Preservation Trust (SJPT) is thrilled to announce a major new conservation initiative on the west side of San Juan Island: the future Mt. Ben West Preserve. This 30-acre property offers sweeping views of Haro Strait, with critical
Senior Center | Time-traveling tunes with Dr. Dirty
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER||| Get ready for a nostalgic afternoon on Friday, August 22 at 1 p.m. when local legend Terry “Dr. Dirty” Anderson brings his guitar, his voice—and his time machine—to Orcas Senior Center. A dynamic live singer and guitarist, Terry has been delighting island
Jurors excused August 11-15
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: AUGUST 11-15, 2025 All jurors summonsed for jury duty beginning Monday August 11th through Friday August 15th, are excused. Thank you.
Sheriff’s Office reviews 2024 crime statistics at council meeting
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During this week’s Council meeting, Sheriff Eric Peter reviewed San Juan County crime statistics from 2024. Throughout the presentation, Sheriff Peter outlined duties performed by the Sheriff’s Office including calls received by dispatch, traffic stops, infractions/citations issued, overdose calls, arrests, and more. View
Library art show for August | Works of Angela Dora
||| FROM ANDREA COHEN for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| For the month of August, the Orcas Island Library’s “Art in the Library” series will feature a show of paintings and photographs by Angela Dora entitled Wearing the World. Angela grew up in the small town of Carnation, Washington, a farmer’s
Upcoming OICMF children’s concert | Symba and the Lobster
||| FROM MARY TAYLOR for ORCAS CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| Children and their families are invited to enjoy Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival’s much anticipated free Children’s Concert featuring an interactive musical storytelling experience based on Nanki Chugh’s upcoming children’s book, Symba and the Lobster. Bring a picnic blanket or
Orcas Island Artworks featured artist for August – Ellen Wherrette
Intertwining Threads....Past, Present and Future ||| FROM B.J. ARNOLD for ORCAS ISLAND ARTWORKS ||| Ellen Wherrette: "Throughout my life, I have painted and sculpted. The rich intricacies of the natural and the man-made world inspire and inform my on-going journey of exploration. Rhythms, colors, music, mystery and dreams unfold within
Rhythms and Blooms | Come learn about algal bloom on Orcas
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Scientists from the University of Washington and Georgia Tech conducted research on Orcas Island in the summers of 2021 and 2022, studying East Sound's algal bloom phenomena. They investigated how microbial communities and water chemistry changed before bloom formation to improve
Volunteers needed to help monitor vital eelgrass beds around Orcas Island
||| FROM KATIE JOHNSON for SJC MARINE RESOURCES COMMITTEE ||| Do you have an interest in marine science and a passion for protecting local ecosystems? The San Juan County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) is looking for citizen science volunteers to help monitor boat presence in eelgrass beds on the shores
Vehicle reservations for fall sailing season open Tuesday, August 5 at 10am
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Vehicle reservations for the fall 2025 schedule (Sept. 21 through Dec. 27) will be available at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 5. For a smooth and fair experience during this high-demand period, we will continue using a virtual waiting room during the reservations release.
In Memoriam | Maureen Karras, November 8, 1946 – June 29, 2025
||| FROM DENNIS KARRAS ||| Maureen Karras Maureen Karras was one of a kind—a fearless adventurer, devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, passionate educator, and lifelong advocate for children and families. She passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on June 29, 2025. Her spirit, strength, and warmth
