Here’s a thought…
“We are not an endangered species ourselves yet, but this is not for lack of trying.”
DOUGLAS ADAMS
Sheriff’s Report | February 18 – 24, 2026
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 26-000987 Accident-Injury, Traffic 06:30:38 02/18/26 An Orcas Island Deputy along with Orcas Island Fire and Rescue responded to a motorcycle collision on Orcas Rd. The Deputy learned that the motorcycle collided into a deer. The rider was flown off
Weekend WSF sailing schedule is all cattywampus
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| We’ll need to cancel sailings and adjust the Anacortes/San Juan Islands schedule this weekend due to vessel moves. The current tentative plan is for Chelan to arrive in Anacortes on Sunday, March 1, in time to enter service later that day. Saturday, Feb. 28 The 144-vehicle Yakima will operate its
Vessel shuffle for ferries this weekend
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| We’ll need to cancel sailings and adjust the Anacortes/San Juan Islands schedule this weekend due to vessel moves. Saturday, Feb. 28 In the afternoon, the 124-vehicle Chelan will replace the 144-vehicle Yakima as the #2 vessel. The Yakima will go out of service until late May for scheduled maintenance, repairs, and inspections.
News Brief | Judge orders changes to Columbia and Snake River dam operations
||| FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ||| A federal judge in Oregon has ordered narrow changes to hydropower dam operations on the Columbia and Snake rivers in the Pacific Northwest in order to help salmon U.S. District Judge Michael Simon in his ruling Wednesday lamented what he described as the “disappointing
The power of teamwork
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| There is something truly special that happens when people come together with a shared purpose. It doesn't matter whether it's organizing a community fundraiser, planting native trees, creating a musical performance, or cheering in the bleachers at the high school
Photos from Jack Rubel on exhibit at Orcas Library
||| FROM ANDREA COHEN for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The Orcas Island Library’s Art in the Library exhibit through the month of March features the work of photographer Jack Rubel. Over the past two decades, Jack has trained with professional photographers in workshops around the world. Through these experiences, his
Orcas Christian students share stories, laughter with seniors in reading program
||| FROM KALLIE for ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| Students at Orcas Christian School recently partnered with the Orcas Senior Center for a reading program that brought together generations. The project, part of the Monday “Partners in Care” Lions Club program, paired students with seniors to read books and enjoy shared
Letter to Editor | Local democracy at work
||| FROM JEFF STRUTHERS ||| This week, I watched an Examiner’s hearing on OPALCO’s proposed upgrade to its facility on Decatur. A room full of islanders, including many from Decatur, expressed a variety of concerns. Some participants were certified technical experts, some were official representatives of our county government and
WSF Weekly Report | Apprenticeship graduates; charging vessels
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON StATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve Today marks a proud and meaningful moment in my career. I had the honor of celebrating the first graduates of our licensed deck officer apprenticeship program. This scholarship means a lot to me. When I finished high
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.
News Brief | Lawmakers address aging ferries, but leave out governor’s borrowing pitch
||| FROM KOMO-TV SEATTLE ||| Both the state House and Senate have acknowledged a need to address the Washington State Ferries' (WSF) aging fleet. As part of a bigger $2.1 billion transportation plan, the governor proposed borrowing $1 billion to buy three new, hybrid-electric vessels, without raising taxes. The average
Finding the Light | Artwork by Paula Capitano at Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Visit the Orcas Senior Center Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in March and April to enjoy artwork by local artist Paula Capitano, joined by repurposed works from John Ehrmantraut. Working primarily in oils, Paula draws inspiration from Orcas
WSF card payment recovery fee of 3 percent begins Sunday, March 1, 2026
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Starting Sunday, March 1, 2026, a card payment recovery fee of 3% will be applied to all card transactions. Fares, no-show fees, and carpool and vanpool permits will be subject to the 3% fee. This fee was directed by the Washington State Legislature (RCW
Tides of March celebrates 18 years of Indian Island stewardship
||| FROM RUSSEL BARSH for KWIAHT ||| Last summer, more than three thousand people walked across the flats to Indian Island on daytime minus tides. Most of them were met by Kwiaht scientists, Orcas volunteers, and the 2025 Indian Island Youth Steward, Solomon Ross. The Indian Island Marine Health Observatory
Excused from jury duty for March 2-6
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| All jurors summonsed for the jury term beginning Monday, March 2nd through Friday, March 6th, 2026, are excused.
Breathe Deep—AIR returns April 11
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The All Islands Read (AIR) annual community book event returns on Saturday, April 11, at 11:00 a.m., at Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall. This free event is a collaboration between Orcas Island Public Library and HALO (Hub for Arts & Literature on
