Here’s a thought…
“We are not an endangered species ourselves yet, but this is not for lack of trying.”
DOUGLAS ADAMS
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
Agriculture speakers series
March 4th, 11 - 12 pm on Zoom ||| FROM AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE ||| If you own or manage farmland and are interested in lower property taxes, this informative Q&A will help clarify what qualifies for CUFA (Current Use Farm and Ag) valuation, what documentation matters, and how assessments are
Orcas Island Fire & Rescue responds to fully involved residential structure fire
||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| At 2:55 a.m. on Monday, February 23, Orcas Island Fire & Rescue (OIFR) was dispatched to a residential structure fire on Thimbleberry Lane. Crews arrived to find the home fully involved, with multiple structures and vehicles threatened. The occupant
Beaverton Marsh Trail update open house
||| FROM CONSERVATION LAND BANK ||| Join Conservation Land Bank staff and commissioners at the Mullis Community Senior Center on Wednesday, March 4, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, for an open house about the Beaverton Marsh Trail! Peruse project maps and the proposed design, which will connect the Town of
Letter to Editor | Grandparents for vaccines
||| FROM DALE HEISINGER ||| I am a grandparent of five grandchildren and a retired pediatrician and, as expected, I advised my two sons to get their children vaccinated, which they did. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children should receive 12 vaccinations by age 6 protecting them against
Free course for caregivers in 2026 on Orcas Island
A free six-week course for family caregivers to build the skills to take care of themselves as they care for others ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County and Northwest Regional Council are offering a free six-week course for unpaid family caregivers of San Juan County. This
No Place Like Loam | Four season gardening in the maritime northwest
A Guide to Growing Year Round: Part 1 ||| NO PLACE LIKE LOAM by ALEX TAMAYA-WOLF ||| What to Plant in February in 40–45°F Soil My grandparents kept a garden before the war. It was a hobby then. Orderly. Pleasant. A place to kneel in good weather and admire yourself.
Have ideas to improve building codes & permitting?
Join the County’s Building Advisory Council ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is seeking volunteers to serve on the Building Advisory Council – a group that assists the County Council and the Department of Community Development (DCD) with the orderly implementation of current and future code changes
