Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Ferry Alert | Plan ahead as major I-5 closures could affect travel
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| If your ferry plans include travel on I-5 through Seattle, prepare for major delays. Beginning this weekend, roadwork for the Revive I-5 project will cause closures and lane reductions. 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 18 to 5 a.m. Monday, July 21: All northbound lanes of
If the Trump administration ran a service organization on Orcas Island
Letter from management and (part of the) board to our valued members ||| BY DAN GOTTLIEB ||| As part of our ongoing commitment to dehumanize our employees and pump more nonsense out to our (hopefully ignorant) island neighbors, management (with partial Board approval—the rest of you don’t matter) have decided
Legal settlement reached for Endangered Species Act decision deadline for Olympic Peninsula Steelhead
||| FROM EMMA HELVERSON for WILD FISH CONSERVANCY ||| EDMONDS, Wash.— The Conservation Angler and Wild Fish Conservancy reached a settlement agreement with NOAA Fisheries establishing a deadline requiring the agency to issue its long-overdue finding on whether Olympic Peninsula steelhead warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Under the
WSF Weekly Report | Visit to Orcas with Gov.; Fall reservations release delayed; Kaleeetan assists in rescue
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve On Monday, I joined Gov. Bob Ferguson, Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith, our Deputy Assistant Secretary John Vezina, Rep. Debra Lekanoff and the San Juan County Council for a public meeting on Orcas Island. We were there
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.
Fall vehicle WSF reservations release postponed
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| We’re postponing our two-month vehicle reservations release for our fall sailing season (Sept. 21 to Dec. 27). The delay is needed while we work on updates to our reservation system. We plan to share the new release date on Tuesday, July 22.
Land Bank July 2025 meeting & agenda
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold a regular monthly meeting on July 18 , 2025 from 8:45am – 11:10am via Zoom. The meeting will also be available for in person public attendance at the San Juan Island Grange, located at 152 First Street,
County Council discusses ferry service with Gov. Ferguson at Orcas community meeting
The strong relationship between state and local officials was on display as San Juan County’s Council, along with other community leaders, joined in an honest discussion of islanders’ transportation needs. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| This week, the San Juan County Council attended a community meeting on Orcas
Upcoming blood drives
||| FROM HANNAH MCNUTT for BLOODWORKS ||| What amazing weather we are having! I hope you all can get on a boat (or at least watch the boats) and enjoy what our lovely community has to offer especially this time of year. I am reaching out today to inform you
San Juan County responds to recent ICE actions in the islands
During the July 15 Council meeting, Council addressed recent ICE raids in the Islands and reaffirmed that local government does not participate in immigration enforcement. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Council and Sheriff are jointly responding to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions
Find treats and treasures on July 26 at Market Day
||| FROM HOLLY KING for EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH ||| Jewelry galore! Great pies! Treasures you never knew you needed and tools you absolutely have to have. Come for the fun, take home great finds at Emmanuel Church’s annual Market Day, Saturday, July 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The line
It’s time for Good Trouble tomorrow in the San Juans
||| FROM INDIVISIBLE SAN JUANS TEAM ||| Let's pay tribute to John Lewis together, and to all who stand for civil and human rights. Yes, Good Trouble is happening throughout our islands tomorrow. Please try to make it to one of these, and if we missed your event details, please
Letter to Editor | Let’s Brunch raises nearly $30,000 for Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Let’s Brunch! was a huge success, raising almost $30,000 to support Orcas Senior Center. Guests enjoyed a festive afternoon of delicious food, lively music, exciting auction items, and great company—all for a great cause. This event wouldn’t have been possible without
Join Leadership San Juans to learn about their upcoming Cohort
||| FROM GRETCHEN KRAMPF for LEADERSHIP SAN JUANS ||| Monday, July 21 5:00 – 6:00 PM Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/p0HOT9ksQoG4BrFtO5yCFQ Thursday, August 21 Noon – 1:00 PM Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/JxOuwQ6aSKOiS066KZJ_mA
The Exchange update | July 2025
||| FROM THE EXCHANGE ||| Art Scholarship Winner: Sintia Cruz Hernandez Congratulations to Sintia Cruz Hernandez - the winner of this year’s Exchange Art Scholarship. Sintia’s art allows her to be a story teller and practice perspective, proportions,
Letter to Editor | When public service meets public fury
A call for compassion at the ferry terminal ||| FROM ELISABETH BRITT, FIRE COMMISSIONER & ORCAS FERRY LANDING TERMINAL STAFF ||| On the morning of July 14th, I was assigned to manage vehicle boarding at our local ferry terminal—a task I had never performed before, and for which I received
