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
SJC Monthly News Digest – July 2025
This column is part of a series detailing San Juan County’s recent news. Follow along each month to learn about important County projects, Council initiatives, department updates, and more. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| County Council Discusses Ferry Service with Governor Ferguson at Orcas Community Meeting The San
Happy Lammas
||| FROM GRETCHEN KRAMPF |||
Larsen set to make a visit to Friday Harbor
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U .S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) will meet with San Juan Island School District Superintendent Fred Woods to discuss how Department of Education funding freezes are impacting local teachers and students. Last week, following pressure from Rep. Larsen and other
Getting ready for Library Fair
||| FROM INGRID MATTSON for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Library Fair, run by the Friends of the Orcas Island Library (FOIL), will be held Saturday, August 9, this year. Record numbers of books have been donated and processed! If you’d like a headstart look at how many books have been
WSF Weekly Report | Amber Alert child on board; honoring employees with 50 years of service; fall reservations open Tuesday
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve Staying alert is key to keeping our customers, employees and the communities we serve safe. An Amber Alert quickly shares information about missing or abducted children. It helps law enforcement and the public work together to find them. On Friday,
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.
Call for Candidates: 3 Day Filing Period for Lopez Is. Park & Rec Dist. Commissioners & Others
Correction: The Fisherman Bay Sewer District has Commissioner No. 1 open, not the water district as previously stated. The table below has been updated. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Elections Office is notifying the public of a special three-day filing period from August 11
Art opening night | As We Are: Fracture, form, & myth of perfection
||| FROM TERA ANDAYA for MUST GALLERY ||| ART EXHIBIT OPENING NIGHT EVENT AS WE ARE: Fracture, Form & The Myth of Perfection Friday, August 8th, 6 PM Orcas Island Winery’s Must Gallery Must Gallery — the modern & contemporary pop-up gallery at Orcas Island Winery — and HALO are
Jurors excused August 4-8
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: AUGUST 4-8, 2025 All jurors summonsed for jury duty beginning Monday August 4 through Friday August 8 are excused. Thank you.
Larsen | Trade war with Canada harms Washington families
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP RICK LARSEN ||| Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “President Trump’s unnecessary trade war with Canada is hurting families and businesses in Northwest Washington state. As of last month, Canadian travelers from B.C. to Washington state via Whatcom County have
Public Health Department offers back to school immunization clinics
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| With the new school year just around the corner, San Juan County Health & Community Services is making it easier for families to get their children up to date on required vaccines. Throughout August, your local public health department will be holding a
Interested in discussing the potential property purchase on Decatur?
Join us for a Brown Bag Lunch ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Public Works Department is exploring an option to purchase additional property adjacent to the Davis Bay boat ramp and barge landing facility on Decatur Island. On June 24, Public Works entered into a
Senior Center | Hotdogs, ice cream and a big thank you
You helped make it happen. Now let's celebrate ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join us for a community celebration on Thursday, August 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Orcas Senior Center as we mark two major milestones—full ownership of our building and the purchase
Tango lessons and an afterparty coming to Orcas Center
|| FROM MARY TAYLOR for ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| The Latin Grammy Award-winning Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet headlines Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival’s opening weekend concerts on August 1 at 7:30pm and August 2 at 5:30pm, treating audiences to extraordinary tango music on the Orcas Center stage. After
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival August 1-16
||| FROM MARY TAYLOR for ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| A dynamic range of musical delights awaits attendees of Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival’s 28th Summer Concert Season, opening this weekend and continuing through August 16. Highlights include the premiere of a piano trio celebrating the beauty of Orcas
Pea Patch community campus update
Resource Center to stay in current Eastsound location ||| FROM SUZANNE OLSON for PEA PATCH COMMUNITY CAMPUS ||| The Pea Patch Community Campus is being created as a place on the island to meet basic human needs for food and shelter – and the wellbeing that grows from that stability. The
