Here’s a thought…
“I don’t know why we are here, but I’m pretty sure that it is not in order to enjoy ourselves.”
LUDWIG WITTGENSTEIN
News Brief | The ocean is no longer pure: Scientists find human chemistry woven into the seas
||| FROM THE DAILY MAVERICK ||| If an alien civilisation arrived on Earth and dipped a probe into the ocean, what would it find? These substances are no longer just contaminants drifting through the water. They are part of the water’s chemistry. Traditionally, scientists searched for a limited list of
Letter to Editor | No on levy lid lift
||| FROM CINDY CARTER ||| San Juan County is requesting a levy lid lift to $.85/$1000 of property value. The statement on the county website is the same levy rate that was approved in 2019. What they fail to mention is that in 2019, from the San Juan Assessor’s information,
Peace to All Nations Tour coming to Odd Fellows
||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG for ORCAS ODD FELLOWS ||| Peace to All Nations Tour featuring Adrian Xavier & Ska Island bringing reggae, ska, and dub.to the Odd Fellows Hall on April 17. The event will also include performances by local favorites Minnow Creek and DJ Blazey Blaze. Doors open at 8:00pm. Tickets: $15 in advance
Letter to Editor | We need code updates. Code updates need the county levy lift
||| FROM CHRIS & CHOM GREACEN ||| A “yes” vote on the levy lid lift is a vote to protect the core services that make island life possible: public safety, public health, senior services, and the basic infrastructure of local government. San Juan County faces a projected $3.7 million shortfall
Larsen welcomes major disaster declaration for NW Washington, urges fast relief for flood-hit families, communities
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| EVERETT, WA – Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) today welcomed the Major Disaster Declaration for Washington state following the severe storms and flooding that hit the state in December. “This is great news for the Northwest Washington communities that were hit hard
Conservation Land Bank Commission travels to Orcas Island for upcoming April 17 Meeting
The meeting will be held at the Orcas Island Fire Station ||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for CONSERVATION LAND BANK COMMISSION ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold its regularly scheduled April 17 meeting on Orcas Island. The meeting is scheduled from 8:30am – 11:10am via Zoom.
Sheriff’s Report | April 1 – 6, 2026
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 26-001773 Communications Problem 09:11:50 04/01/26 An Orcas Island Deputy responded to a scam attempt. The Deputy learned that a new scam involves the scammer calling and claiming to have your family member held hostage until you pay a ransom.
We are all in this together
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| As the world watched the historic Artemis II mission around the moon this week, the awestruck crew shared unifying words for us, “ultimately, we will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.” said Christina Koch. Victor Glover shared,
Free financial workshop to empower Orcas Island seniors
||| FROM COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| The Orcas Community Resource Center invites community members to attend a free workshop, "Smart Money Strategies for Seniors," on Wednesday, April 22nd at 1:00 PM at the Orcas Senior Center. This informative session is designed to help seniors feel confident and informed about their
Student art exhibit coming to Orcas Center
||| FROM D. N. KINSEY for ORCAS CENTER ||| To celebrate our island youth, a four-week Student Art Exhibit is being hosted at the Orcas Center from April 24 - May 26, 2026. All are invited to attend this annual exhibit which features a wide variety of artwork created in
Letter to Editor | Vote no on Proposition No. 1
A Permanent, Regressive Property Tax ||| FROM SEAN DEMERITT ||| I am a lifelong Democrat. I have voted yes on levies when they are clear, honest, and benefit the whole community, like our fire department levy, which had a sunset clause and a specific purpose everyone could see. I am
Pea Patch awarded $824,000 from state budget
Thanks to Rep. Debra Lekanoff for her sponsorship and support ||| FROM SUZANNE OLSON for PEA PATCH COMMUNITY CAMPUS ||| When Governor Ferguson signed the capital budget last week, it included $824,000 for completion of the first phase of site work for the Pea Patch Community Campus! This means that
San Juan Preservation Trust seeks executive assistant to support growing conservation mission
||| FROM CHARLOTTE CHEVALIER for SAN JUAN PRESERVATION TRUST ||| The San Juan Preservation Trust (SJPT) is seeking a full-time executive Assistant (EA) to support its Executive Director (ED) as the organization enters a new chapter of growth in island conservation. Founded in 1979, the Preservation Trust has worked alongside
Coming to Odd Fellows | Women who step up, not aside
||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG for ODD FELLOWS ||| In this event, sponsored by Humanities Washington Speakers series, part music performance and part talk—acoustic music trio Trillium-239 shares songs and stories of trail-breaking women like Marie Curie, Harriet Tubman, Malala Yousafzai, Annie Oakley, and others. What drove them to step out of their
WSF Weekly Report | Women’s Transportation Seminar; WSDOT Worker Memorial; Summer schedule;
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve Last Thursday, nine of our women leaders and my deputy represented Washington State Ferries at the Women’s Transportation Seminar Puget Sound Chapter Awards and Scholarships Gala. The event celebrates the significant contributions women make in transportation. It
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.
