Here’s a thought…
“If you put fences around people, you get sheep. Give people the room they need.”
WILLIAM L. MCKNIGHT
How does the new state budget impact San Juan County funding & programs?
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During the June 3 Council meeting, the County’s Lobbyist Josh Weiss, the County Manager Jessica Hudson, and the Deputy County Manager Tillery Williams, provided information about the potential financial impacts of the State’s newly adopted biennium budget. WA State’s new budget, spanning from
Guest Opinion | A muddle of disharmony
||| FROM STEVE ULVI ||| Opinions about potential solutions for our surprisingly gnarly islands issues are often at odds; from bated breath pleas for environmental preservation everywhere, to deep frustrations about continually restrictive development ordinances and the erosion of private property rights. Broad public agreement through comprehensive planning, streamlining processes
Understanding your Medicare Summary Notices
A crucial tool during Fraud Prevention Month ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| As we observe Fraud Prevention Month, there's no better time to highlight one of the most powerful tools Medicare beneficiaries have in the fight against health care fraud: your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN). These statements, which
Land Bank June 2025 meeting & agenda
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY CONSERVATION LAND BANK COMMISSION ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold a regular monthly meeting on June 20 , 2025 from 8:45am – 11:10am via Zoom. The meeting will also be available for in person public attendance at the Orcas Fire
Project Reminder | Bayhead Creek culvert project on Killebrew Lake Rd begins in September
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Construction on the Bayhead Creek Culvert Repair Project on Killebrew Lake Rd on Orcas Island will begin on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 and is expected to last until mid-October. The new project design significantly reduces the construction window from what was proposed in
Let’s protest Wednesday at noon | No war on Iran
||| FROM SHARON ABREU ||| IMPORTANT: Wed, June 18, 12 Noon in Eastsound: National Day of Protest -- NO war on Iran!! Corner of Main St. & North Beach Rd. (till 12:30 or 1:00, depending on how many people want to speak) - Please bring signs, take photos and videos and
California’s massive dam removal hit a key milestone. Now, there’s a problem
||| FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE ||| Last year, after the historic removal of four dams on the Klamath River, thousands of salmon rushed upstream into the long-blocked waters along the California-Oregon border, seeking out the cold, plentiful flows considered crucial to the fish’s future. The return of salmon to
County Council approves siting of an essential public facility on Shaw Island
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Earlier this month, Council voted to approve an ordinance allowing the siting of an Essential Public Facility (EPF) on Shaw Island to support the operations and maintenance of public transportation infrastructure on the island. The May 20, 2025 and June 3, 2025 Council meetings
Call for Artists at Orcas Center
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| The Visual Arts Committee (VAC) of Orcas Center is excited to announce the next community art show: Botanicals and Blooms with Featured Artist Zoe Osenbach in the lobby. Installation Day: Wednesday, June 25th from 10:15am-12pm Art Opening: Friday, June 27th from 5:30-7pm
Deer Harbor wildland fire | Follow-up
||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| On June 4th OIFR responded to a wildland fire on the west side of Orcas Island. The fire was initially spotted by kayakers and was approximately 100 sf in size. The cause of the fire was due to a
The world’s most-visited museum shuts down with staff sounding the alarm on mass tourism
||| FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ||| PARIS (AP) — The Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum and a global symbol of art, beauty and endurance, has withstood war, terror, and pandemic — but on Monday, it was brought to a halt by its own striking staff, who say the institution is
Through the Garden Gate, treasures you will find
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| A visit to someone else’s garden brings joy, inspiration and the opportunity to learn. I hope you have the opportunity to visit our garden tour this year. It’s a chance to consider different gardening styles, plant combinations and gain insight from other gardeners. Throughout your wanderings,
Larsen releases statement on World Cup 2026 travel
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Representative Rick Larsen, Co-Chair of the Congressional Soccer Caucus, released the following statement about the impact of President Trump’s travel ban on World Cup 2026: “I want World Cup 2026 to be a showcase of great soccer, and
Vacation Bible School at Orcas Island Community Church
||| FROM ALICIA WIGFIELD for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH ||| We’re excited for VBS 2025: True North – Trusting Jesus in a Wild World! When: July 7–10, 2025 Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Where: Orcas Island Community Church Registration forms are available in the Office, foyer, or Family Center. Please return the
Date Updated | Brasil in Motion brings Afro-Brazilian dance and music to Village Green
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center is thrilled to present Brasil in Motion, an award-winning Brazilian arts organization based in Seattle, in a vibrant outdoor performance on the Village Green Sunday, June 22 at 5pm. This free event is part of Orcas Center’s Summer Concert Series,
Justice Department says Trump can cancel national monuments that protect landscapes
||| FROM NPR ||| BILLINGS, Mont. — Lawyers for President Donald Trump's administration say he has the authority to abolish national monuments meant to protect historical and archaeological sites across broad landscapes, including two in California created by his predecessor at the request of Native American tribes. A Justice Department
