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
Port of Orcas to hold public meeting
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| PORT OF ORCAS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on Monday, July 28, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. at the airport terminal conference room, 147 Schoen Lane, Eastsound, WA 98245, to amend
West Sound fire now extinguished
||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| At 12:50 pm on July 14, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources formally closed the call for the West Sound Fire, which began on July 8. The fire has been fully extinguished, and all equipment, personnel and resources
Scientists use cutting-edge satellite technology to reveal dangers whales face on daily basis | ‘A growing concern’
||| FROM MSN.COM ||| A comprehensive, high-tech satellite map exposed the daily dangers whales face — and they're caused by humans. What's happening? With satellites, photo identification, and indigenous knowledge, over 50 research institutions around the world banded together to create whale migration maps. Founded in part by the World
As state heats up, Weather Service warns wildfire smoke headed to Whatcom County
||| FROM BELLINGHAM HERALD ||| Bellingham and Whatcom County residents could be seeing the first wildfire smoke of summer Monday night as most of Washington bakes in an extended heat wave. A heat advisory in in effect through Wednesday night for Western Washington, according to the National Weather Service in
It’s a stunning Scottish Isle. Good luck getting on or off
With aging ferries delayed sometimes for days, life goes haywire on an island in the Outer Hebrides ||| FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES ||| The text message arrived with an ominous ping as I drove north through a rugged Scottish valley to catch the next day’s boat to the spectacular,
Orcas Center presents Bobby Bare Jr. and Mars FM in free summer concert
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center is excited to announce a special performance featuring Bobby Bare Jr. and Mars FM on Sunday, July 20, at 5:00 PM on the Village Green. This free event is part of the Summer Concert Series event presented by Orcas Center,
Olga Daze returns
Saturday, July 19 10:00am to 2:00pm ||| FROM SUSAN GORDON for OLGA DAZE ||| Festivities begin in front of the Community Center at 10:00am. Come for breakfast at the bake sale, featuring the world famous maple bars made on the spot. Stay for lunch then come back to the bake sale for dessert.
Orcas Christian students to embark on service-focused mission trip to Hawaii
||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| This coming school year, students from Orcas Christian School will have the opportunity to broaden their horizons and put their faith into action during a mission trip to Hilo, Hawaii. The trip, scheduled for the spring, will take students to Mauna Loa School, where
Columbia Basin’s salmon are in hot water, literally, says report from Save Our Wild Salmon
Fish face a ‘triple threat’ in the Columbia River: Rising temperatures, stagnant water and toxic algae ||| FROM THE COLUMBIAN ||| Environmental group Save Our Wild Salmon released its first Columbia River Hot Water Report of the year Wednesday, as water temperatures throughout the basin this year have already surpassed
Midnight Mutterings | Gardens and another island
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| I didn’t grow up with gardens, though I did get lost in a cornfield when I was three or four years old. I’ve never had a good sense of direction, but that was the first time I knew I was lost, the first
Sheriff’s Report | July 2 – 8, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, JULY 2 25-004112 Theft 16:14:57 07/02/25 A Lopez Island Deputy was dispatched to a theft call. The incident was documented, and the investigation is ongoing. 25-004125 Domestic Dispute or Assault 22:02:33 07/02/25 Deputies on San Juan Island responded to the Emergency
Washington State Ferries launches largest hybrid-electric ferry in North America
||| FROM MY NORTHWEST.COM ||| Washington State Ferries took delivery of its first hybrid-electric ferry. The Wenatchee, already one of the largest boats in the fleet, is now the most technologically advanced ferry in the fleet. The conversion cost $133 million and makes the Wenatchee the largest hybrid-electric ferry in
Community Foundation | New LEAD grant program
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| For 30 years, the Orcas Island Community Foundation has focused on encouraging and supporting local philanthropy and strengthening nonprofit organizations. Anniversaries are a good time to reflect upon and celebrate the past, clearing the way for renewal and fresh energy.
Nantucket’s workers are living on the margins
Teachers, police officers, firefighters and other workers live in overcrowded and substandard housing, or even in their cars on the beach. ||| FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES ||| The median home price in Nantucket is currently around $2.5 million, which is out of reach for many of the people who
Celebration of life, open mic
||| FROM LOLA APPLEGATE |||
WSF Weekly Report | Wenatchee soon to be in service; requesting feedback on fare changes; SR20 delays in Anacortes
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve We’re excited to share the Wenatchee will return to service next week as our first hybrid-electric ferry. It will run part-time in the evenings on our Seattle/Bainbridge route, before returning to full-time service by the end of
