Here’s a thought…
“What are we doing, and why?”
AMANDA CARPENTER
News Brief | More Whales at Niagara Falls Marineland will die
||| FROM CHCH ||| "More whales at Niagara Falls’ Marineland will die without urgent action, expert says" Originally reported by CHCH "After the whale death toll rose again recently, experts say whatever is done must be done urgently before more of the whales die." Read the full article
Have a garden question? Ask an Orcas Master Gardener
Now at the Market Garden Nursery ||| FROM JULIA TURNEY for ORCAS MASTER GARDENERS ||| Do you have a question about your soil, have a problem with your fruit tree, or are thinking about starting a garden? Is something bugging your plants, or you are curious about identifying a plant or insect? Master
News Brief | ‘We have a duty’ to protect our national forests
||| FROM CASCADIA DAILEY ||| "Saturday rally raises awareness about Roadless Rule change" Originally reported by Cascadia Daily "If the Trump administration is successful, the Roadless Rule repeal would allow for road building and logging activity across 58 million acres of national forest across the country. Around 400,000 acres in
In Memoriam | James A. Seeley, 1935 – 2025
||| FROM ALEX MACLEOD ||| Dr. James A. Seeley On July 4th, we lost our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Dr. James A. Seeley. Jim passed away peacefully at his home in Medina, three months shy of his 90th birthday after recently being diagnosed with lung cancer. Jim
Guest Opinion | Human intelligence research lab, amid LLMs?
||| ||| FROM DAVID STEPHEN ||| There is a recent [September, 1, 2025] report on SciTechDaily, “AI Is Not Intelligent at All” – Expert Warns of Worldwide Threat to Human Dignity, stating that, “AI is not intelligent in any human sense at all. It is a triumph in engineering, not in cognitive
News Brief | 14 wildfires continue to burn across state
||| FROM SEATTLE TIMES ||| "14 large wildfires burn across Washington as crews face rugged terrain, shifting weather" Originally reported by Seattle Times "State officials report 1,602 total fires in 2025, with 122,301 acres scorched as of Saturday, according to the Department of Natural Resources." Read the full article
Event | Island water at risk?
Local Experts Show How to Secure Our Future ||| FROM STEPHANIE PRIMA for SAN JUAN ISLAND GRANGE ||| Islanders from across the county are invited to join a free public panel on Thursday, September 19, 2025 at the San Juan Island Grange Hall. As summers grow hotter and drier, and
FH Film Fest | Hvaldimir screening, story of a Beluga Whale
||| FROM ELLEN ROBERTS and KAREN PALMER for FRIDAY HARBOR FILM FESTIVAL ||| Hvaldimir Screening FREE on September 12 at SJI Library and Lopez Island Library Bring your family and friends to enjoy the intriguing story of a beluga whale that was alleged to be a Russian military asset and
There is something especially for you at Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Chair Yoga: Enhancing Balance and Wellbeing for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Join us for Chair Yoga, a soothing practice tailored for seniors and those with disabilities, held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. This gentle technique incorporates the
OTILLO Swimrun returns to Orcas
||| FROM LARS FINANGER for OTILLO SWIM RUN ||| OTILLO Swimrun returns to Orcas Island on Sunday, September 14th for the 7th edition of the unique and grueling multisport event. The unique endurance race starts and finishes at the Rosario Resort offering easy access to the island's vast network of
Guest Opinion | Bear Gulch fire immigration arrests
||| FROM WAYNE FOURNIER, THURSTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER ||| Thurston County Commissioner Wayne Fournier, a longtime firefighter, issued a statement Wednesday concerning the recent immigration arrests at the Bear Gulch Fire: "What happened at the Bear Gulch Fire was not routine, and we should not pretend it was. I have spent
Auditions for ‘Kids Got Talent’ coming up at Orcas Center
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Auditions for Orcas Center’s youth talent show will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. on Center Stage. Bring your talent and show us your act! Your performance can incorporate anything from song and dance to skits
Common questions about Mammograms
NOTE: new web address! ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Worried about discomfort? Cost? Time? You’re not alone. Many women delay their mammograms because of fear or confusion. But here’s the truth: modern mammograms are fast, low-discomfort, and highly accurate. At Orcas Senior Center this September 22-24, 2025,
Midnight Mutterings | Snails
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| A few days ago I invited myself to join a neighbor (you know who you are) who was walking her dog on Obstruction Pass Rd. As we passed the county dock heading east up the hill, I saw a tiny yellow snail a
Helping student athletes stay in the game
||| SUBMITTED BY THE ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE TEAM || Thanks to a strong partnership between the Resource Center and the Orcas Island Booster Club, the Athletic Assistance Program ensures no student-athlete is sidelined due to financial barriers. For families juggling rising expenses, it’s a game-changer! During the 24-25 school year,
Sheriff’s Report | August 27 – September 2, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27 25-005849 Court Order Violation 08:21:31 08/27/25 A San Juan Deputy took a third-party report of a potential court order violation. The incident is still under investigation. 25-005860 Fraud 12:46:06 08/27/25 A Lopez Deputy responded to a report of fraudulent
