Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Join The Whale Museum for Orca Sing 2025 at Lime Kiln
||| FROM CONOR AGNEW for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| Join your friends and neighbors at Lime Kiln Point State Park on Saturday, June 21 at 7:00 PM for Orca Sing 2025! Bring your friends, family, and a picnic to enjoy the beauty of the park and surrounding marine environment while
Retired NOAA scientist speaks out on future of orca recovery
||| FROM KING-TV 5 ||| SEATTLE — A longtime federal scientist is raising concerns about the future of Southern Resident Killer Whale recovery efforts. This comes after she stepped away from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) after a 25-year long career. Lynne Barre spent more than two decades
Over 50 federal, state, local first responders prepare for oil spill response
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| This week, the Islands Oil Spill Association (IOSA) hosted a two-day training that pulled together volunteers and representatives from numerous federal, state, tribal, and local agencies and a handful of spill industry partners to practice oil spill response strategies. Staff from the County’s
Letter to Editor | It’s time to push back, end data center incentives in Washington State
||| FROM ELISABETH ROBSON ||| It's time the citizens of this county, and of Washington State more broadly, start pushing back hard against Washington State's tax incentives to data centers and other electricity-intensive industries. These incentives include sales and use tax exemptions for eligible data centers on purchases of server equipment and
WSF Weekly Report | Family ties; New thermal imaging camera for Orca Action Month
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve For many of my colleagues, Washington State Ferries is so much more than just a place to work – it's family. A lot of our employees are part of a maritime tradition in which generations of parents,
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.
OPALCO Eastsound office temporarily relocating starting June 23 during roof renovation
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| The roof of OPALCO’s 1970s built Eastsound headquarters office has reached the end of its life. Increasing structural issues with the original roof pose some safety concerns, so it is time for a renovation. During this necessary maintenance period,
How do we grow food — and resilience — in an uncertain world?
||| FROM KEVIN CONNOLLY for SAN JUAN ISLAND GRANGE ||| Islanders can explore this question at an upcoming free community program hosted by San Juan Island Grange #966, part of the Island Resilience Third Thursday Community Program Series: “Four Season Gardening for an Uncertain World: How to Grow Your Own
Stay healthy with Medicare’s free preventive services
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| In the world of health care, taking care of your health before problems pop up or become severe is very important. That's where Medicare comes in. Medicare helps you stay healthy by covering many preventive services, often at no cost. Original
LWVSJ Observer Corps | County Council June 3, 2025
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| The Council proclaimed June as Pride Month noting the challenging times for the LGBTQ community and the commitment of the county to be safe and welcoming for all. Representatives from the SI Pride Foundation and the Orcas Island Pride spoke
Letter to Editor | HolliWalk update from SJC Home Trust
||| FROM AMANDA LYNN and PAUL FISCHBURG for SJC HOME TRUST ||| An open letter to the San Juan Island community from the Home Trust: As we enter the month of June 2025, the families living in our HolliWalk neighborhood still cannot purchase their homes. On May 9th, two years
New Island Health clinic, big impact
||| FROM ISLAND HEALTH CONNECTIONS ||| Island Health is proud to announce the opening of Island Orthopedics, a new clinic focused on full-spectrum orthopedics, from sports-related injuries to joint replacement. Located at 2720 Commercial Avenue, the new facility is designed to meet the growing demand for advanced orthopedic services in
San Juan Islands Museum of Art celebrates summer with Shapeshifters
An Exhibition of Contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous Art and Culture ||| FROM WENDY SMITH for SAN JUAN ISLANDS MUSEUM OF ART || The San Juan Islands Museum of Art is proud to present Shapeshifters – a major exhibition of contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous art, June 13 – September 15, 2025,
Indivisible San Juan Islands will host NO KINGS DAY
||| FROM INDIVISIBLE SAN JUAN ISLANDS ||| Indivisible San Juan Islands — a local group in the national Indivisible.org network — is hosting the following at the San Juan County Courthouse: WHAT: NO KINGS DAY EVENT, Breaking Bread with Neighbors WHO: Indivisible San Juan Islands WHEN: SATURDAY, JUNE 14th, 2025
OIFR Town Hall scheduled for Wednesday, June 11 to present apparatus, facilities funding needs
||| FROM CHIEF CHAD KIMPLE for ORCAS FIRE & RESCUE ||| Orcas Island Fire and Rescue (OIFR) has always been there for our community—responding to emergencies, protecting homes, and providing lifesaving care. As the demands on our fire district grow and its infrastructure ages, OIFR is turning to the community
Hats Off to You | Orcas Senior Center’s fancy hat contest awaits
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Mark your calendars and fluff those feathers—Orcas Senior Center’s annual fundraiser, Let’s Brunch!, is back on Sunday, June 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This year’s event promises more flair, more fun, and, most importantly, some fabulous headwear at the
