Here’s a thought…
“We are not an endangered species ourselves yet, but this is not for lack of trying.”
DOUGLAS ADAMS
Butterflies Event at Odd Fellows Hall
Sunday, February 22nd, 2:00-3:30pm at Odd Fellows Hall ||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG for ODD FELLOWS HALL ||| Everyone seems to have heard about the Island Marble; but what about the Ochre Ringlet and Propertius Duskywing? Discover the amazing world of our islands' butterflies and moths with Kwiaht ecologist Russel Barsh and
Larsen joins entire WA delegation in supporting governor’s request for major disaster declaration to unlock individual assistance for WA flooding victims
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined Washington state’s entire congressional delegation in a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve Governor Bob Ferguson’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance to help repair state infrastructure damaged in December’s
Morris Plumbing & Heating announces new ownership
||| FROM SUSAN ANDERSON for MORRIS PLUMBING & HEATING ||| If you’ve ever built or remodeled a house on Orcas, replaced a failed water heater or had new kitchen/bath fixtures installed, chances are Morris Plumbing & Heating provided the service. “If it’s under your floor or behind your wall, we
Midnight Mutterings | The Mighty Hunter
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| Most of us have an evening meal at home, if we aren’t among the few who have dinner in a restaurant or bar nightly. Those of us who eat at home have various habits that ensure there are groceries ready to cook or
Sheriff’s Report | February 11 – 17, 2026
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 26-000841 Welfare Check 05:27:58 02/11/26 Lopez Island Deputies were dispatched to a Welfare Check. An individual was transported to PIMC for further evaluation. The incident was documented. 26-000846 Trouble Unknown 13:27:38 02/11/26 A Lopez Deputy responded to a 911
Letter to Editor | Decatur (who paid?) It’s not outright DECEPTION, but…..
||| FROM RIKKI SWIN |||
Salish Current | Contagious cancer poses possible threat to Salish Sea clams
Researchers monitor rare transmissible cancers spreading through two local species. ||| FROM THE SALISH CURRENT ||| What if cancer, already one of the deadliest diseases known to the animal kingdom, suddenly became contagious? The basket cockle (left) and the eastern soft-shell (right) have developed transmissible cancers. (Eli Voorhies /
Latest from Lekanoff | How your stories shape my work
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF ||| I want to be clear and transparent with you. At House Policy Cutoff, every Tribal-focused bill I sponsored or led has died. These bills addressed public safety, salmon recovery, emergency response, data sovereignty, justice system coordination, housing, and infrastructure—issues that directly
Public Health Hot Topic | Child and adolescent immunization schedule recommendations
West Coast Health Alliance, WA Department of Health, and San Juan County Health & Community Services continue to recommend the American Academy Pediatrics (AAP) Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Board of Health signed a letter reaffirming their commitment
Rep. Ramel | Facts Over Fear: Strengthening communities, advancing solutions, upcoming town halls
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. ALEX RAMEL ||| With four weeks remaining in this 60-day legislative session, I want to share an update on several priorities I’ve been working on at the Capitol – particularly tax fairness, cost-of-living pressures, climate action, and government accountability. These issues are often the
Port will meet on Monday
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, February 23rd at 4:00 p.m. online via Zoom and in-person at the airport terminal conference room. Access and agenda information can be found at portoforcas.com.
Red foxes on San Juan Island test positive for avian influenza
Please do not handle wildlife, especially if it looks sick. There are no reported human cases of avian influenza in San Juan County. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Two red foxes on San Juan Island have tested positive for avian influenza. At this time there are no confirmed human
WSF Weekly Report | John Vezina stands in for Steve Nevey
||| FROM JOHN VEZINA for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from John Steve’s out this week, delegating his authority, including the WSF Weekly Update, to me. I appreciate his trust and his modeling good leadership in using his leave and prioritizing his well-being. This has also made me reflective on
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.
Letter to Editor | Open letter to Legislature about WSF card surcharge
||| FROM BOB DISTLER ||| Washington State Ferries has announced that, beginning March 1, it will add a 3% surcharge to “all card transactions.” The so-called Durbin amendment to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act passed in 2010 specifically bars surcharges on debit card transactions, whether processed
Open letter to community from Sheriff Eric Peter
||| FROM SHERIFF ERIC PETER ||| Fellow community members, It is with a heavy heart that I share this message. Throughout my career and life, I have faced numerous injuries and health challenges that have led to several chronic conditions I manage each day. The past year, 2025, was especially
