Here’s a thought…
“Peace is not something we ask for — it’s something we practice, together.”
WALK FOR PEACE
Seedy Saturday celebrates seed sharing and community traditions
||| FROM SAN JUAN ISLAND GRANGE ||| The San Juan Island Grange will host the Fourth Annual Seedy Saturday, Saturday, January 31, from 2-4pm, offering a free, community seed swap rooted in long-standing traditions of seed sharing and local self-reliance. By gathering locally to exchange seeds, participants pass along locally adapted
Protect yourself in the New Year | Respiratory illness reminders
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS. ||| Each year, respiratory illnesses are responsible for millions of illnesses and thousands of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. In addition to the virus that causes influenza (flu), there are many other types of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus
Fingerstyle guitarist to take journey through strings, stories at Orcas Center
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Experience the spellbinding artistry of Hiroya Tsukamoto, a master of fingerstyle guitar and evocative storytelling that transcends cultural boundaries. Praised by Acoustic Guitar Magazine for his “delicate, fluid, and beautifully details” style, Hiroya’s music weaves intricate melodies with poetic narratives, creating
Letter to Editor | An open letter to Eastsound Water Users
||| FROM DAN GOTTLIEB ||| In June of 2024, my wife was assaulted in the parking lot of Eastsound Water. In October 2024, Eastsound Water’s insurance company acknowledged the claim. In March 2025, the insurer sent us a letter saying they were still waiting for two documents from Eastsound Water
No Place Like Loam | A woman at work in the garden
Defiance Part 2 ||| NO PLACE LIKE LOAM by ALEX TAMAYA-WOLF ||| The Order to Appear When the German leader—that one—rolled through Zirndorf, Germany with his lacquered cavalcade and pillbox mustache, the village was expected to fold itself into awe. The order had gone out: come to the street, stand
Olga Strawberry Council annual meeting on Tuesday
||| FROM SELBY LIGHTHILL for OLGA STRAWBERRY COUNCIL ||| The Olga Strawberry Council Board of Directors will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, January 13, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will include a brief review of the past year and a look ahead to ongoing stewardship and maintenance of
Letter to Editor | So, you are thinking about investing in silver or gold?
||| FROM ROBERT AUSTIN ||| Some of you may have noticed that the price of gold and silver has gone a little bit crazy, of late. For example, silver, which rarely has changed much in value, suddenly leapt briefly towards $80 an ounce, before settling back to a still-very-high $70
OICF Leadership, Excellence, Advancement, and Development (LEAD) grant program application period now open
||| FROM KIM WEST ACTKINSON for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| The Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) is excited to announce that applications are now being accepted for the Winter 2026 Leadership, Excellence, Advancement, and Development (LEAD) Grant Program. The LEAD Grant Program, which first launched in Summer 2025, was created
Library features works of Jessie McConville
||| FROM ANDREA COHEN for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The Orcas Library is exhibiting the work of artist Jessie McConville in the month of January. Jessie has titled her show Always Something, because, she says, “there is always something to be grateful for, to learn, to experience, to contribute to, and to
Chair yoga, ukulele, fidget quilts at Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Ukulele Kanikipila: Join the Musical Fun Experience the joy of making music at Ukulele Kanikipila, Hawaiian for "play music," Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m. at Orcas Senior Center. This gathering is open to everyone with an interest in playing music
Orcas student, Thurmond Russell earns silver medal in Bach Festival International
||| FROM MICHELE RUSSELL ||| Thurmond Russell, age 17, competed in the 2025 Bach Festival International in October, earning a silver medal for his age group in the Historically Informed Peformance Category. He chose to play Johann Sebastion Bach’s Toccata in E minor (BWV 914), a piece written fairly early
Rep. Alex Ramel | When D.C. pulls back, WA steps up
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. ALEX RAMEL ||| Ahead of the 2026 legislative session, my colleagues and I are staying focused on what matters most to our community: affordability, a fair tax system, and holding the line against federal rollbacks. Your continued engagement is essential to ensuring we effectively
Join in Women’s March | Walking Out for America
||| FROM BETH HELSTIEN ||| Please join me in the Women's March Walking Out for America on Tuesday, January 20 at 2 PM at the San Juan County Courthouse. Join a short "walkout" (as in "strike") from work, school or other commitments to say you oppose fascism and support democracy.
Community lunch marks one year anniversary
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for COMMUNITY LUNCH ||| The Community Lunch will be celebrating a year of shared meals on Tuesday January 20th. Every Tuesday for the past year, a home cooked meal has been provided to the community from 12-1:30 downstairs in the Community Church. Thanks to the many
CWR logs first encounter with K47
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 01:13 PM ObservEnd: 02:26 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Other Observers: George Hamilton Pods: K IDsEncountered: K14, K20, K27, K35, K36, K37, K42, K43, K45, K47 LocationDescr: Hein Bank EncSummary: Mark and George were getting ready to
WSF online community meetings coming up
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| We’re hosting two online community meetings on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. This is your chance to share feedback and ask us questions. Each meeting will start with a short presentation that looks back at 2025 and previews our 2026
