Here’s a thought…
“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.”
ANSEL ADAMS
Noxious Weeds | Does winter mean ‘time for a break’ or is it an opportunity?
Use this winter to get ahead of your weeds before the growing season hits. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| While winter conditions slow plant growth and may encourage us to stay indoors, this might be the best season to get on top of your noxious weeds. Consider the
Unscripted and Unleashed | Improv with Brian James O’Connell
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Improv isn’t just for the stage, it’s for every facet of your artistic life! Join Brian James O’Connell — actor, writer, director, producer, and creator of the ALL IMPROV guidebook and curriculum — as he guides you through a three-day workshop
Jennifer Swanson announces County Council candidacy
||| FROM THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT JENNIFER SWANSON ||| Jennifer Swanson is excited to announce her candidacy for the San Juan County Council, District 3. A longtime resident of Shaw Island, Jennifer lives in District 3 with her husband and is the mother of two college-aged children. Public service has
Guest Opinion | OPALCO and the double entendre
||| FROM RIKKI SWIN ||| I'd like to respond to the OPALCO criticism of my column regarding our high rates: Quoting OPALCO: " Krista from OPALCO here. This article is so rife with misinformation it’s hard to know where to start. You can disagree with OPALCO and some of our methodology,
Library display | See what Dave Kosiur has snapped around Orcas
||| FROM ANDREA COHEN for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Photographer Dave Kosiur’s work will be on display at the Orcas Island Library during the month of February. Dave’s exhibit, entitled The Little Things, is a departure from his usual landscape photography. In this work, he has focused, with a touch
Salish Sea Early Music returns in concert
||| FROM JEFFREY COHAN FOR SALISH SEA EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| Very special guests Ukrainian Olena Zhukova, coming directly from Kyiv. Canadian viola da gambist Susie Napper, and Canadian player of pardessus de viole Mélisande Corriveau, both coming from Montreal, will join baroque flutist Jeffrey Cohan in presenting France and
Two art exhibit openings in February at Orcas Center
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center’s Visual Arts Committee (VAC) presents two shows that will open on Friday, Feb. 13, and be on display through March 18. All are invited to a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to meet the artists, mingle and enjoy
Look at what’s coming up at Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Experience the Joy of Drumming Discover the joy of drumming with the Spirit of Drumming Group at Orcas Senior Center Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.! This beginner-friendly group focuses on exploring the elements of drumming. There’s no cost to participate—just bring a
Join the Ferry Riders Opinion Group
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| The Washington State Transportation Commission is inviting ferry riders and the public to join the Ferry Riders’ Opinion Group, or FROG. This group gives you a chance to share your ferry experiences and provide feedback that directly helps shape our service, operations, and fares. The commission uses
CWR | A sunny encounter with Bigg’s
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 10:50 AM ObservEnd: 11:30 AM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss, Katie Jones Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T34A, T34A2, T34B, T37, T37B, T37B1, and T37B3 LocationDescr: Satellite Channel EncSummary: After receiving a report of a large
Letter to Editor | Renewable energy done right
Powering our future without sacrificing our lands ||| FROM EVA SCHULTE for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| The Town of Friday Harbor approved an important proposal from the Port of Friday Harbor last week for a Marina Solar Parking Canopy project, which has the dual benefit of soaking up
In Memoriam | David Schmillen, 1947-2025
||| FROM INGRID MATTSON ||| David Schmillen, born September 14, 1947, passed away December 29, 2025. He was a member of our Orcas Island community beginning in the early 1970s and was always a character, literally. In 1971 he performed in the Orcas Players Man Who Came to Dinner and
As the Paradigm Shifts | There’s a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on
||| AS THE PARADIGM SHIFTS by ROSIE KUHN ||| I don’t know about you, but there’s a whole lot of shaking going on inside me. Sure, the world around us is quaking with change — political, environmental, social — but there’s also an inner tremor, a visceral, emotional, mental, even
Sheriff’s Report | January 21 – 27, 2026
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21 26-000405 Attempted Suicide 07:39:54 01/21/26 An Orcas Island Deputy and Orcas Island Fire and Rescue responded to a mental health crisis. The subject of the incident was transported to a hospital for an evaluation. The Deputy contacted the Mobile
Letter to Editor | Make your voice heard
||| FROM SHARON NELSON ||| I’m a resident of Orcas Island, and like you, I’ve watched as ICE and CBP have terrorized communities and ripped immigrant families apart targeting the most vulnerable rather than those engaging in criminal behavior. It’s been hard to know what to do. But, following the
Reminder | SJC Master Gardeners native plant sale still open for online orders
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ||| The San Juan County Master Gardeners remind island residents that the 2026 Native Plant Sale is in full swing, with online ordering open now through March 9, 2026, or until stock sells out. Many favorites are still available, but several species are
