Here’s a thought…
“When the last tree is cut, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted; when to breathe the air is sickening, you will realize, too late, that wealth is not in bank accounts and that you can’t eat money.”
ALANIS OBOMSAWIN
Learn to fly in 2027
Three OAA scholarships now open ||| FROM ALLAN TONE for ORCAS AVIATION ASSOCIATION ||| Have you ever watched a small plane lift off Runway 34 at Orcas Island Airport and thought, “That could be me”? This year, it really could — and the island needs you up there. The Orcas
Take charge of your health at upcoming Senior Center screening
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Life Line Screening will be at Orcas Senior Center on Thursday, October 22 offering safe, painless, and non-invasive preventive health screenings—services not typically included in a routine physical. By participating, you can take a proactive step toward protecting your health and
All San Juan County beaches closed to recreational shellfish harvesting
Due to high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison, all beaches are closed until further notice ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| As of Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has closed recreational shellfish harvesting in San Juan County due to unsafe levels of Paralytic
No jurors required, October 5-9
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: OCTOBER 5-9, 2026 All jurors summonsed for Jury Duty beginning October 5th, 2026 are excused. Thank you.
Letter to Editor | Swanson will be a great addition to county council
||| FROM CAROL CRISS ||| I endorse Jennifer Swanson for County Council. She is a great listener, and strives for communication, not conflict, to resolve issues. She has worked to better our community through communication and respectful dialog. She considers all sides of an issue before making a decision, and
Orcas Youth Chorus is back
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Don't miss this fabulous opportunity to work with local musician, Stormy Hildreth, for a reboot of the Orcas Youth Chorus! Middle and High School Students are welcome to attend this weekly class on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 in the Black Box to expand their
Shoe Drive provides shoes for 60 island children
||| FROM ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| The Orcas Community Resource Center is grateful to continue its long-time partnership with the Sons of the American Legion through the annual Shoe Drive, which provided shoes for 60 island children this year. This ongoing effort helps ensure local children have comfortable, properly fitting shoes
Weather delays work at Port of Orcas
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| Due to weather conditions, the crew at Port of Orcas is shutting down operations, and we are taking a weather day. This delay will push the runway opening and extend the remaining soil placement and hydroseeding work through Thursday. Our current
Letter to Editor | My enthusiastic endorsement of Jennifer Swanson
||| FROM SHIRLEY SPRENGER LANGE ||| I have been a voter in San Juan County for more than 50 years and am writing to enthusiastically endorse Jennifer Swanson for County Commissioner. Jennifer and I worked together on the Shaw Island school board for several years. During her term as
Japanese music masters Také to Ito perform at Odd Fellows
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS ISLAND ODD FELLOWS ||| The sounds of traditional and contemporary Japanese music come to Orcas Island when Také to Ito, featuring koto master Curtis Patterson and shakuhachi master Bruce Huebner, perform at Odd Fellows Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 8. Také to
Letter to Editor | Candidate’s dreams are spendy
||| FROM BILL WATSON ||| I read Katherine Ingman Bryant’s goals to improve health care services in San Juan County and was struck by one glaring omission: How much will all of this cost—and where will the money come from? San Juan County is facing a serious budget crisis. Health Services have already
Leadership San Juan Islands to host open house
||| FROM GRETCHEN KRAMPF for LEADERSHIP SAN JUAN ISLANDS ||| Leadership San Juan Islands invites you to an Alumni & Applicant Open House on Thursday, October 8, at 285 Geneste Street, Friday Harbor, between 3:30 and 7:00 PM. Join us for savories, sweets, libations and lively conversation. Hosted by our
Letter to Editor | Ingman has our full support
||| FROM TAM PAYNTER and DAVID PAYNTER ||| This is to share how my husband and I know Katherine Bryant Ingman candidate for San Juan County Council District 3, and why she has our full support. We first met Katherine when we began to volunteer at the Lopez Food Share
County to test vote counting equipment in October
Testing will take place on October 6, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Elections Office will be holding a “Logic and Accuracy” test of ballot tabulating equipment used for the County’s November 3, 2026, General election. The test is scheduled for October 6,
Our first wind advisory of the season
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| Wind Advisory Tue 2:00 AM - Tue 2:00 PM WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 2 PM PDT TUESDAY WHAT South wind 20 to 30 mph with gusts 40 to 45 mph expected. WHERE Lowlands of Western Whatcom County and San
OISD Strategic Planning | Building our future together
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island School District is beginning a new Strategic Planning process to help shape the future of our schools. The goal is to celebrate what’s working, identify opportunities for growth, and establish clear priorities that improve experiences and outcomes for students. Your voice
