Here’s a thought…
“Drama is life with the dull bits cut out.”
ALFRED HITCHCOCK
Free book event this Wednesday, July 22, at 6:30 pm at Darvill’s Bookstore
||| FROM AYN GAILEY for DARVILLS BOOKSTORE ||| Please join Michelle & Joel Levey, the founders of Wisdom at Work, International Center for Corporate Culture and Organizational Health, and the International Center for Contemplative Inquiry, for a conversation about their new book. The Leveys were invited by Pentagon leaders to develop the once-secret
Have a garden question? Ask an Orcas Master Gardener
Wednesday July 22nd at the Market Garden Nursery ||| FROM JULIA TURNEY and JAY LUCAS for ORCAS MASTER GARDENERS ||| Do you have a question about your soil, have a problem with your fruit tree, or are thinking about starting a garden? Is something bugging your plants, or you are
Eastsound Water Users Association reaches first-ever collective bargaining agreement with IBEW Local 77
||| FROM DAN BURKE for EASTSOUND WATER USERS ASSOCIATION ||| The Eastsound Water Users Association announced it has reached a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 77 on Friday, July 17, marking the first union contract in the association's history. The three-year agreement
LWVSJ Observer Corps | San Juan County Council, July 14, 2026
||| FROM BARBARA SHARP for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| Public Access Time: residents deplored a swastika recently painted on San Juan Island; supported the SJC Public Works Department on Shaw Island; and supported the Environmental Stewardship Department. The Council heard the Department of Community Development’s (DCD) recommendations for each
Charlie Porter quintet summer concert coming to Village Green
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center is proud to present its annual Summer Concert Series on the Village Green, bringing free, live music to the heart of Eastsound. This vibrant outdoor series, supported in part by Joe Brotherton and the Doe Bay team, celebrates community,
Letter to Editor | Jennifer Swanson is kind of candidate we need
||| FROM RHEA MILLER ||| Jennifer Swanson is a different kind of leader. She is the thoughtful listener sort and yet intrepid in her outreach. On the 4th of July, Jennifer drove her boat to Lopez, and despite the windy weather conditions after the parade, braved the white caps to
Stranded orca freed following coordinated response in Strait of Juan de Fuca
||| FROM KGW.COM ||| FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. A young killer whale that stranded on a beach in the Strait of Juan de Fuca freed itself Thursday after a coordinated response from Washington leaders. A team of trained biologists and wildlife veterinarians from the SeaDoc Society and The Whale Museum gathered
Larsen’s water resources bill clears committee hurdle
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02)’s Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026) passed out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by a unanimous vote of 66-0. The bipartisan, biennial bill protects Northwest Washington’s environment, supports
I’m Not the Church Lady | Who do I pray to?
I’m so confused ||| I'M NOT THE CHURCH LADY by ROSIE KUHN ||| Hello. Thank you for your call. Your prayers are important to us. Press 1 for Jesus, Press 2 for your Guardian Angel, Press 3 for prosperity and abundance, Press 4 for issues with people, pets and lost
Letter to Editor | Why we should all support Jennifer Swanson for Council
||| FROM SOOZ STAHL ||| Jennifer Swanson is an amazing community advocate who is well-versed in the history of our beautiful islands. In my many interactions with her, she has always been warm, welcoming, responsive and thoughtful. I'm very grateful to know her and was thrilled to learn that she's running
The room knew it | Katherine for Council
||| FROM ED ANDREWS ||| On July 15, the League of Women Voters held their Voter Forum in the heart of District 3, Lopez Island. In true Lopez fashion, it felt like the entire island was there, including an amazing contingent from Orcas. Okay, it wasn’t the entire island, but
Help inspire the next generation of scientists
||| FROM INGRID MATTSON for ORCAS ISLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY ||| Established in 2023, the Ken Gibbs Fund for Youth Science Education provides lasting support for science education at the Orcas Island Public Library. Funded entirely through community generosity, the endowment makes it possible to offer inspiring science programs, purchase educational
WSF Weekly Report
||| FROM JOHN VEZINA for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from John With my boss Steve on a well-deserved break, I’m using this space to share gratitude for colleagues – many of whom you never see – in this five-minute video. I hope you share not only my appreciation
Letter to Editor | Tiger Construction partially demolishes local beloved memorial garden
||| FROM MAURICE AUSTIN ||| While improvements to the Orcas Island High School parking lot proceed apace, it was nonetheless frustrating to see the much-beloved grape plant chopped down and several fence posts removed. This could have been planned. Why wasn’t it? Indeed, Tiger Construction seems to care less not
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.
Larsen releases statement on Trump’s election speech
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “The President’s speech tonight should be about lowering costs and creating jobs. Instead, he will continue spreading lies about American elections. The truth is simple: Donald Trump lost the
