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Darrell Kirk photo.
Amber Paulsen, Executive Director of the Kaleidoscope Forest School on Orcas Island, the nation’s first forest school. Amber is also part of ECEI.

Top News

Islands rise to the challenge: Early childhood education fights for its future

As state and federal funding shrinks, San Juan County school districts and nonprofits are finding creative ways to…

Contributed photo.
PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center.

News

PeaceHealth Peace Island earns Level III stroke certification

Submitted by PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center.

Contributed photo.
Kristina Girvan’s Octavius.

Life

FHHS art student wins Governor’s Choice Award

Submitted by the San Juan Island School District.

Darrell Kirk photo.
Sacred Sunrise Ceremony at Mount Constitution during the Gathering on the Eagles in late May of this year.

Life

Sacred languages discussed on sacred TiLeqw-iLhch during Gathering of the Eagles

At TiLeqw-iLhch (Haida Point) on Orcas Island, on May 21, during the sixth annual Gathering of the Eagles,…

Contributed photo by Kaffeebart

News

Shared roads, shared responsibility

By Savannah Waugh

Coach Kevin Cullen, center, with Hazel Leighton, left, and Norah Leighton, right.

Sports

Tennis doubles team made it to state

Wolverine tennis doubles players Norah and Hazel Leighton made it to the state championship in Yakima, Washington, over…

Contributed photo
Dana Alkebu-Lan’s Luminous Gallery | Studio.

Life

Artists open their doors during the Studio Tour

By Marieke Danniau

Jason Butterfield photo.
A WSF ferry.

News

Washington State Ferries sails into 75th anniversary

By Brian Vail

Lopez Fire and EMS photo.
On May 23, Lopez Island Fire and EMS responded to a wildland fire.

News

Port Stanley Road wildland fire: Lopez brush fire renews call for preparedness

On Saturday, May 23, at 10:43 a.m., Lopez Island Fire and EMS responded to a wildland fire in…

Contributed photo.
A drone shot is of a young humpback whale, Starry Knight, who was entangled twice last summer. This photo was taken on Aug. 21, 2025, as responders from TWM and Cascadia Research Collective were cutting the lines off the flukes. White lines across the body are scars where lines had been at one point. In both responses, the lines were only wrapped around Starry Knight’s peduncle and flukes.

Life

See a marine mammal tangled, call the Response Program

When a juvenile humpback whale twice found itself wrapped in fishing gear, a Steller sea lion nearly died…

Darrell Kirk photo.
The ferry docks at the Orcas terminal.

News

Ferry hopes adrift

The waters around San Juan County’s ferry future grew considerably choppier over the last few months, as three…

Ron Tilley manning the booth at the San Juan Transfer Station.

News

Myth busted: SJI recycling

Myth busted: SJI recycling

Contributed photos.

Life

Lions help build a garden gate for school

Submitted by the Lions Club.