Here’s a thought…
“The things we admire in men — kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling — are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest — sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest — are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first, they love the produce of the second.”
JOHN STEINBECK
The fastest way to solve a jigsaw puzzle
||| FROM INTERESTING FACTS ||| Jigsaw puzzles originated as an educational tool in 18th-century England, but over time they evolved into an enduringly popular hobby that aids relaxation, instills a sense of accomplishment, and — according to some studies — may improve focus and spatial reasoning. Indeed, there’s something meditative about
‘Nothing left’ | Irish whale-watching company closes amid ‘overfishing’
Sprat fishing has disrupted the food chain and diverted humpback, minke and fin whales as well as dolphins ||| FROM THE GUARDIAN ||| A whale-watching company has abandoned tours off Ireland’s southern Atlantic coast and declared the waters an empty, lifeless sea. Colin Barnes, who ran Cork Whale Watch, announced
Groundwater is rapidly declining in the Colorado River Basin, satellite data show
||| FROM L.A. TIMES ||| New research based on satellite data shows the depletion of groundwater in the Colorado River Basin far exceeds losses from the river’s reservoirs. Scientists say overpumping is leading to alarmingly rapid declines in groundwater at a time when climate change is putting growing strains on
It’s happening at Orcas 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
Two exciting events with author & nature illustrator Robin Lee Carlson
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Two exciting events with author & nature illustrator Robin Lee Carlson on Orcas Island! Sun, June 8 @ 5pm – Join the Orcas Island Library & Garden Club for a fascinating talk on The Light Eaters, exploring plant intelligence and the mysteries of the natural world. Mon,
Pearl Django brings world-class gypsy jazz to Orcas Center
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Prepare for an unforgettable evening of swing, style, and sensational musicianship as Pearl Django, one of the country’s most celebrated gypsy jazz ensembles, takes the stage at Orcas Center on Thursday, June 6 at 7pm, presented by the Orcas Island Jazz Festival.
‘It’s devastating’ | Skagit River summer-fall Chinook population expected to hit 15-year low
With Chinook continuing to slide toward extinction, tribes of the Skagit Valley say more than ever, Seattle needs to stop blocking salmon with its Skagit River dams. ||| FROM KING-TV SEATTLE ||| SKAGIT COUNTY, Wash. — The population of summer-fall Chinook salmon expected this year on Washington's Skagit River will
Help stop invasive marine crabs: Join a molt search training
||| FROM ELISE COPE for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| Friends of the San Juans invites you to help protect the Salish Sea’s marine ecosystem by learning how to identify and report European green crab molts (shed shells) on local beaches. Once trained as a community science volunteer, you’ll
Artworks featured artist for June is Marjorie Taylor
||| FROM BJ ARNOLD for ORCAS ISLAND ARTWORKS ||| Orcas Island Artworks is proud to present a new feature wall by multidisciplinary artist Marjorie Taylor, a former psychology professor whose passion for creativity and unconventional materials has earned international acclaim. The display offers a fresh departure from her popular “vegan
New Garden Club member opportunity | Book Club
OIGC Member's Book Club Sunday, June 8, 5 p.m. at the Orcas Public Library ||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Calling all garden lovers and book enthusiasts! We are excited to announce the launch of the Orcas Island Garden Club’s very own Book Club — a space where we’ll
‘Worlds of Color’ art show at Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Visit Orcas Senior Center, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, May 5 through the end of June, to experience Worlds of Color—a vibrant two-person art exhibition featuring local artists Susan Slapin and Gail Anderson-Toombs. Gail, a self-taught
Join us at upcoming Leadership San Juan Islands informational open houses
||| FROM GRETCHEN KRAMPF for LEADERSHIP SAN JUAN ISLANDS ||| Leadership San Juan Islands (LSJI) has begun recruiting for Class XVII, running from November 2025 through April 2026. Information and the application are available on our website. Candidates, from across the Islands, will be selected based upon the following criteria:
Larsen requests nearly $37 Million for 15 local projects in Fiscal Year 2026 spending bill
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) has requested $36,773,695 for 15 local projects in the Fiscal Year 2026 spending bill. Larsen submitted the requests to the House Appropriations Committee as the Committee begins work on legislation to fund the federal
Sheriff’s Report | May 21 – May 27, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, MAY 21 25-002966 Traffic Violation 09:24:22 05/21/25 Orcas Island Deputies responded to a report of a traffic offense. The reporting party stated that a driver had driven through a work zone. The suspect was contacted, and the incident was documented. 25-002967
Summer is calling
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| The first few days of warmer weather have finally arrived and the summer calendar of community events is filling up. I love this feeling of anticipation of what’s to come - the school year ending, spring greens popping up in
The Orcas Grange welcomes you
Grow Together with Our Community Arts & Agriculture Hub ||| FROM PARKER PAVITT for ORCAS ISLAND GRANGE ||| The Orcas Grange #964, an island institution since 1931, is excited to celebrate another year of community togetherness, learning, and sharing. The Orcas Grange strengthens individuals, families, and communities through grassroots action,
