Here’s a thought…
“There are many forms of patriotism and telling the truth is one of them.”
ANDERSON COOPER
New Pastor | You’re invited to Orcas Island Community Church
||| FROM ALICIA WIGFIELD for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH ||| Join us this Sunday, June 7, at 10:00 a.m., for a special morning of worship, fellowship, and celebration as we welcome Scott Harris, who will be bringing his first message as the new Senior Pastor of Orcas Island Community Church.
In Memoriam | Robert (Bob) Alden Littlewood
||| FROM ERICA LITTLEWOOD ||| Robert (Bob) Alden Littlewood Our world has lost a brilliant, kind, funny, and talented soul. Robert (Bob) Alden Littlewood died on April 29, 2026, near his home on Orcas Island, Washington. Bob was born in Hempstead, New York on March 24, 1930, to
School bus shuttle will be available for graduation
||| FROM SUZANNA SMITH for ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| Orcas Island School District is excited to celebrate the Class of 2026 on Saturday, June 13. To help make arrival easier for our guests during campus construction, a complimentary school bus shuttle will be available from 1:15 PM to approximately
What should you do if you’re offered free medical services?
||| FROM MARGARET MILLS ||| I called Medicare to report three attempted fraud calls in two days. Medicare sent me this reminder, maybe worth publishing in Orcasonian? Phone callers asked me to confirm that I had Medicare A & B - "In order to inform you about additional services" or
Another EWUA operator resigns
||| FROM CORY HARRINGTON ||| Today, June 3, 2026, another EWUA water operator submitted their resignation. Just days ago, more than 118 members signed an open letter requesting an independent third-party workplace investigation into interactions between management, the Board, and staff. The request followed a May 19 Board meeting attended
Get help paying for Medicare
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Are you having trouble affording the medical care you need? If you are on Medicare, there are three programs that can help: Medicaid (called Apple Health in Washington state) The Medicare Savings Program (also called MSP, and Apple Health in Washington state)
No jurors needed for June 8-12
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: JUNE 8-12, 2026 All jurors summonsed for the Jury Period beginning Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12, 2026 are excused. Thank you.
Have a garden question? Ask an Orcas Master Gardener
Saturday June 6th 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
San Juan County announces 2026 Home Fund notice of funds available
Applications will be accepted June 1 to July 13, and staff are available pre-application meetings now ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) has released a Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) for the 2026 funding round for the Home Fund program. Applications
Orca Action Month film series brings free documentary screenings to San Juans
Four Events. Six Documentary Films. One Urgent Story ||| FROM ELLEN ROBERTS & KAREN PALMER for ORCA ACTION MONTH ||| Throughout June the San Juan Islands are celebrating Orca Action Month with a remarkable series of free documentary film screenings dedicated to the story of the Southern Resident killer whales
Pamela Wright retirement set for June 20
||| FROM ALICIA WIGFIELD for ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT |||
Orcas Island Library invites community to 4th annual summer nature sketching event
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The Orcas Island Library is pleased to invite community members of all ages to its 4th Annual Summer Nature Sketching Event on Thursday, June 11, at 5:00 p.m. at the Orcas Island Library Park. Led by local biologist, naturalist, and nature
Larsen announces 2026 Congressional App Challenge
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced the launch of the 2026 Congressional App Challenge (CAC). The annual competition accepts entries through Monday, October 26, 2026, is open to high school and middle school students who live in or attend school in Washington state’s 2nd congressional district. The
Rooted in Community | Leadership transition at Orcas Community Resource Center
||| SUBMITTED BY THE RESOURCE CENTER COMMUNICATIONS TEAM ||| The Orcas Community Resource Center is preparing for a big transition as Holly Southern, Programs Director, sets out to begin a new chapter in Atlanta after more than six years with the organization and over a decade on Orcas Island. For
75 life-sized dorsal fins on display for Orca Action Month
A community art project to raise awareness for the endangered Southern Resident killer whales ||| FROM MOLLIE SEGALL for ORCA BEHAVIOR INSTITUTE ||| The non-profit Orca Behavior Institute (OBI) is leading a community art project where 75 artists are creating 75 life-size dorsal fins, one for each living Southern Resident
Is your boat ready for the season?
Boat tabs are required in Washington and expire every year on June 30. Owners with expired tabs could face fines and now be considered derelict under new legislative definition. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| While you are getting your boat ship-shape for the summer season, don’t forget to
