Here’s a thought…
“It wasn’t a Blue Wave; it was an American Tsunami!”
A serious fundraising request from theOrcasonian
||| FROM LIN MCNULTY, EDITOR ||| I am beginning to panic as the webhost for theOrcasonian is constantly reminding me that we are in need of an expensive (by Orcasonian standards) website uprade in order to remain accessible for readers. While monthly donations are appreciated from subscribers, along with
Vehicle restrictions implemented at Orcas Island Ferry Terminal following structural inspection
||| FROM CAREY ESKRIDGE for ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ||| Washington State Ferries (WSF) has implemented immediate vehicle restrictions at the Orcas Island ferry terminal following the discovery of cracks in the steel beneath the terminal's transfer span during an engineering inspection. Effective immediately and until further notice, only
Guest Opinion | What is ‘sport?’
||| FROM TENAR HALL ||| While we are debating the right of Trans People to exist as themselves in sports, we should ask ourselves, “What is Sport?” To illustrate what Sport is to me, I’m going to share a speech I wrote years ago for my rowing team, Martha’s Moms
‘Tis the season and Olga Symphony is coming back to celebrate
||| FROM DAVE ZOELLER for OLGA SYMPHONY ||| It all began in 1984 at the Olga Potluck. A band of musicians who had been jamming together for some time played their first public performance. When a member of the happy audience asked the name of the group, they realized they
Notice of special meeting of Town Council
||| FROM TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Council will hold a special meetings on November 12, 2026 and December 10, 2026, to participate in a Comprehensive Plan work session from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The special meetings will take place in Council
News Brief | Why Americans choose to live on this isolated island
||| FROM YOUTUBE ||| Out in Washington’s San Juan Islands is Orcas Island, a place where eccentric people without cell phones live alongside billionaires, musicians, artists, and others who have chosen a simpler way of life. They come from very different worlds, but share a desire to live away from
I’m Not the Church Lady | Karma and Grace walk into a bar…
Turns Out, They’re in Cahoots! ||| I'M NOT THE CHURCH LADY by ROSIE KUHN ||| Karma says, “I wish they’d stop making me the bad guy!” Grace replies, “Tell me about it. I wish they’d stop making me the good guy!” Well, there’s something to think about! I don’t know
Curriculum of Place | Cohort 2 applications now open
||| FROM JAIME BEECHUM and CAITLIN LECK for ISLAND ALLIES OF INDIGENOUS LIFEWAYS ||| Island Allies of Indigenous Lifeways, Family Tides Farm, and Northwest Indian College are pleased to announce that applications are now open for Curriculum of Place Cohort 2. This year-long learning journey is designed to deepen participants'
Warren Miller’s ‘Days Off’ to show at Orcas Center
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Winter is calling! Orcas Center will screen Warren Miller's "Days Off" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, on its Center Stage. The film celebrates the days people step away from everyday life and head for the mountains. It features world-class skiing
Orcas Christian School connects with Walla Walla Academy through music
||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| Orcas Christian School (OCS) students had an opportunity to experience education through music and collaboration when Walla Walla Valley Academy’s (WWVA) praise band visited Orcas Island on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 5-6. The two private Christian schools connected through music, giving students an opportunity
Community Foundation | Celebrating collective impact
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| The Orcas Island community gave more than 5,000 donations to and through the Foundation last year, enabling more than $6 million in grants to local nonprofits. This tremendous generosity moved forward dozens of projects both big and small, from inspiring
Orcas Center presents music of Zan Fiskum and Sturtz
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Come enjoy a night of live music at the Orcas Center with Sturtz and Zan Fiskum. The two acts have toured together in the past, and both groups are led by vocal powerhouses. Sturtz is a folk duo based out of
Pea Patch Community Campus takes shape; housing construction to begin this Fall
||| FROM SUZANNE OLSON for PEA PATCH CAMPUS ||| The Pea Patch Campus is beginning to be shaped into the community we’ve been imagining. Over the summer, local contractor Island Excavating completed site preparation, utility connections, stormwater management (no, that big hole in the ground is not a swimming pool!)
Tender hearts, hopeful outlooks, and a blue wave
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND PRIDE ||| Today, our hearts feel tender, holding both hope and heartbreak. As election results arrive across Washington, Initiative 638—a cruel attempt to exclude transgender girls from school sports and force invasive exams on young athletes—is leading in early returns. This is just one of many
Understanding Political Tribalism | A book talk with Dr. Stephen Ducat
Friday, November 13 | 6 pm Orcas Island Public Library ||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY ||| Why do people become so deeply attached to political movements and leaders? What draws individuals to authoritarian thinking, and how does group identity shape the way we see those with
WSF Weekly Report | Decisions, decisions
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve One of the challenges of leading Washington State Ferries is that there are often more things to do than we have the resources to accomplish. Every day, we make decisions about how best to use our vessels,
