Here’s a thought…
“For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.”
JOHN F. KENNEDY
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
No Place Like Loam | Frank Meyer: The man who walked too far
The strange life and darker end of the USDA plant hunter behind the Meyer lemon ||| NO PLACE LIKE LOAM by ALEX TAMAYO WOLF ||| The First Steps Frans Nicolaas Meijer was born in Amsterdam in 1875, into a city that had been arguing with water for six hundred years
Library’s exhibiting artist for the month of June is painter Peter Carlson
||| FROM ANDREA COHEN for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Peter describes himself as a painter of images grounded in story. In this group of works which he has entitled ‘Conflict,’ Peter considers the relationship between his visual stories, with universal themes of ‘what we’re doing here and why,” and the
Chandelle Anderson oil paintings featured at Artworks
||| FROM B.J. ARNOLD for ORCAS ISLAND ARTWORKS ||| The Orcas Island Artworks features new paintings in oil by Chandelle Anderson through the month of June. Chandelle is a new member of Orcas Island Artworks. Alongside her ceramic work, Chandelle also enjoys painting and drawing. This series began as an
Emmanuel Episcopal offers Wednesday musical series to benefit music scholarship fund
||| FROM JEFFRY STEELE for EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH ||| I am writing to announce another summer of our Wednesday noon series. Admission is by free-will offering to benefit the Emmanuel music scholarship fund in support of Orcas Island students attending music camps. 7/1 Orcatrazz: Swingin' & Rockin' Featuring the great swing
Health Care District communication regarding clinic provider transition
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| We are appreciative of the outpouring of support for Dr. Simpson-Manske. We are grateful for the compassionate care that Dr. Simpson-Manske has provided while employed with Island Health. We acknowledge that a provider transition is challenging on those that had built a
I’m Not the Church Lady | Learning to Unlean
Who Could I Be in My Enoughness? ||| I'M NOT THE CHURCH LADY by ROSIE KUHN ||| Something essential about me is not enough yet. Recently, I realized the degree to which I’ve been living in a constant lean. Whether it’s leaning towards relationships with businesspeople, clients or family, I’m
Sheriff’s Report | May 20 – 27, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 26-002857 Suspicious Person/Circumstance 09:16:43 05/20/26 A man was arrested for a violation of a protection in Friday Harbor. The order is active and valid out of Whatcom County. He was transported to the Sheriff's Office and booked into jail.
Midnight Mutterings | Planning
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| Pretty sure not one of us thinks planning for aging is simple. First of all, we have to decide at what age we will be officially old. That is until there’s really no question that time passed a long time ago. Then we
Letter to Editor | Why?
||| FROM SUSAN MUSTARD ||| Yesterday I was shocked to learn that Dr. Jennifer Simpson-Manske is no longer at Island Primary Care - Orcas. And yet, I have appointments with her in early fall on my calendar! For a good number ol years, I had suffered with unusual physical issues.
