Autumn Briskness Sets Keynote for the Weekend

Friday, Sept. 7

First Fridays Book Talks series at the Public Library. Come in at noon and pick up your free book for the next meeting. Over the next three months we’ll be reading: “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein (October 5); “Little Bee” by Chris Cleave (November 2); ”The Big Burn” by Timothy Egan (December 7). 376-4985.

Fun at the Funhouse Commons –Welcome 7th graders to Teen Night and 9th graders to high school hours of Teen NIght. 6-8:30 is Middle School Hours. 8:30-11 is High School Only. 376-7177.

Orcas Angels Benefit Taco dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. Orcas Angels is excited to launch their own private wine label at this dinner. Hearts of Humanity Red (Sangiovese) and Wings of Hope White (Semillon) produced by Mount Baker Vineyards. Come and have a great dinner with a great crowd of Orcas Angels Supporters! All proceeds benefit the community of Orcas Island. Pre-sell tickets are $12 and available at Country Corner or the Legion. Tickets will be $14 at the door. To-Go Available!

Artist’s Reception at Orcas Center  from 5:30 to 7 p.m. View encaustic paintings by Orcas artist Marilee Whitehouse Holm and 77 photographic images of the people and neighborhoods of OPAL Community Land Trust. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and no-host wine bar. Exhibition continues through October 2.

“Torso” — a dark, riveting and emotional exploration of grief and revenge, the latest production from The Actors Theater of Orcas Island, 7:30 p.m. at the Grange. This play contains strong language, adult situations and partial nudity. This play is not suitable for pre-teens and those easily offended.  Tickets are $10 and are available from Darvill’s,  www.orcasactors.com or at the door. Also playing Sept. 14-15-16. Contact Doug Bechtel at 317-5601.

Saturday Sept.8

Jazzercise of Orcas Island holds special Community Cardio classes at no-charge, thanks to the generous coordination of the OI Community Church (OICC) and the Odd Fellows. Jazzercise is offered by Paige McCormick (376-3310), certified instructor of this international dance fitness program. From 9 to 10 a.m. at the OICC Fellowship Hall (enter at lower door, east side). Wear athletic clothing and footwear, and bring water. Call 376-3310 with questions, and visit www.jazzercise.com.

Orcas Center Golf Classic A  full day of golf and friendly competition.  with all net proceeds going towards Orcas Center programming.  Get a team together and make the course your stage!  This year we are returning to the original tournament scramble format.  Enjoy 18 holes of golf, starting with a continental breakfast, continuing with a brown bag lunch on the turn, and ending with the popular Burgers & Brew – brought to you by the Lower Tavern – and an awards ceremony on the deck. The day’s schedule is as follows:

• 9:30am            Registration and Continental Breakfast
• 10:00am          Tee-Off for Scramble
• 12:30pm          Bag Lunch on the turn
• 4:00pm            Burgers & Brew on the deck with awards ceremony

Participation in the tournament costs $75 and includes golf, all meals, and the awards reception.  If you are a student player and would like to join a team we would love to have you on board!  Sponsorships are available to cover your participation in the Golf Classic.  Those that are interested in taking part in the Golf Classic and raising funds for Orcas Center can also do so by sponsoring a hole for $300 and/or sponsoring a student player for $150.For more information and to register and/or sign up as a sponsor call 376-2281 ext 4, or visit www.orcascenter.org

United Way of San Juan Islands Day of Caring an annual event sponsored by United Way to further the spirit of volunteerism and to demonstrate what people working together for the community’s good can accomplish. The day’s events include cleanup at Moran State Park between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For further information, go to www.unitedway-sanjuancounty.org

Saturday Farmer’s Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Eastsound Village Green. Call Jennifer Pietsch, Market Manager @ 317-8342

No Coal Rally to protest the shipping of coal and tar sands oil in the Salish Sea will be held at San Juan County Fairgrounds from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Friday Harbor. Expert panel will speak at 2 p.m. Organized by the Friends of the San Juans.

Back to School Carnival at the Funhouse Commons from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Funhouse Commons

Cancer Support Group at the Farmer’s Market — Organizers of the Cancer Support Group will be at the Farmer’s Market to answer questions and share information. This confidential, no-cost support group has been meeting for two years on the second Thursday of each month at the Community Church’s Fireside Room at 5 p.m. We want to reach out to those who are a patient, caregiver, relative, or friend of someone with cancer, and welcome you to come and share with others in the same situation. We also hope the Farmer’s Market will provide a venue where we will meet people who have information relevant to cancer or care-giving, or have an inspiring story to share at one of the meetings. Everyone is welcome to come by our table and say hello.

Peter Rutledge Memorial Service Potluck at noon at the Episcopal Parish Hall in Eastsound.

“Torso” — a dark, riveting and emotional exploration of grief and revenge, the latest production from The Actors Theater of Orcas Island, 7:30 p.m. at the Grange. This play contains strong language, adult situations and partial nudity. This play is not suitable for pre-teens and those easily offended.  Tickets are $10 and are available from Darvill’s,  www.orcasactors.com or at the door. Also playing Sept. 14-15-16. Contact Doug Bechtel at 317-5601.

Back to School Bonfire and Marshmallow Roast for Teen Night at 8 p.m. at the Funhouse Commons. 376-7177

“Island Grown, Island Raised” Kaleidoscope Benefit Dinner Auction. Starts with hors d’oevres at 5:30, dinner at 6 at  the Senior Center, with Music by Gene Nery. Dinner tickets are $50 per seat, with a silent auction with items ranging from homemade cookies, to a weekend getaway in Seattle! For more information please call Amber or Nicole at 376-2484.

Sunday, Sept. 9

Cruise into History Tour to benefit the Orcas Museum. Travel into history on the Salish Sea with Tom Welch, local historian, aboard the Orcas Express. The sailing Boards at 12:30 p.m. at Orcas Landing for  a four and a half hour tour circumnavigating Orcas Island. Lunch and snacks will be catered. Price: $99 per person, and proceeds benefit the Orcas Island Historical Museum. Call Eclipse Charters at 376-6566 to reserve a spot on this very popular tour.

“Impacts of Coal and Tar Sands Exporting in the Salish Sea.” Expert Panel Discussion 5 p.m. at Lopez Center, also on Monday, Sept 10 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church at 5 p.m. in Eastsound. Sponosred by the Foriends of the San Juans and the Stewardship Network of the San Juans

Orcas Crossroads Lecture “Is Health Care a Right?” The Crossroads Series will have its first lecture of the season at 2 pl.m. at ORcas Center. University of WA Professor Tom McCormick will discuss the ethical concepts & principles that can help us understand why good people disagree about health care in a “just” society. He will explore philosophical concepts of “rights” and “duties” and ethical principles that undergird our bid for a “just society.” Conflicts arise from an almost unlimited demand for health care services against limited resources to pay for such. How do “social determinants” of health enter this picture? Tickets are $10 & available at Darvill’s Bookstore or online at www.orcascrossroads.org