Here’s a thought…
“Don’t ask me who’s influenced me. A lion is made up of the lambs he’s digested, and I’ve been reading all my life.”
GIORGOS SEFERIS
Council re-introduces Historic Preservation Grants program | Applications now open
Money collected for the Historical Preservation Grant Program is dedicated to promoting historical preservation or historical programs, which may include preservation of historic documents. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During October, Council approved
Community lunch is thriving
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS COMMUNITY CHURCH ||| Each week there is a free Community Lunch provided from 12-1:30 downstairs in the Community Church. This is a program of the Community Resource Center and
Exceptional people and documentaries honored at Friday Harbor Film Festival
||| FROM ELLEN ROBERTS for FRIDAY HARBOR FILM FESTIVAL ||| During a fantastic weekend of memorable films, inspiring and informative interviews with filmmakers, and special events, the Friday Harbor Film Festival was delighted to present
Staying for Good | How affordability builds community, one homeowner at a time
||| FROM OPAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ||| When Eros Belliveau arrived on Orcas in the summer of 2007, it was supposed to be temporary. He had a seasonal job at a restaurant after working hospitality
Watch Eth-Noh-Tec spooky tales on YouTube this week
||| FROM ETH-NOH-TEC ||| For one more week, you can join Nancy Wang and Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo of Eth-Noh-Tec for a Free YouTube Presentation of some seriously spooooky tales! Learn more about Asian ghouls, ghosts, and
Dire warning for two orcas ‘left for dead’ in abandoned marine park
||| FROM LADBIBLE ||| At the now-defunct Marineland of Antibes mother and son orca remain trapped The tourist attraction closed its doors in January this year. Wikie, 23, and her 11-year-old son Keijo remain confined
Checking in with J Pod | Where is J64?
||| FROM THE CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 12:22 PM ObservEnd: 12:40 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit Other Observers: Rachel John Pods: J IDsEncountered: J16, J19, J22, J26, J27,
Eth-Noh-Tec new novel reading this week
Wednesday, November 5, 1-2:30 at Orcas Senior Center ||| FROM NANCY WANG for ETH-NOH-TEC ||| Nancy Wang of Eth-Noh-Tec will be reading from her new novel Red Altar that follows three generations of her family
News Brief | Do we take COVID seriously enough?
||| FROM THE TYEE ||| We downplay the virus at our peril. And children are more at risk than we thought. ORIGINALLY POSTED ON THE TYEE The level of mortality is above what it was
Special Town Council November 2025 meetings
||| FROM JENNIFER KREMBS for TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| The Town Council will hold the following special meetings in November: Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 11 a.m., the Town Council will take part in
Early sunsets and extra sleep | Washingtonians prepare to switch their clocks
||| FROM KOMO NEWS ||| It's that time of year to say goodbye to afternoon light, with the earliest sunset of the year expected Sunday at 4:49 p.m. and sunrise at 6:55 a.m. Washington state
Midnight Mutterings |This coming winter
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| Somehow, I’m less enthusiastic about the approaching winter than usual. Is is that the early dark and late daylight seem to affect me negatively more than in the
Building Community Resilience | Supporting islanders through uncertain times
||| FROM MEGAN METCALF for ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| Communities nationwide — including here on Orcas — are bracing for potential devastating disruptions as the government shutdown extends beyond October 31st. At stake are
Supporting food access on Orcas Island
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| As the government shutdown continues, OICF has been in close communication with partners to mobilize resources and coordinate support as federal funding for critical programs
News Brief | Judge rules emergency funds must be used for SNAP benefits
||| FROM NPR.ORG ||| The Agriculture Department must use emergency funds to keep SNAP going. ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY NPR.ORG Resuming payments at some point can still avoid irreparable harm to SNAP recipients. Read full article
Happy Halloween | A treat from Rep. Lekanoff
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF ||| Happy Halloween! As we trade candy corn for committee hearings and pumpkins for policy, I’m reminded that the real magic of this season comes from working
