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
Sheriff’s Report | November 26 – December 1, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26 25-008132 Unwanted Person 11:16:38 11/26/25 An Orcas Island Deputy responded to an unwanted person incident at a business in downtown Eastsound. The business owner
Give Orcas | Every gift matters
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| A heartfelt thank you to the 500+ community members who have given gifts that matter this week! As of this morning, we are nearly a
‘Counting Orca’ free screening from Center for Whale Research
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| We’re excited to invite you to a FREE global virtual screening of 'Counting Orca’ on December 10th! To make the event accessible to viewers around the world, we’re
SJIMA annual artists’ registry show will dazzle
||| FROM BARBARA MARRETT for SAN JUAN ISLANDS MUSEUM OF ART ||| Join us from December 12, 2025, through February 23, 2026, for the annual Artists’ Registry Show. This much-anticipated event brings together artists from
Letter to Editor | Regarding OPALCO rate hike
||| FROM ALLAN ROSATO and DARCEY MILLER ||| We are writing out of concern regarding OPALCO’s recently-announced plan to raise the fixed monthly service access charge for residential members. While this may appear to simplify
Medicare open enrollment ends December 7
Volunteers will host a drop-in enrollment event on Saturday, December 6, from 12 to 2 p.m. at Orcas Senior Center. ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Sunday, December 7 is the last
Lopez Park and Recreation District Commissioner No. 5 recount completed
The recount was conducted by hand tally and the recounted results matched the initially certified results. Candidate Christopher "Kit" Ledbetter is ahead of candidate Dan Post by a single vote, consistent with the original tally.
Coastal flood advisory in effect from 4am to 10am Saturday
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Seattle WA 145 PM PST Thu Dec 4 2025 San Juan County-Lowlands of Western Whatcom County- Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish
Step aside, Olga Red Gravenstein! The next generation of unique Orcas Island apples is ready for takeoff!
Novel Apples for Orcas! ||| FROM RUSSELL BARSH for KWIAHT ||| For the past five years, Kwiaht botanist Madrona Murphy has been relocating, mapping, and sampling fruits and (for genetic analysis) leaves from orchards planted
‘On Screen’ series brings epic performances from The Met: Live in HD and National Theatre Live
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH for ORCAS CENTER ||| The gold standard in opera and live theatre comes to Orcas Island with this season’s On Screen series. Running from now until June, you can view a
Children’s Holiday Craft Fair at the Library! | ¡Feria de manualidades navideñas para niños en la biblioteca!
||| FROM JENNY DEGROOT for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Please join us for the 12th Annual Children's Holiday Craft Fair on Sunday, December 7th from noon – 2 pm at Orcas Island Public Library. Orcas
Holiday on the Green returns to Eastsound Village Green on December 6
||| FROM CAREY ESKRIDGE for CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ||| The Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce invites the community to kick off the season at the annual Holiday on the Green Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday,
OPALCO launches opt-in Renewable Energy Survey to gather member input
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) is inviting all members to participate in a newly launched Renewable Energy Survey designed to gather community insight on
Council opts for one-year budget
The preliminary budget proposes cuts to staffing, possible changes to County services, and other reductions across department operating expenses. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| This fall, the County has worked to reduce the
Severe Weather Shelter now open at dark, 7 days a week
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH |||
Meet Cory Harrington | New housing specialist, with lived experience
||| FROM MEGAN METCALF for ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| Raised on Orcas Island, Cory Harrington has lived through nearly every form of island housing—employee housing, living aboard a boat, bus life, building a cabin
