Mid-March: Change of Command, The Tides of March, Salish Sea Animals and St. Paddy’s Day!

Tuesday, March 13

Orcas Island Public Library Board of Trustees meeting, 9 to 11 a.m. 376-4985.

Friends of the Orcas  Island Library meeting, 3:30 p.m. at the Library. 376-4985

“Change of Command” Ceremony of  Orcas Island Fire and Rescue The new Fire Chief, Kevin O’Brien, will be publicly sworn in to his new position by Retiring Fire Chief Mike Harris and the Board of Fire Commissioners. The ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the apparatus bay of the Eastsound fire station with refreshments to follow and the regularly scheduled Board of Fire Commissioner’s meeting at 7:30 pm.

Wednesday, March 14

The IsleShare.org time exchange meetings, for county-wide member and non-member input, are from 4-5 p.m. video conferenced between the Orcas, Lopez, and the San Juan Libraries, planning community events, skills and time exchange connections, and creating a local guidebook.  www.VisionOnOrcas.com/Programs  Coordinator: Morgan Meadows, 376-9213.

Thursday, March 15

Orcas Island Blood Drive From noon to 6 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Hall. Walk-ins welcome.  Donors with appointments have priority at registration. For information and to schedule an appointment, please contact Paul Losleben at 360-376-6804 or email him at losleben@rockisland.com.  Sponsored by the Orcas Island Lions Club.

The Tides of March — The Indian Island Marine Health Observatory and Kwiaht invite you to  a marine invertebrate high tea, from 4:3- to 6 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Hall. Russel Barsh will present a brief slide show featuring our local invertebrates which inhabit the Indian Island surrounds. There will be live specimens and displays of different phyla of invertebrates by Marta Branch’s Marine Science students. Enjoy original music by Sharon Abreu and Mike Hurwicz while nibbling on fine treats from Sugar Baby Specialty Cakes. Barsh will also outline the field and research schedules for the upcoming low tide season. This event precedes the Sea Doc presentation the same evening at the same location.

Bears to Barnacles: Incredible Animals of the Salish Sea. 7 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Hall. Joe Gaydos, wildlife veterinarian and chief scientist of the SeaDoc Society, speaks on the web of life in our coastal ecosystem. In this entertaining presentation you’ll also hear about the unexpected connections between land and sea that Joe Gaydos and collaborators uncovered in their recent landmark compilation of all the birds and mammals of the Salish Sea. Questions? Call Jean Spalti or Joe Thoron at 360-376-3910.

Saturday, March 17

Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.  Starts at noon at the Island Market and goes north up North Beach Road. Wear green, get cookies from Wildflour Bakery and charms and pinch somebody! Music and revelry follows at the Lower.

Spring Swap Meet Celebrate Second Hand – Buy, Sell or Trade! Noon to 4 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Hall. If you are interested in a vendor table contact Kim at 376-4278

Sunday, March 18

Crossroads Lecture: The Future of the Book University of Pennsylvania professor, Stephen Kobrin, will speak on the ways the digital revolution changes the way information is encoded and transmitted, how books are published and how readers acquire them. 2 pm at Orcas Center. Kobrin will speculate about the future of both publishing and book distribution. Tickets are $10 and available at Darvill’s Bookstore, online at www.orcascrossroads.org or at the door. Some complimentary tickets are available in advance at the Senior Center.

Shakespeare Event for Kids, from 2 – 3 pm at Darvill’s Bookstore. This event promises reading, acting, fun and treats! Hosted by Audrey, Lynne, & Jane Alden.  376-2135.

History Matinee: Storytelling with Cal McLachlan,  3 pm at the Orcas Senior Center. Orcas Island Historical Museum features storytelling by Deer Harbor native Cal McLachlan, born in 1926 on his family’s Pole Pass property, and taught at Anacortes Junior High School for 30+ years. Finger food and refreshments served. Admission:  donation at the door. Call 376-4849.