Here’s a thought…
Guest Opinion: Cell Towers Subject of Jan. 15 Meeting
By Antoinette Botsford Let me start out by saying that I’m not sure I wholly understand what is happening, but according to what I’ve been learning, troubles are afoot regarding the potential for installing cell
Guest Opinion: The Holidays on Orcas & the Zen of the Three Stooges
By S. Jaen Black They’re over again. How did you fare?? What IS it about the holidays, ultimately, that transforms people into holly jolly this, that’s or the other?? Why not pretend Santa’s real?? All
The Gift of a New Year: Desiderata
Desiderata Go placidly amid the noise and haste, remembering what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly
Farewell 2009 with the Wild Geese
Wild Geese By Mary Oliver You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees For one hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the
Letter to the Editor: Montessori Wreaths Help Provide Tuition
Everyone at Orcas Montessori School would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to the community. Our 15th annual holiday wreath sale is winding down and we are grateful for each and every purchase as
The Gift of Poetry: "Daily" by a poet and a neighbor
The wife of a neighbor couple who are going through treatment for his leukemia, now facing a bone marrow transplant, writes: Going through this makes us treasure deeply the incredible gifts that "normal" life holds...
The Gift of Poetry: The Blessing of the Old Woman, the Tulip, and the Dog
The Blessing of the Old Woman, the Tulip, and the Dog By Alicia Suskin Ostriker To be blessed said the old woman is to live and work so hard God's love washes right through you
The Gift of Poetry: The Weight of Nothing
The Weight of Nothing Anonymous "Tell me the weight of a snowflake," a coal-mouse asked a wild dove. "Nothing more than nothing," was the answer. "In that case I must tell you a marvelous story,"
Letter to the Editor: Snowy nights at Victorian Valley Chapel Remembered
I lived on Orcas for a few years. Reading "Silent Night in Victorian Valley" brought me back to those (sometimes) snowy nights at the chapel. To listen to Susan. To be with friends. To be part of “…the atmosphere
The Gift of Poetry: Shoveling Snow With Buddha
Shoveling Snow With Buddha By Billy Collins In the usual iconography of the temple or the local Wok you would never see him doing such a thing, tossing the dry snow over a mountain of
The Gift of Poetry: At the Choral Concert
At the Choral Concert By Tim Nolan The high school kids are so beautiful in their lavender blouses and crisp white shirts. They open their mouths to sing with that far-off stare they
Letter to the Editor: Silent Night in Victorian Valley
For the twelve years that we have owned Victorian Valley Chapel we have listened to cars arrive for three nights at this time of year, their headlights giving guidance to those walking down for Susan
Letter to the Editor: Thanks for Family Literacy Month Help
Family Literacy Month We would like to thank everyone who helped make Family Literacy Month on Orcas a huge success. Because of your collaboration, more than 50 families participated in and benefited from fun educational
Letter to the Editor: Let Your Voice Be Heard on Bond Measure
You may already know that the school district plans to put a bond proposal on the February ballot. As of now, the bond proposal is currently estimated to cost about $25 million, with the funds
Editorial: Nitty-gritty Sustainability meets Orcas Island Government as School Bond Approaches
Disclosure: Margie Doyle, Orcas Issues Editor, is a part-time employee of the Orcas Island School District. All of the facts below are part of the public record. Big government is us. Every schoolteacher and employee,
