Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
OPALCO’s member appreciation event celebrating local power
OPALCO Annual Member Festival: April 25, 3-6 pm ||| FROM KRISTSA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| Get ready for the most electrifying event of the year – the OPALCO Annual Member Festival! Mark your calendars for April 25, when San Juan County Fairgrounds will be transformed into
Safety reminders for Douglas/Bailer Hill Rd improvement project on SJI
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Public Works Department is kicking off the Douglas/Bailer Hill Road Improvements Project this month, and is sharing safety reminders for drivers. Throughout the length of the project, vehicle speeds will be reduced to 35MPH in the construction zone. This area
Discover drumming and/or middle eastern dance at your Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Experience the Joy of Drumming! Discover the joy of drumming with the Spirit of Drumming Group at Orcas Senior Center Tuesdays at 11 a.m.! This beginner-friendly group focuses on exploring the elements of drumming. There’s no cost to participate—just bring a
Guest Opinion | Concerns about the Rosario Tidal Energy Project
||| FROM ELISABETH ROBSON ||| On Friday, March 28, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) sent out notifications that OPALCO has applied for a draft license application for their Rosario Strait Tidal Energy Project; OPALCO posted about this application on Saturday, March 29 here in the Orcasonian. The application is 523
Letter to Editor | In response to ‘a life diminished’
||| FROM SUZEY FRANK ||| Thank you, Marie. A life diminished indeed! For the past 25 years, right round 2:30pm, I’ve gotten into the pool to teach our Island’s kids to swim. In all of those years there has been a steady stream of lap swimmers, aerobics participants, family swimmers,
SJC Monthly News Digest – March 2025
This column is part of a series detailing San Juan County’s recent news. Follow along each month to learn about important County projects, Council initiatives, department updates, and more. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Establishes Interim Inter-Island Transportation Services as RFP Process Continues This week,
Earth Day Month in the San Juans
||| FROM EARTH DAY ORCAS & FRIENDS ||| We are delighted to share news that several local community collaboratives are hosting month-long learning, making, and celebration events in the San Juan Islands. Each island has it’s own unique calendar of events and a shared goal of increasing respect and protection
Dr. Strangelove from National Theatre Live at Orcas Center
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center brings the iconic film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb to the big screen on April 3 at 6pm, reimagined with a stellar cast led by Seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan. This groundbreaking
Island Expressions art show at Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Visit Orcas Senior Center (OSC) from March 3 through April 25, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to experience Island Expressions—a vibrant showcase featuring three talented local artists: John Ehrmantraut, Marj Franke, and Barbara Wixom. John Ehrmantraut, known for
A treasure hunt awaits at return of Grannie’s Attic 2.0
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Mark your calendar for the exciting return of Grannie’s Attic 2.0 at Orcas Senior Center on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.! This community-favorite event is better than ever, featuring artisan booths alongside household items, vintage finds, tools,
Annual student art exhibit April 25 – May 19, 2025
||| FROM D.N. KINSEY for ART FOR ORCAS KIDS ||| To celebrate art and creativity, this year's Annual Student Art Exhibit will be on display at the Orcas Center from April 25 – May 19, 2025. This exhibit showcases artwork from A*OK classes (Kindergarten through 8th grade) and features select
Public invited to comment on WDFW recommendation to protect rare butterfly species
||| FROM TAYLOR COTTEN for FISH & WILDLIFE ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking public input on a draft status report for the island marble butterfly that includes a recommendation to classify the butterfly as an endangered species in Washington. The public comment
Legal tools for farm succession: Securing your farm’s future
Free Virtual Workshop – April 9, 2025, 12:00–1:00 PM ||| FROM REBECCA MOORE for WSU EXTENSION | SAN JUAN COUNTY ||| San Juan County farmers can gain essential legal insights for farm succession planning by attending a free virtual workshop hosted by WSU San Juan Extension on April 9 from
The Whale Museum opens registration for its 2025 Gear Up Workshop
||| FROM CONOR AGNEW for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| The Whale Museum has opened public registration for its 2025 Gear Up workshop! This year’s virtual workshop will take place on April 17 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM PST, and will help biologists, enthusiasts, and other stakeholders gear up for
Orcas Island athletes shine at Mt. Vernon meet despite weather forecast surprise
||| FROM DARRELL KIRK for ORCAS ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL ||| Orcas Island High School's track and field team competed in their second meet of the season on Wednesday at Mt. Vernon High School, where athletes who had prepared for extreme weather were instead greeted by unexpected sunshine. The Vikings team,
Rep. Ramel | Keeping Washington strong. Proposed budgets are live
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. ALEX RAMEL ||| Thank you to everyone who joined our telephone town hall and our community town hall earlier this month! I appreciate you taking the time to attend, call in, listen, and engage in a meaningful discussion on the issues that matter most
