Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Microplastics are messing with photosynthesis in plants
Microplastics can cut a plant’s ability to photosynthesize by up to 12 percent, new research shows ||| FROM SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN ||| Microplastics are now a ubiquitous part of our daily physical reality. These minuscule fragments of degrading plastic now suffuse our air, our soil, the food we eat and the
OCS Teacher Spotlight | Debbie Liblik
||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| “Chocolate mousse,” she says with a smile and a twinkle in her eye. If you know Debbie Liblik, you know she loves three things: chocolate, her family, and teaching her students at Orcas Christian School (OCS). Whether it’s teaching students to pipe their cupcakes
“Nye” from National Theatre Live at Orcas Center
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Nye, a production from National Theatre Live, written by Tim Price and directed by Rufus Norris, comes to the Orcas Center screen on Friday, March 21 at 6pm. Michael Sheen (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) plays Aneurin “Nye” Bevan in a surreal and spectacular
Big announcement, new hirings, exciting times for Orcas Island Fire & Rescue
||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| OIFR is pleased to announce the hiring of Chief Chad Kimple as the new Fire Chief. Chief Kimple has served in multiple capacities for OIFR for over 20 years. Most recently he has been the interim OIFR chief as
Marty Isenberg’s Wes Anderson Playlist
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center and the Orcas Island Jazz Festival present acclaimed music curator and long-time film enthusiast Marty Isenberg March 22, with his carefully curated set honoring the visionary filmmaking of Wes Anderson. The "Wes Anderson Playlist, An Interpretation in Jazz," will feature
‘It’s worse than COVID’: Point Roberts seeks state aid amid US-Canada tariff crisis
||| FROM KOMO-TV SEATTLE ||| Almost five years to the day since COVID shut down the US-Canadian border, Tamra Hansen stands inside her Saltwater Café in Point Roberts worried about the future again. “I fear these are going to be worse times than the pandemic,” said Hansen, who successfully navigated
Reminder | Silent protest scheduled for 12:30 pm Sunday in Eastsound
||| FROM EDEE KULPER ||| Join Edee Kulper and fellow community members on the sidewalk in Eastsound where Main Street and North Beach Road intersect this Sunday at 12:30 o'clock for a silent protest of Trump's decisions. Nothing needed - just show up. Spread the word... (Any argument or discussion
Are these orcas imitating human speech?
||| FROM THE JOURNAL |||
Auction event for Gathering of the Eagles Canoe Journey coming to Orcas
||| FROM DAVID TURNOY for CANOE JOURNEY ||| This May we will see the annual Gathering of the Eagles Canoe Journey come to Orcas (May 21-23). We look forward to the canoes arriving at the Olga Landing around 2:00 PM on Wednesday, May 21, followed by the community potluck around
Historical Museum opens next week
||| FROM MICHELLE HASSEBROCK for ORCAS ISLAND HISTORICAL MUSEUMS ||| The Orcas Island Historical Museum in Eastsound opens on Thursday, March 20th, for the 2025 season! Spring hours will be Thursdays-Sundays, 11am-3pm. Crow Valley School Museum opens to the public Memorial Day weekend, and is available by appointment for private
Douglas/Bailer Hill Road improvements project on SJI kicks off this April
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Public Works Department is seeking to address sight lines, flooding, and congestion with the Douglas/Bailer Hill Road Improvements Project, slated to begin construction in early April. The 1.3-mile project is anticipated to last through September of 2025. In December, the
Rep. Ramel | Strategic steps to fully restore ferry service
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. ALEX RAMEL ||| Restoring and maintaining reliable ferry service is crucial after years of underinvestment and disruptions. As a member of the Ferry Caucus and a frequent rider, I want to share updates on our progress and legislative efforts to strengthen our fleet. My
Sheriff’s Report | March 5 – 11, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ||| WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5 25-001243 Citizen Assist 16:40:38 03/05/25 An Orcas Island Deputy was flagged down by a local citizen who reported someone was illegally camping on their property. The incident was documented, and the property owner plans to remove the illegal campsite
Indiana’s House of Representatives once voted unanimously to change the value of pi (π)
How an incorrect value of pi almost got codified into law ||| FROM SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN ||| An ancient problem known as “squaring the circle” stumped mathematicians for more than 2,000 years. During that time, professionals and amateurs alike unknowingly published thousands of false proofs claiming to resolve it. False proof
Please pass the pi(e)
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| The problem with pie is sometimes there aren’t enough slices to go around. If friends and family are around, chances are someone brought another pie to the table. Can this be a metaphor for life - and community - sometimes
LWVSJ Observer Corps: Joint County and Friday Harbor Town Council Meeting March 12, 2025
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| In opening remarks, town and county council members welcomed regular consultation and improved coordination and stressed the need for a united front in the face of federal uncertainty and state budget challenges. The meeting then kicked off with a review
