Here’s a thought…
“Drama is life with the dull bits cut out.”
ALFRED HITCHCOCK
The Previous Great Orcas Island Bear Hunt
-- from Orcas Museums -- “Higgy” was a cute little guy when he first arrived at Olga, on Orcas Island, in 1910. Brown, furry, and cuddly, “Higgy” was a Kodiak bear cub (Ursus Arctus Middendorfi) which had been given to Mrs. Rice, proprietress of the Olga Park Inn, by her
Democrats and Republicans Each Offer School Funding Plans
-- from Washington House Democrats -- Democrats and Republicans have endorsed competing plans to fund education and satisfy the state Supreme Court’s McCleary decision. Both sides agree additional revenue sources are needed to meet the state’s obligations. But the two plans vary greatly in the total amount of new investments
6th Graders to Join Middle School
Informational Meeting for parents on Wednesday, May 31 at 6 p.m. in the school library -- by Margie Doyle -- Orcas Island School District administration and teachers are excited at the prospect of the 6th grade class joining the Middle School beginning next September. The new structure has been in
We Can Now Fly Direct to British Columbia From Friday Harbor
-- from Rick Hughes, County Council Member -- The governments of San Juan County, Town of Friday Harbor, Town of Sidney and Islands Trust (representing the Gulf Islands) meet annually to discuss issues of common interest and importance. Increasing cross border transportation options has been identified as a key goal
SeaDoc, Whale Museum to Hold Marine Mammal Stranding Volunteer Training
Monday, June 12, 3:30 - 5 p.m., SeaDoc Society Tuesday, June 13, 6 - 7:30 p.m., The Whale Museum -- from Jill Berger for The Whale Museum -- The Whale Museum and SeaDoc Society are hosting two training sessions for anyone who is interested in volunteering for the San Juan
Who Wants to be in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?”
Friday, June 2, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, June 3, 2 - 4 p.m., Orcas Center -- from Didier Gincig -- Auditions for "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" will be held in the Orcas Center Madrona Room Friday, Jun. 2 (3:30-5:30 p.m.) and Saturday, Jun. 3 (2-4 p.m.).
Kwiáht BBQ Raises Critical Question
-- by Ayn Gailey -- Because we live on an island we should be just as serious about sustainable seafood as sustainable farming. This was one of the key takeaways from Kwiáht’s free Sustainable Seafood Barbecue event hosted by The Barnacle last week. According to Kwiáht organizers Russel Barsh and
In Memoriam | Marilyn Erly, 1934-2017
-- from John Erly -- Marilyn E. Erly passed away peacefully at Birchview Memory Care, Sedro Wooley, Washington on 24 Apr. 2017. She was born in Tacoma, Washington on 7 Jun. 1934. She grew up on Puget Sound, in Dash Point, and attended school at Federal Way. She continued her
School Board: Progress, Pro-Activity at the Fore
-- by Ayn Gailey -- Let’s face it, monthly Orcas Island School District (OISD) board meetings are not the hot ticket on the island. It’s normal to not see any citizens or parents even attend. This month’s meeting on May 25, however, was attended by more citizens than usual, including
Today Is Not About Hot Dogs and Late Ferries
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. Over two dozen cities and towns claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by
Just Transition: Intersection of Jobs and Environment
Wednesday, May 31, 6 p.m., San Juan Grange -- from Sharon Abreu for Irthlingz -- Just Transition is the path as yet untaken at the intersection of labor and environment. It’s a way to help people working in industries that are environmentally unsustainable make the transition to new, good jobs
Free Salsa Dance Lesson
Monday, June 5, 7 - 9 p.m., Odd Fellows Hall -- from Bill Gincig -- Anthony and Friends will be teaching Salsa. Our community dance class is privileged to have Anthony return as our guest instructor. If you have not seen Anthony dance, you are in for a treat. He
ORS Rounds Final Bend in Funding New Exchange Building
-- by Margie Doyle -- Pete Moe, left, and Tim Blanchard, right, discuss the latest stage of fundraising for The Exchange Orcas Recycling Services/The Exchange (ORS) is oh-so-close to its fund-raising goal for the New Exchange -- just $5,000 short of their $245,000 goal. At a fundraising event
Guest Opinion | In Wildness is the Preservation of the World
-- from Comp Plan Update Team -- Photo of Orcas Island in foreground and Blakely Island in distance taken from Doe Bay Resort The dominant theme quietly residing in the 1994 San Juan County Vision Statement, and refreshed in the 2017 Eastsound Visioning process and Vision Statement, is
PlayFest “Incubates” 12th Year of Local Talent
Friday- Sunday, June 2-4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Orcas Grange --by Margie Doyle -- Aaimee Johnson, Orcas Island Actors Theater’s 2017 PlayFest coordinator, announced to a full house on Opening Night, “It’s been a bit of a roller coaster.” Whatever rehearsals may have been like, the PlayFest itself is
Old Dogs Do Learn New Tricks
-- from Rosie Kuhn -- My dog Gracie is almost eight years old - 56 in dog years. She has been chasing frisbees her whole life, but it was just last week that she actually caught one on the fly. I could see her mind working that day, working out
