Fire Department on Scene of Structure Fire in Olga
-- from Marla Johns -- Crews from Orcas Island Fire & Rescue remain on scene at this time for a structure fire in Olga. Crews responded to an alarm sounded at 12:12 PM to a home on Moultry Farms Rd. They found an active fire appearing to have originated in
Where’s Santa? NORAD Knows
-- by Lin McNulty -- NORAD’s Mission: "We have the watch." For more than 60 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa’s flight. The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement misprinted the telephone number for children
Happy Hanukkah: A History
-- from David Kobrin -- The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah – The Festival of Lights – begins this year on Christmas Eve. And this year, 2016, it seems to me, it’s worth a look at the history of the holiday itself. The events that Hanukkah celebrates happened more than 2000 years
Sheriff’s Report | December 14 – 20, 2016
December 14, 2016 16-009227 Found Property 13:29:14 12/14/16 A Lopez Island man turned in a carton of pasta that he had found on Ferry Rd., Lopez Island. Attempts to identify the owner will be made. 16-009228 Citizen Assist 13:56:38 12/14/16 A Friday Harbor resident reported his cell phone account being
Exchange in the Home Stretch
-- from Pete Moe -- The Orcas community has really come together to help rebuild the Exchange reuse facility. Since a fire destroyed the Exchange almost four years ago, thousands of dollars have been donated. Now San Juan County has stepped up and agreed to build the exterior “shell” of
Students Saving Energy to Combat Climate Change
-- from Katie Fleming -- Extreme weather events, rising sea levels, melting glacier – oh my! While climate change is an overwhelming issue, there is certainly hope, especially in the collective power of individual actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That’s the underlying principle of the Cool School Challenge (CSC),
Explore the World of Entrepreneurship
Tuesday, January 3, 12 – 1:30 pm, WorkSource Skagit, 2005 E. College Ave., Mount Vernon -- from Minnie Knych -- Explore the world of entrepreneurship. Do you want to know: What it takes to become an entrepreneur? How to start your own business, find money? Which products or services you
J34 is Fifth Orca to Die in 2016
-- from Kenneth C. Balcomb, Senior Scientist Center for Whale Research -- [metaslider id=48993] We regret having to make a distressing announcement during this holiday season, but we confirm from news photographs and eyepatch photos sent to the Center for Whale Research that the killer whale carcass that was towed to
Barefoot Bandit GoFundMe Plea Quashed by Feds
-- by Lin McNulty -- Because he would like to go to Flight School, Colton Harris Moore launched an online GoFundMe campaign in hopes of raising $125,500 to pay for training in his dream job as a pilot. Moore, better known locally as the Barefoot Bandit, was captured in the
Come to Susan Osborn’s Christmas Concert
-- from Susan Osborn -- Original Oil Painting "Candlelit Chapel" by David Densmore Once again we will be gathering in the Victorian Valley Chapel on Orcas Island to celebrate Christmas and the Season in song, December 22, 23, and 24 at 7:30 p.m.and also on the 24th at
Ranker Chosen as Number-one Democrat on Senate Budget
-- from Senator Ranker's Office -- Senate Energy, Environment and Telecommunications Committee, Jan. 27, 2015. Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, has been chosen by his colleagues to serve as the lead Democrat in the Senate responsible for Washington state’s $42 billion operating budget. “This is an incredible honor
The Yule Faeries and the Secret of Solstice
-- Author Unknown -- A group of little Faeries huddled in their home deep under the roots of a giant oak tree. They were safe and snug in their tiny underground cave lined with dandelion fluff, bird feathers, and dried moss. Outside, the wind blew cold and the snow fell
Almost Classical to Play at Darvill’s
Thursday, December 22, 3 - 4:30 p.m., Darvills -- from Kristen Wilson -- The Orcas Island trio Almost Classical will be appearing at Darvill’s Bookstore in Eastsound on Thursday, December 22 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. The trio includes Lisa Carter on piano and Celtic harp, and Emy Carter and
Letter to Editor | Message to Bob Vietzke’s Orcas Family
-- from Lisa Karstetter -- We have safely made it back to the East side of the state, but not before leaving a small piece of each of our hearts on Orcas. Uncle Bob was a treasure to his family and we loved him very much. We knew he wasn't
Attention, OHS Alumni: Annual Basketball Tourney Thursday
-- from Thursday, December 22, 6 p.m., OHS Gym -- from Kim Ihlenfedlt -- Orcas Island Park and Rec invites Orcas Island Alumni Basketball players to participate in the annual tournament to support the Orcas Island Booster Club. The games begin Thursday, December 22 at 6 p.m. in the Orcas
Letter to Editor | Thank You to County
-- from Pamela Doerr -- On behalf of the residents of the Longhouse and our local businesses, including Islander's Bank located within the vicinity of the corners of Prune Alley and Fern Streets I want to personally thank you for the wonderful job which your departments successfully completed to alleviate
