Here’s a thought…
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
TURKISH PROVERB
Olga Daze returns
Festivities begin in front of the Community Center at 10 am on Saturday, July 20. ||| FROM SUSAN GORDON for OLGA DAZE ||| Come for breakfast at the bake sale, featuring our world famous maple bars made on the spot. Stay for lunch then come back to the bake sale
Letter to Editor | Thanks to attendees, supporters for Salmon BBQ
||| FROM STEVE SCHAEFER for ORCAS LIONS CLUB ||| On Saturday, July 6 the Orcas Island Lions Club held its 47th annual Salmon BBQ event. The club would like to thank all who attended in making this event very successful for the club and for the community. As you know, the
Shaw School teacher housing construction breaks ground
Ground breaking ceremony celebrates historic milestone ||| FROM DEANNA SHANNON for SHAW ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| After purchasing land over twenty years ago, the Shaw Island School District Board of Directors and Superintendent Kari McVeigh, along with the Teacher Housing Finance Committee, will break ground for construction of two new
Why ‘deadbeat dam’ removals are so difficult in WA, PNW
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| WILDBOY CREEK, Washougal — Kwoneesum Dam once had a purpose. It created a lake for girls attending a summer camp to swim, canoe and sail. But just two decades after the dam was built in the mid-1960s, the camp closed, and the land was
After 4 years of reduced ferry service, Bremerton businesses near the dock are struggling to stay afloat
||| FROM KING-TV SEATTLE ||| Thursday [was] the first day of summer, but [it was] also the last day for one Starbucks location along the Bremerton Ferry Terminal. One small business owner nearby told us that Starbucks is one of many businesses that have closed near the Bremerton dock in
Live Ska and Reggae
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| This Sunday, July 14 at 5pm – be on the Village Green to experience the Reggae/Ska/Afro-Latin fusion sensation, Adrian Xavier and Ska Island! All part of the FREE Summer Concert Series from Orcas Center, Country Corner, OrcaSong Farm, and GiveOrcas/OICF. Adrian Xavier
Meditation Group
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Julia Summers leads a weekly meditation group at Orcas Senior Center every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Regardless of prior experience, Julia extends a warm invitation to all, emphasizing inclusivity by operating the sessions on a donation basis. With open hearts, she
Workshop | Choral music amplifies joy
||| FROM ORCAS CHORAL SOCIETY ||| Bruce Langford, Artistic Director of Orcas Choral Society, will conduct a Choral Singing Workshop from 2:00-4:00 pm on Wednesday, July 31 in Eastsound at the Emmanuel Parish Hall, 242 Main Street. Beginning and experienced singers are welcome to come learn the essence of singing
Fantasy Island Masquerade Gala – Auctions are live
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center’s 2024 auction for the Fantasy Island Masquerade is live through July 20 at www.OrcasCenter.org/auction24. Anyone in the community can and view and bid on fantastic items from many local businesses, restaurants, and artisans, including: The Village Inn, Kingfish, Houlme, Island
Open letter to Council: ADA parking at Orcas Landing
||| FROM JASON HENSELL ||| Hello San Juan County Council, I noticed two things last September at the Orcas ferry landing, but waited to mention this in the hope that maybe there was some mistake that had yet to be corrected… Unfortunately, nothing has happened, and I feel obligated to
Whale researcher says orphan orca ‘likely’ seen off Vancouver Island
||| FROM CITY NEWS ||| VICTORIA — A killer whale calf whose struggle for survival captured international headlines when she became trapped in a Vancouver Island tidal lagoon earlier this year only to escape on her own has likely been spotted swimming further south along British Columbia’s coast. Jared Towers,
NTSB releases preliminary report into plane crash that killed astronaut William Anders
||| FROM KOMO-TV SEATTLE ||| The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary investigation report in the plane crash that killed astronaut William “Bill” Anders in June. The retired Maj. Gen. William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the famous “Earthrise” photo, was in his Beech A45, N268AF plane around 11:40 a.m. on June
Ukulele Kanikipila at Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Experience the joy of making music at Ukulele Kanikipila, Hawaiian for "play music," every Monday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Orcas Senior Center. This gathering is open to everyone with an interest in playing music for two hours each week.
Community Foundation funding a matching campaign for Senior Center
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for COMMUNITY FOUNDATION & LYNETTE WOOD, SENIOR CENTER||| The Orcas Senior Center is bursting at the seams! With the population of seniors on Orcas and a remarkable staff providing excellent programs, they have run out of room and are acquiring the 49% interest in the building
Chad Kimple appointed as interim Fire Chief
||| FROM KAT BARNARD for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE ||| The San Juan County Fire Protection District #2 Board of Fire Commissioners held its Regular Meeting on July 1 st at 3 p.m. The Board’s agenda included a discussion of OIFR operations and a discussion pertaining to the Fire Chief vacancy.
More than a meal, it’s a lifeline
Celebrating 53 Years of the Senior Nutrition Program ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Part of the Older Americans Act, the Senior Nutrition Program just started its 53rd year! More than a meal service, it’s also a lifeline of connection in our community. As we saw during
