Here’s a thought…
“Once a man has tasted freedom he will never be content to be a slave. That is why I believe that this frightfulness we see everywhere today is only temporary. Tomorrow will be better for as long as America keeps alive the ideals of freedom and a better life.”
WALT DISNEY
Honoring Veteran Ron Myers with a quilt of valor
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join us for a special celebration at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12, as we honor beloved longtime islander Ron Myers with a Quilt of Valor. Many know Ron as our cherished “piano man,” whose music has brought joy to countless
Hops on the Rock returns to Orcas Island this weekend
||| FROM CAREY ESKRIDGE for ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ||| Get ready, Orcas Island — the 8th Annual Hops on the Rock Beer Festival is back and bigger than ever! On Saturday, November 8, Market Street between Island Market and the Market Garden will transform into a lively beer
Island Water Taxi launches $6K matching campaign to double food access donations
||| FROM MEGAN METCALF for COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| Uncertain times call for community solutions.Thomas Bridge of Island Water Taxi has joined forces with Rainshadow Solar, Crane and Orcas Island residents to double every donation (up to $6K) to the Resource Center’s Food Access program through November 21st. Your gift
Notice | County to close Orcas Village Park and Ride for winter maintenance this December
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| In December, San Juan County’s Public Works Department will perform maintenance on the Orcas Village Park and Ride parking lot to prepare for winter weather. The work will be done in phases to ensure commuters have access to one of the lots at
LWVSJ Observer Corps | County Council November 3, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The council proclaimed November Veteran and Military Families Month and approved the 2026 council calendar. During public access time the Friday Harbor Port director and a commissioner requested to redesignate Shipyard Cove from rural residential to rural industrial as part of the Comp
JURY DUTY | *Updated Reporting Instructions*
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Jurors in groups 9 & 10 for the jury period beginning Monday, November 3rd through Friday, November 21st are required to report for Jury Service this afternoon, Thursday November 6th at 2:30. Jury Management is calling all jurors. All Jurors summoned for
Wind advisory in effect
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Seattle WA 824 AM PST Thu Nov 6 2025 San Juan County-Lowlands of Western Whatcom County-Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties-Port Townsend Area-Island County- Including Burlington, Langley, Freeland, Friday Harbor, Port Townsend, Mount Vernon, Bellingham,
Larsen releases statement on Trump administration cancelling thousands of flights
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement after the Trump administration announced that it will cancel thousands of flights: “The women and men who climb into air
‘On Screen’ series brings epic performances from The Met and National Theatre Live
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| The gold standard in opera and live theatre comes to Orcas Island with this season’s On Screen series. Running from now until June, you can view a diverse sampling of the world’s best performers at the height of their careers in productions
This is Actually Good | Bubble & Squeak
||| THIS IS ACTUALLY GOOD by RACHEL FACTOR ||| It's potato time at Island Hardware! I know you are likely celebrating as we are in my household. There's only one thing better than potatoes and that is free potatoes. This is a plant-based version of a British wintertime classic that
San Juan Preservation Trust hosts upcoming community talks | Land Conservation in the San Juans’
||| FROM KELVIN BAKER for SAN JUAN PRESERVATION TRUST ||| The San Juan Preservation Trust (SJPT) invites the community to two free public lectures exploring how the iconic natural landscapes that define our islands are protected. On Thursday, November 13, join SJPT staff at the Orcas Center in Eastsound for
The Path Less Taken: Part 1
||| FROM ROBIN ELIZABETH BALDWIN ||| Intro: Path Less Taken Over thirty years ago, islander Joe Symons began writing The Path Less Taken, found in entirety here: https://doebay.net/cpupdate/pathlessibook.pdf —a series of essays exploring growth, limits, and what it means to care for a place like the San Juan Islands. I’m
U.S. & Canadian leaders convene cross-border forum to strengthen collaboration & resilience
Building on a smaller virtual gathering in March 2025, the event reaffirmed the enduring spirit of cross-border cooperation and emphasized the vital role of local leadership in fostering a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| October 17, 2025, Sidney, BC — Indigenous leaders, elected
Preliminary Election Results | November 4, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY ELECTIONS ||| November 4, 2025 General Election Last updated on 11/04/2025 8:02 PM Number of Precincts 23 Number of Registered Voters 15,154 Total Ballots Counted 5,292 Est, Ballots Left to Count 850 Next Ballot Count On 11/05/2025 5:00 PM Last Tabulated 11/04/2025 8:02 PM Voter
SNAP benefits support available
||| FROM MEGAN METCALF for ORCAS COMMUNNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| If your SNAP monthly distribution date has passed and you're currently going without benefits, please reach out to the Resource Center for coordinated assistance. They're here to help! Thank you to supportive community members and community partners who are collaborating
Health Care District Board public budget & levy hearing
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island Health Care District is holding a Special Board Meeting on Thursday, November 6th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Orcas Island Public Library Community Room. The meeting will include the Public Budget and Levy Hearing, followed by the regular
