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
Staying for Good | How affordability builds community, one homeowner at a time
||| FROM OPAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ||| When Eros Belliveau arrived on Orcas in the summer of 2007, it was supposed to be temporary. He had a seasonal job at a restaurant after working hospitality in Seattle for years. He settled into employee housing—grateful for a bed, but living with
Watch Eth-Noh-Tec spooky tales on YouTube this week
||| FROM ETH-NOH-TEC ||| For one more week, you can join Nancy Wang and Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo of Eth-Noh-Tec for a Free YouTube Presentation of some seriously spooooky tales! Learn more about Asian ghouls, ghosts, and goblins and enjoy some stories that will make you want to keep the lights ON!
Dire warning for two orcas ‘left for dead’ in abandoned marine park
||| FROM LADBIBLE ||| At the now-defunct Marineland of Antibes mother and son orca remain trapped The tourist attraction closed its doors in January this year. Wikie, 23, and her 11-year-old son Keijo remain confined in an enclosure at the deserted attraction READ FULL ARTICLE
Checking in with J Pod | Where is J64?
||| FROM THE CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 12:22 PM ObservEnd: 12:40 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit Other Observers: Rachel John Pods: J IDsEncountered: J16, J19, J22, J26, J27, J31, J35, J36, J37, J38, J39, J40, J41, J42, J44, J45, J46, J47, J49, J51,
Eth-Noh-Tec new novel reading this week
Wednesday, November 5, 1-2:30 at Orcas Senior Center ||| FROM NANCY WANG for ETH-NOH-TEC ||| Nancy Wang of Eth-Noh-Tec will be reading from her new novel Red Altar that follows three generations of her family that sailed from China in 1850 and crashed into Carmel Bay, California as they fought
News Brief | Do we take COVID seriously enough?
||| FROM THE TYEE ||| We downplay the virus at our peril. And children are more at risk than we thought. ORIGINALLY POSTED ON THE TYEE The level of mortality is above what it was before the pandemic. This metric has not returned to normal and remains significantly elevated. READ
Special Town Council November 2025 meetings
||| FROM JENNIFER KREMBS for TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| The Town Council will hold the following special meetings in November: Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 11 a.m., the Town Council will take part in the Alhadeff Park ribbon cutting ceremony at the pocket park located at Spring and Second
Early sunsets and extra sleep | Washingtonians prepare to switch their clocks
||| FROM KOMO NEWS ||| It's that time of year to say goodbye to afternoon light, with the earliest sunset of the year expected Sunday at 4:49 p.m. and sunrise at 6:55 a.m. Washington state will "fall back" to standard time on Sunday, when clocks are turned back one hour
Midnight Mutterings |This coming winter
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| Somehow, I’m less enthusiastic about the approaching winter than usual. Is is that the early dark and late daylight seem to affect me negatively more than in the past? Or is that my little neighborhood seems to be clearing out for the season
Sheriff’s Report | October 22 – 28, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22 25-007302 Suspicious Person/Circumstance 10:34:08 10/22/25 An Orcas Island Deputy responded to a suspicious incident near downtown Eastsound. The reporting party explained that a male with possible mental health concerns was acting suspicious. The Deputy conducted a search for the
Building Community Resilience | Supporting islanders through uncertain times
||| FROM MEGAN METCALF for ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| Communities nationwide — including here on Orcas — are bracing for potential devastating disruptions as the government shutdown extends beyond October 31st. At stake are critical federal nutrition programs such as SNAP and WIC, alongside healthcare challenges including limited insurance
Supporting food access on Orcas Island
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| As the government shutdown continues, OICF has been in close communication with partners to mobilize resources and coordinate support as federal funding for critical programs like WIC and SNAP are threatened. These programs are essential to ensuring that all families,
News Brief | Judge rules emergency funds must be used for SNAP benefits
||| FROM NPR.ORG ||| The Agriculture Department must use emergency funds to keep SNAP going. ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY NPR.ORG Resuming payments at some point can still avoid irreparable harm to SNAP recipients. Read full article
Happy Halloween | A treat from Rep. Lekanoff
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF ||| Happy Halloween! As we trade candy corn for committee hearings and pumpkins for policy, I’m reminded that the real magic of this season comes from working together for the common good. While some might try to trick Washingtonians out of strong
Wind advisory in effect until 10PM
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Seattle WA 934 AM PDT Fri Oct 31 2025 San Juan County-Lowlands of Western Whatcom County-Port Townsend Area-Island County- Including Friday Harbor, Freeland, Bellingham, Port Townsend, and Langley 934 AM PDT Fri Oct 31 2025 ...WIND ADVISORY
Join the Land Bank Commission, guide conservation in the islands
Looking to Get Involved? ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The Land Bank is looking for two engaged community members to fill at-large positions on the Land Bank Commission. The Commission holds regular, monthly meetings on the third Friday of the month, and the seven commissioners serve staggered, four-year
