Here’s a thought…
“And, frankly, I would like to make the U.S.-Canada relationship boring again.”
RICK LARSEN
Twelve Upgraded Days of Christmas
12 Days of Christmas from Garrison Keillor On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Twelve plumbers humming Eleven bikers Skyping Ten snorers sleeping Nine Vedas chanting Eight amazing children Seven Swanson women Six geezers playing FIVE ONION RINGS Four extroverts Three French men Two squirrel
A Portrait of a Master Teacher: Lorena Stankevich
Lorena Stankevich in her combined 1-2nd grade classroom at Orcas Elementary School By Margie Doyle She always, “always!” wanted to be a teacher, says Orcas Elementary teacher Lorena Stankevich, and now she has achieved a pinnacle of teacher achievement: the National Board Certification for Teachers. She decided
“Pine Tree Tops” a Poem
By Gary Snyder in the blue night frost haze, the sky glow with the moon pine tree tops bend snow-blue, fade into sky, frost, starlight. the creak of boots. rabbit tracks, deer tracks, what do we know.
The Week Ahead: Yes, Virginia, There is a Week After Christmas
Tuesday, December 25 Christmas Morning Service with Eucharist, Emmanuel Episcopal Parish, 10 a.m. Thursday, December 27 Yuletide Baroque & Beyond: Baroque & Jazz for Christmas, 2 p.m., Emmanuel Episcopal Parish. Open Mic Night at Doe Bay Cafe Pizza Night Friday, December 28th Cythia Nims unveils her newest cookbook, Salty Snacks
“Winter Solstice” a Poem
By JoEllen Moldoff White apples, unripe in a celadon bowl. Three moons in a glazed galaxy. Outside, three deer nuzzling each other in sleep. Dreaming of tomorrow’s apples, buried under snow. Our own lives, quick as falling apples. A stillness in the bowl tonight. White apples, not moving anywhere.
Genetically Engineered Salmon…One Step Closer to Your Plate
This undated 2010 handout photo provided by AquaBounty Technologies shows two same-age salmon, a genetically modified salmon, rear, and a non-genetically modified salmon, foreground. By Madie Murray To me, this is very scary. The Washington Post and other major news outlets broke a story this weekend saying the
“Those Winter Sundays” a Poem
By Robert Hayden Sundays too my father got up early And put his clothes on in the blueback cold, then with cracked hands that ached from labor in the weekday weather made banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him. I'd wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking. When the
Guest Column: Community Foundation 2012, the Stitching in the Quilt
By Hilary Canty, OICF Executive Director 2012 was a year of great accomplishment for our local community foundation. Nearly $600,000 in grants were distributed by the Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) over the past year, through direct grants to island nonprofits, our Donor Advised Funds and Partners in Philanthropy.
Guest Column: a Homily on the Newtown Tragedy
By Susan McBain This Catholic homily for the 3rd Sunday in Advent was sent to me by a friend. The shootings at Newtown on Friday come down like a knife slicing this season of Advent in two. I keep looking for a word of faith to say on this 3rd
A Winter Poem
By Tomas Tranströmer (translated from the Swedish by Robin Robertson) The storm puts its mouth to the house and blows to get a tone. I toss and turn, my closed eyes reading the storm's text. The child's eyes grow wide in the dark and the storm howls for him. Both
Supreme Court: WA Legislature Failing at Education Funding
By Donna Gordon Blankinship, Associated Press The Washington Supreme Court ruled on Thursday [Dec. 20] that the state Legislature isn't making enough progress toward finding more money for K-12 education in answer to the court's decision in the McCleary school funding lawsuit. The high court told lawmakers they must have
Celebrations of the Season
Wishes for a warm and joyous holiday season. Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Monday, December 24: Family Christmas Service in Parish Hall, 5 p.m. Traditional Christmas Eve Service with Eucharist in the Church, 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 25: Christmas Morning Service with Eucharist in the Church, 10 a.m. Thursday, December
‘Twas the Weekend Before Christmas, and All Through the Island…
Friday, December 21 Indoor Labyrinth Walk, The Emmanuel Episcopal Church will open the doors of its Parish Hall to all from 4 until 6 p.m. Naomi Wachira at the Doe Bay Café, 7 p.m. Please join us for a wonderful evening of music and delicious local fare! Seating is limited!
Booster Club Has Holiday Gift Ideas
From the Orcas Island Booster Club Are you running out of time and ideas for all of those last minute Christmas gifts you still need to buy? If so, the Orcas Island Booster Club has just the solution for you. We have a full selection of this year’s “Viking Gear”
San Juan County Council: Looking Back at a Productive Year
San Juan County Council 2012. From left Rich Peterson, Patty Miller, Howie Rosenfeld, Jamie Stephens, Lovel Pratt, Richard Fralick. Council members Peterson, Miller, Rosenfeld and Fralick will not serve after the May 2013 elections for a 3-member Council, as decided by popular vote last month. By Stan Matthews
Farm to Cafeteria Thanks You for Another Great Year
By Madie Murray It has been an exciting and gratifying year for our Farm to Cafeteria Program. Here’s a brief rundown of all the momentous F2C events that occurred since the 2011-12 school year began: Grants Received: Orcas Island Education Foundation for the Farm to Classroom Project Orcas Island Community
