Here’s a thought…
“The question is whether or not you choose to disturb the world around you, or if you choose to let it go on as if you had never arrived.”
ANN PATCHETT
New calf in the Bigg’s population
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 12:40 PM ObservEnd: 01:40 AM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss Other Observers: Rachel John Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T36A, T36A1, T36A1A, T36A2, T36A2A, T36A3, T36A5, T38C, T38E, T65A, T65A4, and T65A6 LocationDescr: Sucia Island EncSummary:
Watch ‘The Snake and the Whale’ free through Sunday – and take action
A Must Watch ||| FROM FRIDAY HARBOR FILM FESTIVAL ||| We’re pleased to share a special opportunity from Executive Producer Scott Levy, who has requested that The Snake and the Whale be made available free to view online now through Sunday, November 2 (midnight). This powerful documentary—screened at FHFF 2025—dives deep into the critical
Inter-island vessel, Tillikum, out of service most of the day Friday, Oct. 31
This is due to crewing shortages. The vessel will start sailing on Friday, Oct. 31 with the 5:40 p.m. eastbound sailing out of Friday Harbor. ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| The #4 inter-island vessel, Tillikum, will be out of service most of the day Friday, Oct. 31. This is
Salmonberry School | Celebrating light and community
||| FROM PAUL FREEDMAN for SALMONBERRY COMMUNITY SCHOOL ||| In this season of shortening days, light becomes precious. Children are rising for school before the sun, and often returning home in darkness as well. In addition to making space for the traditional American seasonal holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas,
Stockpiling Hope | From scarcity to solidarity – Updated
||| FROM ELISABETH GODBOIS for SAN JUAN PREPARE ||| Join San Juan Islands PREPARE and special guests for a community conversation about transforming our approach to disaster preparedness—from guarding limited supplies to creating abundance through cooperation. This event, on Wednesday, November 12 at 5 p.m. at San Juan Island Grange,
Schoolhouse Concerts come to Deer Harbor
||| FROM ANITA ORNE for JP & THE OK RHYTHM BOYS The Deer Harbor Community Club is thrilled to announce the first in an ongoing series of “Schoolhouse Concerts”! On Saturday November 1 st at 7pm, join JP & the OK Rhythm Boys as they perform in Deer Harbor’s historic
This is Actually Good | Squash Au Gratin
||| THIS IS ACTUALLY GOOD by RACHEL FACTOR ||| Yesterday two kabocha squash mysteriously showed up on my doorstep. This put me into creative overdrive as my squash horizons suddenly needed to be broadened. I've already made soup this season and how many pumpkin/squash soups can you really eat? And
Successful prescribed burn completed at Odlin County Park
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Parks and Fair completed a successful prescribed burn at Odlin County Park on October 23, 2025, providing training opportunities for WA State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and San Juan County Fire District 4 (Lopez). Project Background In the
Letter to Editor | In support of the November 4, 2025 school levies
||| FROM THE MUSIC ADVOCACY GROUP ||| The Music Advocacy Group (MAG) supports both Orcas Island School District (OISD) levies on the ballot this November 4. Strong schools are the foundation of a healthy, thriving community. These levies are essential to keeping our schools vibrant, well-rounded, and fully equipped to
Fire-smart landscaping for Western Washington with Marlene Finley
LEARN FROM HOME GARDENER AND FOREST EXPERT! Wednesday, November 12th, 10 am (at the Orcas Center or by Zoom) ||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| The Orcas Island Garden Club presents Fire-Smart Landscaping for Western Washington by Marlene Finley Please join the Orcas Island Garden Club on Wednesday, November 12th
Odd Fellows Halloween Dance
||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG for ODD FELLOWS HALL ||| Celebrate Halloween at the Odd Fellows Hall at the annual dance on October 31 from 8:30-midnight. This dance is a benefit for the Odd Fellows Scholarship Fund for graduating high school students and towards the care and upkeep of our beloved community
Trick or treat at Library in costume, take home a free book
||| FROM JENNY DEGROOT for ORCAS ISLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY ||| Ghouls, ghosts, goblins, and youth are invited to the annual Trick-Or-Treating for Books event at Orcas Island Public Library on Friday, October 31st from 3-6 pm. Youth in costume can take home a free book thanks to a generous donation from
Letter to Editor | Please vote in uncontested elections
||| FROM BILL APPEL ||| Some complain that they should be asked to vote without a named opponent (of course you can always write in your own). But there are two good reasons for voting in uncontested elections: No opposition may indicate that the job is burdensome and thankless. If
Orcas Island Clothing Bank returns for 31st year this Fall
||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| The Clothing Bank is returning to Orcas Island this fall for its 31st year and will be open Nov. 1–2. In its early days in 1994, the Clothing Bank was held at the Odd Fellows Hall in town before later moving to the Orcas
County Council to travel to Orcas Island for upcoming November 4 meeting
||| FrOM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Council will hold its regularly scheduled November 4 meeting on Orcas Island. The public is invited to join the three councilmembers and County staff at the meeting at the Orcas Island Fire Station Meeting Room beginning at 10:30 am. What:
Library series | Doo wop, shoo bop, ding dong, and $30 Billion later
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Rock & Roll didn’t just change music — it changed everything. Join Bruce Langford at the Orcas Island Public Library for a four-part crash course in the sound that shaped America. Free lecture series, Wednesdays October 29, November 5, 12,19 at
