Here’s a thought…
“It wasn’t a Blue Wave; it was an American Tsunami!”
You Know You’re From Orcas When…
You know more people who own boats than air conditioners. You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash. You know more than ten ways to order coffee. You know the names of the new Orca whale pod babies. You feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice
Lahari Joins with Fire & Rescue in “Orcas Safe Homes Project”
By Paul Losleben Lahari is pleased to announce a new program to assist the elderly and infirm in their homes. Entitled “Orcas Safe Homes,” the objective is to assist Orcas Island residents in identifying and correcting safety and health hazards in the home. The program, to begin in the New
The “End of Days” Polar Bear Plunge Is Moving To The Other End Of The Lake This Year
The brave “plungers” of 2012 By Martin Taylor You can say “I Survived!” twice over if you take part in Orcas Island Rowing’s “Polar Bear Plunge” on New Year’s Day. You will have survived the “End of Days” on December 21st and the icy grip of Cascade
Skagit Economic Development Offers Free Business Classes in January
By James McCafferty, Business Advisor - Economic Development Association of Skagit County The Economic Development Association (EDA) has planned a wonderful set of educational sessions for the New Year and hope to see you soon. Remember, we now are able to stream our content live to you wherever the internet
Christmas Trees: A Renewable Resource
Helen Venada Waste Reduction and Hazardous Waste Coordinator San Juan County Solid Waste Division The County Public Works Department is again sponsoring a FREE Christmas tree collection program this year. Trees will be chipped for mulch for use at a public project and not sent to a landfill. The project also provides a
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
