Here’s a thought…
“Deep breath. Deep breath. The air is free. You can take as many as you want.”
BUDDHIST MONK
Garden Club October Event
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| The Orcas Island Garden Club is sponsoring a citizen science project called Project Blossom. Orcas has many microclimates that affect the bloom time of flowers. This project will help gardeners understand the differences unique to their neighborhoods. No previous knowledge or experience is
In Memoriam | James C Shaffer-Bauck 1951 – 2024
||| FROM LINDA SLONE ||| James Carl Shaffer-Bauck (aka “Doody”), 72, died peacefully at his Orcas Island home surrounded by family on August 22, 2024, of complications from cancer. The middle child of three, Jim was born November 23, 1951, and raised on a rural farm in Wichita County, Kansas.
Chair Yoga
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join us for Chair Yoga, a soothing practice tailored for seniors and those with disabilities, held every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 10:45 am. This gentle technique incorporates the use of a chair for support, enabling participants to explore balance
The Whale Museum announces search for new Executive Director
||| FROM TATE THOMSON for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| The Whale Museum’s hiring committee has officially begun the search for a new Executive Director (ED) and applications are now being accepted. The Whale Museum seeks a strong leader to carry on the museum’s mission. The new ED will inherit
SJC celebrates Voter Education Week by answering elections FAQs
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Do you know what ‘Top 2 Primary’ means? Have you checked your voter registration status? Do you know how to request an absentee ballot? The San Juan County Elections Office is kicking off National Voter Education Week (October 7-11) by answering frequently asked questions about
Letter to Editor | Justin Paulsen lives a culture of service to the community
||| FROM DARRELL KIRK ||| My name is Darrell Kirk and my family and I have lived on Orcas Island for a little over a year. In that short time, I have worked with Justin Paulsen while serving on a local Board that serves the recovery community on Orcas, and
Letter to Editor | Think twice before voting
||| FROM JOHN NANCE and LISA DES JARDINS ||| Before voting, everyone should be aware of some facts and a pattern of behavior inherent in Kari McVeigh, as evidenced by the following lawsuit and news article related to TWO back-to-back employment departures from TWO DIFFERENT school districts. First, the legal
Council candidates answer housing questions (Part 4 of 4)
||| FROM GEORGE J ZWEIBEL and SANDY BISHOP ||| Affordable housing is unquestionably one of the most important issues the new SJC Council will face and one that is a concern to most everyone who lives or works in the islands. We have been actively engaged in affordable housing for
Letter to Editor | We don’t need ‘big’
||| FROM SCOTT BRENNAN ||| Our San Juan County Commissioners race has two very different candidates. Stephanie O’Day is an islander, who has lived and worked here for 40 years. She wants to simplify and streamline county government, making our islands a place where a young family can live and
Library seeks visual arts submissions
||| FROM ANDREA COHEN for ORCAS ISLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY ||| (C) Ponch Immel The Orcas Island Public Library seeks to include exhibits of visual arts in its mission to support all learners. Art will be shown for a month, to be scheduled by the Library Art Committee. To
Letter to Editor | Kari McVeigh has my vote
||| FROM MARK MADSEN ||| I am proud to endorse Kari McVeigh for the District 1 County Council seat and urge my neighbors to do likewise. The contrast between candidates could not be sharper. McVeigh has a long career in education and public service, has managed large organizations on the
Health Care District Board Meeting
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT BOARD ||| Board Meeting - Special - October 7, 2024 The Orcas Island Health Care District Board will hold a Special Board Meeting on Monday, October 7, 2024 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM in the Orcas Island Community Foundation meeting room, Suite 4 - 33 Ulner Street,
Ukulele Kanikipila
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Experience the joy of making music at Ukulele Kanikipila, Hawaiian for "play music," every Monday from 1 to 3 pm at Orcas Senior Center. This gathering is open to everyone with an interest in playing music for two hours each week.
“Time is Brain, Time is Heart” | What your Clinic Triage Team wants you to know
||| FROM GRAY GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| While some call them the “gatekeepers” of Island Primary Care-Orcas, the Nurse Triage Team plays a more intricate role than that for our healthcare ecosystem. Every day, they are tasked with the intake, review, and prioritization of the health
Council candidates answer housing questions (Part 3 of 4)
||| FROM GEORGE J ZWEIBEL and SANDY BISHOP ||| Affordable housing is unquestionably one of the most important issues the new SJC Council will face and one that is a concern to most everyone who lives or works in the islands. We have been actively engaged in affordable housing for
Letter to Editor | Join me in voting for Land Bank
||| FROM LOUISE DUSTRUDE ||| I have lived in Friday Harbor for over half my life, and some of the changes I’ve seen during that time have really enhanced my life, as well as the lives of many others. Two that first come to mind are the Conservation Land Bank
