Here’s a thought…
“When the last tree is cut, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted; when to breathe the air is sickening, you will realize, too late, that wealth is not in bank accounts and that you can’t eat money.”
ALANIS OBOMSAWIN
‘By Request,’ Short Works from Local Playwrights Opens Friday
September 2—3 and 9–11 at 7:30 p.m. at The Grange by Doug Bechtel We are excited to present five performances of short and somewhat longer works from our well known Orcas playwrights. The nine pieces to be read range from monologs to stories to character sketches. We've decided to call this
Steve Braun Memorial Triathlon This Weekend
September 4, 8:30 a.m. from Linda Sheridan Swim, bike, run, come have some fun! The Steve Braun Memorial Triathlon is set for September 4 at 8:30am; The race is an exciting event for athletes who want to have fun and push their personal limits, as well as for serious athletes
Small Business Fair to be Held September 24
By Victoria Compton, Executive Director, San Juan County Economic Development Council Island business owners will have an opportunity to attend no-cost business classes at the 2011 Washington Small Business Fair in Renton, Wash. Over thirty classes will be offered –from government contracting, to improving cash flow, to social media marketing,
Explore the Geology of Sucia Island with SJ Nature Institute
September 11, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. San Juan Nature Institute is again hosting local geologist Michael Yeaman as he repeats a popular workshop on the Geology of Sucia in September. This workshop was sold out in 2010 and is back by popular demand. Participants will meet at
Lowered Reserves, Alternative Learning Changes Concern Orcas School Board
It was another marathon school board meeting last Thursday night, much of it taken up in explaining the lower-than-expected general fund balance presented by Business Manager Keith Whitaker. Also, last-minute changes by the State Office of Education which will affect enrollment in the Alternative Education Program (OASIS K-8 and
Thanks for the Beautiful Plums, Barbara!
By Madie Murray Barbara Wheeler had four plum trees (two golden and two red) heavily laden with ripe organically-grown plums. She put a call out to a friend who passed the information along to the Farm to Cafeteria Committee, and a small band of volunteers arrived Thursday morning
Ali Marcus Performs Live at Doe Bay
Tuesday, August 30 from 6-8 pm Ali Marcus is a Seattle-based songwriter who tours nationally. She has sang at festivals around America, including CMJ, Northwest Folklife Festival, and Noise for the Needy. She has sang in lots of awesome joints, like the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, IOTA Cafe
Park & Rec – School Board Meet on Buck Park Properties
The Orcas Island School Board (OISD) had an early start to their regular meeting on August 25 in a special, joint meeting with the Orcas Island Park and Recreation District (OIPRD) Board to work out the Interlocal Agreement for transference of Buck Park properties from the School Disrict to Park
Ferry fares to go up in October and May
The Washington State Transportation Commission adopted changes to current ferry fares at a hearing held in Seattle on Wednesday, August 24. According to Ferries Secretary for the State Department of Transportation, David Moseley, "The changes included a general fare increase of 2.5 percent on Oct. 1, 2011, and a 3
The Weekend’s Full of Sun and Fun
Friday, August 26 Chamber Music Festival, “Masterworks Finale!:” Music Lovers Seminar at St. France Catholic Church. 9 a.m. Live Music. No Entry Stage (Outdoors, next to Darvill’s). Starting at 5-ish. Sean McGee will be playing on the Doe Bay Café patio stage. To make reservations call 360-376-8059. Chamber Music Festival,
Letter to the Editor: Crossroads Lectures Seeks Associates
Thanks to the Orcas community for supporting the Crossroads Lectures. We hope you will also enjoy the outstanding speakers for the upcoming 2011-2012 season who will be speaking on The Future of the Book, Current Dilemmas and the Internet, Our Place in the Expanding Universe, The American Empire, and Human
Letter to the Editor: Gratitude for Meadows Family Benefit
Housing foreclosures are happening at an unprecedented rate. Facing this same edge has made it impossible to ignore snippets of shame when threatened with the loss of my own home. I had a mixed congress in my head about facing our community with this issue last Monday. But the
Letter to the Editor: Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender Fund Helps Community Foundation
To the Editor, The Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) was selected by the LGBT fund to receive a grant of $1,000. The LGBT fund supports programs that enhance our community inclusiveness, equality, and diversity. These funds will be used in part to complete a community wide needs assessment. Over the past 18
Guest Opinion: The Tank’s History as Social Media
By Tom Welch The history of the Tank as social media is interesting. As a high school student in the mid-sixties, I sat on the Tank with my classmates for yearbook photos. You can see us sitting on an earlier, larger version of today's tank in the yearbook for 1966
Shane Watson Instructs in 10-week Life Drawing Class
Contributed by Maggie Sharkey There is still room in Shane Watson's Life Drawing Class: registration deadline is Monday, August 29. For anyone who feels rusty, or wants to learn how to draw the figure, or is just wanting to learn to draw in a structured environment, Shane Watson
“Rock on the Rock Singers” To Start New Series
“Rock on the Rock Singers,” led by Grace McCune, return to the Orcas Center for another six-week Thursday night series. "This fun and highly entertaining group provides a great outlet for singers of all types," says McCune. The music in this series will offer a wide range of
