Here’s a thought…
“Bullets cannot be recalled. They cannot be uninvented. But they can be taken out of the gun.”
MARTIN AMIS
Editorial Column: Finding Light in the Darkness
By Margaret Benefiel, Ph.D. At this darkest time of the year, both Jews and Christians celebrate holidays of light. Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, commemorates one of God's miracles: the long–burning oil that allowed the Jews to rededicate their holy temple in victory over foreign oppressors. Hanukkah celebrates the light
Local Food Featured in Student Chef Competition
Without our local Island farms, the Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria Program would not thrive. They help our students learn about food and farming, help us keep our school garden healthy, and provide products included every day on the school lunch menu and fresh salad bar. That’s why we
Scrabblers! Winabble Tournament at Doe Bay Café Dec. 29
Scrabble fans unite! Join the Doe Bay Café for a night of words and wine as we host our first ever Winabble Tournament! The Café will be open on Wednesday evening, Dec. 29th from 5 to 9 p.m. and the tournament kicks off at 6 p.m. sharp! Featuring half-priced bottles
Check-ups and Workshops for Business Owners
From the State Economic Development Council James McCafferty, Business Advisor for Economic Development Association of Skagit County announces several free workshops for San Juan County residents and others this month. He says, "January is a great month to give your business a check-up. Here's a list of things for you
Prevention Partnership Transforms “Idol” into “Orcas Has Talent!”
From the Orcas Island Prevention Partnership To Enter: Register at the Funhouse, January 6 from 3 to 6 p.m. Introducing “Orcas Has Talent,” the new name for Orcas Idol, which has been the much awaited, most popular community show of the year! "Orcas Has Talent" shares the same show’s format
OIEF Makes an “Egg-citing” Announcement!
The Orcas Island Education Foundation (OIEF) is making plans for its May 19, 2011 Food for Thought event. For the last two Food For Thought events, OIEF has called on local artists to take an unadorned object and make it their own. These works of art are then auctioned at the
Luxuriate in a “Glacial Getaway:” Take the Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day
If you want to start the New Year with an electrifying jolt participate in an Orcas Tradition: The Polar Bear Plunge. It's a simple event, the master of ceremonies will give the shout and the hearty souls of Orcas will charge headlong into Cascade Lake. Within a few
Christmas Trees: A Renewable Resource
From Helen Venada Waste Reduction and Hazardous Waste Coordinator San Juan County Solid Waste Division, Public Works Department The County Public Works Department is sponsoring a Christmas tree collection program this year. Trees will be chipped for mulch for use at a public project and not sent to a landfill. Help us reduce
Orcas School Board Accepts Grants Totalling $480K
At their regular meeting last night, the Orcas Island School District (OISD) board voted to accept local and federal grants to assist the English Language Learning (ELL) program, and library technology. The board also voted to accept $460,000 from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to repair
Community Conversations with Candidates for Orcas Center Director Position
Reception to honor outgoing Director Barbara Courtney on Jan. 28 As part of its process to select a new Executive/Artistic Director, the Orcas Center Board of Trustees will host “conversations with the community” for each of the three final candidates. The community conversations will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Attorney General Backtracks on New Ferry Fare Increase
By Chris Grygiel Seattle Post Intelligencer The state attorney general's office says ferry fare increases approved last month are legal, despite the passage of a Tim Eyman initiative that requires the Legislature to pass fee increases. Earlier this week, Attorney General Rob McKenna's attorneys said in a non-binding, informal opinion
Gene Nery, Orcas Choral Society & Mannheim Steamroller Together on YouTube
For those who missed Gene Nery's performance of "Above the Northern Lights" at the 2009 Holiday Concerts of the Orcas Choral Society, there is now the opportunity to see Nery perform with the choir on YouTube. Mannheim Steamroller recorded the music, written by Chip Davis, founder of the
Best Wishes for the Holidays and New Year: A Poem
Messenger By Mary Oliver My work is loving the world. Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird— equal seekers of sweetness. Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums. Here the clam deep in the speckled sand. Are my boots old? Is my coat torn? Am I no longer young, and
New Poetry Class Starts January 4
A new poetry class, "Awakening the Poet Within," will begin on January 4, 2011. The poetry writing class will meet for eight sessions from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Library. The instructor is JoEllen Moldoff. She says, "In the words of Dorianne Laux, poet and author of The Poet’s
Orcas Park & Rec District to Make Another Try
The Orcas Island Park and Rec. District commissioners, at a special meeting held on Dec. 17, voted in favor of presenting a reduced levy on 2011’s February 8th ballot of 9 cents per $1,000 of appraised property value. Jim Bredouw, OIPRD commissioner said, After many hours of discussion that ranged
Missed the Full Moon-Solstice-Lunar Eclipse? Here’s Photos
If, like us, you missed the first time in nearly 400 years that there was a lunar eclipse during a full moon on the night of winter solstice, you can still view photographs that give an idea of the total darkness of those moments. To to this link from Crosscut:
