Here’s a thought…
“I am so convinced of the advantages of looking at mankind instead of reading about them, and of the bitter effects of staying at home with all the narrow prejudices of an islander, that I think there should be a law amongst us to set our young men abroad for a term among the few allies our wars have left us.”
LORD BYRON
Orcas Community Foundation tops national ranking
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| The Council on Foundations has released the results of their 2022 national survey of over 200 Community Foundations of all sizes. The Orcas Island Community Foundation is ranked #1 for Gifts per Capita. OICF was also recognized as #7 for
Orcas Island Lit Fest announces call for reading proposals for Fall Lit Walk
||| FROM JULE TRENEER for ORCAS ISLAND LIT FEST ||| The Orcas Island Lit Fest (OILF) invites authors to participate in the OILF Fall Lit Walk, set for the evenings of September 13 and September 14, 2024. This new event marks a standalone expansion of a beloved literary event, and
Get Strong Class
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Eva-Maria Petri, a seasoned certified trainer with 15+ years' expertise, leads an accessible strength and conditioning class welcomes all levels of strength and abilities on Thursdays at 11 am. Targeting back and abdominal muscles, this workout incorporates stabilizing and mobilizing exercises
WSF Weekly Report | Celebrating 73 years of service
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve I often get asked why I made the decision to leave the cruise industry and come to Washington State Ferries. First of all, life is complex, and I find there is no “one-size-fits-all” response to that question.
Help shape our future: Take the first climate survey
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County residents are invited to participate in a crucial climate survey to help shape the future of our community. This survey is a key part of our efforts to understand the community’s vision, values, and concerns regarding the impacts of climate
OPALCO upgrades Friday Harbor Substation for Future Power Demands
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT ||| If you’ve gone to the brewery in Friday Harbor lately, you may have noticed some work being done on the Friday Harbor Substation owned and operated by OPALCO. This substation had reached capacity and as more community members switch from
Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Welcome to our weekly feature, Occam's Razor, from local artist S.C. Watson.
Frankly Speaking: A journey through nostalgia with Frank Loudin
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join us on Wednesday, June 5 at 1 pm to experience Frank Loudin being Frank! Frank reminisces about yesteryear as if it were just yesterday. With a humorous twist, he shares memories of his first kiss, high school basketball, and the nostalgic
The Nourishing Neighbor | May 2024
||| FROM ED ANDREWS for ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK ||| Celebrating the Power of Volunteerism We are excited to reflect on Volunteer Appreciation Week that took place from April 21-27! Without the unwavering dedication of volunteers, food banks like ours would not be able to fulfill our mission of serving
SJC publishes revised engagement guide for reviewing OPALCO’s proposed solar project
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| UPDATE: San Juan County’s Department of Community Development (DCD) is still reviewing OPALCO’s application for a conditional use permit. The review is currently on hold for additional information. DCD has agreed to a deadline of July 28, 2024 for OPALCO to provide materials
5 things to know about water pollution at Canada’s busiest port
700 contaminants, 629 kilograms of oil and grease a day, 1 leaked video ||| FROM THE NARWHAL ||| The inlet that forms Vancouver’s northern, watery border has changed dramatically over the past 200 years. Burrard Inlet, called səl̓ilw̓ət in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language, was once home to rich estuaries and beaches abundant with
Orcas Island Jazz Festival tickets are available now
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| The Orcas Island Jazz Festival (OIJF), Orcas Island’s premier jazz event, lights up Orcas Center for three days every Labor Day weekend. OIJF is dedicated to celebrating and sharing the music of jazz with the Orcas Island community and visitors, to introducing
Burning season extended
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Residential burning has been extended by two weeks and will close on Saturday, June 15, 2024. Here are some reminders as we near the end of burning season: Burn permits can still be purchased online via the San Juan County Permit Center. Commercial burn permits
Event Calendar launches on theOrcasonian
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, EDITOR theORCASONIAN ||| You may have noticed a new feature on theOrcasonian website. We've been working on an Events Calendar for the community. We've wanted to have this up and running for quite some time, and now it's happened. Although it may still be a bit
Orca Action Month kicks off tonight
||| FROM KATHLEEN CALLAGHY for DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE ||| Join our opening webinar, “From Orcas to Humans: Clean Water, Healthy Futures,” at 5:30 pm Pacific, hosted by the Orca Salmon Alliance and the Salish Sea Institute. Register here! https://foundation.wwu.edu/event/orca-month-2024-orcas-humans We’ve got a great speaker lineup, and this is an excellent opportunity
Orca Sing 2024
||| FROM TATE THOMSON for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| Come celebrate Washington State Parks and Orca Action Month at Orca Sing 2024 on June 15 at Lime Kiln Point State Park. The event will start at approximately 7 p.m. and end at dusk. Orca Sing is an annual summer solstice
