I was estranged from my family. I returned one Thanksgiving
Family break-ups are not unusual, research tells us. “It’s a silent epidemic,” one psychologist says. ||| FROM THE WASHINGTON POST ||| Every Thanksgiving, families across the United States come together to celebrate in a spirit of gratitude. In the classic scenario, we gather round to express appreciation for the food
County to begin sidewalk repairs in Eastsound on December 2
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Public Works Department is pleased to begin repairs to Eastsound sidewalks along North Beach Rd and Main Street in advance of the busy holiday season. Construction will begin on Monday, December 2nd and is expected to be completed within a
County celebrates completion of Lopez Skate Park, calls for inaugural skaters
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Parks, Recreation, and Fair is pleased to re-open the Lopez Island Skate Parks after an extensive renovation. The new, approximately 6,300 sq ft skatepark will officially be opened on Sunday, December 1 at noon. The County invites any and all
One Orcas Island man heading into Thanksgiving weekend with something incredible to be thankful for
||| FROM XIAMARA GARZA for WASHINGTON LOTTERY ||| Olympia, Wash. – One Orcas Island man is heading into the Thanksgiving holiday this year with something extraordinary to be thankful for – a $1 million Powerball prize. Last month, John G. stopped by Orcas Island Market in Eastsound to take a look at
Gardens in Glass | Craft a terrarium for the holidays
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Lynn Johnson Please join us on Wednesday, December 11th, when the Orcas Island Garden Club welcomes Lynn Johnson. Create a stunning terrarium that will brighten your home this season. Lynn will guide us through the creative process while sharing an informative
Some trashy news from Lopez Island
||| FROM SANDY BISHOP for SOLID WASTE ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM ||| SWAP (Solid Waste Alternatives Program) was established about 11 years ago at the same time as the Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District (LSWDD) -– affectionately known as The Dump. SWAP is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to providing financial
Santa Storytime at the Holiday Craft Market
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| This Saturday, November 30, The Visual Arts Committee (VAC) of Orcas Center is excited to host a Handmade Craft Market from 11am - 4pm in the Black Box, Madrona Room, and Lobby. Get into the holiday spirit with festive music from the
A whale of a time: OCS students explore the wonders of marine life at Whale Museum
||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL STAFF ||| Recently, Mrs. Morgan’s 4th and 5th-grade class at Orcas Christian School embarked on an unforgettable field trip to the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor. During the trip, students engaged in an interactive game to help them understand how different organisms interact across various
New piece installed at SJI Sculpture Park
||| FROM KRISTEN ARNIM for SJI SCULPTURE PARK ||| Stephen Dyer Though colder, darker days are upon us, the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park is still open and active! We have just installed a new piece, “Kingfisher Pub,” created by local artist and maker Stephen Dyer. Making and
Town proclaims Nov. 30 as Small Business Saturday
||| FROM TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| PROCLAMATION Let’s Keep the Cheer Here! Celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for Friday Harbor and San Juan Island! WHEREAS, this year’s Friday Harbor Winterfest commences with Small Business Saturday, followed by the Friday Harbor Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa’s Workshop,
Art with Carla
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Unleash your creativity at "Art with Carla" every Friday, 1-3 pm at Orcas Senior Center. Led by experienced artist Carla Stanley, this lighthearted class focuses on the creative process with a strong belief in your artistic potential, regardless of skill level.
Seeking AmeriCorps VISTA member to strengthen Orcas community
||| FROM MEGAN METCALF for ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| Orcas Community Resource Center (OCRC) seeks a dedicated AmeriCorps VISTA member to help advance our mission of fostering a healthy, equitable community on Orcas Island. This one-year, full-time position offers an exceptional opportunity for someone passionate about community service and
4 kids [from Lopez Island] on whether America is ready for a woman president
Children and grown-ups alike are reckoning with the results of the 2024 presidential election. ||| FROM THE WASHINGTON POST ||| Students in Richard Carter’s 10th grade English classes on Lopez Island, Washington, wrote reflections both before and after the election about whether the United States was ready to elect a
Island Ways | Angst, anger over latest offshore wind project
||| FROM THE NANTUCKET INQUIRER & MIRROR ||| Orcas and Nantucket Islands are each roughly the same size and the same distance off their respective coasts. We share the same concerns about the high cost of living, lack of affordable housing, tourist management, ferry problems and environmental degradation. We are
First successful test of wild minke whales reveals they have ultrasonic hearing
||| FROM PHYS.ORG ||| A team of marine biologists from Norway, the U.S. and Denmark has conducted the first hearing test of a live baleen whale. For their study published in the journal Science, the group corralled a pair of wild minke whales and recorded their brain waves. Concerned about how human-produced ocean
Monthly Hearing Services
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Stacie Nordrum, Au.D., CCC-A, from Island Hearing Healthcare, provides hearing care at Orcas Senior Center every first Thursday of the month. To secure your slot, it is advisable to schedule your appointment well in advance, as availability fills up rapidly. The
