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
Letter to Editor | Gratitude for our community GiveOrcas support
||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG for ODD FELLOWS ||| When my family moved to Orcas Island in 1995, one of our earliest experiences with this community took place at the Odd Fellows Hall. Nancy Koenig and her marimba band were playing a dance at the Hall. We were delighted by the
A different future is possible | Quaker organizations share a vision for peace in Palestine and Israel
||| FROM DARCY LEACH for ORCAS FRIENDS WORSHIP GROUP ||| In the name of peace and justice, the Orcas Friends Worship Group (Quakers), would like to share publicly with our island neighbors the fact that we have signed on to the following statement regarding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The statement was
Sculpture Park birdwalk
||| FROM KRISTEN ARNIM for SJ SCULPTURE PARK ||| Join us Wednesday, June 5 from 8-10am at the Sculpture Park for our monthly bird walk with avid birder Tyler Davis. “One of our summer breeding residents that we will keep an eye out for this month is the stunning Western
Port Commission meeting
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold their regular monthly meeting this Monday, May 20th, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. online via Zoom and in person at the airport terminal conference room. Access information can be found in the attached
After orcas sink another yacht, researcher says they’re probably just playing
||| FROM YAHOO NEWS ||| Following news of the latest boat sunk by orcas in the waters near the Strait of Gibraltar, a killer whale researcher is warning that the incidents may be misunderstood. News outlets (including HuffPost) have used the word “attack” to describe a spate of events in which orcas
Guest Opinion | Reject the proposed EWUA bylaw amendments
||| FROM MICHAEL RIORDAN ||| The current attempt to amend the Eastsound Water Users Association bylaws is fundamentally flawed and should therefore be abandoned. Like the US Constitution, the bylaws of an organization are a compact or contract between its members and the individuals elected or appointed to represent them.
Bloodworks returning to San Juans in June
||| FROM HANNAH MCNUTT for BLOODWORKS NW ||| Bloodworks will be back to the beautiful San Juan Islands this summer on June 4th & 5th. We had a wonderful turnout back in March and are hoping to do the same next month. Our goal is to register 164 donors while out
Midnight Mutterings | Milkman
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| From old movies, we all know about the milkman with his cart and horse who delivered milk in glass bottles around the city. He left the milk on the back steps of the house. Or sometimes he put the bottles through a swinging
Sheriff’s Report | May 8 – 14, 2024
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, MAY 8 24-002656 Threats 10:33:59 05/08/24 A Lopez Deputy received a referral case from Juvenile Services. 24-002659 Trespassing 11:46:10 05/08/24 I was assigned to work patrol on Orcas Island. At approximately 11:46 hours, I responded to a trespassing call at Island
Holy cow, you did it
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| What a whirlwind 10 days! Thanks to everyone who has participated in this year’s GiveOrcas campaign. We have broken pretty much every record we can. We had more donors (940), more donations ($341,000), more and faster full funding (17 out
Artworks May Featured Artist
||| FROM B.J. ARNOLD for ORCAS ISLAND ARTWORKS ||| Orcas Island Artworks is pleased to announce Bruce Wilson as the Featured Artist for the Month of May. Landscape painter, designer, and illustrator Bruce Wilson was born in Los Angeles in 1948. Raised in Hollywood and later in Pasadena, California now
OISD to connect with Orcas community
||| FROM SUZANNA SMITH for ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| School and Community Connections "OISD Connecting with the Orcas Community one informal conversation at a time" Please join 2 of Orcas Island School District's Board members for kudos and questions. Where: Village Green When: Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 12 pm Spanish Version:
WSF Weekly Report | Our maritime women; National Maritime Day; Maritime Academy tour
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve Saturday, May 18, is International Day for Women in Maritime. While this day highlights the incredible and talented women working at WSF, their contributions to the industry deserve daily recognition. The International Maritime Organization established this day to
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.
LWVSJ Observer Corps | County Council May 14, 2024
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| During public comment six citizens spoke in opposition to a proposed cement plant at the Beaverton Valley Business Park zoned for business and light industry. They cited concerns about impacts on water quality, air pollution and noise near residential properties and two
Eastsound Water announces boil water notice for some customers in Doe Bay
||| FROM DAN BURKE for EASTSOUND WATER ||| Eastsound Water is advising that water customers in the Doe Bay Water Users Association Service Area identified in the red circle below to boil their drinking water due to a main break that happened early afternoon on 5-15-2024. The Washington State Department
