Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Dr. Triplett offering a free tooth extraction clinic
||| FROM TERI TRIPLETT for DR. TRIPLETT'S DENTAL OFFICE ||| Dr. Triplett’s dental office at 445 Madrona Street in Eastsound has reserved Wednesday November 5 for free tooth extractions for our Orcas, Shaw, and Waldron residents in financial need. Services are limited to both routine and surgical extractions (including wisdom
Samish Indian Nation cuts ribbon on new early learning center
New facility will serve approximately 40 children, expanding access to quality childcare in Anacortes ||| FROM AMANDA SHOR for SAMISH INDIAN NATION ||| ANACORTES, Wash. (October 20, 2025) – The Samish Indian Nation celebrated the completion of its D Avenue Early Learning Center with a special ribbon cutting ceremony and
Letter to Editor | In support of school levies
||| FROM ORCAS EDUCATION FOUNDATION BOARD ||| The Orcas Island Education Foundation (OIEF) Board believes that one of the most important things we can do is invest in our children’s future. For over 40 years, OIEF has helped enhance the OI public schools through our fundraising efforts. There are some
Roll up for the Magical Mystery Tour at Orcas Center
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH-ARMSTRONG for ORCAS CENTER ||| Rock on the Rock Choir and Orcas Center is presenting a Beatles Music Extravaganza on the main stage for three weekends in November. Magical Mystery Tour is a one-act show featuring an all-island cast of singers, actors, dancers and musicians who will
Letter to Editor | Please support the Orcas Island Public Library – Vote YES for Proposition #1
||| FROM SAM BLACKMAN et. al ||| On behalf of the Orcas Island Library Advocacy Committee, I’d like to ask my fellow islanders to vote YES for Proposition #1. Our library is primarily funded through a property tax levy, and our last levy lift (in 2016) of $0.45/$1000 assessed value
Odlin County Park to host interagency prescribed burn on Lopez Island
This burn will help with fuels reduction as well as providing a training opportunity for San Juan County Fire District 4 ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Parks, Recreation, and Fair Department, in cooperation with WA State Department of Natural Resources and San Juan County Fire
No Place Like Loam | Growing wine grapes in Seattle? Part 2
||| NO PLACE LIKE LOAM by ALEX TAMAYO-WOLF ||| If you missed part 1, read it first. I saw a picture of my daughter yesterday. She was eleven, standing proud as a docent for the WSU Master Gardeners’ garden tour. The badge was official, but the smile was even more
Silent monster movie to show at Sea View, with live music
||| FROM WOODY CISKOWSKI ||| Sea View Theatre is excited to announce a showing of the classic 1922 horror movie Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror at 7pm on Thursday October 30 th . The silent movie will feature a live on stage, new score created and performed by the band
Letter to Editor | Why you should vote ‘Yes’ on school district levy
||| FROM KELLY CARPENTER, et. al ||| The saying “it takes a village” will forever remain steadfast for our special Orcas Island community. A child’s development is influenced by an entire community. Voting YES on the two levy propositions in the November 4th election is a chance to show such
Deadline Approaching | Pay your property taxes before Oct 31
The second half of property taxes and personal property taxes are due Friday, October 31, 2025 ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The deadline is approaching to pay the second half of property and personal property taxes: Friday, October 31, 2025. The San Juan County Treasurer’s Office is making
Guest Opinion | No Kings?
||| FROM MISHA RAUCHWERGER ||| I come from immigrant families: fleeing the pogroms where the Czar was burning Jewish villages, and the holocaust. Situations far worse that what we are experiencing today. I became fascinated with the rise of totalitarianism, fascism, and collapse and spent decades studying how this comes
Guest Opinion | Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good
Orcas needs public transit today ||| FROM COLIN WILLIAMS for FRIENDS OF RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ||| We believe residents should have choices—both in whether to raise additional taxes for enhanced service and in selecting among different implementation approaches. In that regard, our transit planning groups need to develop and refine
News Brief | Fault lines could be synchronized when ‘The Big One’ hits
||| FROM KGW NEWS ||| A new theory from Oregon State University researchers suggests that two fault systems along the West Coast may be synchronized — and could trigger each other. ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY KGW NEWS “The Big One” — the catastrophic earthquake scientists have warned about for years —
WSF ferry terminals will close for 48 hours in Spring of 2027 | What timing is best for you?
Please take this quick survey to provide your input to WSF! ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY FERRY INFORMATION ||| Washington State Ferries (WSF) will upgrade equipment at the Lopez and Orcas Island ferry terminals in spring 2027. A portion of this maintenance requires 48-hour service closures. WSF is interested in learning
Art, mindful tranquility, movement | Choose one or all at Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Discover your Artistic Side: Art with Carla at Orcas Senior Center Unleash your creativity at Art with Carla Fridays, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Orcas Senior Center. Led by experienced artist Carla Stanley, this lighthearted class focuses on the creative
News Briefs | Russia plans for 70-mile ‘Trump-Putin’ rail tunnel linking Russia and US
||| FROM THE MIRROR ||| A Kremlin envoy has suggested a 70-mile tunnel would be built under the Bering Strait and link the US and Russia. ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE MIRROR The proposal suggests using The Boring Company, a US tunnel construction company owned by Elon Musk, to build this
