Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
News Brief | Time versus money: Reporter unpacks WSF’s out-of-state contract
||| FROM KIRO NEWS ||| “The deal was interesting from the get-go, because there were competing values, of spending our tax dollars locally or getting more for our buck by going to a Florida shipyard." ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON KIRO NEWS "As much as we’d like to keep our dollars at
Drop-in peer grief support group at Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join us for a supportive, non-judgmental space to process grief and mourning with the Drop-In Peer Grief Support Group Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. at Orcas Senior Center. This group is designed to help normalize your feelings, facilitate healing, and provide understanding.
Orcas Island Middle School girls volleyball team concludes undefeated 2025 season
||| FROM ALICIA WIGFIELD for ORCAS MIDDLE SCHOOL ||| The Orcas Island Middle School Girls Volleyball Team has wrapped up an outstanding 2025 season, finishing with an impressive undefeated record. The final whistle has blown on a campaign marked by dedication, skill, and remarkable growth among the players. Under the
Letter to Editor | Why I’m supporting OIFR bond levy
||| FROM BRIAN EHRMANTRAUT ||| Orcas Island Fire & Rescue’s fire engines have served this community well for decades, but the fleet is aging and needs urgent attention. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which sets national standards for fire apparatus, recommends in NFPA 1911: “Apparatus more than 15 years
What’s up, fungal associates?
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Completely Arbortrary is a weekly podcast that is a scientific look at trees and how they affect and are affected by everything, hosted by master arborist and environmental educator Casey Clapp and his tree-curious friend and musical artist Alex Crowson. Each
WSF Weekly Update |
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve WSF's employees commitment to our customers keep us operating, with Friday being a great example. Let’s begin with our dedicated dispatchers. With several key vessel positions unfilled across the system, our dispatch team went into overdrive –
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.
Headed for NO KINGS rally? Here are some reminders
||| FROM GRETCHEN KRAMPF |||
Time to plan ahead for Winter Artisans Market at Odd Fellows
||| FROM PARKER PAVITT for WINTER ARTISANS MARKET ||| The annual Winter Artisans Market at the Odd Fellows Hall invites applications from artists and artisans for this traditional gathering of island creatives and community supporters. This year's Market will be held on Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th at
Grannie’s Holiday Sale returns to Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Get ready to shop, mingle, and celebrate the season at Grannie’s Holiday Sale on Saturday, November 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Orcas Senior Center! Discover festive décor, holiday treasures, handcrafted goods, and one-of-a-kind gifts created by local artisans.
Letter to Editor | We need to strengthen our local outreach regarding Corona vaccines
||| FROM KIM SECUNDA ||| Today I was at the clinic and a woman thought she needed a referral to get her shot from Rays. It takes a month to get a Dr. appointment and the Rays vaccine waitlist is deep into November . This sets vaccination back to average 2
Momentum builds for NO KINGS peaceful protest on Saturday
||| FROM INDIVISIBLE SAN JUAN ISLAND TEAM |||
NYT | How to fight a Zombie fire: What can burn will burn
||| FROM DAVID WALLACE-WELLS for NEW YORK TIMES ||| Just before midnight last New Year’s Eve, an Uber driver in his late 20s, the French-born son of Baptist missionaries, dropped a passenger in the Pacific Palisades on the west side of Los Angeles. Then he took a short hike up
Jurors for October 20-24 to report
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: OCTOBER 20-24, 2025 All jurors summoned for the week of Monday, October 20th through Friday, October 24th must report for jury duty on Wednesday October 22nd at 8:30 am. Jurors report to the lobby of the San Juan County Courthouse in
This is Actually Good | Big Fall Salad
||| THIS IS ACTUALLY GOOD by RACHEL FACTOR ||| Have you ever had one of those absolutely delicious big salads at some fancy restaurant but it cost you $25? You probably thought to yourself then that you could recreate this at home, but weren't sure where to start. Well kids,
Health Care District special board meeting scheduled
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT BOARD ||| The Orcas Island Health Care District Board will hold a Special Board Meeting on Thursday, October 16th, 2025 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM in the Orcas Island Community Foundation Meeting Room, 33 Urner Street, Eastsound. The Agenda and Board Packet are posted below. To attend virtually,
