Here’s a thought…
“If you put fences around people, you get sheep. Give people the room they need.”
WILLIAM L. MCKNIGHT
Community Church invites you to worship in upcoming services
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH ||| The Orcas Island Community Church will be will be having their scheduled worship service at 10 am on Christmas Eve, December 24. In the evening, join us for our traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6 pm to celebrate the amazing birth of Jesus
Sheriff’s Report | December 14 – 20, 2023
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 23-009500 Domestic Dispute or Assault 13:52:54 12/14/23 San Juan Deputies responded to a report of a domestic. An individual was arrested and booked for felony harassment - DV. 23-009508 Assault - Body Force 23:53:09 12/14/23 A Deputy on Orcas
As the Paradigm Shifts | The re-enchantment of our inner-Santa
||| AS THE PARADIGM SHIFTS by ROSIE KUHN ||| At this time of year, we are celebrating the presence of miracles. We are celebrating the coming of the light. We are celebrating the potentiality for peace, an engaged presence, love, joy, harmony. We imagine the possibility. We hope for the
Letter to Editor | Should we take the ferry situation into our own hands?
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| POSTED AT REQUEST OF THE COMMUNITY WATER TAXI ||| The sorry shape of the Washington State Ferries fleet increasingly leaves riders stranded. The crisis belongs to those state officials who responded, for more than a decade, with little more than feckless shrugs — all while
Hundreds of islanders turn out for Winter Solstice Parade
||| FROM HILARY CANTY ||| Hundreds of friends and neighbors joined in the Winter Solstice Parade Thursday night. Invited to ‘Be the Light’, Orcasonians showed up with hand made luminarias, bedazzled with string lights, some dressed as woodland creatures, others as magical beings, all happy to welcome the return of
In case you didn’t know, holiday ferry travel will be busy; plan accordingly
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Customers traveling for the two upcoming holidays should plan for busy sailings and stay up to date on the latest schedules online. Many routes will be operating holiday schedules on Christmas (Monday, Dec. 25) and New Year's Day (Monday, Jan. 1). Those intending to travel on either of
WSF Weekly Report | Time for a new chapter
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Time for a new chapter Following 33 years at WSDOT, I’ve decided to leave the agency and WSF to explore a new chapter in my life. After losing my father this fall and learning that I will soon be a brand-new
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.
Welcome to our newly elected Health Commissioners
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| We are honored to welcome our newly elected commissioners, Mark Salierno and Chelsie Guilford, to the board of the Orcas Island Health Care District. You can read a little more about Mark and Chelsie below. To our departing commissioners, Marie Michnich and
WSF will be holding a new series of virtual community meetings next year
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| SAVE THE DATE! We’re hosting a series of virtual community meetings on 1/17 and 1/18. WSF staff will answer questions and give updates on what’s happening at the Washington State Ferries. Go to bit.ly/WSF-public-meetings for more information about how to participate. Hope to hear from you!
Free course for caregivers coming up in 2024
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County and Northwest Regional Council are offering a free six-week course for unpaid family caregivers of San Juan County. This course, Powerful Tools for Caregivers, is an evidenced-based, self-care educational program for family caregivers. There will be in-person courses on Orcas and
Ring in the holidays with RADIANCE concert of early American music at Community Church
||| FROM CAROL KULMINSKI for ORCAS COMMUNITY CHURCH ||| Get ready to experience the heartwarming sounds of early American music as RADIANCE, the renowned Seattle-based vocal ensemble, returns to Orcas Island Community Church for their highly anticipated holiday concert on Saturday, December 23rd at 2:00 pm. RADIANCE invites music lovers
Take action by December 22nd for a healthy Salish Sea
||| FROM FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| Please join us in seeking to prevent additional big-oil vessel traffic that would pose a threat to endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Don’t let the holidays distract from public input! The Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery reconfigured a portion of its facility without
New Shark Reef sanctuary toilets open to the public
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Parks, Recreation, and Fair Department is pleased to announce the opening of new restroom facilities at Shark Reef Sanctuary on Lopez Island. This upgrade provides year-round, ADA-compliant toilet access. "We’re proud to be able to provide this kind of
Public Works mobilizes response to stabilize MacKaye Harbor Rd on Lopez Island
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Public Works Department is mobilizing a response to protect the traveling public and maintain access to homes threatened by coastal erosion near MacKaye Harbor Road on Lopez Island. The department will perform repairs on Thursday, December 21 to prevent the
Jazzin’ with the Classics for Christmas returns to Emmanuel
||| FROM JEFFREY COHAN for SALISH SEA EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| Music at Emmanuel presents Jazzin' with the Classics for Christmas WHAT: Jazzin' with the Classics for Christmas WHEN: Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 4:00 PM WHERE: Emmanuel Episcopal Parish in Eastsound MORE INFO:
