Here’s a thought…
“If you put fences around people, you get sheep. Give people the room they need.”
WILLIAM L. MCKNIGHT
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:
Remove dams to fight the climate crisis
Ten reasons bringing down these barriers are key for mitigation and adaptation. ||| FROM HIGH COUNTRY NEWS ||| POSTED AT REQUEST OF ORCASONIAN READER As the climate crisis escalates, a huge amount of attention and money is being focused on climate solutions. These can be divided into two categories: solutions
The Velocity of Autumn soon to be auditioning at ATOI
Audition dates are Friday, December 29th and Saturday December 30th at 7 PM at the Grange, performance dates will be mid-March ||| FROM AAIMEE JOHNSON for ACTORS THEATER OF ORCAS ||| The Velocity of Autumn By Eric Coble "The Velocity of Autumn swirls around Alexandra, a 79-year-old artist in a
Montessori still has wreaths for sale — at a reduced price
||| FROM URSULA PAMATIAN for ORAS MONTESSORI SCHOOL ||| Hurry! Orcas Montessori school is currently hosting a FLASH SALE on our delightful holiday wreaths. We haven't reached our target yet and we still have a surplus of wreaths that we urgently need to sell! For a limited time, we are
Rubstello stepping down as WSF Assistant Secretary
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Patty Rubstello As we bid farewell to 2023 and I reflect on a remarkable and challenge filled year, I'm filled with gratitude to be part of an organization where individuals like you face adversity with resilience and dedication. I
Orcas Choral Society’s four directors
||| FROM ORCAS CHORAL SOCIETY ||| The Four Directors: Four Artistic Directors have led Orcas Choral Society since its founding in 1977. This month, they all gathered to celebrate performance of Handel's Messiah. Left to right: Roger Sherman, Marianne Lewis, Catherine Pederson, and Bruce Langford. Orcas music teacher Catherine Pederson and
Scientists contact whales in world-first communication experiment
||| FROM SCIENCE ALERT ||| What do whale experts and alien hunters have in common? More than you might expect. For a recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal PeerJ, scientists from UC Davis, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) teamed up. Their mission: Communicate with whales. And they did just
Auditor seeks writers of argument against SJI School District No. 149, OI School District No. 137
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Auditor, Natasha Warmenhoven, is seeking people interested in writing arguments against the San Juan Island School District No. 149 and Orcas Island School District No. 137 ballot measures for the voters’ guide. In order to ensure an informed electorate, and
Caroline Buchanan’s new book on sale at Darvill’s
||| FROM CAROLINE BUCHANAN ||| As the dark short days close around us, we may find ourselves dreaming of sunny beaches on remote Greek islands. Escape is possible by picking up a copy of Caroline Buchanan’s memoir, My Amorgos, on sale at Darvill’s Bookstore. Buchanan's tales of one small remote Greek Island
Discover your artistic side, get hearing services at Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Island Hearing Healthcare's Stacie Nordrum, Au.D., CCC-A, Offering Monthly Hearing Services at 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
