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
Island Blood Drives Nov. 4th & 5th
||| FROM HANNAH MCNUTT for BLOODWORKS NORTHWEST ||| When the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, it’s the perfect time to consider donating blood. With the holiday season fast approaching, hospitals need blood for patients more than ever. Donating blood is a quick and easy way to
Letter to Editor | Why I’m picking which races to vote for
||| FROM BEA VONTOBEL ||| When my Voters’ Pamphlet arrived in the mail, I sat down to acquaint myself with its contents. I was surprised to see 18 uncontested nonpartisan races for office. I was even more surprised to see that for two positions for the OISD race and one
New J Pod calf documented
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 02:55 PM ObservEnd: 04:30 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss, Katie Jones Other Observers: Rachel John Pods: Southern Resident: J Pod IDsEncountered: J16, J19, J22, J26, J27, J31, J35, J36, J37, J38, J39, J40, J41, J42,
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 —
