Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Here’s what Senior Center is drumming up
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Experience the Joy of Drumming Discover the joy of drumming with the Spirit of Drumming Group at Orcas Senior Center Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.! This beginner-friendly group focuses on exploring the elements of drumming. There’s no cost to participate—just bring a
Letter to Editor | Will Orcasonians lose our fitness center?
||| FROM SYLVIA ALBRIGHT ||| I write this only as a member of Orcas Island Fitness Center; the views I express are merely my own. According to a Notice of Trustee’s Sale, the property at 188 A Street in Eastsound is set for sale next month, and there appears to be limited
Adrift | I am sickened by these ICE Escapades
||| ADRIFT by LIN MCNULTY ||| It was a big treat as I was growing up when I got to see the Ice Capades in Seattle. Somehow, I owned a pair of ice skates, which never got used. I knew I could never skate like they did in the Ice
News Brief | Outsourcing of island ferry terminal management
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES by ELISABETH BRITT & MICHAEL RIORDAN ||| “Washington State Ferries should stop outsourcing management of island terminals ” Originally reported by Seattle Times Unlike other terminals in the Washington State Ferries system, those in the San Juan Islands are operated by private, for-profit companies under
Whale Museum participates in humpback whale disentanglement
||| FROM CONOR AGNEW for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| For the second time in just over a month, responders with the Pacific Northwest Large Whale Entanglement Response Network successfully freed an entangled humpback whale in the Salish Sea. The whale, CRC-22662, was disentangled on August 21st and July 16th from
Midnight Mutterings | Carrie Newcomer poem
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| This poem was brought to my attention by Nita Couchman. (You may know Nita from the Orcas Island Library and other sacred spaces on Orcas Island.: Until Now: New Poems, by Carrie Newcomer, Available Light Publishing, 2021. You can hear Carrie read her
Sheriff’s Report | August 13 – 19, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13 25-005447 Animal Bite 10:10:32 08/13/25 A Deputy on San Juan Island took a report of a dog bite. The reporting party did not wish to pursue the matter criminally. The reporting party wanted the incident documented and for the
News Brief | WSF receives large grant for $40 million
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| "WA collects the most federal ferry funding with new grants" Originally reported by Seattle Times The U.S. Department of Transportation doled out $175 million last week to the nation’s many ferry providers, and Washington state received the largest slice of the pie with nearly
How was your summer?
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| In these final weeks of summer, a common question we ask each other is “how has your summer been?” Often the answer includes a mix of exhaustion and joy, and a bit of sadness and excitement for the turning of
Last chance to apply for this Marine Resources youth position
||| FROM SONORA TATE for MARINE RESOURCES COMMITTEE ||| There’s just one week left to apply for the Marine Resources Committee’s new Youth Position! Gain hands-on marine conservation experience. Learn about local marine issues, explore career paths, and build your resume, all while earning volunteer hours and senior project material.
A Review | Deathtrap, a comedy thriller, opens tonight at the Grange
||| FROM KATHI CISKOWSKI ||| Featuring more twists and turns than you can shake a sword (or a pillow) at, the long running, Tony nominated play by Ira Levin, “Deathtrap”, makes it way from Broadway to the Orcas Island Grange for a two --weekend run starting Friday, Aug. 22 and
WSF Weekly Update | Contract signed for 3 new ferries; pets onboard policy trialed; best kudo ever
||| FROM JOHN VEZINA for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from John When we do essential maintenance on our system, the impacts can be challenging for our customers. We take our job as an essential connection for the communities we serve very seriously. We know that even a small
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.
News Brief | Trump says ‘no’ to protected right to burn U.S. flag
||| FROM CNN ||| "Trump to sign executive order to punish those who burn American flags" Originally reported by CNN A 1989 Supreme Court ruling determined that burning the American flag in political protest is protected under the First Amendment. Read the full article
Six-month trial of an updated pet policy begins in WSF passenger areas
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| We are trialing an updated pet policy through February 2026. Dogs on leashes are now allowed in all passenger areas, except onboard food galleys. Other pets must be in a crate or carrier. Service animals are welcome everywhere, as required by law. Livestock must
Orcas sings Broadway | Coming to the Grange October 25, 2025
Call for talent ||| FROM CATHY FERRAN for ACTORS THEATER OF ORCAS ISLAND ||| What’s the Broadway song you like to sing in the shower? Is it a showstopper from Les Mis? A touching ballad from Fiddler on the Roof? A brilliant piece from Hamilton? Well, now you’ll have a
