Here’s a thought…
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man.”
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
You can support Music Advocacy Group through OICF Holiday Catalog
Because school music matters ||| FROM ANNETTE VAN DONGEN for ORCAS MUSIC ADVOCACY GROUP ||| Orcas Island Music Advocacy Group (MAG) is participating in the OICF Holiday Catalog this year, raising money to purchase music chair storage carts for the public school music program! The carts will securely hold large
Oddfellows deliver cord of firewood to raffle winner
||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG for ORCAS ODDFELLOWS ||| The Oddfellows wood raffle recipient of a cord of wood, Deb Martin from OPAL Commons, received her wood gladly. Funds from the raffle go towards high school scholarships. The Oddfellows would like to thank the Orcas Food Coop for facilitating sales of
Swinomish receives funding to build the first modern-day clam garden in U.S.
Federal grants will enable the Tribal Community to revitalize the ancient Indigenous mariculture practice ||| FROM WASHINGTON SEA GRANT ||| LA CONNER, WA – In the 1990s, members of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community began to notice that they weren’t finding as many native littleneck clams on their traditional harvest
Killebrew Lake Rd. now open, Laporte remains closed
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| UPDATE 12/02/21: Killebrew Lake Road is now OPEN. Public Works crews completed a thorough inspection this morning and determined the road may open to vehicle traffic. Laporte Road (just past the intersection with John James Road remains closed. Public Works
Latest statewide COVID updates
||| FROM STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ||| Statewide Response Updates Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 681,282 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 29. There have been 9,303 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent number of cases by county, demographics, and
New support group for chronic pain empowerment coming to Senior Center
Wednesday December 8 at 10 a.m. by Zoom ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Many seniors and people with disabilities experience chronic pain resulting in debilitating results like fatigue, social isolation, and depression. How people cope and manage their pain is unique to each individual. Sharing methods and
Going, going, gone: Last opportunity to purchase an original Loudin watercolor
||| FROM KATHLEEN YOUNGREN for ORCAS CENTER VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE ||| The auction of Frank Loudin’s original watercolor paintings will close at 6 p.m. on December 5. This will be your LAST CHANCE to purchase one of Frank's wonderful works of art, whether it's an original piece, or one of
Comments? Airport set to purchase single-family residence, hangar
||| FROM JEANNIE SHARPE for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Orcas Island Airport is beginning the process of purchasing 197 Aviator Drive, a single-family residence and attached airplane hangar. The property owner approached the Port to purchase the property and remove the home and attached hangar at fair market value.
First ever Orcas vegan cookie exchange is coming up
Orcas Vegan Cookie Exchange 2 - 5 p.m., Sunday, December 5 Oddfellows ||| FROM LILI HEIN and INGRID KJELSTRUP ||| Come one, come all to the first annual Orcas Vegan Cookie Exchange! Let's gather together, celebrate good holiday cheer, and share some delicious vegan treats. How to make cookies vegan?
One year later, millions use Washington state’s exposure notification app
WA Notify users helping to stop the spread of COVID-19 ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| The Washington State Department of Health is celebrating a successful year of WA Notify, the state’s exposure notification app. More than 2.62 million people have enabled it— accounting for more than 43 percent
Land Bank seeks public input on Coffelt Farm study, proposed ag policy
||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| After more than two years of research and community outreach, the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank has entered the final phase in planning future agricultural operations at Coffelt Farm Preserve. The Land Bank invites the public to submit
Unlike recent rains, this Village Green shower is welcome
||| FROM CINDY WOLF, SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMISSIONER ||| Many years ago (at least ten, so I’m told) the quest began to locate a public shower somewhere in Eastsound. After unsuccessful attempts to locate it at the Public Library, at the airport, or in a portable trailer, it was finally
OICF honors retiring educators with Marilyn Anderson excellence awards
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| Marilyn Anderson, retired military physical therapist and force of nature, had a favorite saying: “Prior planning precludes poor performance.” She strived for excellence in everything she did in life. She left several local nonprofits legacy gifts when she passed in
Upcoming Garden Club meet features Emmy Gran and her seasonal wreaths
||| FROM HELEN HUBER for ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Orcas Island's Emmy Gran On Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 10:30 am, the Orcas Island and Lopez Island Garden Clubs’ virtual (Zoom) meeting features Emmy Gran demonstrating how to create a seasonal wreath using foraged and dried materials.
Burning down the house? An ongoing investigation into Orcas Fire & Rescue
||| BY MIA KARTIGANER, SPECIAL TO theORCASONIAN ||| With much the same provocation that led me to run for Port Commissioner two years ago, I find myself once again moved to action by the discord in our community. How is it possible that a group of people, many of whom
Peace Island earns national distinction for ER patient experience
||| FROM ANNE WILLIAMS for PEACEHEALTH PEACE ISLAND MEDICAL CENTER ||| We are pleased to announce that PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center has been recognized with a 2021 Guardian of Excellence Award® by Press Ganey, the national leader in healthcare consumer and workforce engagement. PeaceHealth Peace Island has earned this
