Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
It’s the grandmother orcas that help their grand-whales survive, study says
-- from Washington Post -- An endangered female orca leaps from the water in Puget Sound in Seattle. A new study documents how grandmother orcas help their grand-whales survive. (Elaine Thompson/AP) In the Salish Sea off Seattle and Vancouver lives an orca with a tall, hooked dorsal fin. Her formal
Bring your white elephant to Senior Center for gift exchange
Sunday, December 22, 3 p.m., Senior Center -- from Lena Kassa for Orcas Senior Center -- Join us at Orcas Senior Center for a fun holiday gathering on Sunday, December 22 at 3:00pm. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, and beverages will be provided. If you are able, please bring a side
Whale Museum hosting storykeeper stargazing event to honor SRKW babies
Friday, December 20, 4:30 p.m., American Camp -- from Tracie Merrell for The Whale Museum -- Please join The Whale Museum (TWM) at the first parking lot at South Beach, American Camp on San Juan Island, on Friday, December 20, at 4:30 p.m. as TWM honors the lives of Southern
Crescent Beach Road closed due to water main break
Update: Road now open -- from San Juan County Public Works -- UPDATE @ 5 p.m., Wednesday, December 11 Temporary repairs have been completed and the road is currently open to traffic (both directions). Please be advised that portions of the roadway have been repaired with a graveled surface. Caution / advisory
Learn to create ornaments, gifts from trash
Saturday, December 14 12 - 4 pm., the Exchange Annex -- Marta Nielson for ORS/Exchange -- The Exchange, in conjunction with “Sew For Zero Waste," is having an Ornament/Gift Making Workshop on Saturday, December 14 from 12-4 p.m. at the Exchange Annex. Volunteers will be on hand to help anyone
Hallelujah! Lend your voice to Messiah sing-along
Tuesday, December 17, 7 p.m., Orcas Community Church -- from Jan Ehrlichman for Orcas Community Church -- Join us in celebration of the holiday season with a Messiah sing-along at the Community Church on Tuesday, December 17 at 7 p.m. If you have ever been to a Messiah Sing,
The Nutcracker Ballet to be on screen at Orcas Center
Saturday, December 21, 2 p.m., Orcas Center -- from Bethany Marie for Orcas Center -- Let your holiday spirit soar with the festive family-friendly screening of The Nutcracker, presented by the Bolshoi Ballet at Orcas Center on Saturday, December 21 at 2 p.m. On Christmas Eve, the mysterious Drosselmeyer brings
Registration open for Marine Naturalist training program
Come interested, leave qualified -- from Tracie Merrill for The Whale Museum -- Registration for The Whale Museum’s 2020 Spring and Summer Marine Naturalist Training Programs is now open. Each program is six sessions. The spring program will run on the following dates: April 18, 19, 25, 26 & May 2
Sheriff’s Office investigating threat to ‘shoot up’ school in Friday Harbor
-- from Ron Krebs, San Juan County Sheriff -- On Sunday afternoon the Sheriff’s Office received a report that a high school student was going to come “shoot up” the school in Friday Harbor. The juvenile was believed to be off island, but possibly coming back Sunday night to collect
State Parks offers two free days in January
Visitors won’t need a Discover Pass New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday holiday -- from Washington State Parks -- The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will offer two free days in January, when visitors to state parks will not need a Discover Pass for day-use visits. The first
Letter to Editor | Vacationing in a fools’ paradise
-- from Tom Evans -- There is no better time than right now to save what all of us hold sacred about the beauty of the land, water, trees, mountains and shoreline of the San Juan Islands. It has now become clear our commissioners will have no part of ever considering a VRBO moratorium and
West Beach culvert replacement ribbon cutting planned for Wednesday
Wednesday, December 11, 1 p.m., West Beach / Enchanted Forest -- from Jacob Heinen for San Juan Public Works -- This is a friendly reminder that the ribbon-cutting for CRP 020701 West Beach Culvert Replacement is planned for this Wednesday, December 11 at 1 p.m. at the intersection of Enchanted
Eastsound Water membership fee increase coming soon
-- from Paul Kamin for Eastsound Water -- The cost of purchasing service from Eastsound Water is going up on January 1st. The rate change applies to the initial cost of membership or the upgrade of a membership. Since 2016 the cost of new service has been $12,700 for a
2019 county economic trends confirm challenges, yield few surprises
-- by Matthew Gilbert, Orcas Issues reporter -- The 2019 edition of “Datapalooza,” the Economic Development Council’s (EDC) annual download of the year’s key economic statistics and trends, took place on December 4 at Emmanuel Parish. Attended by approximately 20 members of the public, the 90-minute presentation was again led
Due to demand, ATOI adds ‘Winds in the Morning’ performance to current schedule
-- from Doug Bechtel for Actors Theater of Orcas Islsnd -- Due to the high demand for tickets for our current production, "Winds in the Morning", The Actors Theater has added an additional performance this Thursday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Grange. Tickets are available at www.orcasactors.org and at .Darvills
You may now resume your ferry travel to B.C.
-- from Washington State Ferries -- Beginning on Monday, December 9, the international sailings will resume between Anacortes/Friday Harbor/Sidney B.C. M/V Chelan rejoins the route following annual maintenance and inspections and will sail in the #1 position. Reservations are available online at TakeAFerry or by calling 206 464 6400 and speaking with
