Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
The power of collective giving
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for SPRING GIVE ORCAS CAMPAIGN ||| We’re a few days into the Spring GiveOrcas campaign, and together we’re making great progress investing in innovative programs that make our island so remarkable. GiveOrcas isn’t just about funding our nonprofits - it’s about building community care, connection, and
Odd Fellows Hall Spring GiveOrcas Campaign
||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG for ODD FELLOWS HALL ||| The Odd Fellows Hall, one of the most-beloved and most-used facilities on Orcas Island, is upgrading sound, lights, and the audiovisual system with the generosity of our community through a grant from the Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) Spring GiveOrcas Campaign. The
Larsen statement on firing of Librarian of Congress
||| FROM. U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after President Trump fired the Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden: “Carla Hayden is the People’s Librarian of Congress and the idiot decision to fire her won’t change that. “Nothing Trump does will stop
Federal cuts cripple local workforce training program
||| FROM PAUL ANDERSSON for SAN JUAN ISLANDS CONSERVATION DISTRICT ||| Federal funding cuts to the AmeriCorps program had an immediate impact on nearly twenty local community members serving on the Islands Conservation Corps (ICC), a highly regarded workforce training program run by the San Juan Islands Conservation District. Program
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.
WSF Weekly Update
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve It’s an exciting time at Washington State Ferries as we gear up for our busy summer season. This week, we released our updated Service Contingency Plan (PDF 2.4MB). It explains how we’ll add service on three routes
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program state benefits are now available
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The very popular produce program benefitting lower income older adults is back this spring. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) funded by Washington State, will provide lower income seniors with an electronic benefits card that can be used to purchase $80 in
Guest Opinion | Terminal chaos
||| FROM MICHAEL RIORDAN ||| Chaos erupted yesterday at the Orcas Island ferry terminal — a harbinger of what may occur in July after the management transition there. The Issaquah ferry from Anacortes had been canceled, but somehow WSF didn't notify the Orcas landing attendants until well after vehicles were
County announces resurfacing of nearly 11 miles of roads this summer
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Public Works Department is announcing its annual summer road resurfacing schedule to chip seal nearly 11 miles of roads on San Juan and Orcas Islands. Chip sealing is a pavement treatment that extends the life of the road surface. Learn
No peace at PeaceHealth | Bellingham St Joseph’s hospital workers to go on strike Monday
||| FROM KRISTIN HYDE for SEIU HEALTHCARE ||| Bellingham, Washington – A supermajority of workers organized as Peace Health United and represented by their union SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, authorized a strike to begin Monday, May 12th. Workers including CNAs, housekeeping, trauma registrars, phlebotomists, imaging technicians and other essential hospital staff
Fire protection classifications | Impact on Orcas Island
||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| In October of 2024 the Community Protection Class (PC) rating for Deer Harbor (Fire Station 24) and Orcas Landing (Fire Station 26) areas increased to PC9A (Deer Harbor) and PC9 (Orcas Landing) from the previous rating of PC6. Orcas
Incident at Henry Island | A day in the life
||| FROM BILL SYMES and ELAINA THOMPSON ||| At 8:23 AM on a sunny Friday, May 3, 2024, Elaina Thompson answered her ringing phone to find herself speaking to the US Coast Guard. For most folks, a call from the Coast Guard would be a bit of a surprise, to
Let’s make waves—today is game day
||| FROM FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| Every day is thrilling when you are one of the local nonprofits featured in this spring’s #GiveOrcas campaign—but today, May 8, is when it really gets exciting. For 24 hours only, the nonprofit with the most unique online donations (even $10 will
Adrift | The housing search, sadly, goes on
||| ADRIFT by LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| With only a couple of weeks before our moving deadline, the search goes on for housing on the island where I have been living since before the turn of the last century -- 1991. With the passing of our landlord, we have
Community comes together for successful 2025 Spring Great Islands Clean-Up
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Over 300 volunteers joined forces this April for the 2025 Spring Great Islands Clean-Up, showing the true power of community action. From local families and school groups to kayak crews and visitors from Seattle, volunteers came together to clean up 171 miles of
Island son dancing in Seattle
||| FROM AYN GAILEY ||| Following their Kennedy Center performance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet troupe is coming to Seattle this weekend, which means it's a chance to see Orcas Islander dancer, Aristotle Luna, perform. Here's a bit about the show: Complexions Contemporary Ballet exhilarates audiences with their boundary-defying fusion of modern
