Here’s a thought…
“History is a novel whose author is the people.”
ALFRED DE VIGNY
Senior Center | Hotdogs, ice cream and a big thank you
You helped make it happen. Now let's celebrate ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join us for a community celebration on Thursday, August 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Orcas Senior Center as we mark two major milestones—full ownership of our building and the purchase
Tango lessons and an afterparty coming to Orcas Center
|| FROM MARY TAYLOR for ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| The Latin Grammy Award-winning Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet headlines Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival’s opening weekend concerts on August 1 at 7:30pm and August 2 at 5:30pm, treating audiences to extraordinary tango music on the Orcas Center stage. After
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival August 1-16
||| FROM MARY TAYLOR for ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| A dynamic range of musical delights awaits attendees of Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival’s 28th Summer Concert Season, opening this weekend and continuing through August 16. Highlights include the premiere of a piano trio celebrating the beauty of Orcas
Pea Patch community campus update
Resource Center to stay in current Eastsound location ||| FROM SUZANNE OLSON for PEA PATCH COMMUNITY CAMPUS ||| The Pea Patch Community Campus is being created as a place on the island to meet basic human needs for food and shelter – and the wellbeing that grows from that stability. The
Community Alert | Fire risk in the islands
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| As summer continues, fire risk increases. While a bit cooler than normal, this summer has been drier and windier than usual (though there is a chance of rain in long range forecast). We’ve seen a handful of fires across the islands, and now
Regarding Tsunami watch for outer coast
||| FROM SAN JUAN DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| UPDATE #3, JULY. 29, 2025 Update #2 from San Juan County WA Department of Emergency Management on tsunami impacts from the recent earthquake in Kamchatka: At this time we feel increasingly confident saying that there will be no significant impacts to
Tsunami Warning Center briefing on 8.7-magnitude Russian earthquake
||| FROM BNO NEWS ||| UPDATE FROM KOMO NEWS: A tsunami watch has been issued for coastal Washington and the Puget Sound area, as well as the Oregon and California coasts, British Columbia, and Alaska. The warning follows a confirmed earthquake with a magnitude of 8.7 at 3:25 p.m. PST,
Ferry Alert | Vehicle reservations for fall open Tuesday, August 5 at 10am
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Vehicle reservations for the fall 2025 schedule (Sept. 21 through Dec. 27) will be available at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 5. To ensure a smooth and fair experience during this high-demand period, we will also continue using a virtual waiting room during the
San Juan County community alert | Wildfire danger
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| As summer continues, fire risk increases. While a bit cooler than normal, this summer has been drier and windier than usual (though there is a chance of rain in long range forecast). We’ve seen a handful of fires across the
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.
Wildland fire today at Mountain Lake reported by campers
||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| At 9:23 am on Monday, July 28, OIFR responded to a wildland fire on the south-east shore of Mountain Lake in Moran State Park. The fire was reported by campers who saw the flames from the opposite shore. The
Third annual Qwack Wace fundraiser is coming up
Ken Gibbs Memorial Fund for Youth Science Education ||| FROM MICHAEL ARMENIA for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| This year will mark the third annual Qwack Wace, an annual event of rubber duck races that has helped raise money for the Ken Gibbs Memorial Fund for Youth Science Education. Please join
Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light and Shana Cleveland in free summer concert
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center is thrilled to present another FREE summer concert featuring Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light and Shana Cleveland on Sunday, August 3 at 5pm on the Village Green. This free event is part of Summer Concert Series event presented by Orcas Center,
Call for Candidates | 3-day filing period for Lopez Park & Rec commissioners, others
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Elections Office is notifying the public of a special three-day filing period from August 11 through August 13, 2025, for candidates to file for the five-member board of the proposed Lopez Island Park and Recreation District and for those
Yoga, drumming at Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Thursday Evening Yoga Class with Susie Frank Join us for a gentle, restorative yoga class on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. at Orcas Senior Center. This slow-paced class focuses on foundational yoga poses, conscious breathing, and supported postures to ease stress and
Port of Orcas public hearing on Monday
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Board of Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing on amending the Comprehensive Scheme followed by the Regular Meeting Monday, July 28th at 4:00 p.m. via Zoom and in-person in the airport terminal conference room. Access and agenda information can be
