Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Exploring Grief Through Poetry | A special gathering with Nancy Reas
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 16 at 1 p.m. at Orcas Senior Center for a heartfelt gathering exploring the journey through grief. Nancy and Fred Reas moved to Orcas Island in 2011, having spent 25 years visiting Nancy’s father, Bill
Rep. Larsen, Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell and Rep. Randall reintroduce legislation to permanently reauthorize Northwest Straits Commission
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF US REP. RICK LARSEN ||| Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), along with Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and senior member
Requiem & Renewal | Poetry and music to express, grieve, usher us through our pain for the world
||| FROM JEFFRY STEELE ||| Saturday, 4/26 at 4 PM Emmanuel Parish Hall, 218 Main St, Eastsound Presented by Peace in the Neighborhood (Jeffry, Monica, Sharon, Michael, Luann & Antoinette) with featured speaker Althea W. of the Lummi Tribe. Part of the Orcas Island Earth Day Celebration. Poems by Jess
Seasonal water releases for young salmon start at Bonneville Dam amid national political turbulence
The $139 million in yearly water releases partly mimic how the river ran prior to dams, helping young salmon making it to the ocean ||| BY HENRY BRANNAN, COLUMBIAN MURROW NEWS FELLOW ||| At 12 this morning [April 10], the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened Bonneville Dam’s spillway gates,
School district seeks candidate for full-time secondary STEM/CTE teaching position
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island School District is now accepting applications for a full-time Secondary STEM/CTE Teacher for the 2025–26 school year. This 1.0 FTE certificated position presents an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic, student-focused educational team dedicated to innovation and academic excellence. Position
As the Paradigm Shifts | Becoming nobody special
||| AS THE PARADIGM SHIFTS by ROSIE KUHN ||| “I’m learning to be ordinary, Rosie.” Sarah declares this—not with sadness or anger, nor with despair or bitterness—but with a clarity rooted in truth. In the two years we’ve been working together, I’ve never heard her speak with such grounded knowing.
Sheriff’s Report | April 2 – 8, 2025
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 25-001801 Theft 07:08:40 04/02/25 A Lopez Deputy responded to a report of a farm stand money box being stolen. The incident is under investigation. 25-001802 Theft 08:30:52 04/02/25 A Lopez Deputy responded to a report of a farm stand
Stepping up together to face uncertainty
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| Across Orcas Island, people and organizations are facing harmful effects of federal funding cuts, along with policy changes that threaten important programs that support the health of our community. The nonprofit community is just beginning to understand these rapidly evolving
County 2025 Comprehensive Plan update | Transportation element
||| FROM ISLANDS STEWARDS ||| What’s new, what’s missing, and why transportation could make or break island life. Transportation in San Juan County isn’t just about roads or traffic — it’s about access. It’s about whether you can get to the doctor, make it to your job, or even continue
Town prepares for Arbor Day community celebration
||| FROM JENNIFER KREMBS for TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| The Town of Friday Harbor and supporting organizations are excited to host a community Arbor Day Celebration at Brickworks on April 25 th with event programing planned from 3-6 p.m. This celebration takes place on National Arbor Day and marks
Orcas Island Community Church invites community to holy week services
||| FROM ALICIA WIGFIELD for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH ||| Orcas Island Community Church invites the community to journey with us through Holy Week. This sacred week of reflection, remembrance, and celebration marks the heart of the Christian story — the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All are
Between Latitudes book event at Darvills
||| FROM DJUNA DEVEREAUX ||| IN PERSON - Tuesday, April 15 @ 6:30pm at Darvill's Eastsound, WA on Orcas Island Join me in conversation with author Michelle Latvala on climate change, nature, ancestry, kinship, and the body. Michelle will read from her new book Between Latitudes. Michelle is faculty for
Letter to Editor | Health Care District support letter
||| FROM HILARY CANTY ||| I am deeply grateful to the Hospital Taxing District for their support of our Community Dental Program. This pilot program provides dental care to neighbors who have medicaid or Apple Health patients, as well as those neighbors with no coverage. The Hospital Taxing District is
WSF Weekly Report | Life-saving Walla Walla crew; new rescue boats; summer reservations start Tuesday
||| FROM JOHN MEZINA for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from John Proud to spend time on Saturday with a group who are vital to providing safe and reliable service but are rarely seen by our customers. Our engine room employees – Chief Engineers, Assistant Engineers, Oilers, and Wipers
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.
New baby spotted in J Pod of endangered Southern Resident orca whales
||| FROM KOMO NEWS ||| There’s new hope in the J Pod of endangered Southern Resident orca whales. A new calf has arrived! On Apr. 6, Center for Whale Research biologist Mark Malleson spotted the J Pod heading west past Victoria Harbour, off Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It was
