Blog
Housing Solutions
A 2001 Starter Home Hank and I bought our starter home in 2001. It will likely be our finisher home as well. We were able to purchase it with a monthly mortgage of $1,000 with a down payment of $60,000. It was a stretch for us at the time, as I was working as...
One Person Can Make a Difference: Anika
Anika Blackman Orcas Island Food Bank, Volunteer Can you share a little bit about yourself? I was born in Kazakhstan, but I moved to the United States when I was around eight months old. From there, I moved to Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, and now Orcas...
Welcome, Molly!
OICF is delighted to announce that Molly Donovan will be joining the team as our Financial Manager, taking on Jen Wallace’s duties when Jen retires at the end of the year. Molly has lived on Orcas since 2007 and runs Orcas Farm with her husband, George Orser....
One Person Can Make a Difference: Janet
Janet Alderton Friends of the San Juans, Board Member Can you share a little bit about yourself? My great grandparents came to California in 1852. I was born in Oakland, California in 1950. Three generations of women—my mother, my daughter, and I all graduated...
On the Rocks
Grounded on Crescent Beach I drove by this boat yesterday morning. I am happy to report that it was floating and on its way in the afternoon. Seeing it listing and stuck reminded me of the current state of the Ferry System. This week has been truly remarkable...
One Person Can Make a Difference: Keri
Keri Lago Orcas Island Booster Club, Volunteer Can you share a little bit about yourself? I was born and raised in Washington. I enjoy photography and cooking—neither of which I am very good at, but practice makes progress as they say. My mom and stepdad moved...
One Person Can Make a Difference: Brian
Brian Moss Orcas Island Community Foundation Can you share a little bit about yourself? Our family has lived on Orcas Island for the past seven years. Amid this island's diversity, we enjoy the all-in-this-togetherness of the place. Before I became a pastor...
Happy September
Morning Fog in Olga The month dawned and brought the fog with it. Feels like fall is not too far away. What a summer this has been! Downtown Eastsound has been busy despite the ferry issues and road construction. There have been so many great outdoors...
One Person Can Make a Difference: Richard
Richard Track Orcas Center, Board Member Odd Fellows, Member Can you share a little bit about yourself? I grew up on Long Island, NY. After college, I traveled alone to India, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Nepal. I continued to visit India over five times,...
Summer!
I got to play tour guide this week as my brother and his child came to visit. We kayaked, played mini golf, jumped into Cascade and Mountain Lake, climbed the tower at Mt Constitution, picked blackberries and sampled ice cream. Ah, summer! It is fun to see the...