Many Hands I spent this morning on a walking tour with Dr. Jack Ehlen, a retired dentist and a new(ish) resident of Deer Harbor. Dr Ehlen is assisting in establishing an interim dental clinic to bridge the gap now that the Medical Teams International Van Clinics are...

Where there is Sunshine, there are Shadows Employer provided housing is frequently cited as a viable option to the shortage of available staff. That solution comes with challenges as the current sale of Rosario is demonstrating. Of the 45 employees being laid off, 24...

Seasonal Swings I heard from Patricia Benton, chair of the Community Resource Center, that OCRC is experiencing a spike in the number of people needing help meeting their rent this month. This can likely be attributed to the number of businesses that close in the...

      Cold Nights and Wintery Days The National Point in Time Count, a survey of people who were unhoused or living in substandard housing on Thursday Jan 25th is taking place this week. OICF is supporting the collection of surveys in front of the Food...

A winter storm can bring out the best in the community. Thanks to all of you who pitched in and supported the community this week. Thank you to the great staff at the Orcas Community Resource Center who kept the doors open, providing warm meals and hot drinks to those...

Winter Whips In! Well, this is quite a swift shift. The drop in temperature accompanied with gale force winds ensures winter has arrived in full force! Hopefully you are safe and cozy. For those folks who need some help staying warm and safe, the Orcas Community...

We are a community that loves celebrating! Orcas Island Yacht Club's Lighted Boat Parade in West Sound is this Saturday at 4 pm. The route starts at the Orcas Island Ferry dock and cruises east along the Orcas shore down Cayou Channel to near Grindstone Harbor,...

Thank You, Orcas! WOW! What a great Holiday GiveOrcas Campaign! 17 of the 19 proposals were fully funded and more than $150,000 was contributed from over 300 donors. Amazing! The generosity of this community is heartwarming and inspiring. Thanks to all who...

Hang onto your hat, it’s December!!! Every once in a while, we on Orcas decide that we need to cram a month's worth of activities into 48 hours. This weekend is one of those times. There is the Tree Lighting in Eastsound Friday night, followed by Holiday Fairs across...