Meet Life on Orcas Island, a visual time capsule of this place over the past decade, chronicling the uniqueness and beauty of who we are and where we live, and the endless community gatherings, workshops, festivities, and celebrations that characterize this island life. I will have a few book release …
This Thursday, March 31st, Kate Jewell will be headed to Oświęcim, Poland, for six weeks to help Ukrainian refugees and orphans with One Humanity Institute and Airline Ambassadors International. Kate was a flight attendant for 37 years, so traveling the world and living a life of adventure is normal for …
I just met a new friend at Tidepool Coffeehouse yesterday, and overheard owner Katie Gaible explaining the decadent cake whose slices were for sale to benefit the people of Ukraine. I don’t drink coffee, but noticed they carry bubble tea. They have two kinds – in the can and made …
Almost six years ago, I was looking at different pet adoption sites online for the perfect dog for our family. I grew up with animals and I wanted our 10-year-old son to have his own little companion to grow up with. It felt like the right age for him to …
As my son was leaving school this afternoon, he heard the sound of a plane going down the runway, then some strange sounds that followed. He zipped down the road on his electric skateboard to find that the Kenmore Air plane never made it in the air. Instead, it went …
When we moved to Orcas, we bought a house that was in excellent shape from a single woman who was very gentle on it. We, too, have been gentle on the house but the room our kids share, which was previously unused before we moved in, is partly subterranean and …
Orcas Island is the perfect place to live out your dreams. Why not open a store, right? This may be a little deflating, but let’s think about your dream business… Does it really fill a needed, year-round niche for enough people in this community? Some of those words are vitally …
A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony was held on Saturday by the Airhawks Flying Club at the Eastsound Airport for their new Gleim FAA-approved Flight Simulator. As students, educators, administrators, and teachers from Orcas High School and Orcas Christian School along with Orcas pilots and the Orcas Island Community Foundation watched, …
I’ve recently become acquainted with artist Frank Loudin through BJ Arnold’s friendship with him, and as always, it’s fascinating to learn about a new friend’s life experiences. I didn’t know a thing about him until I got one of my COVID vaccines at Orcas Center. For the 15-minute wait period …
David and his wife, Chris, are two people I often pass when out walking. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them, though, so it was a pleasure today when my husband and I ran into David in town. David is an avid sailor, and always has ocean adventures …
Twenty years ago to this day – March 16th – marks the first time Kelly Carpenter stepped foot on Orcas Island. She has never had to write the date down in order to remember it. Raised on a small farm in rural Minnesota, Kelly’s aspirations after graduating from college with …
Masks are coming off, the sun is beginning to come out more, the geese are honking, the birds are chirping, and while it’s still cold outside, the air carries a louder buzz than ever of spring’s renewal and joy in it. Warmth and hope are on the horizon in a …
If you haven’t already met her, Beverly Franklet is a stunning go-getter. Not in a hyper, can’t-sit-still kind of way but in a calm, adventurous, live-life-to-its-fullest sense. Do you remember several years ago when Michell Marshall decided to put up a white board at the back of The Office Cupboard …
Many months ago, we planned a February trip to Fiji, not knowing if it would all work out in COVID times, but spending endless hours on location planning and COVID testing research (they have stringent rules). After two years of isolation and pandemic weirdness, and knowing we (I, especially) might …
