Island News

I’m Not the Church Lady | Step away from the pedestal, Rosie

Or, maybe I need to notice where life keeps putting me Over the past couple of months, I’ve become a member of two Boards of Directors here on Orcas. This has never been on my bucket list. In fact, being in a leadership position where I’m expected to make decisions is almost comical. My life’s work has been about empowering others to make their own decisions—not being the person making […]

Actors Theater’s new, old-time radio show coming to the Grange

Radio station KIXP and Actors Theater of Orcas Island announce the debut of “On the Rock”, a new old-time radio show! In the style of “Prairie Home Companion” and similar shows, it features local musicians, Orcas-based sketches and other delights. Hosted by Clint McCune with house band Minnow Creek, the first show features Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms and poet Tish Knapp, among others. If you’d like to be part of […]

Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson

Library event | A better world is possible

What does it take to imagine a better future—and what can the next generation teach us about making it happen? Join award-winning journalist Meera Subramanian and beloved poet and author Maleea Acker for an inspiring conversation about our changing planet, the power of young voices, and the places we call home. Meera’s new graphic nonfiction book, A Better World Is Possible: Global Youth Confront the Climate Crisis, illustrated by Danica Novgorodo

Light the Night coming up at Community Church on October 31

Join us at Orcas Island Community Church on October 31st for Light the Night, a fun-filled community celebration for all ages! Bring your family, invite your friends and neighbors, and come enjoy an evening of fun, fellowship, treats, activities, and community. You do not need to attend OICC to participate—this event is for our entire Orcas Island community! Come as you are, bring a friend, and help us LIGHT THE […]

Sign-ups open for 2026 Battle of the Bands at Orcas Center

Sign-ups are now open for the 2026 Battle of the Bands, Orcas Island’s local music event of the year, returning to Orcas Center on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m. Hosted by Pedro LopezDeVictoria and Jamey Moriarty, the night pits original music by Orcas Island artists head-to-head across a range of categories, with audiences dancing along and cheering on their favorites. Organizers promise a night of laughs, a few tears, and […]

Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens to visit Orcas Garden Club

Please join the Orcas Island Garden Club on Wednesday, October 21,2026 as we welcome Barb Faville, from Meerkerk Gardens to learn all things rhododendron. Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens is a 53-acre peaceful woodland oasis located on Whidbey Island. During this talk you will Learn about Meerkerk’s history and the distinguishing characteristics of rhododendrons which will increase your appreciation of the vast variety of these plants. You’ll

Orcas Library, students explore banned books

The Orcas Island Library was fortunate to receive a grant from Brooklyn’s Books Unbanned group this spring, and we’ve been thrilled to put it to work with our local teens. With the grant, we’ve now run two teen cohorts exploring censorship, challenged books, and the role young people can play in the conversation. Our first cohort of three teens planned three of our monthly Teen Book Boxes, each featuring a challenged […]

Announcing 6th Annual Island Market / Funhouse Commons gingerbread house contest

Get ready for the 6th Annual Gingerbread House Contest sponsored by the Funhouse Commons & Island Market , a holiday Gingerbread House Contest for ALL AGES with cash prizes! Registration to participate in the gingerbread house competition opens on Monday, October 12th through the Funhouse Commons website. There are no entry fees to participate but you must register by Monday, November 30th in order to participate! Only one (1) entry per person, […]

I’m Not the Church Lady | Marketing as a spiritual practice

Marketing as a Spiritual Practice I think maybe God has a Bingo cage. You know the kind—the big wire ball somebody cranks around at Bingo Night while everyone sits staring at their cards, waiting to see what number comes tumbling out. “B-12!” People look down. Nope. “G-46!” Someone puts a little marker on his card. “I-7!” And so it goes. Except I’m beginning to suspect that somewhere along the way […]

OCS students learn from Orcas Island musician Jim Bredouw

Students at Orcas Christian School had an opportunity to learn from one of Orcas Island’s longtime musicians and sound engineers when Jim Bredouw visited the school to share stories from his career, projects and music. Bredouw spoke with OCS middle and high school students about his experiences in music and sound engineering, taking students through several stages of his life, including his years as a guitarist, his career in sound engineering, his time in […]

Library to feature art of Shawna Marie Franklin

Shawna Marie Franklin will be October’s featured artist at the Orcas Island Library. Her monoprints and paintings will be displayed in a show entitled Being with Kelp: Ongoing. The subject began as an artistic endeavor when Shawna’s kayaking career ended in 2019, and continues today. Shawna has found in Bull Kelp a subject of great beauty and design options, a metaphor for her love of the ocean and a means to […]

Artworks featured artist for October is Maria Papademetriou

Orcas artist Maria Papademetriou  describes her work is a kind of visual storytelling used to create a narrative, mood,, or message. “My creative process is multilayered and intuitive, using found objects, ceramics, and old photographs. “From a very early age,  4 to be exact, I have been fascinated by the discarded and the forgotten. I strive to give these objects, a new life and a new story. “Through my art, I seek […]

Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson

Experience a night of fingerstyle guitar with Calum Graham

Fingerstyle guitarist Calum Graham will bring his intricate, genre-bending playing to the Orcas Center stage on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at www.orcascenter.org. Born in British Columbia and now based in Victoria, Graham has spent nearly two decades building an international following with original music that is both technically dazzling and deeply felt. Acoustic Guitar magazine named him one of the world’s top 30 guitari