The Rotary Club will hold its 11th annual Spelling Bee on Thursday, March 3rd at 3:30 p.m. at the San Juan Community Theatre. Doors open at 3:00 p.m. This year’s spellers include students from Friday Harbor Elementary School, Friday Harbor Middle School, and Paideia Classical School. All island schools were invited to participate. The contest  Continue Reading

Beginning yesterday, February 25th, New Advised students can register for Spring Quarter at Skagit Valley College. Classes begin April 5th. Registration for Returning students continues. Open Enrollment begins March 10th. For students who want to begin a new career or upgrade their job skills, Professional/Technical programs are aligned with local and state economic development strategies.  Continue Reading

Skagit Valley College begins Craft Brewing Academy In response to the needs of today’s expanding craft and microbrew industry, Skagit Valley College (SVC) will offer a 40-credit, four-month Craft Brewing Academy beginning in May. SVC’s program is the first to be offered among Washington’s community and technical colleges. SVC’s Craft Brewing Academy is the result  Continue Reading

Story by Louise Dustrude – New National Park superintendent Elexis Fredy (“call me Lex”) started work this week after meeting some 30 or 40 local residents on Thursday at a reception at the Historical Museum. The reception was scheduled for two hours but lasted three, partly because people kept showing up and partly due to  Continue Reading

Don’t miss this lovely play! Only two weekends left! Here’s what audience members have said: I don’t normally do stuff like this, but I’ve been a fan of Helen and Dan at Island Stage Left for a long, long time. Don’t miss their production “Love Letters” now at the Fairgrounds Theatre … I saw it  Continue Reading

Teresa Smith is having an Art Show at the San Juan Community Theater from March 1st through 31st with a reception on March 5th from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. See her oil paintings and magazine featuring paintings, photographs, stories and poems. Teresa says: “On horseback, on foot and with wolfhounds, inspiration and motivation come from being present. Like  Continue Reading

The Concerto Project Hosts Dinner & Presentation at Dahlia Lounge for Purchase of Historic Mount Baker Farm ORCAS ISLAND, WASHINGTON — The Concerto Project, a nonprofit with the mission “to provide young adults on the autism spectrum with the vocational, social, and practical skills necessary for engaged and sustainable futures,” will host a dinner and presentation  Continue Reading

Opalco Scholarship Applications Due March 11 – Get Up To $1,600 + Co-Op Leadership Camp What do San Juan County high-school scholars say about the Youth Rally and OPALCO’s Scholarship Program? “My sense of the world was changed …” –Brodie Miller, Spring Street School “I made friendships that will last a lifetime…” –Cameron Schuh, Orcas Island High  Continue Reading

Homes for Islanders held their Key Ceremony and Celebration for 8 families on Tuesday where official completion of their homes was recognized and keys were formally given by HFI and the USDA office of Rural Development. Work is now complete on their homes at Heritage Court, just off of Grover Street near the Elementary School. The new  Continue Reading

Author Event at Griffin Bay Books Philip Donlay is on a roll. He has just released another Donovan Nash thriller, Pegasus Down, and has picked up many more fans along the way. If you’ve followed Donlay’s Donovan Nash series, be sure to stop in Griffin Bay Bookstore on Saturday afternoon, March 5, from 2:00—4:00 pm  Continue Reading