The San Juan County Land Bank invites the public to a Guided Interpretive Walk at the Judd Cove Preserve. Join Ruthie Dougherty, local historian Boyd Pratt, and Steve Cohan on a walk to explore the preserve’s natural and cultural history, including the lime quarry and kiln located on the property.

The date for this walk is Sunday, August 1, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Meet at the Judd Cove Parking area ~ 103 Fowlers Way, just outside of downtown Eastsound. For questions, please call 378-4402 for more information.

Monday, July 19

Tuesday, July 20

Hot Dogs & S’Mores About the Bond” Potluck at Cascade Lake at 5:30 p.m. The Vote YES! For Schools Committee invites the community to a “Hot Dogs & S’mores about the Bond” BBQ at the Cascade Lake Shelter in Moran Park.  Bring your family and a potluck dish if you like. We’ll provide the bbq and drinks. This will be a fun way to talk about the bond…or just enjoy a great summer evening. School Board members and Superintendent Barbara Kline will be there, as will the members of Vote YES! with information, answers to questions, and plenty of Hot Dogs!  Hope to see you there!  Visit www.YesForOrcasSchools.com for more information.

Wednesday, July 21

Brown Bag Concert at Emmanuel Episcopal Church at noon features Carolyn Cruso on hammered dulcimer. Concerts are free but donations are accepted.

Thursday, July 22

Marc Foster Grant and Kate Scott host an Artist’s Reception featuring their work at the Orcas Center Gallery at 5:30 p.m. The show is titled “Folly a Deux” or “Madness of Two”  and will continue at the Orcas Center Gallery until August 3rd.

Orcas Island School Board meeting 5:30 p.m.

The 12th Annual Woodsong Arts and Music Festival, a grassroots outdoor summer festival, returns to Orcas Island beginning this Thursday, July 22.

Thursday, July 22

5 – 10 p.m.: Bring  a picnic dinner and enjoy the music. Jan Krist / The Rare Exceptions / Patrice O’Neill & Hilary Field / Carolyn Cruso / Jason Harrod

Friday, July 23 – see times below
9:30 – 11 a.m.: All ages/abilities drawing workshop led by Chicago artist, Tim Lowly
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Open Mic
1 – 10 p.m.:  Music: Kate Phillips / Dana Little / Sanoma / Tim Lowly / Peter LaGrand / Jan Krist  / Uncle Bonsai / Engine and the End / Jon Anderson / Victoria Williams
Craft Tent open all day long

Saturday, July 24
9:30 – 11 a.m. The Fine Arts Struggle: a get together of artists over coffee
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Open Mic
1-10 p.m.  Music: Where the Wild Things Aren’t / Mandy Troxel / Lower Lights Burning / Austin Jenckes / Tara Ward / Opiate Mass / Nancy Colton / Robert Deeble / Joel Willoughby / Citizen Hands / Bill Mallonee
Craft Tent open all day long

The festival address is 358 Emma’s Lane, Eastsound.

Saturday, July 17

Olga Daze annual event in Olga, beginning at 10 a.m. Olga Daze will start out with fresh cooked Maple Bars and coffee, followed by grilled hot dogs, Italian Sausages, piping hot baked potatoes, homemade Strawberry Shortcake and soft drinks and lemonade. Parade at noon, led by Sandy Taylor and his bagpipes, followed by Orcas Island fire trucks, and vintage cars. During the day there will be live music in the park with many local artists including JP & The OK Rhythm Boys, Heather Stansbury, Sandy Taylor, The Parking Angels, Marc Cohen and Carl Burger.

The American Cancer Society’s 2010 Bark For Life of San Juan County starts Orcas Island High School  at  10 a.m. Participants and onlookers will walk to the Orcas Island Dog Park just east of the Orcas airport. The event will conclude at 2 p.m.

Saturday Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Orcas Island Historical Museum Opening Celebration of the Smithsonian Exhibit  Journey Stories at 11 a.m.

M.L. Malcolm, author of Heart of Liesa new thriller recently published by HarperCollins, will be at Darvill’s Bookstore for a book signing from 2-4 p.m.

Orcas Island Public Library wants to help you tell your story

The library is collecting islanders’ recollections of how they came to live on Orcas.  Did you come for vacation and just stay?  Or did you dream of retiring here?  Did you come here looking for a better life away from hustle and bustle of the mainland?  Please share your journey story with us! It will become part of the Historical Museum’s archives – imagine future islanders enjoying reading this journal in 50 years time.

Please keep your entries concise, but complete. We hope to collect as many stories as possible in this book, as everyone has a story to tell.  Anonymity is optional.  Visit the library during open hours and write your story in a journal specially made to record your journey to Orcas.

The Orcas library is open Monday through Thursday 10-7, Friday and Saturday 10-5, and Sunday 12-3.  Hope to see you soon. 376-4985.

Satko's Ark -- the Journey Story of the out-of-work steelworker who journeyed from Virginia to Alaska will be told on July 22 as part of the Historical Museum's 'Journey Stories' exhibit

Local Journey Stories also told in Destination: Orcas Island

Orcas Island Historical Museum invites you to attend an  opening celebration of the Smithsonian Exhibit  Journey Stories,  this  Saturday July 17 at 11 a.m.

“Please come by and check this exhibit out, you will want to book time to come back again with friends,” says Journey Stories project manager Andrea Cohen. “Our own local Orcas islanders’  Journey Stories, an addition to the Smithsonian traveling exhibit, will capture your attention!”

The Journey Stories exhibit arrived yesterday in its 14 containers and “We managed to get it assembled by the end of the day!” says Cohen. “Luckily we had a Smithsonian person on hand to help, which was an unexpected treat.”

The American story is a complex patchwork of many stories woven over time from the voyages – voluntary and involuntary – of people who traveled across the continent, from state-to-state and around the world to build new lives.  Journey Stories explores the history of American travel from immigration to migration, the role of myriad transportation modes and the search for freedom.

Even the residents will be dazed this Saturday with Olga Daze festivities

Annual Parade starts at Noon!

By the Orcas Musicians Grapevine

This coming Saturday, July 17th, is Olga Daze….

This annual event is held to raise funds for the Olga Community Club, and this year the funds will go towards covering the costs of a much-needed renovation for the clubhouse kitchen. The building was built in the early 1900s and belonged to the historic Olga Energetic Club until it was deeded over to the Olga Community in 1997.

Several years ago, Olga Daze funds helped purchase land next to the clubhouse, now known as Olga Park, which serves as the main location for the event.

Here is the schedule of music for Olga Daze this year (thanks to Carl Burger!):

10 a.m. – Noon:  Marc Cohen, Carl Burger, Heather Stansbury, Sandy Taylor

Noon Parade

Carl & Marc vamp after parade, until 1 p.m.

1-2 pm, JP & OK Rhythm Boys

2 – 2:30, Parking Angels

Carl & Marc/possible open jam ’till 3-ish

Suzanne Gropper, "Getting Along Famously" with David Schermerhorn, left, and Bryan Grantham

The Actors Theater of Orcas Island announces five performances of “Getting Along Famously” by Michael Jacobs. This play is a fun, light-hearted look at what happens when Harry Leeby, the worlds most successful paperback novel writer wants to write a “good” novel.

Harry Leeby has written eighteen Axel Troy mysteries which have spawned movies, TV, fame and fortune. But Axel is invincible, much too clever for him enemies so the only one left to kill him is Harry. This is the story of what happens when he does.

Bryan Grantham plays Harry with Terri Vinson as his daughter, Suzanne Gropper as Sandy, his agent, who makes a living off selling his books and David Schermerhorn as Justin Dean, the actor who has made a career playing Alex in the movies. This play is directed by Doug Bechtel.

There will be just five performances of “Getting Along Famously”: Friday, July 30th, Saturday, July 31st and Friday through Sunday, August 6th through August 9th. All performances will be at 7:30 pm at the Grange.

This script-in-hand production is suitable for all ages.

The Vote YES! For Schools Committee invites the community to a “Hot Dogs & S’mores about the Bond” BBQ at the Cascade Lake Shelter in Moran Park on Tuesday, July 20th at 5:30 p.m.

Bring your family and a potluck dish if you like. We’ll provide the bbq and drinks. This will be a fun way to talk about the bond…or just enjoy a great Summer evening.

School Board members and Superintendent Barbara Kline will be there, as will the members of Vote YES! with information, answers to questions, and plenty of Hot Dogs!

Hope to see you there!

For updated and accurate information on the bond, please see the website at: www.yesfororcasschools.com

M.L. Malcolm, author of Heart of Lies, a new thriller recently published by HarperCollins, will be at Darvill’s Bookstore for a book signing on Saturday, July 17th from 2-4 p.m.

Inspired by the author’s family history, Heart of Lies had been compared to books by authors such as Jeffrey Archer and Frederick Forsyth.  The story involves a young man, Leo Hoffman, who was born with a gift for languages. When his dreams for the future are destroyed by World War I, the dashing young Hungarian attempts to use his rare talent to rebuild his life, only to find himself inadvertently embroiled in an international counterfeiting scheme.

M. L. Malcolm is a Harvard Law graduate, journalist, recovering attorney, and public speaker who has won several awards for short fiction, including recognition in the Lorian Hemingway International Short Story Competition, and a silver medal from ForeWord magazine for Historical Fiction Book of the Year.

Blues fill the night this Saturday when The Fat Tones come to the Discovery House

From the Orcas Musicians Grapevine

The Fat Tones, a fantastic Blues Band from Spokane will be performing for one night only at the Discovery House at Rosario Resort on Saturday Night,July 17 at 7:30 pm.The Fat Tones’ musical skills have evolved into a high-impact, progressive fusion of Blues and Rock that leave their audiences begging for more.

Precise synergy of rhythm, percusion and world class guitar playing, topped with fun, fresh lyrics and pitch perfect three-part harmonies best describe the magic this band constantly delivers. Doors to the Discovery House will open at 6 p.m.

Food will be available on site from the Cascade Bay Grill and a bar will be available with proceeds to benefit the Orcas Island Lions Club.

The show starts at 7:30. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Madrona Bar and Grill, Ace Hardware, Eastsound Instrument and Supply and Rosario Resort for $15. Tickets will be available at the door the day of the show for $20. Must be 21 or over and have ID.

Stella Bell will be reading from her novel, Red Velvet Letters, and signing books on Tuesday July 20th at 3 p.m. at the Orcas Public Library.

Red Velvet Letters is a fictionalized account of the author, Stella Bell’s, life. The novel  carries more fact than fiction and provides a unique insight into the lives of several Japanese women. As a child, Bell was fascinated by the red velvet letters in the family scrap book. The letters had been sent in 1927 to her mother from her Japanese pen pal and were rediscovered by her the summer before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

This is the first of a trilogy; the second novel portrays the author’s life on Orcas Island and Saudi Arabia and should be out by Christmas, says Bell.

Stella Bell moved to Orcas Island in 1976 with her husband, Dick Langdon.  She now divides her time between Orcas Island and Mazatlan, Mexico and devotes her time to writing novels based on her life.

Calling all Artists, Art Collectors, and Spring Cleaners!

The Library Art Show and Silent Auction is coming soon and your generous contributions are needed for this annual Library Fair event.

Both two- and three-dimensional art is needed.  All proceeds will benefit the Library.

Bring your donations to the Library Conference Room on Saturday, July 17^th,from 10 AM to 4 PM.  If this is not convenient, contributions will be accepted any day during regular library hours.

The art will be exhibited in the Library until August 13^th, and then moved to The Village Green as part of the Library Fair, August 14^th

For more information call Sue at 376-3118.

Kids going into 3^rd grade and above are invited to sign up for a special tour of the Journey Stories exhibit at the Orcas Island Historical Museum on Wednesday, July 28^th, beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Museum staff and volunteers will explain the exhibits and answer children’s questions.  Advance sign up at the Library is required, and there is no charge for the tour.  Meet at the Library at 9:45 a.m., and we will walk down to the Museum for the tour.

Journey Stories is an exhibit focusing on why people decided to move and how they made those moves.   Connections are made between modes of transportation and  Americans’ sense of wanting the freedom to move.  Journey Stories is a special traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution.

For more information about the tour, please contact Nita Couchman, Children’s Librarian, at 376-4985.

By Ken Speck

San Juan County Parks Dept continues its Music In the Park summer series in the Stage on the Green in Eastsound.  On Sunday July 18 the popular swing band Orcatrazz will be featured.  Time of the show is 6 to 7:30 pm and is free to all.

Bring your chairs and blankets and of course your dancing shoes to enjoy the sounds of this 16 piece band which specializes in the music of the big band era.

Orcatrazz members have varied experiences ranging from amateur to professional including students, teachers and studio musicians.  Band leader Ken Speck has performed and traveled with his own band for a number of years.  Orcatrazz personnel are Bob Littlewood on Clarinet; Sam Windsor, Tom Slater, Ginny Soderlund, Kailey Grantham, and  Judy Whiting on Saxophones;  Karen Key Speck, Bruce Heller and Joe Boucher on Trombones;  Pat Muffett, Dave Durand,  and Russ Harvey on Trumpets; and a great rhythm section with Ron Meyers at the piano, Lizz Hanks on Bass, Chris Waage guitar, and Randy Jezeirski on the drum set.  Vocals by Beth Baker. .

Come and have a swingin’ good time.

It seems it’s only when friends or family show up that I think to do the “touristy” things.

One adventure I’d missed since moving here was to go on a whale watch trip. I booked with Eclipse Charters when I had out-of-state friends visiting a couple of weeks ago, and we had a wonderful time! The whales, eagles and harbor seal sightings were plentiful and magnificent. Our guides answered our questions, pointed out what we might not have noticed and gave us ecological lessons in the process, which I appreciated.

My sincerest thanks to Capt. Dan and Denise Wilk for this terrific service they provide- and to our guides Deb and Mary. Everyone went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable and would leave the boat with memories to last a lifetime. Here’s to “staycations” on the island!

Louise Carnachan

Pub Night at the Orcas Hotel with Gene Nery and Martin Lund 6 p.m.

Betty Reynolds, author of An Artist’s Journey to Bali will be at Darvill’s at 7 p.m. The book is a cultural exploration into the mysterious and colorful Indonesian island of Bali. In her beautifully illustrated artist’s watercolor sketchbook, the author shares her good fortune of meeting many Balinese who allowed her to witness important aspects of their lives and culture, and to participate in the religious rituals that mark their passage through the major stages of life.

Saturday, July 10

Orcas Island Farmer’s Market 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Village Green in Eastsound.

Indian Island Marine Health Observatory Field Research Days
Join local scientists and community volunteers at Eastsound Waterfront Park in conducting surveys of fish and intertidal animals on low tide days during the spring and summer.  Wear appropriate footwear for walking to the island (wet sand, gravel, shallow water), and come on down to the beach!11:30 a.m. until the tide comes in.

KindlingsFest, inspired by the Inklings group of writers and conversationalists at an Oxford pub, offers "Friends for the Journey" on Orcas Island next week

KindlingsFest “Friends for the Journey”  from Wednesday, July 14 through Saturday, July 17 at Orcas Island Community Church

By Dick Staub, Pastor, Orcas Island Community Church

Oxford pub where the original "Inklings" met for a "robust, masculine" discussion of ideas. Members included C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

KindlingsFest is an annual celebration of Art & Ideas where they intersect with the spiritual.

Guest speakers include poet and writer Luci Shaw, who will speak about her lifelong friendship with the late Madeleine L’Engle. C.S. Lewis expert Dr. Hal Poe will speak on Friendship Among the Inklings of Oxford.

Other speakers include Dr. Jeff Keuss and Nigel Goodwin. Artists-in-residence include singer songwriters Bob Bennett, and Jeff Johnson (Windham Hill), visual artist Kathy Hastings and filmmaker Corrie Moore.

Also on the schedule: an art walk Thursday afternoon, A Kindlings Muse live event each evening, a daily program for kids and a free concert Saturday evening complete the festivities.

Orcas Angels' float bedecked with balloons wins a "Community in Action" parade award

Record-setting number of entries & record-setting prizes handed out

By Lance Evans,Executive Director
Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce

The crowds turned out in large numbers and the parade entries were as varied as one could imagine this past Saturday in Eastsound. The record number 66 entries all took part in the annual Orcas Island parade, with the theme of “Community in Action.”

Led by our very ‘community active’ Grand Marshals, Dick & Velma Doty, the parade line-up featured floats, classic cars, honor guards, and imaginative entries to fascinate all who watched it go by.  This year there was $600 in prizes handed out by the Chamber of Commerce. The judging was conducted by the volunteer parade helpers, with final approval by the Board of Directors.

The Chamber saw more creative entries this year than ever before, and thanks all who entered.  Picking the winners was an extremely tough challenge. The winners in this year’s parade were:

Float-related Entries

• First prize ($250)           Orcas Off Leash Area
• Second prize ($150)       Cub Scouts Pack 4091
• Third prize ($100)         Orcas Angels

Non-float Entry

• Prize winner ($100):       Orcas Island Community Foundation

The Chamber thanks all those who helped, and took part in the parade, including our always-outstanding announcers – Ken & Karen Speck, and the Orcas Island Community Band!

Note: Registration for most of these classes closes on Friday, July 9. Don’t miss out!

By Linda Sheridan
Orcas Rec Coordinator

Orcas Rec Programs July 11^th – July 19^th

Join us for these fun upcoming programs! Pre-register this week to save your spot!

SEAWEED RAMBLE When: Sun, July 11, (9am-1pm) Where: Meet at Camp Orkila Parking Lot at 8:45 to start walking to the beach at 9am Ages: 9 to adult Cost: $27 Minimum of 17 participants You must pre-register by Friday July 9^th!

GOLF CLINIC When: July 12-23 (9am-10am class, plus 10-10:30 open golf)   Ages: Youth (10-17 yrs old) Mon and Wed, Adults (18 and up) Thurs. and Fri. Where: Orcas Golf Club Cost: $60 You must pre-register by Friday July 9^th!

WHALE WATCHING TRIP with Deer Harbor Charters When: Fri July 16^th (9am-1pm) Where: Deer Harbor Marina Ages: 7-to adult Cost: $30 ages 7-17; $45 ages 18-up Limit: 32 participants total and adult spots will be limited. You must pre-register by July 14^th!

BEGINNING VIOLIN CAMP When: July 12-23 Mon, Wed, & Fri (10am-1pm) Fri July 23 noon final recital. Where: public elementary school Ages: 7 & up Cost: $85 You must pre-register by Friday July 9^th !