Three of the four Sister Wives at the Music in the Park venue last summer. Photo Courtesy of Gail Johannes.

The Sister Wives, an all female blues band from Salt Lake City, will perform at the Lower Tavern on Monday, August 2nd beginnning at 8:30 p.m.

They will be accompanies by special guest Ritambhara.

There will be a $5 cover charge.

Maria Papademetriou's artworks will be on display at Orcas Artworks in Olga

The Orcas Island Artworks features three dimensional work by Olga artist Maria Papademetriou through the month of August.
Using found objects as a vocabulary of symbols and form, Maria has created iconic, shrine-like objects which she conceives as deities or nature spirits. Having grown up in the Greek Orthodox tradition, “objects used in ritual, such as shrines and personal altars, were ever present in my childhood and continue to occupy my creative consciousness.” Those who know and love Maria’s art from her many years at the Artworks will find this inspired body of work an exciting new development.
The Artworks is open daily from 10 to 6.

Last night a tug and barge carrying 8 million gallons of diesel and jet fuel lost propulsion near the San Juan Islands. The Neah Bay Rescue Tug came all the way from the eastern entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca to rescue the tug and barge.  We were very fortunate to have calm seas and the time that allowed the rescue tug to get there and the fuel barge tug to regain power.

This event underscores the importance of the Neah Bay Tug.  It also however raises a question:  Is one tug positioned at the eastern entrance (almost 100 miles away from the san juan islands) sufficient?

Read the DOE Incident Statement here ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/incidents/Commitment

Susan Slapin's artwork will be displayed at Islanders Bank in August

Susan Slapin will exhibit her work at Islanders Bank through the month of August.

A reception will be held Thursday, Aug. 5 at 1 p.m. All are invited to attend.

Orcas Rec again sponsors the summer favorite, British Soccer Camp from August 2 through 6 at Buck Park.

The camp is for boys and girls in two age groups:
4-6 years
6-14 years

Register now at www.challengersports.com or come to Buck Park at 9 a.m. on Monday, August 2nd.

Kids play soccer at Orcas Rec soccer program last fall

Look ahead to Skyhawks All-Sport Camp — MUST pre-register by August 13^th

The Skyhawks Multi-Sport Camp will be held August 23^rd-27^th (Monday-Friday) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. provided at least 16 kids to sign up.

The week-long camp will be held at  Buck Park for kids aged 7 to 12.

This is our 4^th year with the Skyhawks program, which allows boys & girls ages 7-12 to gain experience in several sports. Play soccer, baseball, and basketball in a day-program setting. There is no pressure, just lots of fun, while young athletes participate in all three sports through unique Skyhawks games. Designed to motivate children to lead a healthy active lifestyle while giving them the fundamental skill sets needed to succeed and grow in whichever sport they choose.

The cost is $133.Orcas Rec Coordinator Linda Sheridan says, “Full or partial scholarships are available for all of our programs EXCEPT British Soccer Camp. No scholarships available for British Soccer, sorry.

“Scholarship request forms are located on our website www.orcasrec.org or at our office in the Senior Center. Scholarship recipients must qualify for the free or reduced lunch program; all requests are confidential.

For more information contact Orcas Rec at 376-5339.

Register at www.skyhawks.com or you can sign up at with us (be sure to indicate your child’s t-shirt size). Multi-Sport participants will receive: T-shirt and a Merit Award.

Carl has delighted Orcas audiences several times as half of the folk duo The Wanderers, and once solo in his Woody Guthrie persona.  This time he will present a program of travelling songs that he has put together for the various Journey Stories museum locations.  Carl will draw upon various songwriters such as, Utah Phillips, Bill Staines, Tom Paxton and, of course his specialty, Woody Guthrie, to present an enjoyable evening of travelling stories in song.  A donation of $10 is suggested.

For more information, call Bill Buchan at 376-3613.

On July 28, the San Juan County Elections Office will mail ballots for the countywide vote by mail August 17, 2010 Primary. Voters will see federal, congressional, legislative, county, and judicial races on the ballot. Orcas Island School voters will also see a school bond on their ballot.

This year the Elections Office is offering an enhanced online guide featuring all statements from candidates for elected office and statements on Orcas Island School bond measure. There has never been a printed voters’ guide for the Primary election here. The new on-line guide is the most comprehensive and easy-to-use online guide offered by San Juan County. The guide is located at sanjuan/currentelection/Pages/OnlineVotersGuide

Voters returning their ballots by mail must have them postmarked by Election Day. First class postage is required. Voters may also deposit their ballots at ballot drop boxes located at the San Juan County Courthouse, Orcas Island Senior Center, Lopez Fire Station or they may drop their ballots off at the elections office in Friday Harbor by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Airplanes line the Orcas tarmac at the 2009 Fly-in

The 26^th annual Orcas Old-Fashioned Fly In takes place this weekend with camping and tie-down fees waived for the fledglings and buzzards that fly in to enjoy the beautiful locale of the Orcas Airport.

Local Mercy Pilot Dwight Guss is again organizing the affair, for the second year in a row. He says that “hopefully there will be no big changes from last year; everything’s in place.”

While last year’s attendance was down from previous years, Guss has observed at air shows already held this summer that more people are back flying. People agree that Orcas Island’s Fly-In is one of the best because of the camping and the beautiful setting, Guss said.

The event runs Friday through Sunday, with Pancake Breakfasts sponsored by Orcas Island’s volunteer firefighters on Saturday and Sunday mornings across Mt. Baker Road from the Port at the Eastsound Fire Hall.

The Fly-In is sponsored by the Port and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) the biggest aviation association in the world; the Orcas chapter has about two dozen members, says Guss. Along with the Young Eagles free airplane rides, which takes place all over the nation, the Fly-In is the main concern of the local EAA chapter.

“The Orcas Fly-in is one of the most popular Fly-ins in the northwest, and it’s good to see old friends,” said Guss.

The Port offers free parking, plane tie-downs and overnight camping, along with showers, for the event. It also bears the cost of bringing in portable toilets for the event. Von Tobel says, “We encourage our visitors to spend their money in town!” said Port Manager Bea von Tobel.

Experimental aircraft, old-fashioned airplanes, seaplanes and “warbirds” will be on display at the show, which is free and open to all. An Air Lift NW Helicopter will be at the show, as it was last year. T-shirts, hats and sweatshirts will be for sale.

Volunteers are still sought to help with various tasks, and can call Guss at 317-5970.

Anita Orne, JP Whitman and Gordon Koenig will play at the Sunday Concert in the Park on July 1

Bring your picnic dinner and settle in on the grass at the village green this Sunday for some furious fast fancy fiddling with JP and the OK Rhythm Boys.

Champion fiddler, JP Wittman, with Anita Orne and Gordon Koenig on guitar and stand-up bass, will present toe tappin swing tunes, old time fiddle tunes, dreamy waltzes and classic rags August 1st from 5pm to 7 p.m.  FREE!