San Juan County Health and Community Services staff provided the first COVID vaccine to islanders on Wednesday, December 30. Read more...

“Vaccine prioritization decisions are complex, but based in a need for equitable distribution,” says Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah. “Our priority has been to get the vaccine to high-priority people first.” Read more...

As of Tuesday, 425,900 doses of vaccine have been delivered to Washington state, which includes allocations from both Moderna and Pfizer. Read more...

Islanders interested in makerspaces and sustainability are invited to join the Economic Development Council of San Juan County (EDC) to hear about “closing the loop” on Thursday, January 14, 5:30-6:30 pm on Zoom. Nikyta Palmisani, the Training, Education & Outreach Coordinator for Lopez Solid Waste, will discusses possibilities and challenges in using waste materials in new, locally-made products. Read more...

The Bison antiquus, the extinct giant bison, was discovered at a swamp and peat bog adjoining Obstruction State Park. Read more... Watch Mossback’s Northwest on PBS, "Bison Hunters in the San Juans". Airs Thursday, January 7 at 8:50 pm. The bison bones are part of a permanent collection at the Orcas Island Historical Museums.

This month, on Tuesday, January 19 from 10:30 to 12:30, club member, Gloria Eppig, will give a unique presentation called “Artificial Intelligence: Tools for Genealogy”. Contact Vicki Leimback at [email protected] for Zoom link. Read more...

On Wednesday, January 20, at 10:30 am, the Orcas Island Garden Club will partner with the Orcas Library to host author and biologist Thor Hanson for a Zoom talk about bees and seeds. You must preregister. Read more...

Orcas Senior Center and Orcas Center are excited to announce a collaboration on the much-anticipated Seniors Have (Virtual) Talent! The event, featuring talented community members, will be aired on the Orcas Senior Center and Orcas Center websites Saturday, January 30 at 6 pm. orcasseniors.org and orcascenter.org. Read more...

We express our deepest respect and gratitude to our indigenous neighbors. We're deeply moved and draw inspiration from the fact that we may make music surrounded by the ancestral homelands of the Swinomish, Coast Salish, Samish, Lummi, Nooksack, Chimacum, Duwamish, Snohomish, Stillaguamish and Skagit and other Peoples, who have cared for these lands and waterways from time immemorial. Read more... 

Open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10 am-5 pm, 360-317-3363.

We are available to help your business send out forms 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC and W2s. Sending out these forms gives your workers a chance to get a jump start on their tax return filings and ensures you avoid late fees and penalties. Please call us during business hours and schedule an appointment as we are only seeing one client in our office at a time. 

Our business Printshop Northwest is growing, and we recently hired a general manager, Erica Hanson. Erica is moving to the island from Seattle. As I'm sure all of you know, housing on Orcas is a challenge! That's why I'm reaching out to my island contacts to see if anyone might have any leads for housing starting February 1st. Read more...

The Orcas Senior Center non-profit welcomes Tom Eversole as the newest member of the Orcas District Committee (ODC), the operating committee of the center. Many of you will remember Tom from his time as Hearts and Hands Coordinator, or as the man inside the Cedric the Centipede costume. Read more...

It will still be a long winter with some challenging months ahead, but with several vaccines on the horizon, we can begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you Orcas Island for helping the Senior Center continue to make sure we get through that tunnel together. You make us both Orcas Strong and Orcas Proud. Read more...

Café will be taking a brief winter break January 7-10. We will reopen Friday, January 15. doebay.com 360-376-8059

The Conservation Agriculture Resource Team (CART-Coffelt) is holding an online public meeting, on January 14, 5:30-7pm, to gather input on their draft report of recommendations for future agricultural operations at the Land Bank’s Coffelt Farm. Read more...

Orcas Senior Center once again offers Your Life in Words, an online workshop with Diane Craig that focuses on the desire to write one’s life story beginning January 27. Participants is limited to 12 at this time. Read more... orcasseniors.org

The Music Advocacy Group sends holiday greetings to the Orcas Community, and wants to share the virtual Holiday Concert of the OISD strings program with you here. Read more... oimag.org

Roses shop will be open one day a week in January - Thursdays,10-3:30 pm. The cafe will remain closed through the month. There will be a limited bread selection, so check our website for availability. Our regular selection of wine, cheese, meats and grocery items will also be available. rosesbakerycafe.com

The Board of Directors has several open positions available for enthusiastic Owners who want to engage with their Co-op community. The deadline for submitting a notice of intent to run and a candidate statement to get on the ballot is January 29. Read more...

Bring in or mention this ad in the Blast for 10% off your entire purchase, once during the month of January. Pawki’s for Pets hours are Monday-Saturday, 10-5:30 pm. Closing at 4 pm on December 31^st.

Monkey Puzzle is having its annual SALE-15-50% off/Make An Offer from January 3-12. We will then be closed during the week, opening on weekends only until April 1.The cashmere collection will be in the 50% off category. Read Sallie Bell's new year's message here.

The winter season is here! New Hours for Siren Boutique: Tuesday-Saturday 11-5 pm. Closed Sunday & Monday until we warm up again! End of winter sale until February! 50% off winter items and 25% off selected clothing: Habitat, Cutloose, Bobeau, Lysse, NYDJ, Citron and more...

NOVALASH CLASSIC LASH EXTENSIONS *Full Eyelash Set $80 (Savings of $100) *3 week Eyelash Fill $50 (Savings of $50) and REPLENISHING ALGAE FACIAL, $175 ($50+ savings). By Appointment Only. Please call/ text 360-378-7638 or email [email protected] to reserve your treatment. Read more...

January Special: 15% off Psychic Adventures Readings! 2021 Good Fortune, Medical Intuition, Past Lives, Aura Chakra Reiki, and Angel Team Assist. Call Deborah Darner, LMT, 360-376-4188.

Fresh Bucks is our Community Hero for the month of January! All this month we will be asking for support from our Members and community to help raise funds to continue offering this amazing program in 2021. Read more...

Support local businesses by purchasing gift cards. Shop Local! OrcasStrong Website

Orcas Animal Protection Society, 360-376-6777.7

Blast Readers, please send us pictures of your pets. Include a caption, their names and your name. We will feature one each week.