🌱 How close are Friday Harbor’s beloved orcas to the brink?

Hey there, Friday Harbor! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How close are Friday Harbor’s beloved orcas to the brink?

Also on today's calendar: Save the Date (Copy) — Dana Alkebu-Lan and 1 more event.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Very windy; periods of rain, with a high of 49 and low of 39 degrees.
• Friday: A couple of showers, temps: high: 47, low: 40.
• Saturday: A couple of morning showers, with a high of 48 and low of 43 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Whale Poop, Quiet Seas and Vanishing Salmon: The Science Racing to Protect Orcas (scientificamerican.com) — Researchers studying endangered southern resident orcas are working right in your backyard, with whale-watching hubs like Friday Harbor central to where these whales historically spend their summers. A Scientific American team joined scientists and a poop-sniffing dog in the San Juan Islands to investigate how ship noise, pollution, and dwindling salmon—along with shrinking federal research funding—are putting these iconic whales at risk.
   

📸 Around Friday Harbor

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Friday Harbor

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• Luminous Weaving Circle — Dana Alkebu-Lan
  Luminous Gallery | Studio, 100 Front St S, Friday Harbor
  12:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday December 21

• Save the Date (Copy) — Dana Alkebu-Lan
  Luminous Gallery | Studio , 100 Front St S , Friday Harbor
  6:30 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Island Stage Left Presents Omnium Gatherum
  San Juan Island Grange , 152 First St N , Friday Harbor
  4:00 pm

Friday January 9

• WHM Weekend
  50 Spring St , Friday Harbor
  8:00 pm

📣 Friday Harbor Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Medicare Orientation
  Island Health , 1211 24th St , Anacortes
  11:00 am
• Chamber Luncheon
  Oak Harbor Elks Lodge , 155 NE Ernst St , Oak Harbor
  11:30 am
• Green Ticket Cash Giveaway
  Historic Downtown Oak Harbor
  12:00 pm
• Bellingham (Girls) @ Oak Harbor (Girls)
  Oak Harbor High School , 1 Wildcat Wy , Oak Harbor
  4:00 pm
• Adult Luminaria Making Workshop
  The Salish Sea School Discovery Center , 2201, Unit 101 Skyline Way , Anacortes
  5:00 pm
• PAN The Musical
  Anacortes Community Theatre , 918 M Ave , Anacortes
  7:30 pm

Friday December 19

• Battle of the Badges Bell Ringing Competition
  Safeway , 911 11th St , Anacortes
  10:00 am
• Community Meal – Oak Harbor
  The Center in Oak Harbor (City of Oak Harbor Parks & Recreation) , 51 SE Jerome St , Oak Harbor
  11:45 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Today (December 16), the governor amended the state emergency proclamation to help provide critical emergency support in response to historic flooding across the state.
  The governor is directing $3.5 million in emergency funds to assist Washingtonians with relief and recovery. We will announce how flood survivors can… (Nextdoor )
• Commissioner Kuderer’s emergency order provides a grace period for premium payments and extends the nonrenewal notice period from 45 days to 120 days to consumers impacted by recent #flooding.
  Read more here: https://www.insurance.wa.gov/about-us/news/2025/kuderer-issues-emergency-order-provide-relief-consumers-impacted-recent-flooding (Nextdoor )

• McDonald's posted a job opening for Certified Shift Manager $19-$22 an hour in Anacortes. Apply here.

🗞 Nearby News

Anacortes

• Winter Beer Festival This Weekend: Here Are My Top Picks (washingtonbeerblog.com)

Oak Harbor

• City hires community development director (whidbeynewstimes.com)
• Man charged in police chase at the bridge (whidbeynewstimes.com)

Coupeville

Ok Friday Harbor! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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