We’re thrilled to be a part of the GiveOrcas Holiday campaign from December 3 to 12, benefiting vital community programs. This year, your support for the Home Maintenance & Repair program will empower seniors and adults with disabilities to live safely and independently on Orcas Island.
Mark Your Calendars!
- Unique Donor Day: Thursday, December 5 – Donate $10 or more to help us win a $1,000 prize for the most unique donors. Every gift counts!
- Ben Franklin Day: Wednesday, December 11 – Donate $100 or more to help us win a $1,000 prize for the most $100+ donations.
Your generosity ensures Orcas seniors continue to age in place with safety, dignity, and peace of mind.
Thank you for making a difference. Together, we can expand this critical program!
Reflecting on Respect: Understanding and Addressing Bullying Behaviors
At Orcas Senior Center (OSC), we are committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for everyone. Creating such a community requires the participation and mindfulness of everyone. Unfortunately, bullying isn’t something that only affects children or teens. It can happen among adults, including seniors, often in subtle ways that may not be immediately recognized.
Bullying can take many forms—verbal insults, exclusion from social activities, spreading rumors, or even seemingly harmless jokes that make others feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. It can be intentional or unintentional, but its impact can still be deeply hurtful.
We ask all members to take a moment to self-reflect on their behavior and interactions. Consider if there have been times when your words or actions might have caused someone to feel intimidated, isolated, or disrespected. Are there times when you’ve witnessed such behavior but chose not to intervene or report it? Reflecting on our actions can help us all contribute to a more supportive and friendly environment.
Orcas Senior Center takes any incidents of bullying seriously, in alignment with our policy to ensure a welcoming atmosphere for everyone. If you have experienced or witnessed bullying, we encourage you to come forward and report these incidents to San Juan County Senior Services staff or Orcas Senior Center staff. Your concerns will be treated with the utmost seriousness and confidentiality.
Let’s work together to make OSC a place where everyone feels valued, safe, and respected. Thank you for your attention and commitment to fostering a positive community.
Real Time Air Quality Measurements @ OSC
As part of its Air Quality Monitoring Project, San Juan County has installed a PM2.5 monitor on the Orcas Senior Center building.
What are PM2.5? PM2.5, which stands for “Particulate Matter 2.5, are microscopic particles that are only a tiny percentage of the diameter of a human hair in size (2.5 micrometers or smaller, to be exact). Their microscopic size allows them to bypass the protective areas of the nose and throat and penetrate deep into the lungs, potentially causing health problems. On Orcas Island, the most common sources of PM2.5 are motor vehicles, residential wood burning, and seasonal forest fires.
The box below shows up-to-date readings from the PM2.5 air quality monitor installed at the Orcas Senior Center. Any number less than 50 is considered to be generally safe. Click on the “Purple Air Map” text at the bottom to get even more information from the sensor and to see readings in other locations.
For public health guidance from San Juan County Health & Human Services for PM2.5 concentrations, go here.