Here’s a thought…
“You ever wish that fireworks were incredibly quiet and also didn’t disappear so quickly and also you could keep them in your home and also you could hold them in your hands? Because if so, I’d love to introduce you to, flowers.”
JONNY SUN
Earth Day parade / festival update
||| FROM EARTH DAY ORCAS ||| Earth Day Orcas is hosting a Procession of the Species Parade on Saturday, April 20. If you’d like to join in the Procession, meet up is at the library back lawn between 11 and 11:30am. Costumes and props that celebrate our natural environment are
County appoints acting health officer while search begins
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Council appointed Dr. Herbie Duber as the County’s new acting Health Officer. Dr. Duber is the Washington State Department of Health Regional Medical Officer for Northwest Washington. In this role, he supports the development of healthcare policy and programs across
Major grants hold promise of dramatically altering transportation landscape
||| FROM BRUCE BENTON ||| When two grants were announced a year ago, I began working with the Island Rides Board and the Port of Orcas Commissioners to submit requests to strengthen electrification of transportation on OI. One was for an EV Carshare program for people who live in OPAL
Guest Opinion | More management turmoil at Eastsound Water
||| FROM MICHAEL RIORDAN ||| While I was away at a physics conference in early April, I was dismayed (a better word might be "appalled") to learn that Carol Ann Anderson had been removed from her position as EWUA Secretary/Treasurer by a majority vote of its Board of Directors. At
LWVSJ Observer Corps: County Council April 15, 2024
||| FROM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OBSERVER CORPS ||| During public access, two members of the Marines Resources Committee, a salmon expert, a whale expert, and the Friends of the San Juans supported applying for a Salmon Recovery grant to complete the Jackson Beach Restoration Project. Three citizens spoke asking the county
Community Dinner
||| FROM JERREMY FOSS for ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| Time to dust off those sombreros! Orcas Christian School is hosting its annual Community Dinner. All are welcome to enjoy this FREE Mexican meal. Thursday, April 25th, 5-7:30 pm OCS High School Cafeteria 107 Enchanted Forest RD MORE INFO: 360-376-6683 or office@oics.org
Orcas airport to participate in military training
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| As a public-use airport Port of Orcas is occasionally called upon to support training or other mission-connected activities conducted by the Navy, Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security or FAA. And though in many cases the notice is short, it’s always
2024 candidate filing week approaches
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| If you have ever wanted to be an elected official, now is your chance! Candidate filing for positions open for election in 2024 is about to begin. During filing week, candidates may submit their filings online, by email, by fax, or in person
Puppetry Class
||| FROM CAROL KULMINSKI for ORCAS COMMUNITY CHURCH ||| We are inviting all 3rd through 5th graders to a Puppetry Class presented by Jerremy Foss from the Adventist Church and Carol Kulminski from the Community Church. The class will begin on Monday, April 29 and run for 6 weeks. Students
OIFR Q1 Chief’s Report
||| FROM KAT BARNARD for ORCAS FIRE & RESCUE ||| Fire Chief Holly vanSchaick and staff responded to 76 calls in March, for a total of 224 calls for the first quarter of 2024. Our average calls are 80% EMS and Rescue, with approximately 9% service calls, 4% false alarms,
David Roth Concert
||| FROM TOM BATTER for EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH ||| David Roth Emmanuel Episcopal Church Parish Hall hosts An Evening with David Roth on Friday, April 19 at 7:30 pm. David's songs have found their way to Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, several Chicken Soup for the Soul books,
County publishes revised engagement guide for reviewing OPALCO’s proposed solar project
San Juan County’s Department of Community Development (DCD) is postponing the public hearing examiner meeting for OPALCO’s Bailer Hill micro-grid and battery installation project while waiting for all additional information requested of the applicant on March 28, 2024. The future hearing examiner meeting date is to be determined (TBD). |||
Chair Yoga
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join us for Chair Yoga, a soothing practice tailored for seniors and those with disabilities, held every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 10:45 am. No chair yoga Tuesday, April 2. This gentle technique incorporates the use of a chair for
Free Films
FHFF Celebrates Earth Day with a Special Collection of Free Films Online April 18-28 ||| FROM FRIDAY HARBOR FILM FESTIVAL ||| Friday Harbor Film Festival, in collaboration with Earth Day Orcas and the San Juan Makers Guild, presents a special collection of thought-provoking and inspiring environmental documentaries to stream online
‘Burning’ issues remain after 2013 Exchange fire
||| BY JOHN TITUS, SPECIAL TO theORCASONIAN ||| People who have lived in San Juan County long enough are familiar with the original “Exchange,” a recycle/re-use operation, designed to take useful items out of the waste stream. The “Exchange” is variously reported as being established between 1981 and 1983, and
Chair Yoga
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join us for Chair Yoga, a soothing practice tailored for seniors and those with disabilities, held every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 10:45 am. No chair yoga Tuesday, April 2. This gentle technique incorporates the use of a chair for
