Here’s a thought…
“As democracy is perfected, the office of the president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire and at last the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
H.L. MENCKEN
Island Stewards receives grant to invite all voices to the table
||| FROM RIVER SKY for ISLAND STEWARDS ||| What is it you love about living in the islands? What do you want to protect? What does the future hold for island residents? A new public participation project hosted by Island Stewards invites island residents to explore these and other topics
Adult Spelling Bee
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Let the games begin! Neighbor versus neighbor...family against family...friend challenging friend...all fair game. The Orcas Island Library is presenting the 2nd Annual Adult Spelling Bee Friday, October 25th from 6-8 PM at Orcas Center Main Stage. If you would like to
Letter to Editor | Public lands are precious. So are private lands
||| FROM MIKE CARLSON ||| 34 years ago the Land Bank presented a creative solution to the problems facing San Juan County at that time. Land development and the passing of a generation of legacy landowners meant ownership turnover for a large percentage of the County's land base. Few options
Islands Oil Spill Assoc. Community Forum
||| FROM BILL SYMES for ISLANDS' OIL SPILL ASSOCIATION ||| IOSA staff, volunteers, and board members welcome the Orcas community to an IOSA Community Forum for an evening of facts, fun, and refreshments. Find out what IOSA has been up to recently, how we act as first responders and support
Emmanuel shares Market Day proceeds with local nonprofits
||| FROM BERTO GANDARA for EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL PARISH ||| Emmanuel Episcopal Parish has given $1,500 each in proceeds from the church’s Market Day rummage sale to Safe San Juans, OPALCO’s Project Pal and KWIAHT’s environmental work. “Market Day is one way we help support our broader community,” said Berto Gandara,
Letter to Editor | Baney endorses Stephanie
||| FROM BRANDON BANEY ||| I am happy to endorse Stephanie O’day for County Council from the perspective of a builder on San Juan that sees the real struggle new families have trying to make a home here on the island. Stephanie is the advocate that San Juan County residents
Pardon our dust: Upcoming construction along Pear Point Road
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE San Juan County has a recovery strategy for protection of salmon populations which includes the Jackson Beach Restoration Project. As part of the plan, OPALCO is moving the transmission poles off Jackson Beach on San Juan Island. These critical high
Trees and land absorbed almost no CO2 last year. Is nature’s carbon sink failing?
The sudden collapse of carbon sinks was not factored into climate models – and could rapidly accelerate global heating ||| FROM THE GUARDIAN ||| It begins each day at nightfall. As the light disappears, billions of zooplankton, crustaceans and other marine organisms rise to the ocean surface to feed on
Letter to Editor | Paulsen for Council
||| FROM JULIE BRUNNER ||| I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Justin since he moved to Orcas Island in 2003 and partnered with OPAL to build the OPAL office campus and Reddick Apartments. Justin is passionate about kids, kid’s athletics, affordable housing, and the islands in
Letter to Editor | Paulsen, O’Day have the qualities I look for in a leader
||| FROM DEBORAH STRASSER ||| When considering the people I want to support in the role of County Council Person here in the islands some of the attributes I look for are: Strong familiarity w/the area; Some long-term acquaintance, friendship, and understanding of the families who call our county home.
Letter to Editor | Renew our Land Bank
||| FROM ED SUIJ ||| Just cutting carbon emissions will not prevent climate breakdown. "Humanity risks catastrophic global heating if it focuses only on decarbonisation at the expense of restoring the natural world," Colombia’s environment minister has said in the lead-up to the world’s key nature summit later this year.
Reminder: You’re invited to attend open house for 2025 Comp Plan update
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is pleased to host a series of grocery store information booths and open house events on three islands where the community can learn more about the Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) Update, including the new Climate Element development, and provide input.
No school Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
||| FROM BLAKE WILSON for ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| Dear OISD Student Families, Please be reminded that there will be no school on Wednesday, October 16 and Thursday, October 17 due to fall conferences. If your child has a scheduled appointment during this time, please contact their teacher or counselor for specific arrival instructions. Additionally,
Orcas Center call for ceramics, watercolors artists
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center’s Visual Arts Committee (VAC) is calling all Orcas artists to showcase your creativity and passion for ceramics and watercolors for the next art exhibit in the Madrona Room on October 25. Community shows are open to ALL island artists, beginning
Protecting whales from ship strikes
||| FROM CBS NEWS ||| In the summer of 2022, I was walking on the beach at Half Moon Bay in California, when I saw the strangest thing approaching on the waves. When it struck the shore and deflated, I knew: it was a dead whale. But it wasn't just any whale.
Feldenkrais Movement Class
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join Andrea Preiss, a seasoned Feldenkrais practitioner and therapeutic eurythmist, for a relaxing movement class at Orcas Senior Center, Tuesdays at 11 am. Emphasizing a seated position, these subtle exercises rooted in the Feldenkrais Method and eurythmy aim to improve your
