It Was a Very Good Year

—Some noteworthy events —

All in all, 2015 was a very good year, especially for the uptick in southern-resident killer whales born — eight new calves born since Dec. 30 2014, bringing the number to 85.

New whale in J pod. Photo by Dave Eliff

And we had more than our share of Festivals on this “small green island:”

• Orcas Island Community Church “WinterFest”
• Last Orcas Idol Teen Talent Show
• Shakespeare Fest
• Granny’s Attic Sale at the Orcas Senior Center
• Bird and Nature Fest
• Inaugural Imagination Festival
• Orcas Film Festival
• Memorial Day Pet Parade
• Chamber of Commerce 4th of July Parade and Fireworks
• Energy Fair
• Orcas Island Community Church “KindlingsFest”
• Doe Bay Festival
• Olga Daze
• Emmanuel Episcopal Church’s St. Agnes Day Sale
• Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival
• Friends of the Orcas Island Library’s August Library Fair
• Martin Lund’s Jazz Festival
• Whale of a Show
• Emmanuel Episcopal Blessing of the Animals
• American Legion Veterans Day Services
• Chamber Christmas Tree Lighting on the Village Green
• Senior Center’s Holiday Festival of the Arts
• Odd Fellows’ Artisans Faire

Still, as the year drew to a close, it’s uplifting to know that we do our best work in making good things happen for others,  in whatever ways we can:

January

Washington State Ferries implements the Ferry Reservation system on the Anacortes-San Juans route; in April, the system was overloaded to the point of shutdown https://theorcasonian.com/wsf-reservations-system-simply-on-overload

Council drops moratorium on greenhouse regulations primarily aimed at marijuana grow operations

February

Propane leak from VanderYacht Propane service light industrial zone at north end of Seaview Street in Eastsound occurs; a second spill happens in April

Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO) acquires Rock Island Communications. Rock Island will merge its staff, infrastructure and operations with OPALCO “to deliver modern, scalable and reliable broadband services”

March:

The County chooses the “curvileinear alignment, alternative  #2” is chosen for the work ahead on the Orcas Road Plan, following public comment: orcasissues.com/orcas-road-plan-chosen-take-look

April

The Samish sails the Salish Sea, photo courtesy of Bill Pike

New WSF Samish, launched and dedicated to the San Juan Islands route: orcasissues.com/welcome-aboard-samish-new-olympic-class-ferry-joins-wsf-fleet

Second gas spill at Vanderyacht Propane property on Seaview Street this year: orcasissues.com/weary-responders-save-the-day

Orcas Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin O’Brien leaves to become Fire Chief at Lake Stevens, Wash.: orcasissues.com/chief-kevin-obrien-says-farewell-and-thanks

Orcas Island Artworks was finally welcomed home to the historic Strawberry Building in Olga, devastated by arson in July of 2013. The Catkin Cafe opens in the building:   orcasissues.com/artworks-re-opened-in-olga

The third year of the Great Islands Clean Up is a great success county-wide, especially on Orcas, with 65 volunteers total and 2,400 pounds of litter picked up in 3 hours. 320 pounds were sorted and recycled. orcasissues.com/over-a-ton-of-litter-gathered-in-just-three-hours

May

An 80 million years old bone that researchers determined was part of the left femur of a theropod dinosaur was discovered on the shores of Sucia Island State Park. The fossil measures 16.7 inches long and 8.7 inches wide. By comparing the bone to other museum fossils, Burke Museum scientists calculated that the femur was likely over 3 feet long, just smaller than that of a tyrannosaurus rex:  orcasissues.com/dinosaur-bones-found-on-sucia-island

“Across the Universe” with Beatles’ music at the Orcas Center. A triumph of Community theater!

Jake Perrine and Grace McCune organized 120 islanders to perform a produce a sold out, heartwarming production of “Across the Universe” to benefit Orcas Center., an experience the performers and production staff will remember all their lives orcasissues.com/music-dance-and-community-across-the-universe

San Juan County hires new public works director Brian Vincent: orcasissues.com/san-juan-county-welcomes-new-public-works-director

June

OPAL Trust holds public meetings to discuss plans for a 30+ units affordable rental housing on four acres on the east side of North Beach Road across from the Funhouse:  orcasissues.com/opal-affordable-housing-meeting-asks-what-could-go-right-or-wrong

July

Adding to the wrinkles being ironed out in the ferry reservation system, the Elwha  was out for the summer in July, just as the Samish began route operatons:  orcasissues.com/elwha-out-for-the-summer

County lodging taxes awards $471,050: orcasissues.com/county-grants-471050-in-lodging-tax-awards

August

Eastsound Subarea, with Urban Growth Area (UGA) boundaries in dark blue.. The grey cross-hatch area in the center is the airport zone and the lavender-colored areas are Service Light Industrial zones. Before approving the update and moving the plan into the county Uniform Development Code (UDC) the council approved land use designation changes and some map changes

Eastsound Subarea Plan update hearings begin final stretch of public meetings that result in the Council moving the ESAP’s uses and zoning into the county Uniform Development Code: orcasissues.com/notice-of-public-hearing-on-eastsound-subarea-plan

Orcas Island School renovation completed on time and under budget: orcasissues.com/we-did-it-and-orcas-school-district-begins-a-new-era

Meanwhile, Tiger Construction and local subcontractors finish the repairs to Orcas Elementary School necessitated by the Mother’s Day Flood in May: orcasissues.com/flooding-flaws-fixed-at-elementary-school

In other school news, the State Supreme Court continues to prod the legislature to fund basic education through the mandates of the McCleary decision: orcasissues.com/state-supreme-court-fines-state-100k-a-day-in-mccleary-decision

The County Council re-arranged allocations for Public Facilities funding and awarded Orcas Recycling Services/The Exchange $25,500 for construction of a road through the leased transfer station site: orcasissues.com/190726-for-public-facilities-assistance-recommended

orcasissues.com/breaking-news-council-reallocates-funding after significant public input.

September

Martin Lund, teaching the kids music on the ferry

Martin Lund offers the first Orcas Jazz Festival, sold out over three days at the Orcas Center: orcasissues.com/jazzman-martin-lund-present-first-annual-jazz-festival

State Legislature awards $760,000 to develop a park and ride facility on  4.5 acres of state-owned property adjacent to the ferry staging area at Orcas Landing, due to Council member Rick Hughes successfully lobbying efforts: orcasissues.com/relief-for-parking-transportation-problems-at-orcas-landing

One year after Eric Webb becomes Orcas Island School District Superintendent, the Elementary School welcomes its new principal, Theresa Mayr: orcasissues.com/meet-theresa-mayr-new-elementary-principal

Orcas Public Library moves ahead with its expansion project, “The Next Chapter:” https://theorcasonian.com/orcas-library-signals-decisive-start-to-expansion-project

The County Council decides to wait on implementing any greenhouse regulations: orcasissues.com/county-council-places-review-of-proposed-greenhouse-regulations-on-hold

October

Sam Gibboney, Director of Community Development (formerly Community Development and Planning), moves to become Deputy Director of Public Works; Erica Shook becomes new head of San Juan County Community Development  Department:  orcasissues.com/county-switches-up-departments

November

Wes Heinmiller is elected to the Orcas Fire and Rescue Board of Commissioners, and Deborah Jones is elected to the Orcas Park and Rec Commission in November’s election: orcasissues.com/election-results-are-in

Check your smoke alarms — though fire burned this house, the family escaped safely

Orcas Firefighters fight two residential fires within 24 hours on Apple Tree Lane and on Raccoon Point Road, with no human casualties:  orcasissues.com/houses-damaged-destroyed-in-fires

The Orcas Interfaith Council of Churches opens an overnight cold-weather shelter at the Orcas Island Community Church: orcasissues.com/churches-unite-for-cold-weather-shelter

Orcas Island Fire and Rescue Commissioners appoint Mik Preysz as new  Chief: orcasissues.com/fire-commissioners-appoint-preysz-as-permanent-chief

The county restructures the Orcas Senior Center personnel with three new “hires:” orcasissues.com/with-more-personnel-a-renaissance-at-senior-center

December

The County Council votes to reduce the Solid Waste tax from 16% to 14.5% after paying off the $800,000 debt incurred in previous years: orcasissues.com/council-reduces-solid-waste-tax

Mountain bike designed for quadriplegics by Spencer Sare, delivered to Jordan Griffin in December. You can still contribute to the campaign to help

Orcas Boosters Club and others help private funding campaign to develop an “athletic”  four-wheeled full suspension mountain bike specialized for paraplegics: orcasissues.com/Griffin-and-Sare-campaign-for-athletic-wheelchair

The San Juan County Council delays work on completing the Shoreline Master Program update following a public hearing with extensive public input: orcasissues.com/Shoreline-Master-Program-progress-delayed