Here’s a thought…
“The competition between Nature and the economy is deep and broad.
In the short term, the economy usually wins. In the long term …?”
BILL APPEL
Extra Ferry Runs for Extra Busy Weekend
-- from Washington State Ferries -- The Fourth of July weekend is Washington State Ferries’ busiest travel weekend of the year, so please plan ahead for heavy vehicle traffic heading westbound from Thursday, June 30
Illegal Seal Pup Pickups Emphasize Need to “Share the Shore” with Wildlife
-- from Michael Milstein, NOAA Fisheries -- Following four recent incidents in Oregon and Washington in which people illegally picked up harbor seal pups off the beach, leading to the death of two of the
When Warmer is Not Better: Drought Warning for Vancouver Island
-- from Lindsay Kines / Times Colonist -- Record high temperatures and low rainfall have prompted the province to upgrade the drought warning on southern and eastern Vancouver Island to its highest level. Most rivers and
OPAL Ambassadors Take It to America
-- from Judy Whiting -- Rusty Diggs, Eros Belliveau and Carla Stanley, homeowners in OPAL’s Bonnie Brae and Wild Rose Meadow neighborhoods, met recently to share insights following their national advocacy on behalf of
Orcas Schools Looks for a New Elementary Principal
-- by Eric C. Webb, Superintendent, Orcas Island School District -- Orcas Elementary School will be under new leadership for the 2016-17 school year. I can assure you that great care will be taken in
Guest Opinion: Replace OPALCO’s “Spendthrift” Board
-- from Gabriel Jacobs -- In the minutes of the OPALCO Board meeting of May 19, 2016 there is a sentence about an audit, “Darlington recommended that the detailed document remain confidential to management and
School Board Hires and Seeks Teachers and Administrators
-- Capital Bond Considered -- by Margie Doyle, updated June 28 at 12:45 p.m. -- At the Orcas Island School District regular board meeting on June 23, 2016, the board agreed to hire the following
News from Hughes: Islands’ Housing and Transportation Summer Plans
-- by Margie Doyle -- San Juan County Councilman Rick Hughes commented on government matters that impact Orcas Islanders recently. So many active projects "are coming to the front of the queue," he says. Still,
Changes at the Port of Friday Harbor
-- from Barbara Marrett, Port Commission President -- Ted Fitzgerald, Port of Friday Harbor Executive Director The Port of Friday Harbor Commission is pleased to announce Ted Fitzgerald of Brookings, Oregon as the
The Orcas are Starving
-- by David Neiwert, Crosscut.com -- Vancouver photographer Mark Malleson took this photograph of the Southern Resident killer whale known as J-34, or Doublestuf, breaching while he was in the interior waters of the Salish Sea
Field Trip Will Answer All Your Questions About Bats
Saturday, June 25, 8:30 - 10:30 p.m., Stonebridge-Terrill Preserve, Orcas Island The Wonder of Bats with UW PhD Candidate, Rochelle Kelly -- from Tanja Williamson -- Townsend Big-eared Bat Join us for a dusk to dark field-trip with
Guest Opinion: Vacation Rentals Create Problems
-- by Steve Mckenna -- One year ago I wrote a “Guest Opinion”, referenced here ( orcasissues.com/guest-opinion-moratorium-on-vacation-rentals-needed-immediately/), suggesting a moratorium on Vacation Rentals until the County addresses the issues caused by their continued proliferation. While
Illegal Shark Reef Sanctuary Campfire Spreads, Quickly Contained
-- from Kathryn Hansen, Co. Parks, Recreation and Fair -- Scene of wildfire at Shark Reef Sanctuary, Lopez Island Luck was on our side the morning of June 20th, the start of the Summer Solstice
County Permit Office Now on Orcas
- Also on Lopez and Shaw Islands every week -- by Margie Doyle -- Jason Hensel, County Building Inspector, holds regular office hours on Wednesdays to help with building projects County Building Inspector
Walk the Labyrinth at Summer’s Start
-- from Nancy Ayer -- All are encouraged to visit the labyrinth in the gardens of Emmanuel Church. There is much to walk the labyrinth for in our world, which includes a fairly rare event.
