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
Woodsong Arts and Music Festival Next Weekend
The 12th Annual Woodsong Arts and Music Festival, a grassroots outdoor summer festival, returns to Orcas Island beginning this Thursday, July 22. Thursday, July 22 5 - 10 p.m.: Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy
Guest Opinion: Explanation of Orcas K-12 Enrollment Headcount from 2000 to 2009
By Barbara Kline, Superintendent, Orcas Island School District Here is a table that shows the enrollment over time. I decided to start it in October 2000 which is the year before OASIS was started. Because
“Journey Stories” Come Alive at Orcas Island Historical Museum Tomorrow
Local Journey Stories also told in Destination: Orcas Island Orcas Island Historical Museum invites you to attend an opening celebration of the Smithsonian Exhibit Journey Stories, this Saturday July 17 at 11 a.m.
Independent Committee to Build New Green Power Program for OPALCO
An independent steering committee made up of OPALCO members has begun to meet with the mission of developing a proposal for a new green power program that would provide financial incentives for renewable generation and,
Get Dazed in Olga this Saturday
Annual Parade starts at Noon! By the Orcas Musicians Grapevine This coming Saturday, July 17th, is Olga Daze.... This annual event is held to raise funds for the Olga Community Club, and this
Letter to the Editor: Vote Yes for Schools in August
Growing up with a father who was a Superintendent of Schools in a district of small schools, the largest of which was about the size of Orcas, and with a mother and siblings all teachers
Fog Sealing on Schedule — Cyclists Warned “It’s Sticky”
By Stan Matthews County Communications Program Manager San Juan County Public Works Operations Manager Russ Harvey said on July 14 that “fog sealing,” the last phase of this year’s chip sealing program on San Juan
Land Bank Meeting Scheduled for this Friday
The San Juan County Land Bank Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting on Friday, July 16th in the in the Lopez Public Library, Community meeting Room, 2225 Fisherman Bay Road, Lopez Island. The meeting begins
Orcas and San Juan Island Solid Waste Facilities Open Extra Days This Week
By Stan Matthews County Communications Program Manager County solid waste facilities on Orcas and San Juan Islands will be open to self-haulers for two additional days this week as both sites transition to a new
Guest Opinion: Accuracy and Transparency in School Bond Process is Paramount
Scott Lancaster Orcas Island School District Board President I'd like to clear up a few things that have appeared in the Sounder. Keith Whitaker has responded very effectively online, and in the paper to Janet
Guest Opinion: Accuracy is Essential to Informed School Bond Debate
By Keith Whitaker, Business Manager (part-time) Orcas Island School District There are significant inaccuracies and wrong assumptions in Janet Knowles guest column in last week's Islands Sounder [reprinted below] regarding transparency in the school bond
Guest Opinion: Data on the School Bond Measure
By Janet Knowles (Please see editorial note below, following this opinion) Bond Transparency This Bond proposal is huge in good times, but inconceivable in hard economic ones. In my experience as a school Business Manager
Library to Take Kids on Special Tour of Journey Stories at Historical Museum
Kids going into 3rd grade and above are invited to sign up for a special tour of the Journey Stories exhibit at the Orcas Island Historical Museum on Wednesday, July 28th, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Letter to the Editor: Joys of a “Staycation”
It seems it's only when friends or family show up that I think to do the "touristy" things. One adventure I'd missed since moving here was to go on a whale watch trip. I booked
Letter to the Editor: Book Exchange a Success!
On June 26th the first community Homeschool Book Exchange was held at the public library. Participants were encouraged to bring items that were gently used and recycle them for materials they were seeking for next