Here’s a thought…
Keep Christmas Green with these Recycling Ideas
By Helen Venada, Waste Reduction and Hazardous Waste Coordinator San Juan County Solid Waste Division The US Environmental Protection Administration(EPA) reports that Americans discard more than 25% more household waste (5 million tons!) between Thanksgiving
School-Public Library Discussions Continue
Friday, December 14, from 8 to 10 a.m. Members of the Orcas Island School District and Orcas Island Library boards, along with staff members, will continue discussions regarding possibilities for improving and sustaining library services
Dr. Gregory M. Ayers Announces Candidacy for San Juan County Council
Dr. Gregory Ayers, Candidate for the Orcas position on the San Juan County Council. From Kate Hansen, Greg Ayers Campaign Manager Dr. Gregory M Ayers, an Orcas resident, is announcing his candidacy today
Lisa Byers Announces County Council Candidacy
Lisa Byers, Candidate for the Orcas position on the San Juan County Council. From Janet Brownell, Lisa Byers Campaign Manager Lisa Byers, Executive Director of OPAL Community Land Trust, has filed to be
Puget Sound Rail Lines Ill-Equipped for Increased Freight
By Floyd McKay for Crosscut.com Mayors and city officials are scrambling to find ways to deal with an onslaught of new freight-rail traffic in Washington, with new projects seemingly coming online daily. Some of their
Critical Areas Update: What Do the Ordinances Say?
From Ingrid Gabriel, San County Council Clerk On Tuesday, December 3, 2012 the San Juan County Council enacted the following ordinance(s): ORDINANCE No. 26 -2012: Ordinance Regarding General Regulations for Critical Areas. This ordinance
Ranker Speaks to Republican Dominance in State Senate
From the office of Senator Kevin Ranker Senator Kevin Ranker, [Democrat from the 40th District] issued the following statement December 11 regarding the Republican takeover of the Washington State Senate: "This morning two Democrats crossed
What Does State Republican Senate Majority Mean for Orcas Education?
The State Capitol, where the Legislature meets. By John Stang from Crosscut.com Democratic state Sens. Rodney Tom and Tim Sheldon have formally allied themselves with the Senate's 23 Republican representatives to take control
Lovel Pratt Announces Candidacy for San Juan County Council
Lovel Pratt, candidate for San Juan County Council From the Committee to Elect Lovel Pratt Lovel Pratt is filing as a District 1 candidate in the San Juan County Council countywide election.
County Awarded $310,634 for Salmon Protection
By Susan Zemek, from Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office The Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board today [Dec. 10] announced the award of $19.2 million in grants to organizations around the state to restore
Coal Dumped into Vancouver Harbor when Shipper Crash Destroys Terminal Berths
Update, Dec. 9 at 4 p.m. Stephanie Buffum Field, Director of Friends of the San Juans, will discuss this issue today at 5 pm, on Canadian talk news station AM 980 at 5 p.m. on
Lahari Joins with Fire & Rescue in “Orcas Safe Homes Project”
By Paul Losleben Lahari is pleased to announce a new program to assist the elderly and infirm in their homes. Entitled “Orcas Safe Homes,” the objective is to assist Orcas Island residents in identifying and
Letter to the Editor: Tax Savings and Allocations Explained
While Paige McCormick's letter and spirit of community fairness is much appreciated, the assessment/taxing ratio is a little more complicated. Yes, assessments have gone down, the amount of revenue you will be paying (in general)
Letter to the Editor: Kentec and Gasification Pose Solid Waste Problems
Dear San Juan County Council, I am delighted you renegotiated Orcas Recycling Services to head the Orcas transfer station. My hope is you will reconsider contracting with Kentec since Waste Management will continue on a
Letter to the Editor: Allocation of Funds Saved in New Assessments
We received our updated property valuation, and it is down. I have to hand it to the Assessor's office--they got it right, at least to my approximate knowledge of our property's market value. Do you
Weeding Through the New Marijuana Law
by Lin McNulty As Washington state legalizes possession of a small portion of pot, is today the beginning of the end of nationwide marijuana prohibition? It's seemingly simple enough: During last month's election,
