Here’s a thought…
Tara Dobos Wins All-School Spelling Bee
Tara Dobos, Orcas Island Middle School and OASIS 7th-grader, won the All-School Spelling Bee in the 14th round today with the words "poignant" and "apartheid." Her last challenger was Monica Connell, Orcas Island
County Council Works to Preserve Exchange
At the meeting of the San Juan County Council on Orcas Island, Feb. 7, the audience filling the Outlook Inn's Victorian Room heard assurances from Council members and county staff that the intention is to
Website Classes Now Offered at the Library
By Martin Arnold The Orcas Island Library’s website is more than just the home page on the Library’s public access computers. The Library’s web site is an information portal to the World Wide Web. From
Friends of the San Juans: You Tube & Orcas Complaint
From Friends of the San Juans A recent video that was posted on you tube and has spread throughout our community. This memo provides background information about why Friends of the San Juans got involved over
Community Foundation Grants Cycle Begins With Applications
Deadline for grant applications is March 14 The Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) is accepting applications for the 2012 competitive grants program. This is the 13th year of this grants program. This years’ committee is
Charter Review Committee Meets Orcas this Saturday
Feb. 4 Meeting Considered County Departments' Consolidation From the Charter Review Commission The next meeting of the San Juan County Charter Review Commission (CRC) is on Saturday February 11 at the Orcas Hotel from 8
Letter to the Editor: Common Sense Alliance & Critical Areas
Really! After 20 plus years of participating in County government, starting a long time ago as Chairman of the Fair Board, then 12 years as a County Commissioner, and lately as a member of the
Letter to the Editor: Continuing the CAO Discussion
One of the less helpful and most distracting aspects of the CAO process is the ever-present, breathless purveyors of “the [environmental] sky is falling” meme. No matter what the specific topic being considered, we hear “global
County Council & Friday Harbor Demand Ferry Funding
By Stan Matthews County Website and Communications Manager Town County Lawmakers Tell Olympia “Quit Kicking the Can” [Last] week, San Juan County Council and the Friday Harbor Town Council sent a joint message to
Letter to the Editor: Correcting CAO Misinformation
“No one has shown that our current CAO rules do not adequately protect the functions and values of our critical areas.” Peg Manning Jan. 6, 2012 Correction: “The number of species listed as threatened or endangered
Editorial: Everybody Look What’s Going Down
There’s a new sense of self-rule in the air: a practical, clear-eyed sentiment that is a double-edged sword. Historical documentation proves that when Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address, he emphasized – three times – the
Guest Column: What Will Happen to Our Waste?
Citizens of Orcas, If you are wondering what is going to happen to your waste now that the parcel fee has been turned down, you should be aware that the County Council will be discussing
CRC Holds Lively Debate on Process and Outreach
Saturday, Feb. 4 at San Juan Grange from 8am to 2pm (with a break for lunch). Public input is welcomed at 8:30 and at noon. Reviewing the County Charter is a complex task, and the
Ferry Repairs Delay Schedule
From Washington State Ferries The MV Elwha, for the 7:40 am departure from Anacortes to Orcas, and the 8:55 am departure from Orcas to Shaw and Anacortes have been cancelled due to necessary maintenance to
Letter to the Editor: School Levy a Sensible Proposal
Providing our island children with a strong education is vital to the health of our community. Achieving this in a state ranked 38th in the nation for funding public schools is especially challenging during one
Letter to the Editor: Vote Yes for Our Schools
Tough times or good times, it seems to me that the very best way to make sure our society can be successful for all is to make sure we have well educated people to run
