Here’s a thought…
School Finances Hold Steady as Board Considers New Business Manager
At the Jan. 28 regular school board meeting, Business Manager Ben Thomas reported that the Orcas Island School District continues to have a healthy fund reserve. The year-to-date fund balance is about $285,000; last
Senator Ranker Proposes Farm Internship Bill
Farmers come out in force in support of Sen. Ranker’s farm internship bill Dylan Johnson said he has learned more about farming during his short time as an intern at Synergy Farm in
Crossroads Lecture Series Presents Life in a Time of Pandemics
The Crossroads spring lecture series begins on Friday, February 5, 7:30 pm at the Orcas Center with Dr. Frank James presentation "Life in a Time of Pandemics: Influenza and Other Diseases that Shape Our Future."
New Online Voters Guide Available for February 9 Special Election
By Stan Matthews County Communications Program Manager All San Juan County Voters except those living on Shaw Island will be voting in the February 9, 2010 Special Election. Voters have a new source for information
Bellingham's Kalb to Challenge Rick Larsen in Congressional Election
Larry Kalb, a longtime resident of Bellingham, has announced his candidacy for Congress to become the representative of the 2nd Congressional District of Washington State, challenging Rick Larsen. Kalb, 55, works in the Finance
Orcas, SJI Transfer Stations Will Close on Fridays
By Stan Matthews County Communications Program Manager San Juan County Public Works Director Jon Shannon and Utilities Manager Ed Hale told the Council Tuesday that the County’s solid waste utility will be making additional
Scenic Byway To Be Planned at Workshop
The San Juan Islands Scenic Byway and San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau Announce an invitation to attend a Public Workshop and A Call for Inspiration. The public is invited to attend a community workshop on
Guest Opinion: With Regard to an Email You May Have Received
By the Yes, for Schools Committee We want to commend the authors of the document entitled “Comments on the Orcas School Levy and Bond Issue” for beginning their statement with support for the school
Homeless Count Scheduled for January 28
Reprinted from Jan. 6, 2010 By Stan Matthews County Communications Program Manager San Juan County Health & Community Services will participate in the state’s annual Point in Time Count of Homeless Persons (PIT) on Thursday,
Guest Opinion: The True Value in Supporting the Schoool Bond & Levy
Although Washington State’s Constitution defines education as the “paramount duty” of the state, school districts increasingly rely on local funding sources. About 16% of total statewide school funding comes from local taxes, primarily
Editorial: Would You Spend or Invest $20 More a Month?
Updated at 9:30 p.m. Here’s what we’re talking about, on Orcas, regionally, and nationally: A “dismal decade” Real Estate bubble burst Unemployment highs $35,000,000 bond for capital improvements to Orcas Island public schools And perhaps
Guest Opinion: Sufficient Budget Required for School's Future
As a member of the Orcas High School Class of 1984, I was one of the first students to attend class in the current Orcas Middle School buildings. In September of 1980, the buildings were
Port Work on North Outfall Repair to Begin Soon
Orcas Port Manager Bea vonTobel announced yesterday, Jan. 20, that the last permit for the north outfall repair has been received. The preconstruction meeting was held later on Wednesday, and construction is due to start
Senate to Hear Ranker's Landmark Ocean-management Legislation
Ruckleshaus to open the testimony By Chase Gallagher for the Washington State Senate Democrats It’s only appropriate that Washington – with its 3,000 miles of shoreline, its 2.6 million acres of state-owned aquatic lands, and
Guest Opinion: Farm to New Cafeteria — You Can't Lose
By Madie Murray Our outdated 35-year-old cafeteria is housed within the equally outdated 35-year-old middle school. From a kitchen about the size of a large home kitchen with one range and inadequate prep and serving
Yes, Virginia…Kids Really Can Like Beets
By Mandy Randolph For those of you who believe there is no Santa Clause as much as you believe kids won’t eat beets, I’m offering evidence that you may be wrong...at least for
