||| FROM HILARY CANTY |||
Well, this is quite a swift shift. The drop in temperature accompanied with gale force winds ensures winter has arrived in full force! Hopefully you are safe and cozy.
For those folks who need some help staying warm and safe, the Orcas Community Church and their volunteers are hosting a Severe Weather Shelter. The shelter is open on nights when the temperature in Eastsound is 32 degrees or below. The shelter provides a warm place to sleep on a cot with clean bedding. Check-in is from 7:00pm-9:00pm and check-out is 8:00 am the following morning. The Orcas Community Resource Center (OCRC) is also open and serving warm beverages and soups in their office. And the Public Library has plenty of space to spend the day indoors with a good read. Thanks to all who are helping keep everyone safe during this cold snap
You may have noticed the Please Vote signs posted along the roadside. The Orcas Island School District has a levy on the ballot in a special election this February (voting ends on the 13th). The request is for a four-year levy that would raise approximately $2.6 million in 2025 and 2026, and $2.75 million in 2027 and 2028. The levy would provide financial support for basic educational programs and facility maintenance that are not fully supported by state funding. More information on the levy can be found here.
Ballots will be mailed out shortly. If you are traveling or unable to access your mailed ballot, the Election Office has your back. Contact Camolyn Armstrong via email or phone, 360-378-3357, and she will set you up to get your vote counted.
Please stay safe and check in on your neighbors and critters during this weather.
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