Here’s a thought…
A Winter Poem: Starlings in Winter
Starlings in Winter Mary Oliver Chunky and noisy, but with stars in their black feathers, they spring from the telephone wire and instantly they are acrobats in the freezing wind. And now, in the theater
A Winter’s Poem
Winter Solstice By Rebecca Parker Perhaps for a moment the typewriters will stop clicking, the wheels stop rolling, the computers desist computing, and a hush will fall over the city. For an instant, in the
Guest Column: Joining a Board, Anything but Boring
By Rachel Newcombe Thirty-three. This is the number of upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions in San Juan County. I’ve been wondering, why do any of us volunteer to serve on a board or
Gaylord Says Layoff in Prosecutor’s Office Will Disrupt Justice
From the San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Prosecuting Attorney Randall K. Gaylord announced that budget cuts in in March 2012 will force him to lay off the one deputy prosecutor handling misdemeanors from
A Tale for the Winter Season from Eth-Noh-Tec
By Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo and Nancy Wang of Eth-Noh-Tec Amaterasu is the Sun Goddess of Japan who was once so angered and frightened by her brother Susano the Storm God’s destruction and betrayal of her world,
Guest Column: Hannukkah Brings Light and Transformation to Dark Days
By Cara Cohn Hanukkah celebrates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its destruction by the Syrian Greeks in 164 BCE. The eight-night festival of Chanukah is also known as the Festival of Lights
Letter to the Editor: Council’s Support for Strong CAO Protections Appreciated
We would like to thank County Council Members Fralick, Miller, Pratt, Rosenfeld, and Stephens for their decision on December 5 not to support an effort by Council Member Peterson to weaken the proposed update to
Guest Column: Grace and Hope in Christmas Story
By Anthony Robinson from Crosscut.com Perhaps it is worthwhile to remind ourselves that the first Christmas wasn’t all comfort and joy either. The Christmas story is a nuanced and complex one. It’s not a
Letter to the Editor: Chamber Offers Holiday Thanks!
The holiday tradition continued this past Saturday with the annual tree lighting ceremony at the village green. It wouldn't have been possible without the help of a great many elves ... Perry Pugh and Ron
Legislative Report from Senator Kevin Ranker
Monday marked the start of the special legislation session called by Gov. Chris Gregoire to address the state’s $1.4 billion budget shortfall due to lagging revenues as a result of the Great Recession. After three
Wild Geese: A Poem by Mary Oliver
Wild Geese You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees For one hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft
Revisiting Seattle’s WTO in Light of “Occupy Wall Street” Movement
Norm Stamper, Orcas resident and retired Seattle Police Chief, has reviewed the "Battle in Seattle" that occurred during the 1999 meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its significance to the current "Occupy Wall
Guest Column: The Costs of Confusion
By Janet Alderton Confusing and often conflicting development codes and other county regulations have serious impacts on the lives and livelihoods of our fellow islanders. The on-going struggles of the Jones family of Lopez Island
Guest Column: The Education – Imagination Link
By Teddy Deane and the San Juan County Arts Council What will the next 50 years be like for the kids of today? An educated guess suggests that it will be more multinational, multicultural, digital,
Letter to the Editor: The Tree Doctor is Fine and Well
Thank you, Orcas community, for your kindness and concern - and let's set the record straight: John Olson, the "Tree Doctor" is fit as a fiddle and ready for love. The island tom-toms must have heard
