Here’s a thought…
Letter to the Editor: Vote Yes to Preserve Public Access
Proposition 1 on the ballot at the next election is a measure to renew the San Juan County Land Bank. I urge you to vote YES in support of renewal. The Land Bank is a
Editorial: League of Women Voters Upholds the Right to Vote Intelligently
By Margie Doyle The League of Women Voters always sounded to me a little like the old “Mothers Club” that schools used to have, where the Beaver Cleaver mothers would venture out from happy
Guest Opinion: Partisan Elections — Baby or Bathwater?
By Sandy Strehlou In four weeks, San Juan County voters will choose 21 Charter Review Commissioners to review the County’s charter. They will take stock of the charter government that voters put in place in
Letter to the Editor: Thank You, Crossroads
I have attended quite a number of the public library’s Crossroads lectures over the past several years, but felt compelled to comment on the most recent, “Preparing for Collapse” by Dmitry Orlov. While I felt
Letter to the Editor: Response to the Assessor’s Comments
According to the County Assessor the voters pamphlet statement by the Committee Opposing Land Bank Initiative contains inaccuracies. The 3,580 acre figure used by the Committee Opposing Land Bank Initiative for the voter pamphlet
Letter to the Editor: Charter Review Calls for Questions
Next month there will be an election. On November 8, the people of San Juan County get to vote on some pretty serious issues. There are statewide measures about services for the elderly and disabled
A Glimpse of History: The Grand Scenic Highway Revisited (with Garbage Trucks)
By Tom Welch When I wrote the following article back in 2007, I was interested in ‘what might have been’ on Orcas Island. A major roadway slashing across the island from end to end was
Guest Column: Critical Areas Systems Are Interconnected & Interdependent
By Sadie Bailey When considering the fragmented ways we are looking at so-called “separate” Critical Areas categories, only one truth unfailingly dictates what happens to saltwater ecosystems: Everything flows downhill. Best Available Science soundly backs
Letter to the Editor: What Are People Afraid Of?
Why are people afraid? I have been to three meetings for the League of Women Voters of San Juan County. At each meeting a pro and con statement was given regarding the renewal of the Land
Land Bank Initiative Statement Clarified by Assessor
By Charles Zalmanek San Juan County Assessor The Statement Against Proposition No. 1 written by the Committee Opposing Land Bank Initiative published in the voter’s pamphlet contains several inaccuracies which bear correction. First, the Land
Letter to the Editor: Elect New Charter Review Committee Members
Editor, With regard to the discussion about the election of the Charter Review Committee members on November 8th, I would like to suggest that we not elect former freeholders to the committee. I worry that
Letter to the Editor: Big Thanks to United Way of SJC
United Way of San Juan County graciously awarded a grant to Orcas Family Connections (OFC) in early 2011. With this grant, we were able to hire an office manager to assist our family advocate with
Guest Opinion: Let OPALCO Know We Want Their Help in Providing Faster Internet
from Martin Taylor OPALCO (Orcas Power And Light Cooperative) is asking the question: What role should OPALCO play to support the ongoing community effort to make higher-speed, more reliable broadband available in San Juan County? This month they
Guest Opinion: Insurance and Education
By Janet Alderton People use pesticides and other chemicals that harm salmon for many reasons. While education campaigns are a good idea, education will not change everyone’s behavior. I know people who have their home’s
OPALCO Studies Broadband Expansion
From Orcas Power and Light Company (OPALCO) OPALCO is committed to providing our member-owners with reliable, cost-effective utility services—and has been doing so since 1937. We are cooperating with emergency services and public safety providers,
