Here’s a thought…
“Peace is not something we ask for — it’s something we practice, together.”
WALK FOR PEACE
Annual Ferry Ridership Swells by 250,000 to 15-year High
-- from Washington State Ferries -- A surge in boardings in 2017 pushed Washington State Ferries to its highest ridership since 2002. Last year, the nation’s largest ferry system carried nearly 24.5 million people, enough to fill CenturyLink Field every day of the year. Ridership grew by more than 250,000 over 2016,
In Memoriam | Scott Gianola, 1954 – 2017
-- from Gracie Grantham -- Scott Gianola passed away in his home on Orcas island December 19, 2017. He was born March 5, 1954 in Seattle. Scott moved to Orcas island in the late eighties. Scott was fortunate to have occupied an OPAL home since 1994. Orcas was his home
Request for Salmon Recovery Project Proposals
-- from Byron Rot for San Juan County -- The San Juan County Lead Entity for Salmon Recovery is requesting salmon recovery project proposals for two different grants for 2018 and 2019-2020 funding cycles. Private citizens, non-profit organizations, local, state, and tribal governments, and special districts are invited to apply
Letter to Editor | Why Orcas Needs Health Commissioners
-- from Norm Zimlich -- The proposed Orcas Public Hospital District presents many issues for consideration, but none as significant as the election of PHD Commissioners. Orcas residents already pay taxes for Orcas Island Fire and Rescue, and they have also donated generously to build the Orcas Medical Center facility and
Annual Homeless Count Scheduled for January 25
-- from San Juan County Communications -- San Juan County’s 2018 Point in Time Homeless Count will be conducted on Thursday, January 25. Count organizers and volunteers work with local family resource centers, food banks, emergency cold weather shelters, churches, healthcare providers, senior centers, libraries, the sheriff’s office, and many
ICE Targets NW Immigration Activist for Deportation
-- by Lilly Fowler and Enrique Cerna from Crosscut.com -- Maru Mora Villalpando at the NW Detention Center, Nov. 2014, photo credit Manuel Valdes, Associated Press As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] continues to crack down on undocumented immigrants around the country, the agency has sent a prominent
Inslee Statement on Policy Changes to Protect Personal Information
-- from Tara Lee for Governor's Office -- “The recent revelations about our state Department of Licensing’s failure to safeguard certain information from federal immigration officials has shaken and angered many communities. It has angered me. I issued an executive order nearly one year ago saying we would do all
OPALCO Seeks Board Candidates
-- from Suzanne Olson for OPALCO -- Nominations are now open for the 2018 OPALCO Board of Directors election. There are two positions up for election in District 2 (Orcas, Armitage, Big Double, Blakely, Fawn, Little Double and Obstruction islands). Interested co-op members from District 2 can apply to be
Guest Editorial: Call to Orcas Action Now!
-- by Eleanor Hoague, Judy Scott and Marc Cohen, updated Jan. 16 at 3 p.m. -- An intense debate over the DACA program (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is coming to a climax this week (by January 19). If Congress does not act to protect the more than 800,000 DACA
Town Hall Meeting Will Address Public Hospital District, What it Might Cost
Wednesday, January 24, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Eastsound Fire Station -- from Alison Shaw for Coalition for Orcas Health Care -- The Coalition for Orcas Health Care is pleased to announce its third Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, January 24, from 5:30- 7 p.m., in the Eastsound Fire Station. Residents
Alzheimer’s Association Recruiting Volunteer Facilitators in San Juan County
-- from Linda Whiteside, Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter -- Make a difference in the life of a family caregiver. The Alzheimer’s Association is currently recruiting local volunteers to facilitate Family Caregiver Support Groups in San Juan County, including Orcas Island and Friday Harbor. Family Caregiver Support Groups provide a consistent
Upcoming Art Shows at Orcas Center
-- from Kathleen Youngren -- Intake: Wednesday, January 31, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Orcas Center. Opening Reception: Friday, February 3, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Graphite drawing by Leon Rosenblatt All local, male artists are invited to submit their work for the Gallery Show, and all other
Keep Orcas Issues, News and Views Alive and Independent
-- by Margie Doyle, Publisher and Editor -- More people are reading Orcas Issues, News and Views than ever, but our paid subscriptions and advertising revenues need to keep up. And unlike many news organizations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open
Eastsound Vision Survey Results: Orcas Residents Value Natural Environment and “Village” Quality of Eastsound
-- from the Eastsound Planning and Review Committee (EPRC) -- Thank you to the 388 Orcas residents who completed all 65 questions in the recent Eastsound Vision survey and to the additional 217 who completed part of the survey. The large number of people completing the survey creates an accurate
Joe Floren: 1929 – 2017
-- from the West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship -- Anne Hay and Joe Floren, 2016 Myron David ("Joe") Floren died on December 31, 2017 at his home in Clackamas, of natural causes. Painting a life requires an appropriate palette. For Joe Floren, that palette would be varied yet
Fire Commission Will Convene Regular Meeting Tuesday
Tuesday, January 16, 5:30 p.m., Eastsound Fire Station -- from Marla Johns for Orcas Fire & Rescue -- Due to the Martin Luther King holiday on Monday, Commissioners Wesley Heinmiller (Chair), Barbara Bedell, Amanda Montague, Jim Helminski, Tim Fuller, Chief Scott Williams, Orcas Island Fire and Rescue Staff, and the
