Here’s a thought…
“No one, I mean no one, has the right to sit in judgment of who’s American enough.”
MICHELLE OBAMA
Environmental Groups Appeal Permit Decision on Petrochemical Expansion Proposal in Salish Sea
-- from Alex Ramel for Stand.earth -- On Thursday, December 14, six local and regional environmental organizations filed an appeal of the Skagit County Hearing Examiner’s of the Shoreline Substantial Development Permit for the Andeavor (formerly Tesoro) Anacortes Refinery petrochemical expansion project. Last week, the Hearing Examiner approved the permit, despite
Friends of San Juans Appeals Shoreline Master Program to State Board
-- from Stephanie Buffum for Friends of the San Juans -- Today, the Friends of the San Juans (Friends) appealed San Juan County’s recently updated Shoreline Master Program (SMP) to the Washington Growth Management Hearings Board. The SMP is the primary tool for protecting the fragile marine ecosystem that depends on
Welcome to New School Board Members
-- from Orcas Island School District -- Photo by Greg White. Please join us in welcoming our newly elected School Board Directors (from left to right ) John Fleming, Josh Culp and Diane Boerstler. Here they are being sworn in to office by Superintendent, Eric Webb at last
Annual Jazzin’ With the Classics for Christmas Upcoming
Saturday, December 30, 3 p.m., Emmanuel Episcopal Church -- from Jeffrey Cohan for Salish Sea Early Music Festival -- Music at Emmanuel presents the eleventh annual Yuletide Baroque: Jazzin' with the Classics for Christmas, featuring jazz flutist, pianist and clarinetist Martin Lund, classical flutist Jeffrey Cohan and virtuoso vibraphone player Tom
“A Child’s Christmas in Wales” Reading Returns
Sunday, December 24, 3:30 p.m., Odd Fellows Hall -- from Suzanne Olson for Unitarian Universalist Fellowship -- Continuing a beloved island tradition, Howard Barbour will read Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales" - and do all the voices - on Sunday, December 24th at 3:30 p.m. at the Odd
WSF Announces Holiday Schedule
-- from Washington State Ferries -- Happy holidays from Washington State Ferries! The Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes will operate on a weekend holiday schedule on Monday, December 25 and January 1. Please note that the eastbound 2:20 p.m. inter-island vessel departing Friday Harbor and the westbound inter-island vessel departing Lopez
NAS Whidbey Island SAR Transports Lopez Heart Patient
-- from Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island -- A Search and Rescue (SAR) team of seven from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island conducted a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) from Lopez Island Airport, Lopez Island, Wash., to the Skagit Valley Hospital in Mt. Vernon on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. The SAR
Bell-Ringers for Orcas Family Health Center
-- -- from Ken Speck OFHC Board President, reprinted from Dec. 2, 2017 -- In wet and cold December weather, this loyal bell-ringer gathers funds for Orcas Family Health Center Last month, Orcas Family Health Center (OFHC) began a fundraising campaign to raise $175,000 by November 27, 2017
Coupon Book Arrives Just in Time For Gifting
-- from Susan Anderson for Children's House -- Orcas Island Children’s House is selling coupon books, featuring more than $500 in discounts offered by local businesses. Go Orcas! includes nearly 75 coupons (valid until June 2018) featuring savings across the island. Priced at $20 each, the coupon book pays for
Letter to Editor | Orcas Recycling Looks Forward With Gratitude
-- from Board and Staff of ORS & The Exchange -- Almost five years ago our collective heart sank when the quirky but beloved Exchange burned to the ground. Today, Orcas Recycling Services (ORS) would like to thank you. A beautiful new Exchange reuse facility has re-opened on the original spot
Business Spotlight: From Homebrew Contests to BoatHouse CiderWorks
--by Sam Gailey -- Libby Garcia proudly hosts BoatHouse Ciderworks The inspiration behind Libby Garcia’s BoatHouse Ciderworks—located by the Orcas Island ferry landing—came from her grandparents’ boathouse in Obstruction Pass. After noticing her grandparents’ trees were growing lush with apples, Libby decided to make hard cider in the
Letter to the Editor: Kurt Thorson Continues to Fight
To the Wonderful Orcas Community, Our family would like thank everyone in the community for their amazing support and love during this challenging time in our family’s journey. We do not always have the ability to thank everyone individually, but we want everyone to know how much every gesture means
Join Up for Tour of Wyeth Exhibition in Seattle
-- from Diane Martindale for San Juan Islands Museum of Art -- On January 10, the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) is sponsoring an excursion to the Andrew Wyeth: In Retrospect, 110 paintings from the American master’s 75-year career, now at the Seattle Museum of Art. The San
Skagit Valley College Life Transitions Program Offered Free in Friday Harbor
-- from Arden Ainley for Skagit Valley College -- Skagit Valley College’s (SVC) Life Transitions Program will be offered FREE at SVC’s San Juan Center in Friday Harbor. Classes begin on January 8, 2018. SVC’s Life Transitions program is designed to help individuals who are looking into their options for employment, college, or
Fire Department at Working Beach Haven Structure Fire
-- from Marla Johns for Orcas Fire & Rescue -- UPDATE: December 18, 2017, 10 p.m. Orcas Island Fire crews remain on scene of an earlier structure fire in the 100 block of Beachhaven Road for mop up and overhaul of the fire scene. The building suffered extensive internal damage;
Marcia West Retires as Director of Orcas Island Park and Recreation District
-- from Kim Kimple, Orcas Park and Recreation -- Marcia West, the founding and, to-date, only Director of Orcas Island Park and Recreation District (OIPRD) submitted her letter of resignation, effective December 15, to the Board of Commissioners at the Regular Public Meeting in October. The Board, who heralds West’s
