Here’s a thought…
“Peace is not something we ask for — it’s something we practice, together.”
WALK FOR PEACE
Fire Commission Addresses Public Comment
-- by Lin McNulty -- Orcas Island Board of Fire Commissioners, in a regularly-scheduled meeting on Tuesday, January 17, discussed the need to include Public Comment in their sessions. Board Chair Wes Heinmiller says the Board would like to know, in advance, what the public might be commenting on or
Filing Period to Be Open for Lopez Hospital District Commissioners
-- from San Juan County Communications -- On February 10, the County Council will consider a request to form a hospital district on Lopez Island. Assuming Council approves the proposition, it will go to the voters for approval on the April 25 Special Election. Also on the April ballot
Annual Homeless Count to be Completed This Month
-- from San Juan County Communications -- San Juan County’s 2017 Point in Time Homeless Count will be conducted on Thursday, January 26th. Count organizers and volunteers work with local family resource centers, food banks, churches, healthcare providers, senior centers, libraries, the sheriff’s office, and many other community support service
Letter to Editor | Let’s Finish the Job
-- from Patsy & Stu Stephens -- Join us in supporting the completion of the School project. This long, careful and excellent work has been undertaken with the support of the Orcas community. But it is not yet complete. Please refer to the excellent historical narrative the School Board and
Health and Community Services Urges Public Action to Prevent Spread of Influenza
-- from San Juan County Communications -- Flu cases are on the rise in San Juan County, although we are not currently seeing the epidemic levels reported in other parts of Washington state. San Juan County Health & Community Services urge flu vaccine as the first line of defense against
Eastsound Water Sets Efficiency Record for 2016
-- from Eastsound Water -- This week a group of 50 local residents and business owners spent 12 hours developing a new “Vision Statement” for Eastsound. Eastsound Water’s Paul Kamin took part in the process. One of the driving concepts of this volunteer group’s work and the resulting Vision was
Samish Running 40 Minutes Behind
-- from Washington State Ferries -- The Samish is running 40 minutes late due to an earlier accident on board. This will affect the 6:10 p.m. sailing from Lopez to Anacortes and also the 7:10 p.m. sailing from Anacortes to Shaw and 8:10 p.m. sailing to Orcas. This will also delay the
WSDOT Secretary Announces New Head of Ferries
-- from WA Department of Transportation -- Amy Scarton Today, Roger Millar, secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), announced the appointment of Amy Scarton as assistant secretary for the Washington State Ferries Division. She officially begins her leadership role next month with responsibilities including, guiding
Letter to Editor | On That OPALCO Rate Increase
-- from Alex MacLeod -- In what has become an annual event, OPALCO put out a news release the other day letting us know our electricity rates are increasing yet again, this time by another 5%, effective January 1. It said the increase is necessary "to meet OPALCO's cost of service,
Local Democratic Party Moves Left
-- by David Turnoy -- The San Juan County Democratic Party had its biennial reorganization meeting on Saturday, January 14, in Friday Harbor. Many of our Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) had been elected in the primary last August, and they were on the hotseat to elect new officers for the
Breaking News | Orcas Medical Foundation Raises Necessary Funds
-- by Lin McNulty -- Orcas Issues reached out to the Orcas Medical Foundation to inquire about the status of the fundraising effort to bring University of Washington Neighborhood Clinics to Orcas. UW Medicine estimated the cost of transitioning OMC to a UW Neighborhood Clinic would be $750,000. To move
Guest Column: “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
-- by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -- 16 April 1963 My Dear Fellow Clergymen: While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities "unwise and untimely." Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas. If
Friday Harbor Women Also Marching
Saturday, January 21, Noon, San Juan County Courthouse -- from Roberta Michelle Stringer -- Residents of the San Juan Islands are coming together to support human rights and the environment in our county and our country. A community march is planned for Saturday January 21st at 12:00pm noon. This march
“Salish Sea Stands” Day of Action Began at Waterfront Park
-- by Margie Doyle -- [metaslider id=49642] “Salish Sea Stands” day of action today, [January 16] started at the Eastsound Waterfront Park as representatives of the organization and the public met to protest Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion to the United States. The Trans Mountain Pipeline, owned by Kinder Morgan, received
Letter to Editor | Never a Better Time for School Bond
-- from Jim Shaffer-Bauck -- One of the most important investments a community can make is in the education of its youth, an investment that produces returns not only to the students directly benefiting, but also to the character of the community in general. The upcoming bond issue represents such
Fork it Over: Planned Parenthood Benefit at Doe Bay
Friday, January 20, 5 - 9 p.m., Doe Bay Cafe -- from Kate Yturri and Heather Immoor -- Why stay home and watch TV on Friday, January 20? Why succumb to despair, existential dread and crushing ennui? Why not come out with your island community and eat soup, stew and fresh bread
