Here’s a thought…
“America is and always has been an argument — it’s an experiment.”
DAVID W. BLIGHT
Letter to Editor | Durland Has Honesty, Integrity
-- Mike and Julie Curley -- We urge you to please vote for Michael Durland for County Council. We have known and worked with Michael for over 20 years and during that time he has shown a level of integrity and honesty that is very satisfying. Michael has deep roots
Choral Society: A Room Full of Singers
-- from Lynn Baker -- Orcas Center’s Madrona Room overflows with song Tuesday evenings, as the Orcas Choral Society prepares for its winter concert. With 14 new and newly returned members this fall, the choir numbers almost 70 voices. “One of the first things I did when I knew I
Deer Harbor Bridge This Week
-- from John Van Lund -- Progress continues on both east and west abutments. Crews will remove forms from the west abutment wall and will form and pour the footing for the east abutment. In addition, they will begin forming the east abutment wall. The piles are in at the
Orcas Rallies in Support of Standing Rock
-- by Kelly Rose, Updated Nov. 2 -- More than 70 Islanders gathered at Odd Fellows Hall last Tuesday, October 25, in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Nation to protest the construction of the 1,172 mile Dakota Access oil pipeline. People were eager to get updated and strategize how
Great Ideas from the 50-50 Visionaries
-- by Margie Doyle -- “We could be the model for other islands and towns; let’s use that energy to make it cool” At the 50-50 Vision for Eastsound last Wednesday evening, Oct. 26, Fred Klein spoke about the purpose of making a community vision, "The power to create the
Letter to Editor | I Trust Watson’s Bedrock Honesty
-- from James O. Robarts -- I am endorsing Bill Watson for San Juan County Council. I have worked closely with Bill since 2000 when he was hired as the Vice President of Engineering for Seattle tech startup Tangis. I was quickly impressed with his deliberate and pragmatic problem-solving. As overall
Center for Whale Research on Orca Death
-- from Kenneth C. Balcomb, Center for Whale Research -- J28 was born in mid-winter 1992/93 in or near Puget Sound Washington, and was the first of four known calves born to J17 in the J9/J5 lineage of southern resident killer whales (SRKW – see family tree) inhabiting the inshore
Free Tooth Extraction Clinic
Make an appointment for Monday, November 14 -- from Terry Triplett -- Dr. Triplett’s dental office at 445 Madrona Street in Eastsound is reserving Monday November 14 for free tooth extractions for our Orcas and Shaw residents in need. Services are limited to both routine and surgical extractions (including wisdom
Healing Arts Center Celebrates with Semi-Annual Fair
Saturday, November 12 & Sunday, November 13 Registration is now open at the Healing Arts Center; sign up ASAP to get the appointment you want. Practitioners will be offering massage/bodywork, acupuncture, and more at greatly discounted rates, only $50/hour & $30/half-hour. New: Seaweed foot soaks, just $10. All proceeds fund
Letter to Editor | Library More Than Just Books
-- from Steven and Rita Bailey -- Our library is more than just books, audiobooks, CDs and DVDs. It is a warm and welcoming place for our children to spend rainy winter afternoons. When our children were younger, we read books together and then took a stack home. As they
Another Orca Death
-- by Amy Smart from the Victoria, B.C. Times-Colonist -- Now that mother J28 has died of apparent malnutrition, her calf J54 is not expected to survive. Photo courtesy of Ken Balcomb Hopes for the recovery of southern resident killer whale populations have cooled one year after a
To Our Readers: Orcas Issues Publisher Margie Doyle to Work for Orcas Center
Dear Orcas Issues readers; Recently I was approached to help the Orcas Center during the period when they look for a new executive director. In this position, I will primarily be enabling the Center staff to continue their excellent work in providing community entertainment, lectures, classes, meetings, rehearsal and event
County Publishes Preliminary 2017 Budget
-- from San Juan County -- The 2017 Preliminary Budget for San Juan County has been published. The theme of the 2017 Budget Message is “Building for the Future.” With the effects of the Great Recession now largely behind the County, the goal for the 2017 budget is to look
Fire Commission Meeting Was Brief
-- by Lin McNulty -- The Board of Fire Commissioners held a streamlined, smooth special meeting on Wednesday, October 27 to a small audience of, in addition to OIFR staff, one attendee who came out for the late-evening meeting. Discussion Items: Acting Fire Chief Scott Williams submitted a Memo of
Whale Museum Honors Southern Residents Who Have Passed
Wednesday, November 2, 3 p.m., Whale Museum -- from Jenny Atkinson -- Please join us on Wednesday, November 2nd at 3:00 p.m. as we honor the lives and commemorate the deaths of passed Southern Resident orcas. At this annual Day of the Dead celebration we will pay tribute to Sooke
SJIs Museum of Art Opens New Phase of Development
-- from Diane Martindale -- After many years on the board of the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA), serving as chairman of the board and executive director, and guiding the construction of the permanent museum in Friday Harbor, Charlie Bodenstab has retired. “I wholeheartedly wish SJIMA success in
