State Senate Passes Transportation Budget that Improves Roads, Ferries
-- from Rick Manugian, Senator Ranker's Office -- Commuters in and around the 40th Legislative District will benefit from more than $44.2 million in improvements to area roads, ferries and ferry terminals in the transportation budget passed [Tuesday] by the Senate. “Commutes will improve steadily across the region as a result
Familiar Face Named OICMF Executive Director
-- from Joyce Stone -- Anita Orne, new Executive Director of Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, with Aloysia Friedmann, founder and artistic director, and Sam Coleman, Board President of the Festival You know her as a musician, teacher, program director, Board member, emcee, artist and more. Now you’ll know
Fire Aboard Yakima Extinguished in Minutes
[Editor's Note: The Yakima has been towed from the Friday Harbor terminal and regular service has resumed beginning with the 3:40 p.m. departure from Friday Harbor to Lopez and Anacortes.] -- from John B. Vezina, Government Relations Liaison, Washington State Ferries -- This morning at 10:25 a.m., while tied up at Friday Harbor's main
Recovery Group to Meet in March and April
Tuesday, March 15 - April 19, 7-8:30 p.m., Emmanuel Episcopal Church -- from Fountiene Prince -- A Grief Recovery Group will begin meeting on Tuesday, March 15 and will continue meeting for six weeks from 7-8:30 PM ending on April 19. The meetings will take place upstairs in the parish
Aaimee Johnson, Stormy Hildreth Win Orcas Center’s “Bunny” Award
-- from Chantelle Hildreth -- Aaimee Johnson and Stormy Hildreth with the Bunny Award Stormy Hildreth and Aaimee Johnson were co-recipients of the "Bunny" Award which is given to the Orcas Center's Outstanding Performer of the Year. Stormy and Aaimee co-starred in "The Miracle Worker" with Stormy playing
Gather ‘Round, Hear the Sound
Sunday, March 13, 6:30 p.m., Orcas Community Church -- from Mandy Troxel -- Three songs: one about the Velveteen Rabbit, another about a hootenanny at Pete Seeger's house, and the third a backyard bathtub shrine to Mother Mary. Amazingly, they all share the same origin, written via the same song
Friday Harbor Terminal Previously Out of Service: Now Back
-- from Washington State Ferries -- Yakima being towed from Friday Harbor dock. Photo by Jim Corenman FAC Chair March 8, 2:55 p.m. The Yakima has been towed from the Friday Harbor terminal and regular service will resume beginning with the 3:40 p.m. departure from Friday Harbor to Lopez
Chasing the Silver Sea of Fish: Herring and Human Communities
Marine Science Lecture, Tuesday, March 8,at 7 p.m. at Emmanuel Parish Hall FREE -- from Jean Lyle for the SeaDoc Society -- YMCA Camp Orkila and the SeaDoc Society Present Eleni Petrou of the University of Washington, who will speak on March 8 on the past and present relationships between
Madrona Club Slow-Cooker Project for Food Bank Clients
by the Orcas Island Food Bank and Madrona Club Madrona Club members (L-R) Marcia Spees, Louise Boone and Leith Templin taught Food Bank guests at the luncheon how to make “Island Stew” on March 1. Through supporting the Food Bank over many years, members of the Madrona Club
League of Women Voters Addresses Healthcare
Monday, March 14 , from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Friday Harbor Middle School -- from the League of Women Voters of the San Juans -- "What’s Next in U.S. Healthcare: Human Face of Obamacare: Promises v. Reality and What Comes Next" will be the subject of the next League of
An Unusual Book Launch
Saturday, March 12, 3:30 pm at the Orcas Library -- from Sharon Abreu -- This Saturday, March 12, at 3:30 pm in the Orcas Library’s community room, there will be a book launch the likes of which Orcas Island, and perhaps the world, have never seen. Two authors will be
Legislature Passes Ranker Bill to Protect Children and Others in Remote Areas
-- from Rick Manugian, Senator Ranker's Office -- People at camps and other remote areas will gain access to epi-pens as a result of legislation passed by the House this week. Senate Bill 6421, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, will allow the use of epi-pens at camps, parks,
Letter to the Editor: Thanks, County Officials for Your Time
-- from Arthur de Haan -- Thank you Rick Hughes, Brian Vincent and Russ Harvey for spending 2.5 hours to walk the[Dolphin Bay] road with me and our neighbors. It was helpful to get an overview of next steps, timeline and how the road will be impacted. I appreciate that
Auditor Explains Voting in Washington
-- from Milene Henley, County Auditor -- The second in a series of articles about elections in Washington State by San Juan County Auditor F. Milene Henley. The County Auditor administers elections and voter registration in the County. View first article in series HERE. I’m asked a lot of questions about elections.
Guest Opinion: The OPALCO Plan Road Map Defined
-- by Tom Owens -- Where is the OPALCO Board Taking Us? Part 2 Does the Draft OPALCO Integrated Plan Road Map result in safe, reliable and affordable energy for its customers? Where is the affordable part? In the first article (tpublished on March 5) we reviewed the Integrated Resource
State Historic Preservation Trust Offering Free Mt. Rainier Field School
-- from Sandy Strehlou Town of Friday Harbor Historic Preservation Coordinator -- What are you doing this summer? Join 50 high school students, teachers and preservationists from throughout Washington for a four-day field school on beautiful, rugged Mt. Rainier. This is the State’s premier opportunity to learn about our region’s history while working with educators
