Here’s a thought…
“Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.”
HEATHER FRENCH HENRY
Letter to the Editor: Salmonberry Thanks Artisans Faire
-- from the Salmonberry School Board of Directors -- The Salmonberry School would like to extend a Warm and Heartfelt "Thank-you" for the very generous donation from this years Artisan Faire vendors. As we continue our efforts to pay off the "Bridge Loan" needed to complete the purchase of our
Give Blood with the Lions Club
Thursday, Dec. 17 from Noon - 6 pm, Eastsound Fire Hall --from Leif for Lions Club -- This coming Thursday, Orcas Island will help provide about 16% of the 800 Units of blood needed just on that day, December 17th, by patients in the Pacific Northwest. Come help your Lions
OCS Holiday Music Concert at Random Howse
Saturday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Random Howse -- from Beth Smith for OCS -- Orcas Christian School students prepare for Saturday concert at Random Howse In March, high school students from Orcas Christian School (OCS) will travel to the northern-most area of the Philippines to conduct
Salmon Recovery Grants Awarded In San Juan County
Salmon Recovery Projects Awarded More Than $44 Million in Grants Statewide -- from Susan Zemek, State Recreation and Conservation Office -- The Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board and the Puget Sound Partnership [on December 9] announced the award of $44.3 million in grants to organizations around the state for projects that
Almost Classical “Home for the Holidays”
Darvill’s on Tuesday, December 22 at 2 p.m., and Random Howse on Tuesday, December 29, 5 p.m. -- from Kristen Wilson -- During their upcoming Holiday breaks from school, the Orcas Island trio Almost Classical will appear at Darvill’s Bookstore in Eastsound on December 22 and at Random Howse on
Shoreline Master Plan Discussion and Decision Pushed Into 2016
Public Comments Accepted at Dec. 15 Public Hearing -- by Margie Doyle -- At the Eastsound Planning Review Committee (EPRC) meeting on Thursday, Dec. 3, County Councilman Rick Hughes announced the postponement of the Shoreline Master Program update hearings until January 2016. The decision to postpone council discussion sessions and
Sharon Abreu to Lead Songs in “Healing of the Nations” Service
-- from Sharon Abreu -- This Wednesday, Dec. 16 on Lopez, Sharon Abreu will be leading the songs for the "Healing of the Nations" service at Center Church, 312 David Bay Road at 5 pm. The service lasts about an hour. Those traveling from Orcas Island can catch the 7:30
Guest Opinion: Shoreline Regulations Must Be Clear and Enforceable
-- from Janet Alderton -- Dear Councilors Stephens, Jarman, and Hughes, Please adopt fair and effective regulations. To be effective, our county regulations must be clear and enforceable. Complex regulations are both unfair and unenforceable. Complex regulations are unfair because they favor people who have the resources to hire experts
Together We Thrive! Numbers from the Holiday Festival of the Arts
--from Arron Redford, Orcas Senior Center Manager -- We are delighted to be able to announce the success of our 2015 Holiday Festival of Arts. Sale proceeds this year added up to over $5,500 (and counting) which meets our goal for the year and surpasses sales of 2014! We have
Council Hears from Public, Decides on Three Map Changes in ESAP
-- by Margie Doyle -- On Friday, Dec. 11, the County Council met in Eastsound for the deferred public hearing on the Eastsound Subarea Plan (ESAP) and decided to act on three of the five map amendments proposed in the update. The decision about two additional contested map amendments to
Late-Breaking News: Lions’ Santa Ship Canceled
-- from Jim Biddick for the Orcas Lions Club -- Santa's Boat broke down and the Lions will not be able to bring their annual Christmas ship to Orcas Ferry Landing on Sunday, Dec. 13 as planned. The visit, which had been scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the Orcas Ferry
Ranker’s Salmon Protections Drive Brake Market Innovation
-- from Rick Manugian, Sen. Ranker's Office -- Brake manufacturers now offer brake pads that reduce or eliminate the use of copper, a material toxic to salmon and other aquatic species, as a result of legislation introduced by state Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island. Ranker’s Senate Bill 6557, passed in
Community Church Kids to Present Pageant
Sunday, December 13, 9:30 a.m., Orcas Island Community Church -- from Meredith Griffith -- A group of local kids will perform a Christmas pageant called “On Our Way to Bethlehem” on Sunday, December 13 during the 9:30 a.m. service at Orcas Island Community Church. “It is a fairly traditional Christmas
Christian School Students Give Christmas Spirit
-- by Harry Patton -- Harry Patton, surrounded by Christmas Presences from the Orcas Christian School Each year, as a wonderful courtesy, our Orcas Christian School sends student carolers out to the Senior Citizens who have difficulty traveling and those who are housebound. They bring home-baked cookies colorfully
How Does Declining Groundwater Affect the San Juans?
-- from Paul Kamin, EWUA -- USA TODAY has posted online a number of extensive articles on Groundwater overpumping. The reports look at specific situation in California, in the Midwest, and across the globe. They are interesting reading. (www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/groundwater) Declining water levels in groundwater aquifers are a hidden, but serious problem. Existing,
EDC Announces “Launch San Juan Islands” Winners
-- from Victoria Compton, SJC EDC -- Winners pictured above: Tim Fry (Lopez), Sasha von Dassow (San Juan), Leslie & Jacob Betcher (San Juan), Sandhya Sreerama (San Juan) The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) is excited to announce the winners of their first annual business plan competition,
