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
Fire and Rescue Chief Mik Preysz Reviews the Tasks Ahead
-- by Margie Doyle -- Orcas Fire and Rescue Chief Mik Preysz, flanked by Alan Stamiesen and Rita Harvey Orcas Island Fire and Rescue (OIFR) Chief Mik Preysz was confirmed as official Fire and Rescue Chief by the OIFR Board of Commissioners on November 19 (retroactive to October
“Music for a Winter Afternoon” with the Community Band
Saturday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. at the Orcas Center The Orcas Island Community Band, co-led by Jim Shaffer-Bauck and Karen Key Speck -- by Margie Doyle -- The Orcas Island Community Band brings an outstanding program of country music, European marches and Spanish-themed music to its Winter
Letter to the Editor: Spirit Eagle Decries Wetland Destruction
-- from Spirit Eagle -- The Eastsound Sub Area Plan (ESAP) has facilitated destruction of the Wetland/Swale by allowing uses incompatible with a Category 3 Wetland. Developers who, without Permits have taken trees and undergrowth that was necessary for the health of the Wetland in order to put houses and
Letter to the Editor: Council, Fill Planning Commission’s Lopez Slot
-- by Peg Manning -- To San Juan County Council: Dear Council Members: I am writing to ask that you finally take action to appoint a citizen from Lopez to fill the Planning Commission seat that has been empty for two years. Rob Thesman, an eminently qualified Lopezian, with particular
Dance Party at the Lower Saturday Night
-- from Lorraine Mikolon and Randy Jezierski -- There is a show/dance party at the Lower Tavern on Saturday after the JP show at Random Howse featuring Melody Funk, Bruce Harvie, Randy Jezierski and Lek Thixton. They were a great hit at their premier show at the Random Howse.
JP and OK Rhythm Boys to Play Random Howse
Saturday, December 12, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Random Howse -- from Anita Orne -- Take a break from the busy holiday hubbub and enjoy an evening of the fine fiddling, singing, guitar, bass, and saw stylings of JP and the OK Rhythm Boys at Random Howse on Saturday, December 12.
AmeriCorps Team Assists YMCA Camp Orkila
-- from Emily Goldstein, AmeriCorps Team Media Representative -– AmeriCorps Team on work at Camp Orkila since November 9 An AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team has hit the ground running this week, providing aid to Orcas Island’s YMCA Camp Orkila. The team, Gold One, will be
Author Rosie Kuhn to Speak on Nurturing Children’s Spirits
Dr. Rosie Kuhn will speak at the Senior Center on Friday, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. Her books are available at Darvill's. Dr. Rosie Kuhn will be speaking at the Senior Center Friday, December 11, at 1 p.m. on the topic of "The Care and Feeding of a
This Flute at Orcas Center Will Be a Hoot
Sunday, December 13, 1 pm, Orcas Center -- from Artha Kass -- Nathan Gunn as Papageno in a scene from Act II of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte.” Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera This family-friendly performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute will be on screen at Orcas Center Sunday, December 13
Islands Museum of Art To Give People’s Choice Awards
-- from Diane Martindale for San Juan Islands Museum of Art -- [metaslider id=40591] The clock is ticking and time running out to vote for your favorite art now showing at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art! Everyone can vote for the People’s Choice Award winners at the SJIMA’s
Letter to the Editor: Thank You to Orcas Center for Providing Incredible Opportunity
-- from Rachel Brewer, OIHS ‘16 -- Last Thursday evening the Orcas Center screened the National Theatre Live’s production of "Hamlet" with Benedict Cumberbatch in the eponymous role. The public high school’s AP English class is currently studying "Hamlet," and we attended as a group. For most of us, this
Governor Proclaims State of Emergency
-- from Jaime Smith -- Gov. Jay Inslee today [Dec. 9] proclaimed a state of emergency in Washington following days of hazardous weather with landslides closing major highways, high winds knocking out power to thousands, and rainfall causing wide-spread flooding of roadways, homes and property. The proclamation covers a series
What’s This “Flat Lance” Stuff?
-- from Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce -- If you are on Facebook you may have spotted the "Flat Lance" campaign from the Orcas Island Community Foundation. It's all in support of the Foundation's 2015 Holiday Catalog benefiting selected island non-profits. Learn all about the campaign at oicf.us and you
One More Time: Meetings Closed, Canceled, Rescheduled
-- from Ingrid Gabriel, San Juan County Council Clerk -- As you may know, the SJC Council continued the Public Hearing on the Eastsound Subarea plan to Friday, December 11 (see below). The ferry breakdown on December 8 (original scheduled public hearing) left staff and Council Chair Jarman stranded on
Letter to Editor: Restore Oil Pipeline Bans
-- from Janet Alderton -- Dear Councilors Hughes, Stephens, and Jarman, I ask that you restore the ban on underwater oil pipelines and overwater-facilities for the refining of oil* to the draft SMP Update. I also ask that you include underwater natural gas pipelines and overwater-facilities for creating Liquefied Natural
Council Reduces Solid Waste Tax
-- by Margie Doyle -- On Monday, Dec. 7, San Juan County Council voted to reduce the solid waste tax for San Juan and Orcas Islands, and possibly Shaw Island, by 1.5%. (The three main islands have separate operational structures for their solid waste programs: San Juan is contracted through
