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
Quarterly Review of County Finances
-- by F. Milene Henley, San Juan County Auditor-- How Are We Doing? A quarterly review of County finances for Second quarter 2015 I should have had this report done sooner. But what can I say? The County Fair happened, and I lost track of time. I love the County
Letter to the Editor: Munch for Monkey Bars at Funhouse Commons!
-- from Jen Vollmer -- Thanks to the generosity of Funhouse 2015 Gala donors and the Kiwanis Club of Orcas Island, The Funhouse Commons can now purchase new playground equipment. The organization is seeking additional community support for preparing the grounds and installing the equipment. One way you can help
Vikings Win Island Cup 42-6
[metaslider id=39056] Booster Club President thanks fans, volunteers -- The Orcas Vikings Football Team, with the participation of the Lopez Island Lobos, defeated the Friday Harbor Wolverines at the historic Island Cup on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Dahl Field on Orcas Island. The final score was 42-6. Booster Club President
Unmanned Aerial Surveys planned for Deer Harbor
-- from the Northwest Straits Foundation -- On Tuesday, September 8th, the Northwest Straits Foundation and San Juan County Marine Resources Committee will be conducting an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle survey of the upper Deer Harbor and Cayou Lagoon estuary located on Orcas Island at 8:00 AM. The survey is being
Collaborative Restoration Project Improves Local Beach for People and Fish
-- by Tina Whitman, Science Director, Friends of the San Juans -- The beach on Brown Island A barge arrived on Brown Island in a recent downpour to unload heavy equipment and the removal of a large rock bulkhead along three adjacent residential waterfront properties was finally underway.
Guest Opinion: Larsen Supports ‘Best Available Option’ To Prevent A Nuclear-Armed Iran
Agreement gives the international community the right tools to verify Iran’s actions with stringent restrictions and inspections -- from the office of U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen -- Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, [on Sept. 3, 2015] announced his support for the international agreement to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon.
Orcas Library Signals Decisive Start to Expansion Project
-- from the Orcas Island Public Library-- The Orcas Island Library Board of Trustees has entered into two key advisory agreements, indicating the library expansion project, Books and Beyond: The Next Chapter, is transitioning from planning to execution. Liz LeRoy is providing owner representation services for the project. Alexander Conrad
Kaleidoscope Annual Fundraiser: Life’s a Picnic!
Saturday, September 12 at 5:30 p.m., Maple Rock Farms -- from Vala Ross for Kaleidoscope Childcare Center -- Preschooler and others at the Kaleidoscope Childcare Center 2014 Kaleidoscope will be hosting their 11th Annual Gourmet Picnic & Wine/Beer Tasting on September 12 at Maple Rock Farms. The Island Grown,
Fall Programming at The Funhouse
-- from The Funhouse -- It’s back to school time and the Funhouse Commons is offering GREAT activities for all ages! Children under 6 with an adult can come during the daytime for playgroup or Music Together classes. After school children can participate in knitting club, kids yoga classes, sewing
Guest Column: Cost Recovery Helps with Increasing EMT Calls
-- by Barbara G. Bedell, Chair, Board of Fire Commissioners, San Juan County Fire Protection District #2 -- Emergency response Cost Recovery is not a new concept nor is it unique to Orcas Island. Over 90 Fire Districts in the State of Washington alone currently have a Cost Recovery program;
Update: Fire Commissioners Institute Cost Recovery Measure
The Measure Allows Collection of Charges for Emergency Medical Services Editors Note to readers: This article, originally published on Friday, Aug. 28, 2015, had been removed because of misleading information, due to incompleteness of reporting from official Orcas Fire and Rescue Department documents. We can see how this led to
Bake Sale to Support Relay for Life
Bake Sale Thursday, Sept. 10 at Island Market -- from Carol Kulminski -- The American Cancer Society is having their RELAY FOR LIFE on Friday Harbor, Saturday, September 26th starting at noon. The theme this year is “Islands of Hope” and includes all of the San Juan Islands. Several of
Guest Column: Electric Vehicles, Summing It All Up
-- by Tom Owens -- In this article, I would like to summarize the pluses and minuses of buying a new electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf in particular. The Leaf does not run pollution-free unless you install a solar system to “fuel” the car. OPALCO stands to benefit from the
Burn Ban Modified to Moderate
-- from the County Fire Marshal's Office -- Due to the increase in fuel moisture levels the Fire Marshal’s Office will modify the burn restriction as of September 1, 2015 for the unincorporated areas of San Juan County, to allow recreational burning only. Recreational fires [are] smaller than 3 feet
Eastsound Water Users Update: Rain! Follows “Abnormal” Summer
-- by Paul Kamin, General Manager for Eastsound Water Users Association (EWUA)-- RAIN! EWUA has recorded 0.8” of rain over the last weekend of August Tracking Summer Water Demand August Water Use was Up. During the second half of August, water use began to climb again. Hopefully the recent rains
Last Blast of Summer Travel Expected for Labor Day Weekend
Ferry ridership highest in a dozen years ahead of holiday -- from Washington State Ferries -- More people have jumped aboard Washington State Ferries this summer than any other in the past 12 years. So far, this summer, an additional 150,000 passengers, enough to fill Safeco Field nearly three times
