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: Nationally-ranked Community Foundation Hosts Annual Report
Sept. 10, 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Hall -- by Hilary Canty, Director OICF -- For the second year, the Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) has received national recognition for its philanthropic work. According to CF Insights, a national foundation research organization, OICF ranked #6 in the
OPALCO Announces New Member Survey
-- Help Leadership Set Rates and Funding Priorities -- from Suzanne Olson for OPALCO -- As OPALCO leadership prepare for the 2016 budget and rate discussions, members are encouraged to give their feedback on rates and funding priorities through an online survey at www.opalco.com/survey. The survey is open until September
Current Board Vacancies Need Filling
-- from San Juan County Communications -- The County Council is searching for San Juan County citizens to fill current and upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions. Additional information about each committee is available on the County's website at:https://sanjuanco.com/Council/AdvisoryCommittees.aspx Persons interested in serving on a board or advisory committee
Buck Park Water Source Clarified
Buck Park and Orcas School District Field Irrigation Paul Kamin, EWUA and Bob Eagan, OIPRD -- from Kim Ihlenfeldt, Orcas Island Park and Recreation -- Orcas Island Park and Recreation District (OIPRD) owns and maintains Buck Park. OIPRD and Orcas Island School District (OISD) lease “surplus” water rights from Eastsound Water (EWUA)
EWUA Update
-- from Paul Kamin -- UPDATE HIGHLIGHTS: 1. August Water Demand Trend 2. Purdue Reservoir Water Level 3. What’s happening elsewhere in the State? 4. Cliff Mass Orcas Island Lecture “Why is the NW so WARM” 5. EWUA launching a pilot study of new water meters to improve leak detection.
Sheriff’s Report: August 5 – 11, 2015
August 5, 2015 15-004538 Found Property 07:47:41 08/05/15 J Asher A wallet was recovered at the Friday Harbor Post Office and turned over to the Post Office. 15-004539 Found Property 08:04:23 08/05/15 R DeLazerda Subject called in stating he had lost his wallet in FH. On 08/03/15 an unknown female brought the
Guest Opinion: Sen. Ranker’s Statement on Today’s Supreme Court Order
-- from Aaron Wasser, Senator Rankin's Office -- I was not surprised by today’s decision. The issue at the very heart of the McCleary Decision is that the state, not local school districts, must pay for teacher salaries. While we made positive steps in other areas of education funding, we
State Supreme Court Fines State $100K a Day in McCleary Decision
-- by Lin McNulty -- The Washington Constitution imposes only one "paramount duty" upon the State: "to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex." (WASH. CONST. art. IX, § 1.) So begins
Guest Opinion: Court Allows Harmful “Growler” Jet Operations
Court’s Decision Ignores Serious Health Impacts -- from Cate Andrews, Citizens of the Ebey's Reserve -- Citizens claiming to be harmed by the Navy’s low-level flight operations expressed disappointment, but not surprise at U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly’s denial of their Motion for an Injunction. The Citizens of the Ebey’s Reserve
Chamber of Commerce Welcomes I’m Sara Brown Photography
–by Cara Russell-- [metaslider id=38598] It was a wonderful summer evening to formally introduce Sara Brown (and her camera) to the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce and the community. On Wednesday, August 11th from 5-8PM, Sara, of “I’m Sara Brown Photography”, mingled about in the sunny and breezy evening on
OPALCO Board to Meet in Friday Harbor
August 20, 8:45 a.m., OPALCO Friday Harbor Office -- from Bev Madan -- The OPALCO Board of Directors will hold its regular monthly meeting August 20 at the Friday Harbor OPALCO office, 1034 Guard Street. The meeting will begin at 8:45 a.m.; members are welcome to attend. Contact Bev Madan at 376-3549
Cliff Mass to Speak on “Why Is the Northwest So Warm?”
Thursday August 20 at 5:30 p.m. at Island Community Church -- from Michael Riordan for Orcas Currents-- Cliff Mass to speak at Orcas Currents on Aug. 20 Is the current warm spell, now lasting almost two years, due to variability of the weather, or is it evidence of
Guest Column: Larsen Works for Voting Rights
-- from State Representative Rick Larsen-- This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), a groundbreaking civil rights law to prohibit racial discrimination in voting. The Act has broken down barriers for millions of people in our country to more fully participate in our democracy. But
Orcas Film Festival Announces Feature Film Winners
-- from the Orcas Island Film Festival -- The 2015 Orcas Film Festival has announced awards totallng $7,500 to the following Independent Film Makers: Lacey Leavitt - "Escape" - Seattle, WA Cali Bagby - "The Ghost In Red" - Orcas Island, WA Milla Prince - "The Commute" - Lopez Island,
4-H Report: The County Fair Has It All
-- by Katelyn Minnis, 4-H Trailblazers-- Katelynn Minnis with the Orcas Trailblazers at the County Fair, Augl 12-15 The public sees the San Juan County Fair as four days of fun and excitement while the participants of fair prepare themselves for a week long adventure. From the rides
Breaking News: Court of Appeals Says Critical Area Regulations are Valid
2012 Ordinances Upheld -- from Randall Gaylord -- On Monday August 10, three judges at the Court of Appeals upheld the County’s four critical areas ordinance that was started in 2006 and adopted in 2012. The thirty-page court decision doesn’t make for light reading, but the subject is among the
