Here’s a thought…
“The propagandist’s purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human.”
ALDOUS HUXLEY
State Unveils New Online Map of Public Lands in Washington
-- from Susan Zemek, Washington Recreation and Conservation -- The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) today announced a new online, interactive map of natural resource and recreation lands owned by government agencies. The statewide map, located HERE, allows people to click on a location and learn which agency owns the
Letter to Editor: Historical Days a Major Success
-- from Jim Biddick, President, Orcas Island Historical Society Whew! July 4th and some tranquility has returned to Eastsound. What a weekend. Thank you to our Orcas Family for making the OIHS portion of Historical Days again a major fundraiser success. Everyone enjoyed the Harvey Family Logging Show and over
Guest Column: Restoration and Community Involvement of Frederick Head House
-- from Scott McKay -- Frederick Head House, circa 1889, photo courtesy Scott McKay As many of you may know, I am the owner of the wonderful old Frederick Head House (1889) that is situated at the east end of Crescent Beach To support our ongoing restoration efforts,
What the Heck is Fog Seal?
-- by Lin McNulty -- Fog seal is not, as I had suspected, a coating that is sprayed on to our local seal population to make them more visible, and therefore safer, during foggy weather. Nope. It's official definition is: "A light spray application of dilute asphalt emulsion used primarily
Peace Island Medical Center Adds New Staff
by Jim Barnhart, Chief Administrative Officer, PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center -- The Islands are buzzing with the usual seasonal activity. The rush of tourists coming and going provides a rhythm to each day that shouts: Summer has arrived! PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center is a buzz with activity, too.
San Juan Neighbors Support Marijuana “Farm”
After the fact regulations, temporary structures, criminal activity and GMO all questioned before County Council -- by Margie Doyle -- Editor's note: Updates in italics, thanks to Council Chair Rick Hughes The County Council heard from a standing-room-only public crowd on Monday, July 14. They were almost all there in
Living on the Dry Side…
Emergency Declared in 20 Counties -- from the Washington Emergency Management Division -- A state of emergency was declared late Tuesday, July 15 in 20 Eastern Washington counties in response to multiple wildfires threatening homes, businesses, public infrastructure, and natural resources in many parts of the state as fire crews
Seastar Wasting Syndrome Update
-- from Russel Barsh -- More Indian Island seastars were stricken by wasting syndrome in mid-July as hot weather continued. A systematic survey of hundreds of Ochre Stars in the inter-tidal zone (rocks and beaches) found that the proportion of "sick" animals had risen to 49 percent, the highest rate
Celebration of Joe Goodrich’s Life
-- from Elaine Goodrich -- A Celebration of Life for Joe Goodrich 2/15/1946 – 6/11/2014 Sunday, July 27th, 2014 Odd Fellows Hall – 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Bring a “finger food” potluck dish to share
Early Morning Fire Erupts in Friday Harbor
-- from San Juan Island Fire Rescue -- Firefighters at Sunshine Laundry. Photo courtesy of San Juan Island Fire Rescue. At 2:32 AM Tuesday, July 15, 2014, a neighbor made the call to Dispatch who alerted San Juan Island Fire Rescue of a fire at the Sunshine Laundry.
On the Ground, In the Air: Fieldwork by FEMA
-- from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be performing field work along the shorelines of San Juan County July 14th to July 18th. The fieldwork is part of an effort to develop more accurate coastal flood insurance rate maps for San
DH Fire Station Conditional Use Public Comment Period Open
Citizen comments are welcome until July 30, 2014 -- from Pat Ayers -- Orcas Island Fire and Rescue has filed for a Conditional Use Permit which would allow the community to hold meetings and events at the Deer Harbor Fire Station #24, 59 Channel Road, Deer Harbor. Citizen comments are
William Hubert James, 1936-2014
-- by the James Family -- William Hubert James went to be with Jesus after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Bill was born June 28, 1936 in Detroit, Mich., was an only child, and passed June 29, 2014 in Sedro Woolley, Wash. Bill met his future wife, Diane —
Potters Fest at Crow Valley Cabin
-- by Michael Rivkin -- Crow Valley Cabin, an island landmark Crow Valley Pottery celebrates its 55th year with the presentation of its annual Potter’s Fest, opening Friday, July 18th. The show features, in addition to work from Crow Valley’s own studio, the varied pottery of nearly 50
Guest Editorial: Crosscut’s Berger Nails the Fog of Dope
-- by Knute Berger, of Crosscut.com -- Maybe it's because I have frequently been accused of looking like Jerry Garcia. Maybe it's because I went to Evergreen and people often assume I have a stoner's proclivities. Maybe it's because I came of age in the late 1960s — a generational
Guest Column: On Libraries, Las Vegas, and Elvis
-- by Donna Riordan -- Who knew that Elvis was a convincing 3-D printer pitchman? In late June, I attended the American Library Association meeting in Las Vegas along with 18,000 other library lovers – librarians, trustees, and library friends from public, private and academic libraries. I went as a
