Here’s a thought…
“To be clear, we don’t know if A.I. models are conscious. I don’t know. I’m genuinely uncertain.”
CHRISTOPHER OLAH
String Students Strut New Uniforms
-- from Kristen Wilson -- Orcas Middle School string students proudly previewing their new uniforms. Photo: Pamela Wright Students from the Orcas Island Middle School Strings were in a celebratory mood when they tried on their new uniforms for the first time. They will unveil them in person
ACA Webinar for Small Businesses
-- from the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce -- A webinar explaining what the new healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act, means for small businesses will be offered on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. It will focus on both federal and state provisions to help local small business owners understand how
OPALCO Turns the Dial Up on Energy Efficiency & Conservation
-- from OPALCO -- $100,000 Matching Grant Funds for Eligible Nonprofits: As uncertainty in pricing and power supply dominate the energy landscape, OPALCO is building on its strong foundation of energy efficiency and conservation programs to activate the Co-op community towards greater action and reward. The 2014 budget has allocated
Small Businesses Can Get Health Insurance Credits
-- From the Office of the Insurance Commissioner -- The U.S. Treasury Department announced today [Dec. 17] that it will allow qualifying Washington businesses to get tax credits to help pay for up to 50 percent of their employees’ health insurance premium next year. “This is great news for the
School Board Questions Headhunters
-- by Margie Doyle -- The full Orcas Island School District (OISD) Board, school administrators, staff and the public held in-depth interviews with representatives of two professional search groups, or “headhunters,” in the quest for a new school district Superintendent on Monday, Dec. 16. Earlier this fall, OISD Superintendent Barbara
Want Google to Show Your Business at See Level?
Former FHHS students get certified by Google to become Google Trusted Photographers. Former FHHS students Mahius & Kristina Concord are certified as Google Trusted Photographers. Mahius & Kristina Concord will be giving local businesses an opportunity to publish the inside of their location to Google Street View—a part
News from Hughes: Roads and Jobs, Old and New
-- by Margie Doyle -- Council Member Rick Hughes Orcas County Council Member Rick Hughes knows whereof he speaks when addressing Eastsound streets and Orcas roads. His business property, Ray's Pharmacy, experienced drastic flooding twice this fall, once on Sept. 25 when 2.2 inches of rain fell over
ORS/The Exchange To Recycle Christmas Lights
-- from Pete Moe -- Orcas Recycling Services/The Exchange is pleased to announce that beginning immediately Christmas lights of all kinds can be recycled for free at the Orcas Transfer Station. Partnering with Ace Hardware, lights collected at the transfer station will go to “Lights For Life,” a charity that
Canine Capers Returns!
Speaking of Poop and the Straight Scoop --- by Lesley Liddle -- While Lulu, Leonard and I meandered through Buck Park and up to the high school yesterday, I picked up ten dog turds along the pathway. This was discouraging because I quickly filled my only poop bag and had
OCS Coaches to Players: Grades First!
-- from Tim M. Hance, OCS Basketball -- Orcas Christian School's 2013-2014 basketball teams. When coaches presented Team Captains Michael Harris and Cyrus Amour with the latest grade check report for the team, they took an unprecedented bold move of canceling all men’s basketball practices, effectively locking the
Writers Roundtable: Leaving and Arriving
Saturday, December 21 from 1-3 p.m. at the Library LEAVING AND ARRIVING: Reflections On Our Journeys to Orcas with Rachel Newcombe and JoEllen Moldoff, facilitators. The majority of us living on Orcas Island have lived somewhere else: we have a shared experience of what it feels like to leave one
Special Meeting to Interview Supt. Search Firms
Monday, December 16 at 2 p.m.: Orcas Island School District announces a Special School Board Meeting/Workshop with the Superintendent Search Committee for Interview(s) of Superintendent Search Consultant(s) / Firm(s). The meeting/workshop will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, December 16, 2013 in The School Library to interview candidate(s)/firm(s) that responded
Emmanuel Parish Offers Prayer and Reflection
The indoor labyrinth at Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall On Sunday, Dec. 15 from 5 to 6 p.m. there will be a quiet Advent labyrinth inside the Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall in Eastsound . There will be candles and a series of solstice and Advent poems for reflection. All
Guest Column: Rationale for Fire & Rescue Levy
-- by Barbara Bedell, Orcas Fire and Rescue District Commissioner -- Chief O'Brien has given both the Commission and the public excellent reasons to support both the budget and the proposed levy, ranging from a substantially increased call volume, an aging population, rising insurance and medical benefit prices, facility repairs,
Community Church Looks at Christmas Wonder in Diverse Ways
-- by Margie Doyle -- Light in the winter darkness -- the Community Church Pastor Dick Staub of the Orcas Island Community Church, like most of us, has memories of a childhood Christmas with snow, Christmas tree lights, Grampa playing the piano (poorly), parents reading the Christmas story
Guest Column: What a Waste!
-- by Donna Riordan -- I know I’m not alone in trying to minimize waste and garbage, so I’m compelled to call my fellow islanders’ attention to our local USPS, in particular the massive waste of paper and fuel resources required to create, haul, deliver, recycle, and then destroy
