Here’s a thought…
“It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.”
Mr. and Mrs. Claus Give Ultimate Gift
-- from Paul Losleben, Orcas Island Lions Club -- Shown here with Santa and Mrs. Claus are Paul Losleben, Lions Club organizer of the blood drive, and Kim Rose at the registration desk. To the delight of everyone, there were two unexpected visitors at the December 19 blood
Coal Dust Problem? Got It Covered
-- by Floyd McKay, Crosscut.com -- Shipping terminals and mining companies hoping to ship coal to Asia from the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana gained some political and public-relations traction this week with a ruling by the Surface Transportation Board a railroad can require its coal customers to
School Board Decides on Search Firm, New Officers
Bond construction phasing, enrollment, and energy grant discussed in regular meeting (updated Dec. 22 at 10 a.m.) -- by Margie Doyle -- The Orcas Island School District (OISD) Board decided on Thursday, Dec. 19, to engage the services of McPherson & Jacobsen in its search for a new district superintendent.
Carolers Bring Joy in the Frigid Weather
-- from Harry Patton -- 92-year old Harry Patton enjoys the Christmas spirit from Orcas Christian School students during the below-freezing cold spell last week. Harry is pleased: On a very cold day, the Orcas Christian School sent a group of student carolers way out to Harry’s wilderness
Special Fire Comission Meeting Cancelled
Friday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. at Eastsound Fire Hall Canceled Due to Snow -- from Lindsay Schirmer -- A Special Meeting of the Orcas Fire and Rescue Commission will be held on Friday, Dec. 20. The Fire Commissioners are Barbara Bedell, Chair; Clyde Duke and Jim Coffin. Agenda: Old
School Closed for Snow
Orcas Island Schools announced at 9 this morning that the schools are closed due to snowfall earlier this morning. On this last day of school before the Holiday Break, a monthly assembly for the elementary school, classroom decorating contests in the middle school and a holiday luncheon in the high
Guest Column: Orcas Pop-up Shop Shares Gift of Giving
-- by Dr. Rosie Kuhn -- Susan Osborn regales visitors at the pop-up shop on North Beach Road Six weeks ago, the kayak shop on North Beach Road shared an idea with a couple of artisans: Perhaps they would like to take over the kayak store for the
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
