Letter to the Editor: What A Turnout!
About 200 people came to the “Soup Bowl” dinner at the school cafeteria on March 15 and enjoyed three types of delicious scratch-made soup made by our school chef, Zach Holley, in handmade bowls they selected from an array made by our Farm to Classroom kids, Crow Valley Pottery and
Guest Opinion: Lopez Candidate Responds to Proposed Charter Changes
By Brian McClerren Candidate San Juan County Council #3, Lopez Island Meeting islanders across the San Juan’s has been a deeply enriching experience for me. The benefit of sharing perspectives from different islands is valuable to our residents whom often hear little of life on other islands, as well as
CAO Workshop Open to Professionals
By Shireene Hale, Planning Coordinator/ Deputy Director Another Critical Area Ordinance workshop is going to be held for planners, land use attorneys, and other building and design professionals next Friday, March 29, in Friday Harbor. This began as a training session for staff that missed the first workshops, but the
Letter to the Editor: Partisan Argument “Posturing”
Have you noticed the nasty political attacks coming from blogs on the right? Now there¹s a PAC (Political Action Committee). Their ad states that they are "non-partisan." Yet the PAC was first announced on the SJC Republican website: googleusercontent.com/search?=cache/sjcrp.org/new-pac-of-interest-for-our-county-council-elections [Editor's note: this link is a "snapshot" of a March 9
Symphony of the Soil — A Fundraiser for FEAST
The FEAST kids of 2012-- Halley, Clover and Meggie look on in the FEAST garden as Melanie holds the goat kid, Wisdom Friday, March 29 at Odd Fellows Hall, Potluck at 6:30 p..m. "Symphony of the Soil" is a feature-length film that explores the complexity and mystery of
Washington Lawmakers Face $1.2 Billion Shortfall
New revenue forecast says Washington state lawmakers face $1.2 billion shortfall By Mike Baker, Associated Press from The Columbian Washington’s budget shortfall has grown to $1.2 billion, officials said Wednesday, as increased reliance on government services overpowered relative stability in the state’s economy. The state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council
Island Tree-climbing Tradesmen Practice Safety
In an aerial rescue exercise, Keegan Cookston, on the left, portrays an injured worker; he is aided by Phoenix Welty in the blue jacket. Jeff Wakefield, in the red jacket, monitors the situation. Cookston and Welty are employees of Shaner Excavation and Tree Services. By Margie Doyle Bathan
Coal Wars: How Voters are Shaping their Leaders’ Decisions
By Floyd McKay of Crosscut.com (Note: This is the conclusion of a three-part series) "Elections have consequences.” — Numerous politicians November 6, 2012 is an important — perhaps critical — date in the effort to build the nation’s largest coal-export terminal at Cherry Point north of Bellingham. A final decision
Guest Editorial: A Culture of Fear in the Islands… Really?
By Sharon Kvisto, Editor, sanjuanislander.com "Anonymous writing is an effective and societally beneficial form of dissent when a culture of fear pervades a society" writes the host - reportedly Ed Kilduff of Lopez Island - of a local blog. This culture of fear is so invasive in the county it
On April 10, No Cars to Lopez
from Washington State Ferries (WSF) A one-day vehicle closure for repairs at the Lopez Island WSF terminal is tentatively scheduled for April 10. Walk-on passengers will be able to travel without restriction. This work is weather-dependent and the closure date may change. Customers needing free parking in Anacortes during this
Council Members Propose Charter Changes
By Margie Doyle San Juan County Council members Rich Peterson and Marc Forlenza have introduced the first draft of a proposed Ordinance and two draft Propositions that would modify the Charter if approved by the voters in an election this November, 2013. In documents provided to the Council, the
Lions Hide Eggs for Hunt at Orkila
The Lion’s Club Community Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday March 30th, at 10 a.m. at Camp Orkila. Come and meet the Easter Bunny and search for treat filled eggs. All children participating in the hunt will receive a treat bag and a chance to win a prize!
Obama to Propose Federal Lands in San Juans as National Monument
From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (seattlepi.com) President Obama on Monday[March 25, 2013] will create a 955-acre national monument in Washington’s scenic San Juan Islands, using his authority under the same 1906 law deployed by President Theodore Roosevelt to begin preservation of this state’s Olympic Mountains and the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Letter to the Editor: Friends of Moran Thanks All Who Celebrate with Them
From the highest point in the San Juan Islands, The Friends of Moran gathered to say thank you to the staff, volunteers, and visitors who have supported the Moran State Park on Orcas Island. At 2,409 feet, the summit of Mt. Constitution, was the site of the March 10, 2013
Chamber Music Festival Brings Pied Pipers to Preschools
The toddlers at Kaleidoscope benefit from their introduction to music by Sharon Abreu. Photo courtesy of Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival. Chamber Music Festival Springs Forward With Music Education From the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival The Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival brings new voices to the four
Coal Wars: Port Opponents Make Big Use of Access to Information
When Scoop Jackson wrote the Environmental Protection Act, no one could have imagined how the Internet would empower activists to dig into something like coal exports. By Floyd McKay From Crosscut.com Second article in a three-part series Scoop Jackson didn’t have the Internet in mind when he wrote the Environmental
