Here’s a thought…
“When is the time we all get to eat cake? I don’t want to miss it!”
ANONYMOUS
Senator Ranker Works to Make Higher Education Accessible
From the Senate Democratic Committee Looking for powerful instruments to protect and rebuild Washington’s higher education system, Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, has sponsored and co-sponsored a number of bills to help students, parents and our two- and four-year institutions. Ranker joined fellow legislators Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, and Sen.
Letter to the Editor: On What Basis are We Judging Candidates?
Before publishing my letter, editor Margie Doyle, very correctly, asked me if I had read the reports of the various candidate forums that have appeared on Orcas Issues. I had, but I read them all again. The one sponsored by The Eagle Forum elicited more position statements than the others.
Guest Editorial: Neighbors Don’t Hide Behind Anonymity
By Tom Reeve This morning I found on my Facebook newsfeed a paid (sponsored) posting ridiculing a County Council candidate and showing them in a Nazi uniform. The ad and picture were from a Facebook page that comments on San Juan County politics. The page itself is anonymous – the
Grant Applications for Community Foundation Now Being Accepted
By Hilary Canty, OICF Executive Director The Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) is now accepting applications for the 2013 competitive grants program. Trustee Coleen O’Brien will chair the grants committee, whose members include both OICF Trustees and community members. In the 2012 grants cycle, OICF, together with its Partners in
Letter to the Editor: Orcas Has Talent Succeeds Because of Lots of Support
Orcas Has Talent Jr. and Auditions were both A HUGE SUCCESS! On behalf of Orcas Island Prevention Coalition and Point Blank Leadership group we would like to thank everyone who helped to make Orcas Has Talent Jr and Orcas Has Talent auditions one of our BEST years EVER!!! It's mind
Orcas High School Music Students Stand Out at Regional Contest
Band and Strings Groups’ Performances Judged “Highest level of artistry” By Kristen Wilson for the Music Advocacy Group (MAG) The results are in! And we have some great news and some not-so-great news. The great news is that both the High School Strings and High School Band students received
The Week on Orcas: Building up to Orcas Has Talent!
Tuesday, February 5 SJC3, Community Conversations, 6–9 p.m., Orcas Fire Hall. The discussions in each session will take place in small groups with each group discussing the issues and reporting out the ideas discussed and conclusions it reached to the entire group. The round table format is being used to
Guest Opinion: Updated CAO More Complicated
Paul Le Baron On Wednesday I attended the primary forum put on by the San Juan Islander (www.sanjuanislander.com) and was pleased to get to hear the candidates on their opinion on how to grow our economy. Out of the six candidates the four men were the most consistent with
Letter to the Editor: Rainshadow Running and “The Island that Runs!”
The 50K race from Rainshadow Running was getting a lot of buzz this past week. Orcas Island certainly put their best foot (no pun) forward. As the run was in Moran State Park, it was not clear if or how much the island economy could realize from this race. I
Dr. Jim Litch to Present Mind-Body Health Program
Thursday, Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. in the Community Church in Eastsound Dr. Jim Litch, formerly with the Orcas Medical Center, will present a program to the Cancer Support Group on the Mind-Body Connection – Implications for Health and Healing. The meeting will be held on Thursday, February 14, in
Letter to the Editor: Byers Brings Commitment and Creativity
After attending a recent candidates’ night, visiting the candidates’ websites and following the chatter of supporters from different camps, I have carefully weighed the choices for Council representative for District 2 Orcas/Waldron. I am voting for Lisa Byers. Lisa is uniquely qualified to serve on the Council. She has direct
Our New Neighbors: Pacific White-Sided Dolphins
Pacific white-sided dolphin. Photo courtesy of Erin Ashe Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at Emmanuel Parish Hall in Eastsound Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, also known as “Lags,” a shortened form of their scientific name Lagenorhynchus obliquidens, are offshore schooling dolphins that are becoming more common in the Salish
Update on Charter Proposition Hearings
Court activity scheduled for February 4th has been cancelled. From Janice Peterson This is an update on the lawsuit filed in Skagit County Superior Court by plaintiffs represented by Stephanie Johnson O’Day seeking a ruling from Judge John M. Meyer to make Propositions 1, 2, and 3 void. Two items
Letter to the Editor: Ayers is Intelligent Problem-Solver
Editor: I have worked with Greg Ayers for many years, both at the Orcas Grange and helping he and Pat build their home. He is very creative and hard working, functioning well using his organizational skills to help our diverse collection of actors, building sets and working back-stage. I have
Guest Column: Lawsuits Involving the County Should be Studied
By Peg Manning There are currently pending in our courts no fewer than three lawsuits that are—or should be—of interest to the County's citizens, yet they have received little coverage in the traditional press and are nowhere to be found on the County's website or newsletters. Two challenge, on Constitutional
New Youth Conservation Corps Makes Summer Plans
The 2013 Orcas Youth Conservation Corps is meeting on Monday, February 11 and Monday, March 11, at the Funhouse Commons. Come from 5:30pm-6:30pm to the loft area. A simple potluck is offered. Join our Outdoor Educator, RJ Myers and the forming advisory group, for this summer’s program planning. We are
