Here’s a thought…
“If you don’t vote you don’t exist. It is the only place where we’re all equal, the voting booth.”
GLORIA STEINEM
Tom Cowan Reports on Ferry Recommendations
Changes for Fare Simplification Previewed “Recommendation 6. WSF should streamline Sidney fares by establishing a single Sidney‐Anacortes fare with the ability to stop in the San Juan Islands and by eliminating the separate commercial and RV fares. No legislative action is required to implement this recommendation.” From the Joint
Letter to the Editor: CAO and the Law of Unintended Consequences
To the Editor: As I read the 51 pages of the Community Development and Planning staff report and proposed CAO ordinance general regulations the other night I broke out in a cold sweat trying to wrap my mind around the complexity of these regulations and restrictions. I am no slouch
County Council to Meet in Eastsound on Feb. 7
The San Juan County Council will conduct a Special Meeting away from at the Outlook Inn, 171 Main Street, Eastsound, WA (Orcas Island) beginning at 10:00 a.m. Agenda items include: Public Hearing on an Ordinance Adopting Voter Precincts; Action on Clapp Easement; Solid Waste Management Update including Orcas Requests for
Harry Patton Regales with Orcas Tales
By Margot Shaw There was standing room only for Harry Patton's personal stories of the east end of Orcas over the past 110-odd years. The local raconteur held forth in the back exhibit hall of the Historical Museum last Sunday, Jan. 29. One of the best recollections was
Charter Review Commission Notes Progress
From the San Juan County Charter Review Commission The next meeting of the San Juan County Charter Review Commission (CRC) is on February 4th at the San Juan Grange from 8am to 2pm (with a break for lunch). Public input is welcomed and there is time set aside for it early
Call for Entries for the 3rd Annual Student Chef Competition to be Held March 31!
By Madie Murray Deadline for entries March 5 Download Guidelines at www.orcasislandf2c.org - click on Student Chef Competition The Farm to Cafeteria Program has made some fun changes in this year’s competition - the biggest being that the afternoon competition for Middle School and High School students will
Procedures, Assignments, Housing, Funds, Shoreline Master Program and Public Waste — Must be Government
Tuesday, Jan. 31 Special Meeting begins at 9 a.m. in Friday Harbor The County Council will hold a special meeting prior to its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 31 to discuss Continued Rules of Procedure Discussion. That discussion, beginning at 9 a.m., will be followed by Council Committee Assignments. The
The Week Ahead: February Already!
Monday, Jan. 30 San Juan County Council Retreat and Meeting with Advisory Committees in Friday Harbor. Special meeting begins at 8:45 a.m. Open to the public. Change Your Relationship to Money first of three workshops at the Orcas Island Library by Financial Literacy and Prosperity Coach Betty Barats, MA .
Kids Enjoy the Great Outdoors Thanks to YMCA/Camp Orkila’s “Partners With Youth”
Kids need nature. Heavily-scheduled kids travel from school to organized sports or activities and then indoors. Along the way, the outdoors has become a place many kids merely visit. In 1969, 50 percent of schoolkids walked or rode their bikes to school, nationwide; in 2004, that figure was
Editorial: Vote — and Give a Little More
Late this week, most of us got an envelope from County Auditor Milene Henley with our county ballot to vote on one issue: the Orcas Island School District Levy. This measure isn't more taxes, it's the same amount "to support the District's educational maintenance and operations" for the next four
A Poem for This Very Day
Winter Is the Best Time by David Budbill, from While We've Still Got Feet Winter is the best time to find out who you are. Quiet, contemplation time, away from the rushing world, cold time, dark time, holed-up pulled-in time and space to see that inner landscape, that place hidden
Discover Pass Transferability Bill Passes Senate
From the State Democratic Office A proposal to allow transferability of the Discover Pass was approved unanimously today[Jan. 27] by the state Senate. Senate Bill 5977, sponsored by Senator Kevin Ranker of Orcas Island, would allow the pass to be transferable between two vehicles. “We’ve said from the beginning that
Letter to the Editor: Get Out and Vote!
Thank you in advance for joining us in supporting our local public schools. The operational levy that is on the ballot due February 14 is a replacement levy which funds 25% of the public school’s operating expenses. Washington State continues to make cuts to education. This levy helps to make
Singers — Young and Not-so — Alert!
Grace McCune announces the return of the “Rock on the Rock Singers” and “Musical Theater Youth Troupe” at the Orcas Center for another eight-week series. The “Musical Theater Youth Troupe” (for the younger singers, age 6-13) will meet every Tuesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. starting Feb. 7th for eight-weeks.
Scott Heisinger to Speak to Cancer Support Group
Thursday, Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. in the Orcas Island Community Church By Sue Lewis Scott Heisinger of Orcas Island Physical Therapy will be the guest speaker at the Thursday, February 9 meeting of the Cancer Support Group. He will discuss the many benefits of various levels of exercise for
Guest Opinion: M&O Levy – A Vital Thread
By Madie Murray When I moved to Orcas in 2003 from Southern California, I quickly learned how superior the Orcas public schools were to those in wealthy Orange County and thought, how could this be? Since then, I learned it was because of the deep dedication and conviction of the
