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
School Board Faces Cuts Due to Budget Shortfall
At the Orcas Island School District (OISD)Board meeting last night, the board, faced with cuts in personnel and programs to make up a $118,849 shortfall, called on resources in the Financial Advisory Committee and the public to help brainstorm ideas to make alternative cuts and/or to raise revenues. The board
Letter to the Editor: Island Life is Changing
To the Editor: Decisions based on fear, emotion or irrational caution and few facts are seldom successful, yet that is where we are in the rules being written by County officials and planning staff to regulate property owners in San Juan County. The County rule-makers have bought into the notion
Editorial: Homeless Count — What About Mario?
by Lin McNulty Today marks the state's official headcount of homeless. It's not conducted by lining them up and calling off numbers, nor by a request that they report in to make their status known; the count is conducted purely through hearsay "evidence." By contacting local organizations and agencies that
New Ferries Get Mixed Reviews
From Crosscut.com By C.B. Hall As it floats into dock, the Chetzemoka, one of three new boats in the Washington State Ferries fleet, presents an unusual, asymmetrical image. The designers placed the tower structure, which houses the elevators, stacks and staircases, off to one side. The Chetzemoka, and its sister
Council to Meet with Advisory Committees
From Ingrid Gabriel, County Council Clerk The San Juan County Council will conduct a Special Meeting on Monday, January 30, 2012 in the Legislative Hearing Room, 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor beginning at 9 a.m. The purpose of the meeting is to conduct a planning workshop between the Council and
Parker Promotes Pianist’s February Salon Concert
From the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival "Jeff is one of the greatest pianists and most wonderful musicians I've ever known," said Jon Kimura Parker, internationally acclaimed pianist and Artistic Advisor for the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival. Jeffrey Kahane’s concert on Orcas Island is one night only
Herlwyn Lutz, Sept. 5, 1934 – Jan. 12, 2012
Services on Sunday, Feb. 5 at Orcas Island Community Church By David Lutz L. Herlwyn Lutz left us quickly on January 12, 2012. Born in Salt Lake City September 5th, 1934, he grew up in Wyoming, Kentucky, and Illinois before hitchhiking west to Seattle at 17. After a
Charter Review Takes On Big Issues at First Meetings
Initiative and Referendum staunchly defended; Full-time Council supported At its weekly meeting at the Orcas Hotel on Jan. 21, the Charter Review Commissioners’ (CRC’s) strong support of the initiative and referendum process, initiated with the Charter form of government in 2005, became the determinant in choosing to
New Book Describes Electromagnetic Pulse Threat
Sheridan Johnston has recently published a 68-page book, In the Blink of an Eye, that discusses the scientific underpinnings of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) – both those created by nature and man-made – assesses the likelihood of a nuclear or solar EMP, and identifies defenses against EMP. The
Sheriffs Make Meth and Coke Arrest
From the San Juan County Sheriff's Office On Friday, January 20, 2012 Jason C. Bell, 31, of Friday Harbor was arrested on a Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with Violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act: specifically, delivery of methamphetamine and cocaine. Bell was taken into custody without incident,
Commons to Introduce “Island Enterprise Lab”
Today, January 24, rescheduled from last week at 5:30 p.m. From the Funhouse/Commons In the fall of last year, The Funhouse announced its intention to change its name to “The Funhouse Commons” to reflect a determined effort to expand its focus and become a resource for everyone on Orcas, not
“Orcas Reads” Begins Month-long Community Conversation
Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 3:30 p..m., Emmanuel Church Parish Hall Re-scheduled from last week Orcas Island Library invites you to attend the grand kickoff event for Orcas Reads, a community-wide celebration of the works of Thornton Wilder. The kickoff will take place at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, January 24 at
Get a Handle on Your Finances
First class is Monday, Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Library By Betty Barats Did your New Years Resolutions include getting a handle on your finances? Do you have a plan? Do you know how to change your financial reality? Financial Literacy and Prosperity Coach Betty Barats, MA is offering
Council Continues Hearing on CAO General Regs
From Ingrid Gabriel, San Juan County Council Clerk The San Juan County Council will conduct an Early Start Special Meeting on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 in the Legislative Hearing Room, 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor beginning at 8:45 AM. The purpose of the Special Meeting is to continue a Public
The Week Ahead: Even More Meetings as We Play Snow Days Catch-up
Monday, Jan. 23 Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce board meeting at 5 p.m. Public is welcome to attend. Tuesday, Jan. 24 On the Threshold: Adventures in Poetry, JoEllen Moldoff, Facilitator. Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney wrote: Poetry is more a threshold than a path, one constantly approached and constantly departed
Letter to the Editor: Council Ignoring Costs of CAO
To the Editor: The San Juan County Council is proposing new rules and restrictions on property owners in the county under what they are calling the Critical Areas Ordinance. The current draft has evolved into a complex document listing sets of new restrictions encumbering both existing homes and undeveloped properties.
