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
Letter to the Editor: Hard Decisions Prompt ‘Yes’ Levy Vote
Dear Editor, We voted “no” on the last two capital Orcas Island School District levies. We are happy to vote “yes” on the upcoming levy to pay for the upgrades and repairs to the Elementary School plumbing and heating systems. We attended the school board meetings as the board grappled
Letter to the Editor: Renew Land Bank’s Conservation Mandate
I strongly recommend a "yes" vote on the renewal of the Land Bank. The future of our community and how much the Land Bank can do to assist in keeping these islands the livable and special place that it is for all of us – regardless of our age - depends on all
Preview of County Solid Waste Plan Released
By Stan Matthews County Website and Communications Manager The San Juan County Public Works Department on Oct.20 today released a preliminary draft Solid and Hazardous Waste Plan. It is limited to information that will help voters make an informed decision about the ballot measure which would create a solid waste
Letter to the Editor: Know Before You Vote!
The San Juan County Council provides videos of their council meetings. If you are not able to make the meetings, you can still watch what goes on. On Tuesday, September 20, there was an item on the Council Agenda entitled “Presentation: San Juan County Agricultural Strategic Action Plan.” The presenters
Interisland Sailings Canceled and Changed
From the Washington State Ferries Due to vessel repositioning, the 2:20 p.m. interisland sailing from Friday Harbor is cancelled as is the 3:10 p.m. interisland sailing from Orcas and the 3:25 p.m. sailing from Shaw. The Evergreen State will depart Friday Harbor at 2:15 p.m. and make a stop at
Car Fire Aboard the Yakima
by Lin McNulty A vehicle aboard the Yakima caught fire as the boat was leaving the Orcas dock toward Shaw at approximately 12:20 p.m. today. The vehicle was on the second level of the ferry, and could have potentially become quite serious. Orcas firefighter and EMT Cameron Fralick became aware
State Rep. Lytton Holds Orcas Town Hall
October 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Hall All interested residents of Orcas Island are invited to a constituent town hall on Orcas Island to cover issues before the Legislature this coming year on October 29. “The budget is going to pose many challenges for our communities
Guest Column: The Importance of Arts to a Community
by Jane Alden The steering committee for The San Juan County Arts Council has selected a slate of candidates for its first ever Board of Directors, to be voted upon by the membership at its first membership meeting next month, November 3, 2011. This will be a truly historic occasion.
Wild, Wet? Weekend Awaits
Friday, October 21 Funhouse Commons 4-course Benefit Dinner featuring Lullaby Wines from Walla Walla. Winemaker Virginie Bourque will be on hand to tell guests about her winemaking philosophy and discuss each selection. All proceeds benefit the Funhouse Commons. Costs for the dinner is $75 per person; Wine Flight $20 person. Call
Open Spaces Editor at Darvill’s Bookstore
Sunday October 23 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Darvill's Penny Harrison will be at Darvill's Bookstore this Sunday to talk about the new book she has edited:Open Spaces: Voices from the Northwest with a foreword by Denis Hayes. Penny Harrison is the editor and publisher of Open Spaces magazine.
Leslie Liddle Offers Canine Good Citizen Class
Lesley Liddle is offering an AKC Canine Good Citizen class which will culminate in testing for the AKC certification, and badge. The class will be eight weeks long and will start on Monday October 24 at 3 p.m. at the Oddfellows Hall in Eastsound. The cost will be $
Letter to the Editor: Vote for School’s One Year, One Time Levy
Last year, in our Elementary School, an EMT was unable to use water from the drinking fountain to clean a student's wound. It was unsafe. Children and teachers wore coats in classrooms all winter. The ventilation system produced dirty, not clean fresh air. Our School Board stepped up, won a $900,000 matching grant
Education Fund Makes Challenge Grant for Winter Sports
From the Orcas Island Education Foundation The Orcas Island Education Foundation(OIEF) is pleased to announce that it is making a $5,000 match grant in hopes of challenging other donors to support Winter sports in our public High schools. Because of state funding cuts, the OISD budget did not include winter
Council Holds Public Videoconference Oct. 25 After CAO Deliberations
n Council Videoconference starts Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Orcas Public Library Next Tuesday, Oct. 25, the County Council proceedings will again be accessible to the Orcas and Lopez public as the Council conducts a public hearing on the subject of redistricting, starting at
Letter to the Editor: Let’s Clear Up Some Misconceptions
After reading a "Letter to the Editor" yesterday in the Sounder, I am compelled to clarify a number of misconceptions and errors made by people over the previous year regarding the drilling of wells in the Orcas Highlands. The idea of drilling wells in the Highlands was initiated by the
Town Hall on Waste Disposal Today
From Ingrid Gabriel, County Council Clerk The public is invited to join County Council Members Richard Fralick, District 4, Orcas West, Patty Miller, District 5, Orcas East, for a Town Hall conversation at the Fire Protection District No. 2, 45 Lavender Lane, Eastsound, Orcas Island on Thursday, October 20, 2011,
