Here’s a thought…
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”
ANNIE DILLARD
Letter to Editor | County attempting to take over Lopez dump
||| FROM RHEA MILLER ||| Once again San Juan County is attempting to take operational control of the Lopez Dump. This effort is led by Councilmember Fuller and the Director of the Environmental Stewardship (ES) Department Kendra Smith. Fuller and Smith want to wrest management of Dump operations from Lopez
Permanent Pacific Standard Time? Senators to try and push bill through state legislature
||| FROM KING-TV ||| Washington legislators continue to pursue a fix to springing forward and rolling back the clocks. Two Washington state senators are trying once again to switch the state to permanent Pacific Standard Time. According to the pre-filed bill sponsored by Sens. Jeff Wilson and Manka Dhingra, the state would
Five things I’m thankful for
||| FROM ELISABETH ROBSON ||| ’Tis the season of giving, the season of gratitude, the season of appreciation. Let me know in the comments who and what you most appreciate in our little part of the world. Amoebas Yes, I’m grateful for amoebas. Why? Amoebas are amazing. They are one
Auditions for ATOI production of Steve Martin play
||| FROM LINDA SANDERS for ORCAS ISLAND ACTORS THEATER ||| The Actors Theater of Orcas Island announces open auditions for the adult comedy production of Meteor Shower, written by Steve Martin (SNL, Roxanne, Only Murders in the Building) and directed by Tom Fiscus. The play is a laugh out loud
Alias Brass – Holiday Gifts at Orcas Center
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Get into the holiday spirit with the Alias Brass Company on Friday, December 13 at 7pm! "Holiday Gifts" combines holiday standards, interactive audience carols, and exciting arrangements, for an exciting evening of holiday entertainment at Orcas Center! The Alias Brass Company’s performances
Letter to Editor | Thank you, Inn at Ship Bay
||| FROM DIDIER GINCIG ||| On closing night of the season, my wife, Kathryn, and I enjoyed a delicious meal at the Inn at Ship Bay. We know the place is for sale, so we'd like to take this opportunity to offer our deepest gratitude to Mary Anna and Geddes,
Dad builds boat for son, sister takes over
||| FROM DOUGLAS MCELROY ||| I built the boat for Jack's actual BIRTH day, But I think his big sister Julianna is the Captain.
Remembering the lost giants
Reflecting on shifting baseline syndrome and the fact that redwoods aren't the tallest trees on Earth: they're the tallest which haven't been logged. ||| FROM SUBSTACK.COM ||| The Czech and French author and political dissident Milan Kundera once wrote that “The struggle of man against power is the struggle of
LWVSJ Observer Corps | County Council December 2-3, 2024
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| On December 2, the environmental stewardship department updated the Council on plans for replacing the temporary culvert on Killibrew Lake Road with a fish compliant one. There are two alternate designs, one with a nine-day full closure of the road and one with
Join us today, Giving Tuesday, for the launch of GiveOrcas
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for GIVE ORCAS ||| Orcas is an incredibly giving and special place. Giving is ingrained in the culture here. Whether you are lending a neighbor a hand with a simple home repair or offering to help with an errand, giving to each other is part of island
Celebrate now with Ceremony of Carols
||| FROM LYNN BAKER for ORCAS CHORAL SOCIETY ||| Have some holiday fun this weekend with Orcas Choral Society’s Ceremony of Carols concert Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon at the Orcas Center. “This concert has something for everyone, from ancient harmonies to Bing Crosby,” said OCS Artistic Director Bruce Langford.
Ring in the holidays with the Youth Auction Bell
||| FROM SAN JUAN ISLANDS MAKERS GUILD ||| Join us Friday evening at Odd Fellows for the Night Market with dinner by the Kitchen and drinks by The Barnacle. The bell rings at 5pm to launch the fun silent auction benefiting island youth programs. Amber Paulsen of Kaleidoscope is guiding
Coates Cabinet: Meeting essential hygiene needs on Orcas Island
||| FROM MEGAN METCALF for ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| Basic hygiene products are fundamental to health and dignity, yet many struggle to afford essential items like soap, shampoo, deodorant, and laundry soap. The Orcas Community Resource Center addresses this need through our Coates Cabinet hygiene bank, ensuring community members
Council sets public hearing for cultural access sales tax at Dec. 10 meeting
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| During the December 10, 2024 Council meeting, the San Juan County Council will hold a public hearing on passing a new 1/10th of 1% sales tax to create a Cultural Access program. During this meeting, the Council will consider, deliberate, and make a final
Public Works mobilizes response to repair MacKaye Harbor Rd on Lopez
The repair is limited in scope to areas of coastal erosion and is designed to ensure the safety of the traveling public. The road will remain open to traffic during work. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County’s Public Works Department will be preforming limited repairs along
Islander Thurmond Russell receives music award
||| FROM MICHELLE RUSSELL ||| Thurmond Russell, 16 years old of Orcas Island, received one of two Honorable Mentions in the Senior Division of the Washington State Music Teachers Association 2024-2025 composition competition. His composition for solo piano, Sarabande, is styled after the Baroque-era court dance of the same name but
