Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Senior Center Match has been met
||| FROM HILARY CANTY ||| Plenty of good news this week. The Senior Center Match was beyond successful! The Community ended up contributing $65,212- a full $15,000 beyond the goal. Fantastic news for the Senior Center. Thanks to all who contributed. With these funds secured, the center will be able
County approves lease for Argyle lots
||| FROM LARISSA NASH for SAN JUAN COUNTY HOME TRUST ||| After a half decade long process of working towards expanding affordable housing on San Juan Island, there has been a stamp of approval for a 99 year ground lease between San Juan County and the San Juan Community Home
Update on WSF crew negotiations with the state
Poor management and low pay are hobbling engine room workforce, resulting in canceled sailings, backlog of repairs and maintenance ||| FROM KRISTIN HYDE for MARINE ENGINEERS BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION ||| Seattle, WA – Members of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A) Washington State Ferry workers bargaining team are taking the state’s
WSF Weekly Report | New baby on board, customer kudo, recruiting veterans, a look at new ferries
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve When I started at Washington State Ferries it was clear we had a major challenge with workforce development. It took years to get into this predicament and I’ll be honest, it’ll take years to fix – but
Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Welcome to our weekly feature, Occam's Razor, from local artist S.C. Watson.
In Memoriam | Tanya Leigh Hutchins, July 3, 1970 – July 20, 2024
||| FROM ANDREW YOUNGREN ||| Tanya Leigh Hutchins July 3, 1970 - July 20, 2024 Tanya Hutchins, born and raised on Orcas Island, was tragically killed in an airplane accident just north of Juneau, Alaska, together with her partner Hans Munich. Tanya brought joy to the lives of
Free cognition and swallow screenings
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Speech-Language Pathologist, Libby Lewis, will offer free cognition and swallow screenings at Orcas Senior Center Friday, August 16. Screenings involve a review of concerns and a brief assessment of cognition or observation. Libby provides speech-language services to adults throughout the region.
LWVSJ Observer Corps: County Council August 6, 2024
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| Three new county employees were introduced, a new dispatcher and a new deputy in the Sheriff’s Office and a new public health social worker. During public comment eleven citizens representing schools, science and arts organizations urged the council to implement a 1/10th of 1% tax
Larsen introduces bipartisan PROTECT Act to give tribes more tools to combat opioid crisis
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) introduced the Protection for Reservation Occupants against Trafficking and Evasive Communications Today (PROTECT) Act, bipartisan legislation to give Tribal courts and law enforcement more tools and resources to combat the opioid epidemic. Reps. Ryan Zinke (MT-01),
WSF commits additional crews to interisland route to ensure service during County Fair week
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is thrilled to announce that Washington State Ferry (WSF) officials are taking concrete steps to ensure consistent interisland service during the week of the County Fair. From August 14-18, islanders will be able to confidently use the interisland route to travel
Woman gives birth on Washington ferry
Captain's second birth while at the helm ||| FROM YAHOO NEWS ||| Baby Arlo was born aboard the Samish on Tuesday, Aug. 6, weighing 7 lbs. and 1 oz. at birth, according to Washington State Ferries. Crew members and passengers on a Washington State ferry “leapt into action” when a
August 6, 2024 primary election results / updated count
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY AUDITOR ||| August 6, 2024 Primary Last updated on 08/07/2024 4:25 PM Number of Precincts 23 Number of Registered Voters 14,761 Total Ballots Counted 4,444 Estimated Ballots Left to Count 2,660 Next Ballot Count On 08/09/2024 5:00 PM Last Tabulated 08/07/2024 4:25 PM Voter Turnout
In Memoriam | Frances Ann Boyd Zavala Tobriner
||| FROM STEPHEN TOBRINER ||| Frances Ann Boyd Zavala Tobriner Frances was born in Bellingham, Washington, to Arthur J. Boyd and Helen F. Galvin on January 26, 1940. When her father returned from WWII the family couldn’t find a house in Bellingham so they lived in the suburb
Ruggedly independent seniors need help, too
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Many seniors came of age following World War II and the Korean War. They or their parents survived the Great Depression. A cornerstone of their self-worth is independence and the ability to pay one’s own way. It is difficult for many
What democracy is, and why it’s worth preserving
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| Our political environment has become marked by claims about a particular party being for or against democracy. How do we tell who is telling the truth? Why does it matter that we preserve democracy? A clear and simple philosophy of democracy describes the ideas
Chamber music rehearsal to be open for Seniors
||| FROM MARY TAYLOR for CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival is thrilled to invite our respected elder patrons to enjoy a rehearsal of our Teenage Genius concert at Orcas Center on Friday, August 16, at 1pm. This free event offers attendees an opportunity to see how
