Here’s a thought…
“Nothing limits intelligence more than ignorance; nothing fosters ignorance more than one’s own opinions; nothing strengthens opinions more than refusing to look at reality.”
SHERI S. TEPPER
Editorial: Build carefully on a hard-won foundation
Call me chicken, but I look at the Orcas Island School Board's direction to minimize its Business Manager's contract as dangerous. I say this for two reasons: continuity and competence. Ben Thomas has been the OISD's business manager for two and a half years now. During that time, he has
OffCenter Monologue Workshop rescheduled
A free workshop, in which Deborah Sparks will provide an overview of writing and performing a monologue, has been rescheduled to Monday, April 27 at 6:30 in the OffCenter Stage. Orcas Center will present original monologues to be read/performed for Monologue Night on Friday, June 12 on the OffCenter Stage.
Green grows the story — Eth-No-Tec to present Kinetic Story Theater
Earth Day is coming! So is Eth-Noh-Tec, nationally known storytellers on Orcas Island, to gather the community in a performance of 'Green' Stories. Through ancient Asian myths and folktales, this performance will inspire and celebrate love of the Earth. These tales show how the power of one inspiring
Management training for local businesses offered
The Orcas Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a new Business Essentials mini-series. The course will be taught by Louise Carnachan, an Orcs Island resident who has been conducting management training reetreats for over 20 years. "Skilled and Happy Staff = Happy Customers" is a two-session series for business owners and
County starts email service for builders
By Stan Matthews County Communications Program Manager The Community Development and Planning department (CD&P) is setting up an email news service to inform the building community of policy statements and information related to staffing, service and other topics of interest to the building community. Its first edition is scheduled to
Principal Gobeske to leave Orcas School District
Orcas Island School District's Elementary and Middle School Principal Tom Gobeske announced recently that he and his wife Gini, will be leaving Orcas Island at the end of the school year. "Although, we dearly love our beautiful island and our wonderful community, we have come to the unfortunate conclusion that
Poem for the Day: This World
This World I would like to write a poem for this world that has in it nothing fancy. But it seems impossible. Whatever the subject, the morning sun glimmers it. The tulip feels the heat and flaps its petals open and becomes a star. The ants bore into the peony
Opinion: Eastsound Planners invite all to participate in Open House May 4
Who? Why? What? When? Where? Do I care? That's what you may ask yourself. Among the barrage of citizen committee acronyms, county planning notices and meetings a good citizen needs to focus and prioritize. The Eastsound Planning And Review Committee ( EPRC) is focused, has chosen its top priorities for
Pilot program introduces XO computers at Orcas Elementary
The Orcas community is again helping the Orcas Island School District (OISD), this time with an international program called “One Laptop per Child.” The “poster child” for this campaign is the XO computer, a simple, sturdy “portable as a lunch pail” computer that can even operate, in
County's environmental picture brought into focus at Sustainable San Juans April 17-19
"Sustainable San Juans," from April 17-19 promises to be a weekend of activities highlighting the environmental sustainability of our county islands. This year the event will take place on San Juan Island, bringing together the members of the Stewardship Network of the San Juans. Jeff Hanson, Outreach Coordinator for
Poem for the Day; Deer
Deer Shy in their herding dwell the fallow deer. They are spirits of wild sense. Nobody near Comes upon their pastures. There a life they live, Of sufficient beauty, phantom, fugitive, Treading as in jungles free leopards do, Printless as eyelight, instant as dew. The great kine are patient, and
Orcas School board seeks transition to local business management
Ben Thomas's contract as Orcas Island School District (OISD) business manager was reviewed at the OISD school board March 26 meeting, but as it was not marked for action on the agenda, the board postponed approving the agreement. Under the annual agreement, it is proposed that Thomas' contract be renewed
Young • Original • Poetry
The Orcas Island Public Library invites the Orcas community to a poetry reading featuring young poets reading their original poems on Friday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the Library’s meeting room. In celebration of National Poetry Month, poems written by students ages 7 to 18 years are on display
Pugetopolis author coming to Darvills
Knute Berger thinks Seattle is turning into the civic equivalent of a Starbucks Frappucino. For years Berger has been Seattle’s own Mossback, sharing his sharp-tongued yet conscientious musings with the public in his weekly appearances on KUOW radio, as former editor at Seattle Weekly, and in his writings
Writers Festival launches its second season with a tasty dinner
A special invitation from the Orcas Island Writers Festival has been issued for "Coming to Our Senses: a Cooking Class and Dinner." The all-day event will take place on Saturday, May 9, culminating in a dinner at 6:30 p.m. prepared by Bill Patterson using locally grown food. Earlier in the
Poem for the Day: Phenomenal Woman
Phenomenal Woman Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size But when I start to tell them They think I' telling lies. I say, It's in the reach of my arms The span of my hips, the stride of my
