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
Basketball finals at Orcas gym Thursday at 5:30
The Lady Vikings take on Tacoma Baptist Thursday, Feb. 19, at home (at the Orcas Island High School gym) at 5:30 p.m. Come support our girls and show your spirit by dressing in blue! Prizes will be given for the best- dressed adult and child. The girls on the team,
Campbell advises Planning Commission: reject County's housing plans
John Campbell, affordable housing advocate and board member of the “sweat-equity” Homes for Islanders organization, has told the Planning Commission that the Housing Needs Assessment and Housing Element Plan before them tomorrow, Feb. 20 “Fails to make adequate provision for affordable housing for the people of San Juan County.”
Raising funds for small non-profits
Fundraising strategies for small organizations and small budgets will be taught at an intensive one-day course next Monday on San Juan Island. Attendees will learn how to create a fundraising process that works, and is attainable with limited resources. Hands-on experience in building a case for support and interactive training
Thursday deadline for comments on hillside clearing
Thursday, Feb. 19 is the cut-off day for comments on the after-the-fact clearing and grading permit for logging operations done on a Vusario hillside last September. Any member of the public can comment on the permit -- 08 SEPA011 -- for tax parcel 1730-52002, property located at 1052 Vusario Road,
Memoir group meets Feb. 24
A memoir-writing group, facilitated by JoEllen Moldoff, has been meeting at the Orcas Island Library for the past two years. Each session has evolved into its own particular blend of conversation, reading and sharing our work in progress. The group is informal, supportive and open -- an opportunity to join
San Juan County Map Books for Sale
By Stan Matthews County Communications Program Manager The San Juan County GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Team and E-911 recently completed map books for emergency responders. A map book is a detailed road atlas showing the location of all public and private roads in the County as well as building
FACS cut by Gregoire; Orcas Chair challenges the call
Yes, in our backyard -- Governor Gregoire's plan to cut advisory boards in an effort to reduce the state budget deficit includes San Juan County agencies, including the Ferry Advisory Committee. This local committee has been particularly active and effective among other Puget Sound FACs. The FACs are appointed by
United Way helps school help kids
Earlier this month, United Way of San Juan County announced grants totaling $115,000 to county programs. Executive Director Bonnie Gilmore said, "our donors are important partners in our efforts to provide services to hundreds of island residents who participate in United Way supported programs...United Way's goals and priorities
Our Man in Olympia: Ranker’s Passions, Priorities and Practicalities
A month into his first legislative session in Olympia, State Senator Kevin Ranker tells of the best advice he’s gotten so far: don’t burn any bridges, because you’ll need to cross them later. Such is the pragmatism that Ranker knows he’ll need to employ if he wants to see
The week ahead: Feb. 15 – 22
Sunday, Feb. 15 “Hotel for Dogs” movie showing The only island showing of “Hotel for Dogs” at 2 p.m. at the Sea View Theatre will benefit Orcas Animal Protection. Tickets, available at the Sea View Video Store, are $5 for children 12 and under and $15 for all others. Monday,
Booklovers converge for bargains at School Cafeteria Feb. 21
The Friends of the Orcas Island Library have been preparing for the Winter Book Sale, to be held this year on Saturday, Feb. 21, ever since last summer's Library Fair on the Village Green in Eastsound. As books are donated for the sale to the library, Friends board
$41 million tax bill goes out to islanders
By Stan Matthews County Communications Program Manager On Thursday, Feb. 12, San Juan County Treasurer’s Office employees stacked 11,600 tax bills into 30 mail trays and drove them to the post office in a yellow County truck. The total of all the bills is just over $41 million dollars.
Port goes to bat for the Dog Park
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently sent a letter to the Port of Orcas requesting the termination of the land lease for the off-leash dog area, located on “the Larsen Property,” just east of the airport entrance on Mt. Baker Road. According to Port Commissioner Ulanah McCoy, “the issue
Editorial: Love in Business
By Margaret Benefiel Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity to reflect on love in business — not the soap opera kind, but a deeper, more solid kind. We all know the dangers of the soap opera kind of love in the workplace — romantic entanglements deteriorating into sexual harassment
Celebrate love this weekend
Love makes the rock go ’round. And this weekend provides many opportunities to celebrate love of mates, love of children, love of pets, love of friends, love of the arts, love of nature and even unabashed love of self! Many local restaurants have specials for Valentine’s Day, you can
Music Boosters make music happen
A new group has been formed to help the Orcas Island School District music teachers, called the Music Boosters Group. The Boosters assist with set-up and tear-down at concerts, grading papers, providing hospitality for visiting artists and groups –in short, whatever the music teachers could use help with. The
