Here’s a thought…
“It wasn’t a Blue Wave; it was an American Tsunami!”
Manage your Work and Retreat to Progress
Louise Carnachan, Orcas Island management consultant, writes in her latest newsletter about stepping back to consider your activities and your goals, your daily habits and your plans. A regular “retreat” to evaluate and plan can be the secret to realizing dreams, ambitions and deadlines. Everyone, from individuals to families,
Children singing – the sound of happiness on Jan. 20
Orcas Island School elementary music teacher Pam Wright says, "The holiday has been extended and we want to share the hard work that the students have done as we start the new year." The student in Kindergarten through 6th grade children will perform at the old school gym
Upcoming Week, Jan.19 to 26
This week starts with an official government holiday on Monday, Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Day. President-Elect Obama has declared it a national day of service, and Orcas Island groups are planning to pitch in at the Orcas Island School, beginning at 9:30 a.m., and at other
Floating ferry meeting hears and comments on long-range WSF plans
At the interisland ferry meeting on Jan. 15, residents of San Juan, Orcas, Shaw and Lopez Island (pictured below right) heard Washington State Ferries (WSF) officials present their draft long-range plan. The WSF draft long-range plan, published Dec. 19, is in fulfillment of a directive from 2007
Bureaucracy: love of privilege
Taken from Václav Havel's speech of February 21, 1990, "A Joint Session of the U.S. Congress," appearing in The Art of the Impossible: Politics as Morality in Practice by Václav Havel. Translated from the Czech by Paul Wilson and others, published by Alfred A. Knopf. In a speech he gave
Shingle a roof, shovel debris, serve your community Jan. 19 (and before and after!)
Jan. 19 Observe National Day of Service here Barack Obama is calling for a National Day of Service to take place on Jan. 19, the federal holiday for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday and the days preceding the inauguration on Jan. 20. This year, the Orcas Island
Homes for critters: one last report
With all the stories this week about small creatures taking up residence in human households, consider opening your property to injured or orphaned Orcas Island wildlife that need a safe place to re-enter their own natural surroundings.Shona Aitken, of Wolf Hollow Wildlife, wrote in that organization's newsletter:When the injured and
PTSA Afterschool Enrichment in astronomy and Spanish
The PTSA is pleased to announce that the first two PTSA Afterschool Enrichment Classes will begin later this month! An astronomy class begins Jan. 22 and a Spanish class begins Jan. 26. Marta Nielson will be presenting a NASA-created curriculum for 5th and 6th graders in her "Quark Academy" astronomy
Be an Orcas Idol — or just a fun-loving friend
Attention all those who love to sing, just for the heck of it! Orcas Idol on Feb. 7 needs YOU! Now you can share that joy with your Orcas neighbors and contribute to a good cause -- the promotion of healthy lifestyles through the Orcas Island Prevention Partnership -- by
Ferry meeting Thurs. Jan. 15 to air views on Long-range Plans A & B
On Tuesday, Jan. 13, the San Juan County Council and the Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC) unanimously endorsed a response to Washington State Ferries’ Long Range-Planning Options that calls the lower cost Plan B “an unrealistic representation of state ferry service.” The response offers support to the system’s Plan A with
Letter from County's Council and Ferry Advisory Committee reject Plan B
The San Juan County Council and Ferry Advisory Committee sent the following letter to David Moseley, Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Washington State Ferries on Jan. 13: Dear David: RE: WSF’s Draft Long-Range Plan The San Juan County Council and Ferry Advisory Committee have jointly reviewed the December 19,
Mighty mice responsible for 125,000 – 200,000 fires per year
No this isn't a quote from the National Enquirer, but from Orcas Island Fire Chief Mike Harris, who researched national statistics for figures on the number of structure fires caused by rodents -- mice, rats, squirrels, possums, anything that gnaws -- chewing through electric wires in their search for warm
Warm thoughts (and misgivings) about all creatures great and small
I’m so relieved, but a little worried too. On Sunday, I got word from my neighbors that the furnace in my little house in Indianola, in Kitsap County, was apparently “out.” The house was cold, below the 50 degrees that I keep it at when not in residence. So
2009 Council Chair: Rich Peterson; Vice-Chair Richard Fralick
By Stan MatthewsCounty Communication Program ManagerYesterday, Jan. 12 District Court Judge Stewart Andrew swore in newly Elected County Council Members Richard Fralick and Lovel Pratt, along with Howie Rosenfeld who was elected to his second four-year term in November.Richard Fralick, entering his first term as Council Member from Orcas West,
Here comes the sun, and a joke for ferry riders
The sun is supposed to break through the fog, haze, clouds and rainstorms this week. In the meantime, here's a joke to put a smile on your face. A blonde was feeling so depressed that she decided to end her life by throwing herself into the Puget Sound. She went
Permits opening for Accessory Dwelling Units – Feb. 6 deadline
A total of 14 Permits will be available for the construction of New ADU structures in 2009. An additional 3 Permits will be available for the conversion of existing accessory structures that have existed legally for at least five years to an ADU.On January 12, 2009, the San Juan County
