Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Search for new County Manager enters public participation phase in early May
In total, the job posting yielded 39 applications from around the country. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is moving forward in its interview process for a new County Manager which will culminate with a community meeting in each district on May 6 and 7. The
Conservation advocates sue over Lower Columbia River hatchery programs harming wild salmon, hindering recovery progress
||| FROM EMMA HELVERSON for WILD FISH CONSERVANCY ||| Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler filed suit against federal, state, and local governments under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to protect threatened wild fish and their ecosystems from hatchery programs in the Columbia River below Bonneville dam. These parties
A busy summer ahead for Airhawks, Orcas Aviation Association
||| FROM ROBERT WAUNCH for AIRHAWKS FLYING CLUB ||| The Airhawks Flying Club and the Orcas Aviation Association (OAA) are looking at a very busy summer of flight training and Mercy Flights. Four (4) Airhawks students who started their flight training last year are just completing their final qualification training
$316 Million in funding announced to modernize U.S. ferries
||| FROM GCAPTAIN.COM ||| The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced the availability of $316 million to support and modernize passenger ferry services across the country. The funding, part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will be allocated through various programs aimed at capital projects, purchasing
LWVSJ Observer Corps: County Council April 16, 2024
||| FROM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| During public access time three citizens spoke asking the county not to approve the 23 permits requested for two parcels on Lampard Rd which currently have a stop work order posted. Friends of the San Juans urged the council to ask DCD to review a
Earth Day parade / festival update
||| FROM EARTH DAY ORCAS ||| Earth Day Orcas is hosting a Procession of the Species Parade on Saturday, April 20. If you’d like to join in the Procession, meet up is at the library back lawn between 11 and 11:30am. Costumes and props that celebrate our natural environment are
County appoints acting health officer while search begins
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Council appointed Dr. Herbie Duber as the County’s new acting Health Officer. Dr. Duber is the Washington State Department of Health Regional Medical Officer for Northwest Washington. In this role, he supports the development of healthcare policy and programs across
Major grants hold promise of dramatically altering transportation landscape
||| FROM BRUCE BENTON ||| When two grants were announced a year ago, I began working with the Island Rides Board and the Port of Orcas Commissioners to submit requests to strengthen electrification of transportation on OI. One was for an EV Carshare program for people who live in OPAL
Guest Opinion | More management turmoil at Eastsound Water
||| FROM MICHAEL RIORDAN ||| While I was away at a physics conference in early April, I was dismayed (a better word might be "appalled") to learn that Carol Ann Anderson had been removed from her position as EWUA Secretary/Treasurer by a majority vote of its Board of Directors. At
LWVSJ Observer Corps: County Council April 15, 2024
||| FROM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OBSERVER CORPS ||| During public access, two members of the Marines Resources Committee, a salmon expert, a whale expert, and the Friends of the San Juans supported applying for a Salmon Recovery grant to complete the Jackson Beach Restoration Project. Three citizens spoke asking the county
Community Dinner
||| FROM JERREMY FOSS for ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| Time to dust off those sombreros! Orcas Christian School is hosting its annual Community Dinner. All are welcome to enjoy this FREE Mexican meal. Thursday, April 25th, 5-7:30 pm OCS High School Cafeteria 107 Enchanted Forest RD MORE INFO: 360-376-6683 or office@oics.org
Orcas airport to participate in military training
||| FROM CHIP LONG for PORT OF ORCAS ||| As a public-use airport Port of Orcas is occasionally called upon to support training or other mission-connected activities conducted by the Navy, Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security or FAA. And though in many cases the notice is short, it’s always
2024 candidate filing week approaches
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| If you have ever wanted to be an elected official, now is your chance! Candidate filing for positions open for election in 2024 is about to begin. During filing week, candidates may submit their filings online, by email, by fax, or in person
Puppetry Class
||| FROM CAROL KULMINSKI for ORCAS COMMUNITY CHURCH ||| We are inviting all 3rd through 5th graders to a Puppetry Class presented by Jerremy Foss from the Adventist Church and Carol Kulminski from the Community Church. The class will begin on Monday, April 29 and run for 6 weeks. Students
OIFR Q1 Chief’s Report
||| FROM KAT BARNARD for ORCAS FIRE & RESCUE ||| Fire Chief Holly vanSchaick and staff responded to 76 calls in March, for a total of 224 calls for the first quarter of 2024. Our average calls are 80% EMS and Rescue, with approximately 9% service calls, 4% false alarms,
David Roth Concert
||| FROM TOM BATTER for EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH ||| David Roth Emmanuel Episcopal Church Parish Hall hosts An Evening with David Roth on Friday, April 19 at 7:30 pm. David's songs have found their way to Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, several Chicken Soup for the Soul books,
