Here’s a thought…
“It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go.”
JIM ROHN
Letter to Editor | McVeigh displays qualities our county needs
||| FROM KATIE FLEMING and JESSE VISCIGLIA ||| We are writing to express our enthusiastic support for Kari McVeigh as the next District 1 County Councilmember. Kari brings a wealth of professional experience and a steadfast commitment to environmental sustainability—qualities that set her apart as the leader our county needs.
Council candidates answer housing questions (Part 1 of 4)
||| FROM GEORGE J ZWEIBEL and SANDY BISHOP ||| Affordable housing is unquestionably one of the most important issues the new SJC Council will face and one that is a concern to most everyone who lives or works in the islands. We have been actively engaged in affordable housing for
Orcas Senior Center hosts meeting to address building expansion, future needs
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| “Will the building be large enough to support seniors 20, 30 or 40 years from now?” was a question asked by an attendee at an informational meeting held at the Orcas Senior Center (OSC) on September 25, 2024. In response, panelists
WSF Weekly Update | Three new shipbuilders interested; sailing stats with no crewing cancellations
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve We’ve reached another exciting step in our electrification journey! Three shipbuilders are interested in building five hybrid-electric 160-car ferries for us. They are Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland, Washington; Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City, Florida and Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Each have sent
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.
Film Screening of FISH WAR
The Fish War isn't over. Instead of fighting over fish, we are fighting for the fish -- to keep them on this planet. - Nisqually Former Chairman Willie Frank III ||| FROM JESS NEWLEY for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| Panel Discussion + Lummi Blackhawk Dancers Commemorating the 50th
Letter to Editor | McVeigh brings new ideas to our old issues
||| FROM KATHY COPE ||| As a 35 year-resident of SJI, please join me in listening to Kari McVeigh’s plans to solve what is needed in San Juan County. Please read her solutions in the OPALCO summary in your Sept. Ruralite newsletter. Kari has been a Superintendent of Schools, balanced
Let’s play Magic at Library
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Come join fellow local Magic The Gathering players at the Orcas Library Sunday October 6 at 3 pm. The event is free. The format will be casual Commander play...and there will be free pizza and drinks. All ages and experience levels
Letter to Editor | Examining the McVeigh facts more deeply
||| FROM MARY CAMPANELLA ||| Re: David Johnson’s letter concerning Kari McVeigh: It’s annoying, but not surprising, that Kari McVeigh’s opponent and her followers would trot out these falsehoods for the third time when the truth has been spelled out for them twice already. But since Mr. Johnson believes “it’s
LWVSJ Observer Corps | County Council October 1, 2024
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| The Council declared October 2024 as National Disability Employment Month. They got a letter from two advisory committees supporting the resolution in opposition to the state-wide ballot initiative 2117 that if passed would reduce funds for transportation, wildfire prevention, and clean air and
Letter to Editor | Why I don’t support Land Bank
||| FROM RON WHALEN ||| Posted on What’s Up with Free Speech was a question “What do you think is the biggest gripe people have with the Land Bank?” What a great question... I hardly know where to begin, but the following story might be a good place to start.
Letter to Editor | Land Bank is instrumental to our way of life
||| FROM NANCY LARSEN ||| I am enthusiastically voting for Proposition 1 to renew our San Juan County Conservation Land Bank. It goes without saying that over the last 34 years, the Land Bank has been instrumental in enhancing our way of life by protecting water resources, forestland, working farms
Have thoughts on our ferry system?
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Customers are encouraged to participate in the current Ferry Riders Opinion Group survey to share your thoughts on all things Washington State Ferries. The survey is hosted by the Washington State Transportation Commission to hear feedback and suggestions directly from ferry riders. Those looking
County employee Union endorses Kari McVeigh, expresses equal support for both Rick Hughes and Justin Paulson in upcoming County Council election
||| FROM AFSCME LOCAL 1849 EXECUTIVE BOARD FOR SJC EMPLOYEES ||| Approximately 55% of San Juan County’s 293 employees are represented by the public employee union AFSCME, Local 1849. Our Union represents a broad array of staff employed across a diversity of disciplines, including the County’s public works road crews,
Dave Kosiur library art exhibit
||| FROM ANDREA COHEN for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The Art in the Library program of the Orcas Island Library features the photography of Dave Kosiur for the month of October. Dave appropriately titled his exhibit The Land, since he has been photographing the grand landscapes and small details of the
Marilee Whitehouse Holm featured this month at Artworks
||| FROM B.J. ARNOLD for ORCAS ARTWORKS ||| Marilee Whitehouse Holm. The Artworks is excited to present our October featured artist Marilee Whitehouse Holm. Marilee, a long time Orcas resident, began “doing art” in high school. She continued to pursue her love of art by completing BFA in
