Here’s a thought…
“The belief in the possibility of a short decisive war appears to be one of the most ancient and dangerous of human illusions.”
ROBERT LYND
Storm-battered county road on Lopez target of relocation efforts
||| FROM SALISH CURRENT ||| Near the end of MacKaye Harbor Road on the south shore of Lopez Island is Agate Beach Park and a parking area for those walking in to the Iceberg Point San Juan Islands National Monument. Same location, 10 years apart: the stairway to the
Living up to Earth Day, expanding affordable housing, & keeping in touch
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. ALEX RAMEL ||| The 2024 legislative session adjourned in March. We successfully enacted 373 bills, with an impressive 297 of those bills receiving significant bipartisan support. These efforts emphasized the critical need for advancement in confronting issues like climate change, housing security, education funding
WA State Governor and Assistant Secretary of WSF talk ferry service & solar power with SJC officials
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County officials met with Washington State Governor Jay Inslee and Assistant Secretary of the Washington State Ferries (WSF) Steve Nevey to discuss ferry service and solar power in the San Juans. “I was pleased to welcome both the governor and WSF
Give Orcas set to launch
And Here We GO! ||| FROM HILARY CANTY ||| The 12th annual Spring Give Orcas Campaign launches this coming Wednesday, May 8th and runs through May 17th. WaHOOO! Give Orcas started as a way to leverage the funds the Orcas Island Community Foundation has to invest in the community each
LWVSJ Observer Corps: County Council April 30, 2024
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| During public access a citizen raised concerns about the loss of trees, property frontage and cost of new fencing for those impacted by the Bailer Hill Road improvement project. Two people spoke about the library levy lid lift on the August ballot that covers
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.
Tire toxicity faces fresh scrutiny after salmon die-offs
||| FROM THE ALASKA BEACON ||| For decades, concerns about automobile pollution have focused on what comes out of the tailpipe. Now, researchers and regulators say, we need to pay more attention to toxic emissions from tires as vehicles roll down the road. At the top of the list of
World-Wide Labyrinth Day – WALK AS ONE AT 1:00
||| FROM NANCY AYER for EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH ||| This coming Saturday, May 4 is World wide Labyrinth Day. The intention is to create a rolling wave of peace around the world and walk as One at 1:00 in your time zone. Come and walk the labyrinth at 1:00. If
LWVSJ Observer Corps Notes: San Juan County Council April 29, 2024
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| The Facilities Director requested Council approval to apply for state funding to repair the seismic issues in the historic courthouse. If the grant, which requires a 50% match, is approved, the $1.5-2 million project could proceed without work on the 1980s addition.
Early Childhood Education steering committee provides funds for island preschools
||| FROM DON WALTERS for ORCAS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ||| The Orcas Early Childhood Education Initiative steering committee (ECEI) recently met and distributed $38,399 to the three early learning preschools on Orcas Island (Kaleidoscope/Forest School, Children’s House, Orcas Montessori) to provide 3,339 hours of access for 22 students who need
Igniting Action: San Juan County gets prepared with ‘Wildfire Ready Neighbors’ launch
||| FROM ANGIE REQUENA for WA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ||| The Washington Department of Natural Resources, in collaboration with San Juan Island Fire and Rescue, Lopez Island Fire District No. 4 and EMS, Orcas Island Fire & Rescue, the San Juan County Fire Marshal’s Office, and community partners will announce the
Meet County Manager finalists
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County invites the public to meet and interview the finalist for the County Manager position. The remaining candidates will visit each district on Tuesday, May 7, escorted by County staff. During these in-person community meetings, the public will have the opportunity
theOrcasonian server migration is now complete
We're baaaaaaaaak! ||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| Our web host tells us that the migration to our new server is now complete. While it may not look any different, hopefully it will be more efficient and dependable. With the support of our readers, we were able to fully
OPALCO annual member festival a huge success
Hiester and Osterman Win Seats in OPALCO 2024 Board Election ||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| On Thursday April 25, at the OPALCO Business Annual Meeting, Rick Fant of the OPALCO Election and Governance Committee announced the results of the 2024 Board Election. In District
County publishes six-month check-in report for 32-hour work week
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County and representatives from the Local 1849 Union are pleased to present a comprehensive review of the 32-hour work week (32HWW) initiative at the first six-month check-in. In the fall of 2023, the 32HWW was adopted to support the County in
Orca Action Month features clean water, healthy futures
||| FROM ROSEMARY CONNELLI for ORCA ACTION MONTH ||| Orca Action Month is almost upon us! This year's Orca Month theme is Clean Water, Healthy Futures. Toxic pollution and contaminants in the environment are one of the three threats facing orcas. It comes from untreated stormwater pollution, industrial discharges, and
