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
Letter to Editor | Grateful to see Fire Levy pass
||| FROM BOB DISTLER ||| It was gratifying to see so many Orcas islanders voting to back our fire, rescue and EMT service. This demonstrated confidence in a prudently formulated and fiscally sound levy lift proposal that addressed your concerns and ideas. The positive vote will serve to effectively fund
WSF Weekly Report | Working on SJI route schedules; ramping up hiring; Tour de Lopez
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve We really ramp up our hiring and training efforts this time of year. From late winter through spring, we bring aboard several classes of new deck, engine room and terminal employees. We conduct in-house training for these
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.
Acting Workshop
||| FROM MELINDA MILLIGAN for ACTORS THEATER OF ORCAS ISLAND ||| Interested in theater? Are you a beginner, or an experienced actor who wants to sharpen their skills or simply experience the joy and deep fun of acting? The Actors Theater of Orcas Island (ATOI) is excited to announce a
Barron encouraging clean energy efforts with drawing for electric car
||| FROM BARRON HEATING AC ELECTRICAL & PLUMBING ||| Inspired by April’s 54th anniversary of Earth Day, Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing is encouraging energy-reducing steps that benefit consumers and the environment with a drawing for a free three-year lease of an electric car. The It’s Electric Clean Energy
Dementia Friendly Orcas conducts survey, provides information
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Dementia Friendly Orcas (DFO), a coalition of community members, nonprofits, and public agencies, is working to assess the needs of people living with dementia and their families in our community. Please help by completing the short survey on the library’s website
Where can we buy garden plants on Orcas?
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Where Can We Buy Garden Plants on Orcas ??? Click here to submit info The Newsletter Team would like to put together a resource list for our readers of where plants are being sold on Orcas this year. We need your help! If you
Larsen applauds $1M grant to improve fuel infrastructure at Friday Harbor Airport
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| Today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded $1,000,001 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant funding to the Port of Friday Harbor to improve the existing fuel farm at Friday Harbor Airport (FHR). The port will use the funding to add a supplemental tank for
Love and Hate: A Poem
||| FROM NANCY REAS, daughter of Bill Urschel ||| Love and Hate by Bill Urschel To love at all is to love the universe. Each act of love as it expands in quantity and quality expands the universe, expands the oneness and sense of belonging to a cosmic whole. Not
theOrcasonian growth brings unanticipated costs
Help theOrcasonian continue to grow ||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| You may have noticed there are times recently when theOrcasonian has been temporarily unavailable. This is happening more and more often, which is not a good thing. This week, we received some surprising, but not unexpected news about
OIHCD Commissioner Diane Boteler, MD: We’ve come a long way
||| BY GRAY GAILEY ||| Like any town, Orcas Island residents have an array of medical needs, and our rural location can make it difficult to address all of them. The Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD) strives to ensure that island-appropriate, quality primary and urgent care is available to
The Nourishing Neighbor: Spring 2024
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK ||| Join Us in Building Healthier Futures We’re excited to announce the launch of our newsletter, The Nourishing Neighbor. Our print version will come out twice a year—in the spring and fall, with monthly editions sent directly to your email! To stay in the
Medicare Enrollment
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Is 2024 your year for joining Medicare? Medicare enrollment is not automatic for most people, so you’ll probably need to enroll with Social Security. Then you’ll have to decide what type of Medicare coverage you want. To make an informed decision
Bodies of two deceased males have been recovered in San Juan County waters
||| FROM SHERIFF ERIC PETER, SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| It is with a heavy heart that I give this update on the tragic events that have transpired over the past 24 hrs. On 4/22/2024, around 3 pm the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a
LWVSJ Observer Corps: Board of Health April 17, 2024
||| FROM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| The Board of Health heard a report on the Early Learning Program in the county. Orcas has four licensed programs and no waitlist for 3–4-year-olds. One program will be opening up new slots for infant care and toddlers. On San Juan Island there are several providers, two
Land Bank’s Draft Strategic Plan seeks public input
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank is seeking public input on its recently completed Draft Strategic Plan. The purpose of the strategic plan is to guide the Land Bank in conservation efforts, stewardship priorities, and community engagement for the next six years and
