Here’s a thought…
“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”
READER BOARD
Guest Opinion | Recapping the 2023 annual EWUA members meeting
||| FROM MICHAEL RIORDAN ||| In Wednesday's hour-long annual meeting of the Eastsound Water Users Association, there was only limited information given about its financial condition, plus a summary of the recent elections of two new members of the board of directors and a lengthy presentation by General Manager Dan
Weekly Ferry Update | Busy, busy week at our favorite ferry service
||| FROM NICOLE MCINTOSH for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Thanksgiving weekend ferry travel Carve out some extra time if your Thanksgiving travel plans include a state ferry ride. In addition to the long vehicle lines over holiday weekends, all passengers should prepare for possible last-minute schedule changes. Edmonds/Kingston route travelers
Letter to Editor | Congrats to Kate Hansen on her Fire Commission victory
||| FROM TONI KNUDSON ||| I want to congratulate Kate Hansen on her election to the Orcas fire commission. I also want to thank the many Orcas voters who supported me. Now all of us need to unite behind Kate, Randy Gaylord, and Brian Ehrmantraut, who will make up
New plant hardiness map, used by gardeners nationwide, is unveiled
||| FROM PHYS.ORG ||| The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released its new Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the national standard by which gardeners can determine which plants are most likely to survive the coldest winter temperatures at a certain location. The USDA describes the latest map, jointly developed by Oregon State
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.
Health Care District seeking a maintenance handyman
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD) is a Washington Public Hospital District that exists to protect and improve the health of our community. OIHCD owns the medical clinic which houses Island Primary Care – Orcas and a neighboring vacant parcel of
Dolly Parton album launch party at library
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Dolly Parton Album Launch Party at the Orcas Island Public Library. Friday November 17th at 5pm. Dancing & Singing, Fashion Show, Trivia & Food, Movies & Prizes. Let’s get this Parton Party started!
Cozy up to the upcoming Winter Night Market on Orcas
Dozens of Island artisans, music, dinner and drink options, make a great evening opening for the Winter Artisans Market weekend on Orcas. ||| FROM SAN JUAN ISLANDS MAKERS GUILD ||| Opening night for the Winter Market is a ticketed event with dinner, drinks, music and shopping in the historic waterfront
San Juan County to move to .gov domain for enhanced cybersecurity
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| To enhance the County’s cybersecurity systems, the County’s website domain will be transitioning to .gov along with an updated name. The County will be trading ‘www.sanjuanco.com’ for the more official and secure ‘www.sanjuancountywa.gov.’ This change is set to take place by December 1.
Safety tips: OIFR wants you to stay safe during winter weather
||| FROM KAT BARNARD for ORCAS FIRE & RESCUE ||| Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. Winter storms, including blizzards, can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice, and high winds. On Orcas Island, high winds after
Rekindling adventure: Climbing adventures with Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| “I feel alive again” were the first words said by Karen as she left Climb San Juan, a climbing gym in Friday Harbor. Four climbers, including two first time climbers, enjoyed this Sunday outing sponsored by the Orcas Senior Center. With
Made in the San Juans winter holiday online market and auction coming up
||| FROM RIVER WYLDE for SAN JUAN MAKERS GUILD ||| Enjoy the island lifestyle wherever you live through beautiful and evocative works of creative Makers featured in the online “Made in the San Juans” marketplace. From a handcrafted bar of soap to a beautiful piece of jewelry, from a rocking
Art for Orcas Kids art classes selected to make Governor’s Mansion holiday ornaments
||| FROM ART FOR ORCAS KIDS ||| Art for Orcas Kids (A*OK), a program of the Orcas Island Education Foundation, is thrilled to announce its Orcas Island School District Middle School art classes' selection to craft unique holiday ornaments for the 2023 Governor's Mansion tree. The opportunity arose as art
Orcas Island School District music program inspires local youth
||| FROM MUSIC ADVOCACY GROUP ||| The Orcas Island School District music program is moving to a quick beat. A schedule adjustment has meant that high school band and strings groups are meeting at 8:30 AM four days a week instead of at zero hour (7:15 AM) every day. This
The day federal agents busted PNW’s prolific bootlegger
||| FROM SAM GAILEY for ORCAS LIBRARY ||| On Thanksgiving Day, 1925, Roy Olmstead was trapped by federal prohibition agents and their Tommy guns on a lonely Puget Sound dock. His reign as the Northwest’s most prolific bootlegger had ended. But big questions—political, cultural, and legal—remained. Why did Olmstead, the
Larsen: Extreme GOP bill restricts reproductive health care, hurts Northwest Washington families
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the below statement in response to House Republicans’ extreme health spending bill (H.R. 5894), which includes several anti-choice provisions: “MAGA Republicans are more concerned about restricting reproductive health care than protecting families,” said Larsen. “Instead
