Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
EGC announces OPALCO board candidates
Nominations by petition due February 17 ||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| The volunteer member Elections & Governance Committee (EGC) has completed their nominations process and selected a slate of candidates for the 2023 OPALCO Board of Directors election. There are two open positions one
DOH launches Influenza Vaccination Dashboard
First time state-provided data used to surveil flu vaccinations ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH) new Influenza (Flu) Vaccination Dashboard makes it easier to track flu vaccination rates across the state. This is the first time that state-provided data have been used to surveil flu
Whale Museum on the search for a Finance Manager
||| FROM TATE THOMPSON for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| The Whale Museum is seeking qualified applicants for the Finance Manager position. The Finance Manager is responsible for all financial matters for the museum, including record keeping and planning for business transactions. This position requires advanced accounting skills in order to
OCS student takes first solo flight
||| FROM ROBERT WAUNCH for AIRHAWKS FLYING CLUB ||| It was a cold overcast afternoon as Tony Simpson stepped out of the aircraft and told Nicholas Rivera, a senior at Orcas Christian School, “you’re on your own.” Nicholas then proceeded to make 5 takeoffs and landings SOLO; a once in
PeaceHealth Peace Island adds cardiac MRIs to diagnostic imaging toolkit
||| FROM ANNE WILLIAMS for PEACEHEALTH PEACE ISLAND MEDICAL CENTER ||| PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center marked a milestone in its diagnostic imaging capabilities last month when a local resident became the first patient to receive a cardiac MRI on-site. An MRI—which stands for magnetic resonance imaging—is a radiation-free scanning
GoFundMe account set up for local islander
||| FROM LAUREL RUST ||| Those of you who come through the Orcas ferry landing know Dylan Ghiz-Sunn, the young ferry worker who is unfailingly helpful, patient and unflappable. Recently Brian Benthin, a life-long Orcas resident and the father of Dylan's wife, Breena, died unexpectedly. This resourceful and hardworking young
Our school kids deserve the same State support as other districts
||| FROM AYN GAILEY for ORCAS SCHOOL BOARD ||| We believe our island children matter as much as Seattle’s. If you believe that, please read on: Around 2018, the state made two legislative changes that, combined, caused our San Juan County Island schools to lose upwards of $500,000 annually from
Orcas are contaminated with a forever chemical associated with an unlikely product
||| FROM SCIENCE ALERT ||| Orca whales are some of the most contaminated marine mammals in the world. The species are full of chemicals – from "highly toxic and carcinogenic" PCBs to the infamous insecticide DDT. Now, a group of scientists has discovered another chemical of concern – and it's associated with toilet paper. Scientists
Meet your School Board member Ayn Carrillo-Gailey
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL BOARD ||| Ayn Carrillo-Gailey moved to the island in 2016 with her husband, novelist Samuel Gailey and their daughter Gray (OISD Senior). She joined the OISD School Board in 2017. She has a background in education is continuing her service on our School Board because
Join San Juan County Land Bank for an open house meeting
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| Join the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank for an open house meeting on February 15 to provide input on three Lopez Preserves: Spencer Spit, Richardson Marsh, and Lopez Hill. View of Spencer Spit Preserve from ferry Spencer Spit Preserve is 18
Guest Opinion | Corrections, updates to previous Port column
||| FROM SADIE BAILEY ||| My guest editorial of January 23 concerning the Port Special Meeting generated interest; I am grateful. However, some of my facts were wrong or misleading. The Port was concerned about this and what they thought was my alarmist tone. True, I can be alarmist -
Meet your School Board member, Chris Sutton
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| I am a dad, a garage-tinkerer, a software developer, and a community volunteer. My son is in grade 10, my daughter graduated in 2020 and is now in college. I graduated from OISD in 1988. I re-joined the School Board after serving eight
Rom-com double feature coming up for Valentine’s Day
||| FROM AYN GAILEY ||| Valentine’s Weekend Event!!! February 10. Parents of the Orcas Island High School Senior Class of 2023 invite you to a rom-com double feature at the Seaview Theatre. The event is open to the public. Admission is by donation-pay-what-you-can for both screenings. 100% of donations received will
Island Health is offering four-week hypertension series
||| FROM RACHEL LAMBERT for ISLAND HEALTH ||| This four-week series will focus on education and preventative strategies for high blood pressure (hypertension). Join an expert at each session to learn easy and sustainable ways you can make a difference for your heart. Instructors include Jason Hogge, MD, Chief Medical
Sun Days on Orcas | Growing up in the Orcas Hotel, Part II
||| SUN DAYS ON ORCAS by EDEE KULPER ||| Without further ado, here is the continuation of Clark Cundy’s stories from last week about growing up here on the island and in The Orcas Hotel… 4. Will you share with us some of your colorful memories of growing up in
IPC-Orcas adds new family medicine provider
||| FROM RACHEL LAMBERT for ISLAND HEALTH ||| Jennifer Simpson-Manske, MD Jennifer Simpson-Manske, MD, joins the Island Primary Care - Orcas Clinic as a full-time family medicine provider for island patients. She comes most recently from New Mexico, and she has been a practicing family physician for 24
