Here’s a thought…
“Neither the evil nor the good in our history determines who we are. It is what we do now. If we do not say something ourselves about this horror, we allow ourselves to be changed.”
TIMOTHY SNYDER
It’s time to license your dog for 2023
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Auditor’s office is ready for the 2023 dog licensing season! Each year, the department has the pleasure of recognizing a ‘Celebrity Dog’ and issuing them the first dog tag. Competition in 2023 was steep and just one Celebrity Dog
Retirement send-off for Milene Henley set for Thursday
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Retiring San Juan County Auditor, F. Milene Henley The retirement send-off for San Juan County’s Auditor, Milene Henley, has been rescheduled for Thursday, December 29 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at the San Juan County Courthouse. As warmer weather permits safer travel,
Letter to Editor | Every all-electric domicile needs a back-up alternative heat source
||| FROM SADIE BAILEY ||| This letter has been brewing for years. After last Thursday night's 10 hr power outage, and another hours-long outage last Saturday, it's time to speak my mind. We got lucky that these happened after the sub-zero wind chill nights, but I see this as a
OPALCO tackles second power outage on Christmas Eve
OPALCO has redundancy in mind ||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| At 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 24, all of San Juan County lost power again – after experiencing a county wide outage only the day before. An OPALCO engineer happened to be driving through
Public meetings with WSF folks are on tap in January
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Save the date! We’re hosting a series of virtual public meetings. On 1/11 and 1/12, WSF staff will be answering questions and giving an update on what’s happening at the Washington State Ferries. Go to http://bit.ly/WSFCommunityParticipation for more information about how to participate. Hope to hear
In his memory, Ken Balcomb’s whale research work will go on
||| FROM HOWARD GARRETT for CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Ken Balcomb, the Center for Whale Research founder, respected orca researcher, and my beloved brother passed on December 15, 2022. Ken and I shared a fascination and passion for whales, leading us to lifelong careers in the field. As a
Health Care District has a job opening for Administrative Assistant
||| FROM CHRIS CHORD for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD) is seeking a half-time Administrative Assistant to work directly with the District Superintendent. Hours can be flexible. OIHCD provides financial support to the Island Primary Care-Orcas Clinic to ensure that high quality
It’s Boxing Day. What does that mean?
||| FROM ALMANAC.COM ||| Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26! This year, that’s a Monday. Why is it called Boxing Day? And what, if anything, does boxing have to do with it? Boxing Day, like a box, has many points of interest. Enjoy these Boxing Day recipes, a short history
Sun Days on Orcas | What you can’t find under the tree
||| SUN DAYS ON ORCAS by EDEE KULPER ||| What do you really need on this Christmas day? Even if you don't need it, what is it you long for? What do you want? If you could be given anything by anyone, tangible or intangible, what would it be? Do
Larsen secures $31,529,221 for 15 local projects in omnibus spending package
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| [On Friday, December 23], Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted for the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus spending package, which included funding Larsen secured for fifteen projects in the Second District that local leaders and stakeholders identified as critical to their communities. The package
As the Paradigm Shifts | Those gifts of Christmas that keep on giving
||| AS THE PARADIGM SHIFTS by ROSIE KUHN ||| In 1968, when I was about six years old, on a wintry Christmas Eve, my father was driving my five siblings and me home from an adventure in the City of Detroit. He was a doctor at Detroit Memorial Hospital. And,
Sheriff’s Report | December 14 – 20, 2022
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14 22-008794 Domestic Dispute or Assault 07:52:59 12/14/22 Deputies responded to a report of a Domestic in Friday Harbor. After gathering information from the parties involved, One person was arrested for Assault 4th Degree-Domestic Violence. The arrested person was taken
Our ferry schedule is currently discombobulated
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| For Friday, December 23, the #3 Samish & #4 Sealth are tied up for the rest of the evening which will cancel the remaining vessels' scheduled sailings. In order to accommodate traffic affected by this disruption, remaining vessels will make unscheduled stops throughout the
Extreme winter weather leads to countywide 10-hour power outage
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| Just before 5 pm on Thursday, December 22, as temperatures dipped into the low 20s, a mainland electrical feeder serving San Juan County lost power. Shortly after the power went out, the Bonneville Power (BPA) team helped identify the
Funhouse finds even more reason to celebrate: Peer mentors
||| FROM EMILIE GINCIG for FUNHOUSE COMMONS ||| Orcas Peer Mentors Celebrate the Holidays With the holidays upon us Orcas teenagers have wasted no time in finding ways to celebrate. This year The Funhouse Commons partnered again with the Orcas Island School District to offer our peer mentoring program. Every
Last-minute college essay help to be available at Library next week
||| FROM SAMUEL GAILEY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Getting into college is more competitive than ever, with admission rates at an all-time low. The college essay is one powerful way Orcas Island students can stand out, and this program aims to help with that. The library will have volunteer
