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
Ken Balcomb passed away today
Kenneth C. Balcomb 1940-2022 ||| FROM THE CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| With profound sadness, the Center for Whale Research announces the passing of our beloved founder and longtime leader Kenneth C. Balcomb. Ken’s family and loved ones surrounded him in his final hours on December 15, 2022. He was
Help shape the future of internet access in Washington
||| FROM SJC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| Washington state’s funding partners, working to expand broadband access to all businesses and residents, are asking the public to help check FCC data in a recently published National Broadband Map. The accuracy of this map is essential to future broadband funding in Washington, in
OPALCO Board nominations open December 16
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER AND LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| OPALCO nominations for board candidates are now open. You can help shape our energy future! There are two positions open: one position in District 1 (San Juan, Brown, Henry, Pearl and Spieden islands) and one in District 2 (Orcas,
San Juan County Fair seeks artists for 2023 poster
"Dancing with the steers!" ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Parks and Fair staff are already planning for the 2023 Fair! It is with great excitement that San Juan County announces the theme: “Dancing with the Steers,” a play on the TV show “Dancing with the
Needham brings decades of leadership and executive-level experience to Island Health
||| FROM LAURA MORONEY for ISLAND HEALTH ||| Tammy Needham joins the Island Health team Tammy Needham, MSN, BSN, BAOM, RN joined Island Health’s Senior Leadership Team as its new Chief Clinical Officer this week. Needham recently served as Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer at University
Gig Harbor proclaims support for legal recognition of rights of Southern Resident Orca; becomes second city in Washington to do so
||| FROM KRISS KEVORKIAN for LEGAL RIGHTS FOR THE SALISH SEA ||| Gig Harbor, WA (December 13th, 2022)—Yesterday evening, Gig Harbor’s Mayor Tracie Markley signed a Proclamation describing the City of Gig Harbor’s support for action by local, state, federal and tribal governments that secure and effectuate the inherent rights
Daycares in Finland built a ‘forest’, and it changed kids’ immune systems
||| FROM SCIENCE ALERT ||| Playing through the greenery and litter of a mini forest's undergrowth for just one month may be enough to change a child's immune system, according to an experiment in Finland. When daycare workers rolled out a lawn, planted forest undergrowth (such as dwarf heather and
OPALCO to undertake power line clearing to improve safety, reliability, wildfire prevention
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER AND LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| OPALCO is clearing the right-of-way areas under power lines to protect the island’s electrical system. This clearing prevents power outages caused by overhanging trees and branches, removes forest fuels that could feed a wildfire and improves safety and access
Larsen applauds $7.6 Million for coastal resilience projects in Northwest Washington
Snohomish County, Whidbey Camano Land Trust and Tulalip Tribes Awarded Grants ||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| EVERETT, WA – This week, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced more than $136 million to enable coastal communities in Washington state
Floating Ukulele Jam Holiday Jammie Jam to entertain on inter-island
||| FROM ANITA ORNE for FLOATING UKULELE JAM HOLIDAY JAMMIE JAM ||| The Floating Ukulele Jam Holiday Jammie Jam is on! Grab your uke, your pajamas, your voice, a song (holiday or otherwise) to share, and your friends and relations and join us on the interisland ferry on the traditional
Attacks on Pacific north-west power stations raise fears for US electric grid
Series of attacks come after assault on North Carolina facilities cut electricity to 40,000 ||| FROM THE GUARDIAN ||| A string of attacks on power facilities in Oregon and Washington has caused alarm and highlighted the vulnerabilities of the US electric grid. The attacks in the Pacific north-west come just days after a
Sun Days on Orcas | Pondering God, Part II of III
|||SUN DAYS ON ORCAS by EDEE KULPER ||| If you didn't happen to read last week's column, I am asking my brother some theological questions from afar (emailing him in Illinois, and he emails me back.) I love hearing his opinions, and I know he is no lemming, so I'm
Land Bank monthly meeting coming up, followed by annual retreat
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting December 16, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m., followed by the annual retreat, via Microsoft Teams. The meeting will also be available for in person public attendance at the San Juan
Library Board moves regular monthly meeting
||| FROM JANET MARLOW for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The Orcas Island Library Board had to move their regularly scheduled monthly meeting. It will now be held on Wednesday, December 14, at noon. 12 - December 14 2022 Regular Mtg Agenda Participation is welcome by Zoom or in person. Please
See what’s on tap at our Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Breakthrough Speech-Language Pathology Healthcare @ Orcas Senior Center – Monday, December 12 Speech-Language Pathologist, Libby Lewis, will offer free cognition and swallow screenings at Orcas Senior Center on Monday, December 12. Screenings involve a review of concerns, a brief one-page assessment
As the Paradigm Shifts | Sitting in the extraordinariness of someone else’s dream
||| AS THE PARADIGM SHIFTS by ROSIE KUHN ||| Last night I watched the movie Spirited, with Will Ferrel, Ryan Reynolds and so many great actors—and with a huge cast (Written and produced by Sean Anders and John Morris. It’s on AppleTV). WOW!! The WOW! for me is that this
