Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Weapons of Mass Delight to be unleashed at Moran’s hootenanny
||| FROM TOM RAWSON ||| On Saturday, July 9. I’m bringing my arsenal of WMD (Weapons of Mass Delight—banjo and other very happy noisemakers) to Cascade Lake. I'm teaming up with Ellen van der Hoeven and Tow Away Zone (Carl Burger, Rebecca Cohen, Marj Franke, and Tish Knapp) to strike
Letter to Editor | Mercy Pilots are a vital, welcome addition to island life
||| FROM KAREN J. KEY SPECK ||| During the Fourth of July Parade, MC Ken and I are asked to impromptu add things via the public address system. Sometimes we can and sometimes we are just juggling a whole bunch while also announcing the parade entrants. We intended to mention
Women who lead: San Juans to have first all-woman county council
||| FROM NANCY DEVAUX, SALISH CURRENT ||| #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter, #EqualPayforEqualWork, #TitleIX, #RoeVsWade … headlines and hashtags have marked the steep and torturous paths women have faced in their battle for equality. Fifty years ago, the San Juan County Council was routinely all men — and all Republicans. Since then, a
Port issues RFQ for developing several projects over next 5 years
||| FROM JEANNIE SHARPE for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas is requesting interested firms to submit their qualifications for engineering services (attached) to assist the Port in developing several projects over the next five years at the Orcas Island Airport, Eastsound WA. Services will include, but not
Island Health classes in the offing
||| FROM RACHEL LAMBERT for ISLAND HEALTH ||| Living Better with Diabetes Join Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist Amanda Lungren in a discussion on healthy eating, being active, and reducing risks to help manage diabetes on Thursday, July 21 at 1 p.m. This is a free, online
Tonight’s concerts have moved indoors to the Black Box Theatre due to weather
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Youssoupha Sidibe is a Senegalese West African Kora (African Harp) player. Throw out all your ideas of what a harpist is, Youssoupha breaks out of traditional Kora styles many hundreds of years old, to create a new style that has never been
Sun Days on Orcas | Veteran John Erly’s thoughts about 4th of July
||| SUN DAYS ON ORCAS by EDEE KULPER ||| Our neighbor is an electrician here on the island and his work has taken him to many, if not most, islanders' homes and businesses. The other day I asked him who he thinks of as a quintessential veteran on Orcas Island,
Washington is a sanctuary state for abortion
Inslee and state legislators respond to Supreme Court decision ||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee held a press conference on Saturday, June 25 to declare Washington a sanctuary state for those seeking abortion care. The press conference followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs
Midnight Mutterings | Tipping point?
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| When did it happen? When did she realize she couldn’t look the other way any longer? Had she previously chosen to believe what she saw and heard wasn’t happening? That in the big scheme of things it wasn’t the most important thing? That
Although Prune Alley work encounters supply chain disruptions, work continues
||| FROM COLIN HUNTAMER for SJC PUBLIC WORKS ||| Progress Update: This weeks planned work activities were impacted by supply chain disruptions in the construction industry. Unfortunately many industries continue to operate with single points of failure which are especially vulnerable and disruptive in our island community. All project work is
Health Care District appoints Carolyn Fiscus to vacant seat
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE FOR OIHCD ||| Carolyn Fiscus This Spring, Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD) Commissioners appointed Carolyn Fiscus to serve the remainder of Art Lange’s term. Ms. Fiscus will serve until the November 2023 elections. For those of us who don’t know her, Carolyn has
Sheriff’s Report | June 21 – 28, 2022
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| TUESDAY, JUNE 21 22-004031 Accident-NonInj 23:07:29 06/21/22 A Lopez Deputy responded to an accident without injury. A vehicle traveling downhill from Pavey Boulevard swerved around a deer and struck a tree. There were no injuries and minimal property damage. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22
Some timely reminders for July 4th safety
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – As many prepare for Fourth of July gatherings and summer outings, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) wants to remind folks to stay healthy and celebrate safely. “Have a safe summer. Be aware of hazards and take precautions to protect yourself
What you should know about parking in Eastsound this weekend (and rest of summer)
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ||| As you all know, driving and parking in Eastsound this summer is extremely frustrating. The Prune Alley project will end in a few months, but until that time please consider having employees park slightly away from the busy North Beach and A
Letter to Editor | Massive ‘thanks’ from A*OK
||| FROM SUSAN SINGLETON, BROOK MEINHARDT, & DANNA KINSEY for A*OK ||| Dear Neighbors and Friends, As the 2021/22 school year comes to a close, we just want to say an extra big thank you for the support you have given to A*OK (a program of the Orcas Island Education
State continues with weekly COVID case updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 1,659,152 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on June 28. There have been 13,129 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent number of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
