Here’s a thought…
“Deep breath. Deep breath. The air is free. You can take as many as you want.”
BUDDHIST MONK
Got visitors? Get your copy of the San Juan Islands Stewardship Guide
||| FROM AMY NESLER for SJ VISITORS BUREAU ||| Do you care about how our visitors treat the San Juan Islands? Then you’ll love the colorful Stewardship Guides from San Juan County Public Works! Jam-packed with tips covering everything from water and trash to noise and wildlife, these guides engage
Kaleidoscope awarded grant to fund outdoor nature based program expansion
||| FROM AMBER PAULSEN for KALEIDOSCOPE ||| Kaleidoscope, a non-profit preschool and childcare center on Orcas Island, was recently awarded a $700,000 grant by the Washington State Department of Commerce Early Learning Facilities grant program. The grant will bring critical financial resources into our community and support Kaleidoscope in funding
Hurry! Orcas Center’s online auction closes June 12
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| This year, Orcas Center has taken their silent auction online at www.OrcasCenter.org/auction. Bid on themed packages filled will delights from many local businesses, restaurants, and artisans, including Matia’s, Darvill’s, Pawki’s, Orcas Island Winery, Island Thyme, Hogstone’s, Buck Bay Shellfish Farm, Brown Bear
‘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 District makes changes to meeting dates
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH DISTRICT ||| At its meeting June 7, the Orcas Island Health District Board of Commissioners moved by resolution the dates of its regular meetings from the first Tuesday to the fourth Tuesday of the month starting June 28. The move will allow more timely financial reporting
Reminder: WSF virtual community meetings next week
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Next week, join one of our virtual community meetings for an update on WSF, ask questions, and learn about upcoming summer service, hiring challenges and successes, and our continued COVID-19 response. Register for the 1 p.m. June 14 meeting here. Register for the 6 p.m. June
Larsen secures key wins for NW Washington’s maritime infrastructure in bipartisan Water Resources Development Act
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) applauded House-passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA 2022), legislation to authorize critical investments in Northwest Washington ports, inland waterways, flood management systems, ecosystems and other water resources infrastructure. WRDA 2022 passed the
Letter to Editor | If we were to see the actual results of gun violence…
||| FROM JAMES SCHEIB ||| Our people don’t know, in their souls, the true cost of violence because they don’t see the bodies. People come apart when hit with military or big game hunting grade small arms bullets. The description in literature, “people were shot to pieces,” is accurate. I’m
Warm Valley Farm 100-year-old farm house to be replaced with event space
||| FROM JEFF PLATT ||| The story behind the original farmhouse at Warm Valley Farm on Orca Island is a 100-year tale of expansions and additions. However, these days it's best known for sinking and slumping lower and lower towards the dirt. In fact, the current owners say if you've
Airhawks Flying Club shares another success story
||| FROM BOB WAUNCH for AIRHAWKS FLYING CLUB ||| Airhawks Flying Club is proud to announce another significant award to one of our High School Flight Training Scholarship recipients, Bethany Carter. Bethany, who just completed her sophomore year at OIHS, previously received a $4,000 Flight Training Scholarship from the Airhawks.
San Juan County announces resurfacing of nearly nine miles of roads this summer
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS ||| San Juan County’s Public Works Department is announcing its annual summer road resurfacing schedule to chip seal nearly nine miles of roads on San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez Island. Chip sealing is a pavement treatment that extends the life of the road
The Olga Store is coming back to life
||| FROM GAY PARESKY for OLGA STORE ||| We, Friends of the Olga Store Building (FOSB), are excited to announce the beginning of Phase III which will complete the renovation of the beloved building that will soon house the Post Office and a small “satellite” of Orcas Food Co-op. With
There’s still time: Orcas Center’s online auction closes Sunday, June 12
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| This year, Orcas Center has taken their silent auction online at www.OrcasCenter.org/auction. Bid on themed packages filled will delights from many local businesses, restaurants, and artisans, including Matia’s, Darvill’s, Pawki’s, Orcas Island Winery, Island Thyme, Hogstone’s, Buck Bay Shellfish Farm, Brown Bear
Air medical transport memberships: Why you need all three
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| When a patient needs rapid transport from the San Juan Islands, emergency service providers call for air medical transport from one of three providers – Island Air, Airlift Northwest, and Life Flight. The decision for which air transport provider
Notice of a special School Board meeting
Thursday, June 9, 2022 5 p.m. SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD Mtg./ 2022-23 BUDGET WORK SESSION ||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| Notice of a SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING The Orcas Island School District School Board will be hosting their meeting In-Person and Via Zoom. Zoom link: 5:00pm CALL TO ORDER
EDC announces new trades, tech training coordinators
||| FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| The EDC of San Juan County is pleased to announce that Marti McConnell and Jillian Urbach have joined their staff as Trades Training Coordinator and Tech Training Coordinator. Marti McConnell Ms. McConnell joins the EDC as the new Trades Training Coordinator. A
