Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Washington launches new website to track recovery efforts for orca population
||| FROM THURSTON TALK ||| The Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office launched a new Web site today to track recovery efforts for the endangered Southern Resident orcas. “The website is beautiful and chock full of information,” said Tara Galuska, the Governor’s orca recovery coordinator. “The website is an easy way for people to
Oversize vessel spotted in East Sound
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| A few days (weeks) ago, on the afternoon of Wednesday May 4, actually, an oversized vessel was spotted in East Sound. When a resident called the Sheriff's Office to report this unusual incident, the call was referred to a Lopez (?!) Deputy. Being
Poetry | Credo by Bruce Hanna
||| FROM BRUCE HANNA ||| As age mellows my edges I wonder if I can find words for the positive core that guides my life – a credo – verbal symbols for the positive aspect, the awe and gratitude I awake into nearly each day. I am in awe…
Tips on planting over a septic drainage field
||| FROM SJC WSU MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM ||| The Master Gardeners occasionally get questions about planting over a septic drainage field. This came up as a "chat" query during Margaret Payne's recent Zoom presentation to the Lopez and Orcas garden clubs. If a home is in a wooded area, the
Change of leadership at Islands’ Oil Spill Association (IOSA)
||| FROM ISLANDS OIL SPILL ASSOCIATION ||| The IOSA Board of Directors would like to share with the community the news that IOSA’s Executive Director Tony Parkin is stepping back from the position at the end of May. Current Board Member Paul Hamdorf has graciously agreed to serve as IOSA’s
Nat’l. Weather Service issues an unusual high wind advisory
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| It isn’t often that the National Weather Services issues a high wind advisory for the islands in mid-May, but that’s exactly what they’ve done for 5am to 8pm on Wednesday. URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Seattle WA 255 PM PDT
Marianne Lewis resigns as Choral Society artistic director
||| FROM JULIE RUSBY for ORCAS CHORAL SOCIETY ||| Marianne Lewis The Orcas Choral Society board of directors wishes to announce that Marianne Lewis has resigned from her role as artistic director. We have truly enjoyed singing with Marianne and appreciate her tremendous devotion to the choir. We
GiveOrcas closes out campaign by fully funding all proposals. Celebration on Thursday
||| FROM MEGAN NEAL for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION || The Orcas Island Community Foundation wrapped up its annual Spring GiveOrcas campaign Monday night, fully funding all 27 grant proposals. OICF entered this grant cycle with big dreams and a bit of uncertainty about how it would play out. Over
Library Board to gather in special meeting Friday
||| FROM JANET MARLOW for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The Orcas Island Library Board will be having a special meeting this Friday, May 20. Please find the agenda attached HERE.
Guest Opinion | In response to Prune Alley construction complaints
||| FROM LEITH TEMPLIN ||| Thank you , William Wright, for your comments. There were hundreds of hours put into informing and consulting the public, property owners and anybody that was interested in this project that has been being planned for years. I will try to answer John’s question. The
Salish Sea Early Music Festival wraps up season with Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto
||| FROM JEFFREY COHAN for SALISH SEA EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| Two of Johann Sebastian Bach’s most profound orchestral works will be offered in "Bach: Fifth Brandenburg Concerto and Triple Concerto," the final program in the 2022 Salish Sea Early Music Festival. Jonathan Oddie, newly named professor of harpsichord at
CWR shares some incredible drone footage of our orca
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Michael and Darren left the dock at 14:25 on a report of a group of killer whales south of Lopez Island. They arrived on scene at 15:24 at the south end of Rosario Strait and began observation with the UAV. The T65Bs and
Planning Board draft adds bike lanes, subtracts shore roads
||| BY STEVE BERNHEIM, theORCASONIAN REPORTER ||| The Planning Commission met May 6 to review the long overdue Transportation Element of the County’s draft comprehensive plan for the planning period from 2016-2036 and agreed to help promote cycling and retreat from shoreline roadways threatened by maintenance burdens from global warming.
Land Bank to host forest demonstration project tour of Turtleback Mountain Preserve in June
Friday, June 3, 2022 | 5:30pm – 7pm ||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank, in partnership with the Islands Conservation Corps, Rain Shadow Consulting and the San Juan Preservation Trust are offering a tour to highlight recent forest
New road signage will remind us all to ‘secure our load’
||| FROM HEATHER WALLACE for ORCAS RECYCLING SERVICES/THE EXCHANGE ||| In the coming months, San Juan County will be adding new road signage on Shaw Island, Lopez Island, Orcas Island and San Juan Island to continue to promote and encourage the need to Secure Your Load for Safer Roads. The
Health Care District has a meeting coming up
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE, ACTING SUPERINTENDENT FOR OI HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The Agenda and Materials (Board Packet) for the May 17, 2022 Board meeting of the Orcas Island Health Care District will be posted May 16. You can access the agenda and meeting materials at the link HERE. Commissioners
