Here’s a thought…
“Deep breath. Deep breath. The air is free. You can take as many as you want.”
BUDDHIST MONK
‘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.
Letter to Editor | Thanks for supporting my Senior Project
||| FROM UMA MCMURRAY ||| A big THANK YOU to everyone who came out and donated and supported my Senior Project Donation Drive the weekend of April 30. We received several tables worth of good items! A beautiful dollhouse, tambourines, drum sets and bongos, cat leashes, craft paper, hand shovels,
Healthcare career training being offered by EDC and Cornerstone
||| FROM MARTI MCCONNELL for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| Those seeking to enter health care careers, obtain side income while helping their neighbors, or boost personal care business are invited to get free Home Care Aide (HCA)EDC_TradesTrainingInitiative_March2022 training through a program offered by the Economic Development Council (EDC) in partnership
EDC partners with Seafarers Worldwide, EDASC to offer maritime workshop
||| FROM MARTI MCCONNELL for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF SAN JUAN COUNTY ||| In an effort to address the nationwide demand for a skilled maritime workforce, Seafarers Worldwide Career Training is partnering with the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC) and the EDC of San Juan County to offer
Prune Alley construction activities to continue tomorrow (Friday)
||| FROM COLIN HUNTAMER for SJC PUBLIC WORKS ||| Onsite construction actives on Prune Alley are expected to continue tomorrow (Friday May 13). Onsite construction activities will cease throughout the weekend, resuming again on Monday May 16. Please continue to adhere to all posted traffic control devices and instructions from
Master Gardeners to be available rest of season on 3rd Wednesdays for your questions
||| FROM DIANNE MACONDRAY for MASTER GARDENERS OF SAN JUAN COUNTY ||| What a spring - like none other! Now with flowers blooming and so much green we have hope for warmer days and a successful gardening season. But, sometimes our gardens betray our hard work and we find ourselves
National performing arts non-profit Turning the Wheel returns to Orcas
||| FROM SUZANNE PALMER for TURNING THE WHEEL PRODUCTIONS||| WHAT: Unique, week-long expressive arts programming & performances with Orcas youth & teachers WHEN: Fall, 2022 WHERE: Salmonberry School, Funhouse Commons, Old Fellows Hall, Children’s House, Orcas Island Christian School, and other locations. HOW TO SUPPORT: https://oicf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create?grant_id=21286 Turning the Wheel has
EDC launches tech accelerator training initiative with first course in HTML, CSS, JavaScript
||| FROM VICTORIA COMPTON for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC), in an effort to train local workers into high-wage, skilled tech jobs, has launched a Tech Accelerator Training Initiative to serve island youth, unemployed and underemployed workers, and business owners needing technological assistance
Tomato soup on the waterfront
||| FROM RUSSEL BARSH for KWIAHT ||| An exceptionally large, dense orange algal bloom developed in Crescent Beach and Fishing Bay beginning Monday May 9 following several weeks of sporadic rainfall and a few days of warmer sunshine over the island. The culprit, as usual, is Noctiluca scintillans (“scintillating night
UPDATE | Orcas Island Food Bank notes many qualify for food assistance, yet don’t use it
||| FROM RICK RHOADS for ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK ||| UPDATE: In April the federal government raised the maximum income levels to qualify for TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program), presumably because of inflation. The numbers in the story that's now online are therefore no longer accurate. Here are the
Statement from Gov. Jay Inslee in response to federal report regarding Native boarding schools
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| The U.S. Department of the Interior released a national investigative report today that identified more than 400 federally-run schools for Native American children, including 15 in Washington state. The report is the first step for the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative launched by Secretary
Artist talk series taking place May – September
||| FROM GLENN HENDRICK for ALCHEMY ART CENTER ||| Alchemy Art Center, in partnership with the San Juan Island Museum of Art, is hosting an artist talk series featuring visiting and local artists. Talks will take place in the upstairs workshop area of the SJIMA (located at 540 Spring St)
Orcas Island Food Bank notes many qualify for food assistance, yet don’t use it
||| FROM RICK RHOADS for ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK ||| Free food can change the lives of people struggling to keep up with the increased cost of food, housing, gas, medical care, and other necessities. For example, on a typical weekly visit to the Orcas Island Food Bank (OIFB), a
OWC Environmental Action Team calls for breach of four Snake River dams
||| FROM SUSAN BAUER for OWC ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION TEAM ||| The Orcas Women’s Coalition’s Environmental Action Team (“EAT”) recently adopted a resolution that calls for Congress, by 12/31/2022, to set aside funds and draw up plans for the breaching or removal of the four Lower Snake River dams in the
Orcas Garden Club has a warning about Western Tent Caterpillars this year
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Orcas Garden Club member, Nancy Schafer, has alerted us to the probability of a Western Tent Caterpillar infestation this year. We reached out to WSU Entomology expert, Dr. Charlie Coslor, who corroborated Nancy’s prediction and added, “It is normal for western tent caterpillars
Here is the Canoe Journey schedule of Orcas activities
||| FROM DAVID TURNOY for CANOE JOURNEY ||| A number of folks have been asking for a guide to the events that are part of the upcoming Canoe Journey, so I am endeavoring to provide the best information I have at this point. This is the full itinerary for the
