Here’s a thought…
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and the government when it deserves it.”
MARK TWAIN
‘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.
Council still on deck for climate change
||| BY STAFF REPORTER SHIN BREEM ||| “It’s all hands on deck,” said one County official as the County Council unveiled its long-awaited first draft of a proposed series of priorities to address possible approaches to final decisions about parameters for further aggressive action on climate. “When the ship is
Roulac’s Qigong series returns to Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS ISLAND SENIOR CENTER ||| Joan Roulac Quiet the mind and strengthen the body with Joan Roulac’s Ease Please four week Qigong series. These 15-minute sessions will gently loosen muscles, strengthen immunity, build balance, and increase energy. Series begins either Wednesday, April 6
You’re invited to IT Basics for Business workshop
||| FROM GAIL SCHNEE for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| The Economic Development Council of San Juan County (EDC) invites business owners and entrepreneurs to an informative workshop on IT Basics for Business. Course instructor Monica Johns is a serial entrepreneur, a program management leader, a Wharton MBA, and Certified Scrum
Springtime brings new works to Friday Harbor Atelier
||| FROM SHANNON BORG for FRIDAY HARBOR ATELIER ||| Winter has given us an opportunity to go inward and springtime brings the promise of new creativity, as the artists of the Friday Harbor Atelier open the doors to a new season with new artworks by more than a dozen member
Inside OCRC are food access programs for Orcas Islanders
||| FROM MEGAN EHRMANTRAUT for ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month? As March comes to a close, OCRC wants to ensure that islanders are aware of the many food access programs available to eligible San Juan County residents. OCRC offers program assistance
Local author captures essence of Orcas Island life in her new book
||| FROM EDEE KULPER ||| Edee Kulper, local author and Orcasonian columnist Edee Kulper has just published a new book called Life on Orcas Island! Mark your calendars for April 7 at 6 p.m. for her book release at the Orcas Island Library, where locals and people pictured
Guest Opinion | Discussing whether OPALCO should pay dues to Lower Snake River dam lobbyists
||| FROM SHARON GRACE ||| Is breaching the four lower Snake River dams a tough decision for us or OPALCO? While anything can be argued from many sides, where do the facts lead? Do economics, science and ethics strongly point in one direction towards breaching the four dams? The Bonneville
‘Two Little Ducks; Quack Quack’ the Fair is back!
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Calling all San Juan County businesses, restaurants, non-profits, organizations, service groups, cottage industries, artists, and more to participate by signing up for vendor booth space at the 2022 San Juan County Fair, August 17 - 20. Reserve your vendor booth space visit at www.sjcfair.org under
Be sure to catch this April art exhibit at Orcas Island Library
||| FROM DAVE KOSIUR for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY || This month, the Orcas Island Library features work by Michael Armenia, a multidisciplinary artist. As Michael has said: "I live every moment as an artist whether I am composing music, writing prose or poetry, painting, creating digital works, or washing the
Bill to conserve Washington kelp and eelgrass forests signed into law
||| FROM WA STATE SENATE DEMOCRATS ||| OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee today signed legislation to conserve and restore the plants that are foundational to the state’s marine ecosystems. Senate Bill 5619, known as the Kelp Forest and Eelgrass Meadow Conservation Initiative, was sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes) at
Second COVID-19 booster dose recommended for certain individuals
Additional mRNA dose will help further increase protection for those at highest risk ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – People age 50 and older and certain immunocompromised individuals can now get a second booster dose of an mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after
John Geyman, M.D. has written a new book on transformation of health care since 1960
||| FROM EMILY GEYMAN ||| Transformation of U.S. Health Care 1960-2020 One Family Physician's Journey is a new book by John Geyman, M.D. Dr. Geyman takes a reader on a trip through health care in the United States in the last 60 years by weaving the changes into his perspective as
Poetry | Glory to Ukraine
||| FROM W. A. SCHMIDT ||| Glory to Ukraine A poem by wasakalobo Zelensky's unmatched bravery His life-affirming fame Put Putin's endless knavery And cowardice to shame A soulless bully who likes death Who sends his thugs to kill Will hopefully end like Macbeth For Putin's only thrill Is naked
Save now! Pay later! OPALCO’s Switch It Up program expands
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| OPALCO members can now finance up $100,000 (per membership) in efficiency upgrades for their home or business. Projects that qualify include home heating units (ducted and ductless), smart thermostats, weatherization measures like windows, doors and insulation, solar and battery
The glaring divide of COVID-19 death rates between red and blue America
||| FROM MSN.COM ||| Political polarization in the U.S. was evident and intensifying long before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, two years ago. Americans were already deeply divided about a multitude of issues, with differing opinions concerning healthcare, immigration, voting rights, gun reform and climate change, often leaving little
