Here’s a thought…
“I am so convinced of the advantages of looking at mankind instead of reading about them, and of the bitter effects of staying at home with all the narrow prejudices of an islander, that I think there should be a law amongst us to set our young men abroad for a term among the few allies our wars have left us.”
LORD BYRON
Lolita the orca may be moving, Miami-Dade mayor says
||| FROM LOCAL10.COM ||| MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Lolita, the ailing orca at the Miami Seaquarium, could be on the move soon, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava exclusively told Local 10 News. On Monday morning, Sky 10 flew over Lolita’s tank. The 56-year-old killer whale also known as Tokitae or
County Home Fund helps create more affordable housing
||| SUBMITTED BY SAN JUAN CO. HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE ||| A local program, the San Juan County Home Fund, is playing a significant role in addressing the County’s severe shortage of affordable housing. In 2018, voters approved a 0.5% real estate excise tax (REET) specifically to help fund affordable housing.
Governors Newsom, Brown, and Inslee announce updated health guidance
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| With declining case rates and hospitalizations across the west, California, Oregon and Washington are moving together to update their masking guidance. After 11:59 p.m. on March 11, California, Oregon and Washington will be adopting new indoor mask policies and move from
Friends of San Juans welcomes new legal director, staff attorney
||| FROM SHANNON DAVIS for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| James McCubbin, an experienced land-use attorney, joins the Friends staff on March 1st. Friends of the San Juans is thrilled to welcome James McCubbin, our new Legal Director and Staff Attorney, to our team. For 20 years,
Funhouse opens Stepping Up! program for registration
Stepping Up will be held Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from March 14-June 9 ||| FROM LIZ DOANE for FUNHOUSE COMMONS ||| Spring is on the way, and we can't wait to get outside and play! Registration is now open for our spring session of Stepping Up! (la información en español
Art Unlocked to finally arrive at Orcas Center
||| FROM KATHY YOUNGREN for ORCAS CENTER VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE ||| Art Opening with a display of all local art presented by the visual Arts Committee at Orcas Center, Friday, March 4. Lots of beautiful art , all by local artists on display at Orcas Center. Please come, support our local
Upcoming classes from Island Health
||| FROM RACHEL LAMBERT for ISLAND HEALTH ||| Nutrition for Healthy Pregnancy with Island Health Learn essential tips for ensuring proper nutrition during each stage of your pregnancy, from conception to the first post-partum meal. Join a Registered Dietitian for this free, online event on Thursday, March 10 from 6-6:45
Poetry | A Black History Month tribute
||| POSTED AT REQUEST OF ORCASONIAN READER ||| Still I Rise MAYA ANGELOU Maya Angelou You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are
Statement from Gov. Jay Inslee regarding updated mask guidance from CDC
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee issued a statement [Friday] in response to the Centers for Disease Control releasing updated guidance on masking to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. "Our office and our state Department of Health are reviewing the updated guidance from the
Sun Days on Orcas | I’m alive thanks to Catholicism
||| SUN DAYS ON ORCAS by EDEE KULPER ||| My mom was proposed to five times before saying yes. How does that happen? Did she seriously lead a bunch of guys on, then dash their dreams? Were things a little more flippant back then, and you asked a girl to
Peter Fromm to talk about his latest book at Orcas Library
Thursday, March 3rd at 6 pm. Attend in person or by Zoom meeting ||| FROM CAROL DAPOGNY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Please join us for a talk with San Juan Island based author Peter Fromm. Peter will speak about his latest book, Cruising with Tuggy, as well as his previous
Port Commissioners to meet on Monday, February 28
||| FROM JEANNIE SHARPE for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas Commissioners are scheduled to meet on February 28, 2022, at 5 p.m. via ZOOM. The agenda is available here: 2022 02 28 Regular Agenda.
Jan McCorison displays her quilt artistry at Orcas Library
||| FROM DAVID KOSIUR for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Starting March 1st, some of Jan McCorison’s quilts will be exhibited at the Orcas Island Library. Jan’s quilts use a number of techniques — appliqué, traditional piecing, and foundation piecing for example. She takes her inspiration for her work from a
OIHCD board meeting agenda for March 1 is posted
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT ||| The Agenda and Materials (Board Packet) for the March 1, 2022 Board meeting of the Orcas Island Health Care District will be posted February 28. You can access the agenda and meeting materials at the link below. Meeting Documents – Orcas Island Health
Community Foundation to hold webinars for organizational infrastructure needs
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| What would be your guess for how many buildings on Orcas are community-owned (meaning owned by a nonprofit, taxing district, or faith based organization)? Ten? 20? Not long ago, this question was raised and Ed Andrews, OICF’s Communications Manager, mapped
Progressive congressional candidate Jason Call to visit SJ, Orcas
||| FROM DAVID TURNOY for SAN JUAN COUNTY DEMOCRATS ||| Jason Call Candidate Jason Call, running for our local Congressional seat, will be visiting San Juan and Orcas Islands next week. Jason came within one percentage point of getting to the general election against incumbent Rick Larsen in
