Here’s a thought…
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man.”
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
School Superintendent has rightful praise for staff, parents, community, students
||| FROM ERIC WEBB, ORCAS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ||| The holiday season has always been one of my favorite times of year, as it is a special time of caring and sharing with others. The holiday season is also a great time for reflection. What a year this has been to
Most recent state COVID update
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 709,600 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 20. There have been 9,725 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent number of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
Orcas Christian students produced knockout Christmas Carol performance
||| BY EDEE KULPER, theORCASONIAN COLUMNIST ||| Orcas Christian School teacher Andy Rivera had done it again, tapping into the theatrical arts of his students, after last year's production of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, my son was the sound engineer, but I'm not just gushing as a biased parent. You've got
First dog license of 2022 has been issued
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| First SJC dog tag goes to Churchill The dog licensing season is upon us! The San Juan County Auditor’s office gets the exciting opportunity to name the celebrity dog each year and award them the first dog tag. For 2022, the
Did you mail your obligatory Christmas cards this year?
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| Remember when you would check your mailbox (exterior, metal thing) for your yearly dose of Christmas greetings from friends and family? You'd open all the envelopes that arrived and display their contents on the fireplace mantel, a doorway, or a wall. It was
Snow on the way? County Public Works will be on top of it
||| FROM COLIN HUNTAMER for SJC PUBLIC WORKS ||| Snow is currently in the forecast for this weekend. If you would like to learn more about how the County prioritizes and responds to snow events on County Roads please visit Map Gallery | San Juan County, WA see where you can
Wintry weather likely for Christmas weekend, but the County is on it
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Snow is currently in the forecast for this weekend. If you would like to learn more about how the County prioritizes and responds to snow events on County Roads please visit Map Gallery | San Juan County, WA see where you can view our
Letter to Editor | Your support of school music makes all the difference
||| FROM SHARON HO for ORCAS MUSIC ADVOCACY GROUP ||| As 2021 winds down, we want to thank you, the Orcas Island community, for your support of school music through what has been an extended challenging time for teaching and learning music with its myriad adaptations by OISD music teachers
SJC Land Bank has provided a summary of last Friday’s meeting
||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank met on Zoom Friday, December 17, 2021, to discuss its agricultural program goals as well as specific goals for Coffelt Farm Preserve on Orcas Island. In addition to Conservation Land Bank staff
Odd Fellows provide outdoor sanctuary for April’s Grove residents
||| FROM ALYSHA SHERBURNE for OPAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ||| This is one of those stories that puts a smile on your face; a story of community members coming together to do something nice for one another. Plain, simple, yet in its own way extraordinary. To the untrained eye it
Our fire department has been busy in the field this month, as well as hiring new Asst. Chief
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Point Lawrence Road - December 4, 2021 Crews were dispatched to reports of a structure fire in the 900-block of Point Lawrence Road shortly after 4 a.m. after neighbors reported smoke and flames from the residence. Arriving personnel confirmed
Auditor’s Office to be closed on Christmas, New Years Eve
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Auditor’s office will be closed on Friday, December 24, and Friday, December 31. The closures mean that there will be no documents recorded and no vehicle, vessel, marriage, or dog licenses issued on those dates. Please plan accordingly for
Aspiring artists invited to submit art for 2022 Fair poster
||| FROM JENNIFER ALLEN for SAN JUAN COUNTY FAIR ||| “Two Little Ducks: Quack, Quack” Yes, that is correct, the 2022 SJC Fair theme centers around bingo and feathered friends. The SJC Fair would like to invite all aspiring artists to submit art for the 2022 poster and declare Bingo!
Port Commissioners will meet on Monday
||| FROM JEANNIE SHARPE for PORT OF ORCAS ||| The Port of Orcas is scheduled to meet Monday, December 20 at 5 p.m. via ZOOM. Agenda and access info is available HERE.
Island Hospital’s latest slate of classes: Balance, diabetes, paperwork
||| FROM RACHEL LAMBERT for ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| Balance Screening at Island Hospital Determine if you are at risk of falling due to balance issues at a free screening on Tuesday, January 11, between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy, 1015 25th St., Anacortes. Appointments are
A second court rejects Cooke Aquaculture’s challenge over termination of Port Angeles net pen lease
||| FROM EMMA HELVERSON for WILD FISH CONSERVANCY ||| DECEMBER 17, 2021—In another legal defeat for Cooke Aquaculture, a second Washington state court has rejected efforts by the seafood giant to sue Washington state over the termination of the company’s lease for their Port Angeles net pen operation. On Tuesday,
