Here’s a thought…
“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers.”
THOMAS PYNCHON
Developer group seeks major overhaul of downtown Eastsound
||| BY WALTER ZUSTOVICH, theORCASONIAN GUEST REPORTER ||| With the popularity of Orcas Island reaching new post-pandemic highs, a loose coalition of on-and off-island developers called Building the Future is seeing an opportunity to bring Eastsound proper into the 21st century. Noting two recent projects adding luxury rental suites to
Latest COVID numbers from State Health Dept.
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Statewide Response Updates Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 1,454,772 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on March 29. There have been 12,478 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. Data note (Wednesday, March 30): DOH is still experiencing delays in reporting
WSF weekly update
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Governor signs Move Ahead Washington funding bill at Mukilteo terminal Gov. Jay Inslee signed two transportation funding packages on Friday, one of them at our Mukilteo terminal. With our newest ferry Suquamish as a backdrop, he put his signature on the Move Ahead Washington bill,
Final (so far) weekly COVID update from San Juan County
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday March 25, there have been 10 new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current case count is now 1275. LOPEZ ISLAND: There are no new cases on Lopez Island since the last
Orcas Islanders join together to link arms for Ukraine
||| BY STAFF REPORTER SHIN BREEM ||| Orcas gun owners and gun control advocates shared vegan BBQ while celebrating their successful combined campaign to help arm the Ukrainian army as more than 5,000 donated guns and 75,000 donated rounds of ammunition have been collected so far at multiple drop-off debris
‘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
