Here’s a thought…
“No one, I mean no one, has the right to sit in judgment of who’s American enough.”
MICHELLE OBAMA
Newest COVID facts, numbers from State Health Dept.
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 1,479,599 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on April 19. There have been 12,650 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. Data note: DOH is still experiencing delays in reporting cases, hospitalizations, and deaths as
Park & Rec announces new employee, outlines soccer, tennis programs
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND PARK & RECREATION DISTRICT ||| Please help us welcome Alfred Bentley to Orcas Island Park and Recreation District. We are excited to have Al fill the Program Coordinator position. We are busy putting the finishing touches on the Summer 2022 activity schedule. Stay tuned for the
Real and personal property taxes are due May 2
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Treasurer, Rhonda Pederson would like to remind county property owners that the first half property taxes and personal property taxes are due May 2. Since the due date falls on a weekend, mailed payments must be federally postmarked on or
There are currently no long-term parking spots at Orcas Airport
||| FROM JEANNIE SHARPE for ORCAS ISLAND AIRPORT ||| Due to the high demand of the season, the long-term parking lots at the Orcas Airport are full. Currently, we are not taking any more Annual or Monthly Parking payments. We will only be accepting daily payments if a spot is
WSF weekly update for Earth Day 2022
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Earth Day at Washington State Ferries [Today] April 22, is Earth Day, and we have many reasons to celebrate as we’ve accomplished a lot in the past few years in making our ferry system the greenest in the world. In honor
Friday Harbor Fire | Sometimes, it takes an entire archipelago
||| FROM SHERIFF RON KREBS ||| On April 7, our town was changed forever by an act of arson. There are no words to describe how it felt to arrive on scene and see the scope and magnitude of the fire. It was devastating to watch our iconic downtown burn.
Sheriff’s Office requesting info on recent Orcas business burglaries
||| FROM SHERIFF RON KREBS ||| Orcas Island has experienced a number of burglaries, recently to local businesses. The following businesses were burglarized: Orcas Island Artworks The Matia Restaurant The Clever Cow Creamery Tide Poll Coffee Sequel Rosario Resort The suspect(s) are committing the crimes between the hours of 12:00am
The Whale Museum to hold open house for prospective volunteers
||| FROM TRACIE MERRILL for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| The Whale Museum is holding an open house for anyone interested in volunteering with TWM’s Education Department. The open house event will be held on Friday, April 29 from 11:00 am -12:00 pm. If you have some spare time and are interested in
Guest Opinion | The rampant toxicity and failure of leadership at Orcas Fire & Rescue
||| FROM AMANDA MONTAGUE ||| Over the course of many months, much has been said about the toxicity occurring at OIFR and the utter failure by OIFR leadership and the Commission to correct course and make the Department a workplace that feels safe for our first responders. It has been
Orcas Center full of student art now and throughout May
||| FROM KATHLEEN YOUNGREN for ORCAS CENTER VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE ||| The VAC (Visual Arts Committee) at Orcas Center is proud to present the wonderful art of the high school art classes. The opening reception will be on May 6th from 5:30 until 7:00. Art teacher Corey Wiscomb and his
Superyachts push Ballard bridges soaring to new heights
||| FROM THE URBANIST |||. REPRINT AT REQUEST OF ORCASONIAN READER In order to accommodate the superyacht community, the United States Coast Guard has determined that fixed bridges crossing Seattle’s Ship Canal between Puget Sound, the Ballard Locks, and Fremont must have at least 205 feet of vertical clearance. Such
OPAL’s purchase of the Northern Heights Apartments is now fully funded
||| FROM ALYSHA SHERBURNE for OPAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ||| Thanks to the support of many islanders, the Northern Heights Apartments across from the library will continue to be year-round and affordable rental housing. OPAL Community Land Trust will purchase and then renovate the property. The current tenants will be
Bail set at $500,000 for Friday Harbor arson suspect
The suspect, identified as Dwight Henline, is being held on suspicion of first-degree arson but has not been officially charged. ||| FROM KING5 NEWS ||| A judge set bail at $500,000 for the man accused of setting a fire that destroyed multiple businesses in Friday Harbor in early April. The suspect, identified
‘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.
Senior council districts to separate, become stand-alone organizations
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE for SENIOR SERVICES COUNCIL OF SAN JUAN COUNTY ||| At its April 21 meeting the Board of Directors of the Senior Services Council of San Juan County (SSCSJC) voted to transfer the operational functions of its three District Committees to three stand-alone nonprofit organizations. The Senior
Did you know there is rental assistance available in San Juan County?
||| FROM MEGAN EHRMANTRAUT for ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| Home is where we gratefully retreat at the end of each day to unwind and find respite from life’s daily challenges in our own safe environment. As our community is well aware, finding and maintaining housing on Orcas Island can
