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
Orcas Senior Center to hold district committee elections this summer due to court order
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| The April 23, 2021 issue of the Sounder featured an article entitled "Judge mandates new elections for senior center directors." The article was submitted by James P. Grifo, the attorney of record for the plaintiffs in this case. To be clear,
Recap of recent COVID-19 news, updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 369,481 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on April 26. There have been 5,462 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more,
Pianist Ron Myers to stream Orcas Center performance
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center is pleased to present island legend, pianist Ron Myers, through their free streaming events series on Friday, May 7 at 7 p.m. To watch, go to www.OrcasCenter.org on the day and time of the performance. Ron Myers began private classical
Totem Pole journey to D.C. has scheduled stopovers in the San Juans
||| FROM STEPHANIE BUFFUM ||| A totem pole carved at the Lummi Nation from a 400-year-old red cedar will begin a cross-country journey next month, evoking an urgent call to protect sacred lands and waters of Indigenous people. The journey called the Red Road to DC, will culminate in early
First ballot count is in, with School District support at 68%
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, EDITOR ||| Results from today's special election have been posted on the website of the San Juan County Auditor's Office. With a county-wide voter turnout rate of 36.28%, and only 600 ballots remaining to be counted, it appears the Orcas Island Orcas Island School Dist #137
Walk-up vaccine clinic on San Juan Island is offering single dose J&J vaccine
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| There will be a walk-up COVID vaccine clinic on San Juan Island for those 18 or older on Wednesday April 28 from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Location is the old InterIsland Medical Center in Friday Harbor (550 Spring Street).
OPALCO invites you to this upcoming virtual Solar Town Hall workshop series
||| FROM ORCAS POWER & LIGHT ||| Interested in solar? Our Solar Town Hall is the first in a series of co-op workshops designed to help members prepare their homes and businesses to meet the challenges of the transition away from fossil fuels. The Island Way campaign launched in early 2021 to help
Orcas Island High School has been ranked ninth in the state by U.S. News & World Report
||| FROM U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT ||| Washington, D.C. – U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings, today unveiled the 2021 Best High Schools. The new edition ranks more than 17,800 public high schools throughout the country, measuring how well schools serve students from various social and
Public hearing scheduled to consider Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County will conduct a public hearing on May 4, 2021, beginning on or after 9:15 a.m., to consider projects proposed for funding under the Community Development Block Grant. The Council will hear comments on proposals presented, and consider choosing a project
Walk the Emmanuel Labyrinth on Saturday as we join a worldwide moving meditation
||| FROM NANCY AYER ||| May 1 is World Labyrinth Day, according to The Labyrinth Society, in collaboration with Veriditas, Legacy Labyrinth Project and the Australian Labyrinth Network. We invite you to join our community in a labyrinth walk and celebration on Saturday May 1 at the community labyrinth in
Need a vaccine? Free walk-up clinic today at Orcas Center
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| There will be a free, no registration walk-up COVID vaccine clinic today. 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Orcas Center. Note: if you are able to register in advance, please do so here – but it is not required. This is for
Fair Market Series, opening soon at Fairgrounds, seeks local vendors
||| FROM JENNIFER ALLEN for SAN JUAN COUNTY FAIR ||| Calling all vendors for the new Fair Market Series at the San Juan County Fairgrounds! The Markets will be held on Saturdays throughout the summer. As part of the 2021 Virtual San Juan County Fair “Lettuce Entertain Ewe” the fairgrounds
Inslee statement on 2021 legislative session
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee release a video statement today on the successes of the 2021 legislative session. The 105-day session ended on Sunday evening with major advances on several of the governor’s key priorities. "The Legislature has just wrapped up an historic and truly
SNAP/EBT comes to the Orcas Island Farmers Market
||| FROM ERICA LYONS for ORCAS ISLAND FARMERS MARKET ||| At last estimate, approximately 1,945 individuals are being served by the Orcas Island Food Bank. Some of those individuals may have to make hard decisions between basic needs, such as housing and medical bills, and purchasing nutritionally adequate foods for
Delayed by pandemic no more, docent tours now offered at SJIMA
||| FROM DIANE MARTINDALE for SAN JUAN ISLANDS MUSEUM OF ART ||| Many of you have been waiting for this moment and now it is here! The roll out of this program to the community and visitors was delayed by the pandemic. The wait is over. The San Juan Islands
Deer Harbor Yacht Club has a meeting scheduled
||| FROM MICHAEL DURLAND for DEER HARBOR YACHT CLUB ||| There will be an important meeting of the Deer Harbor Yacht Club on Tuesday, May 4 at 5:30 on the deck of Island Pie in Deer Harbor. All members and any potential new members are asked to attend. The agenda
