Here’s a thought…
“No one, I mean no one, has the right to sit in judgment of who’s American enough.”
MICHELLE OBAMA
Orcas Christian School announces their National Honors Society students
||| FROM MIKE PARNELL for ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| Six OCS high school students were recently recognized by the National Honors Society for their accomplishments in the four pillars of the organization: Character High Academic Performance Strong Leadership Service. This year’s recipients were: Alina, Meriel, Cadence TJ, Nick and Diego.* Principle
Significant COVID surge on San Juan Island prompts community alert
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Due to a significant surge in positive COVID cases in the San Juan Island community, residents are instructed to take the following actions to prevent further spread: Immediately limit high-risk indoor contact with those outside of your household. This includes
NAS Whidbey wraps up second sound monitoring period
||| FROM MICHAEL WELDING for WHIDBEY NAVAL AIR STATION ||| NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. - The Navy completed its second week of real-time sound monitoring at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island as directed by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20). Flight activity
County takes thoughtful approach to North Beach trees
||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER ||| Back in January, concerns were raised about the condition of trees – mostly mature maples –along North Beach Road across the street from April’s Grove. One group led by Children’s House and Salmonberry sought to take them down, citing safety issues; another
Letter to Editor | We need to support our schools with new Capital Projects ballot levy
||| FROM MADIE MURRAY ||| Dear Orcas Voters, I am writing this letter to urge your YES votes for the Capital Projects /Technology Levy on the April 27, 2021 ballot. The pandemic highlighted the crucial role technology now plays in education. Our public schools rely on your support in providing
Hospital District Superintendent revisits the past to reinforce how we create a sustainable future
||| FROM ANNE PRESSON, HOSPITAL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT ||| Early last month the District Office moved to a new location. While packing up my files I came across an article from the August 13, 2003 issue of The Islands’ Sounder, which was a Q&A with Dr. Roger Rosenblatt, Associate Professor at
EDC is providing opportunity to learn Computer Aided Design in free class
||| FROM MICHELANGELO (MICKEY) VON DASSOW for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| Those seeking to enter a new career or boost their jobs skills are invited to learn Computer Aided Design (CAD) in a free, online class offered by the Economic Development Council (EDC). Brett Paul, Staff Engineer at Luxel, will
Six people in Washington sickened by Salmonella illness linked to wild songbirds
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Six Washington residents have been sickened as part of a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium, believed to be linked to wild songbirds, particularly Pine Siskins. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a total of 19 cases of Salmonella in eight states. Washington state is currently
New podcast examines endangered southern resident killer whales
‘Pod of Orcas’ is a podcast by local nonprofit, SeaDoc Society ||| FROM SEADOC SOCIETY ||| Among the many live events that were wiped away by the pandemic was the SeaDoc Society’s live Ocean Night series that they host at the SeaView Theatre each winter. “We love Ocean Night because
Huge dam demolition could save salmon on the edge of extinction
Spring-run Chinook salmon, critical to Indigenous fishers along the Klamath River, are in steep decline. But two recent developments may offer a path to their recovery. ||| FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ||| When Karuk tribal member and cultural biologist Ron Reed was just a toddler in the early 1960s, he liked
Garden Club presenter is a well-known garden myth debunker
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| On Wednesday, April 21, 2021 the Orcas Island Garden Club will welcome Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott to give a virtual presentation titled The Informed Gardener: Gardening Myths. Dr. Chalker-Scott will help us differentiate good gardening advice from bad advice. The answers may surprise you!
Inslee sends letter to Congressional delegation detailing our infrastructure priorities
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| In case you missed it: Gov. Jay Inslee sent a letter to members of the Washington congressional delegation that details his priorities for infrastructure and clean energy in federal infrastructure legislation through the president's "American Jobs Plan." The letter reads, in part:
Guest Opinion | Biden strategy for the race with China
||| FROM HEDRICK SMITH, RECLAIM THE AMERICAN DREAM ||| Washington – In his massive new infrastructure project, President Joe Biden is betting big that government financing can generate an array of technological innovations that will not only create millions of 21st-century jobs but vault the U.S. ahead of China and
Funhouse mounts a search for Mentor Program Coordinator
||| FROM TRILLIUM SWANSON for FUNHOUSE COMMONS ||| Applications due: 4/19/2021 Compensation ● Pay rate: $18-$20/hour ● Part time: 20 hours per week Overview Reporting to the Prevention Systems Manager, the Mentor Program Coordinator coordinates the development and operation of the Funhouse Mentor Program, overseeing adult volunteer mentors with youth
Guest Opinion | Our 10th Graders lay out why you should support upcoming levy
||| FROM CONCERNED 10TH GRADERS (SEE BELOW) ||| Dear Orcas Islanders, One day, we will be the citizens who help plan our community’s growth, manage our non-profits and businesses, run the farms, serve you when you are dining out, and be responsible for sustaining the future and the beauty of
Island Primary Care ribbon cutting ceremony is only a week away
||| FROM LAURA MORONEY for ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| Island Primary Care – Orcas will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the transition of the clinic on Monday, April 12 at 10 a.m. Due to COVID-19 safety measures, attendance is limited to: Island Hospital staff, Orcas Island Health Care District
