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
Health District gets down into details of upcoming negotiations
-- by Susan McBain, Orcas Issues Reporter -- As promised, the Orcas Island Health Care District commissioners turned their attention at their Aug. 18 meeting to details to be negotiated in their proposed agreement with Island Hospital (IH). The conversation ranged widely across topics, focusing sometimes on areas for general
Guest Opinion | Open letter to Dist. 2 council candidates
||| from Tom Eversole ||| This is an open letter to Cindy Wolf and Rick Hughes as candidates to represent District 2 on the San Juan County Council. Elders in our community and their families will be affected by your positions on the issues below. Please let us hear from
Registration open for Sea Doc’s cheers to 20 years
-- from Justin Cox for SeaDoc Society -- As we announced this spring, our annual Wine & Sea Auction was cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We wish we could see you in person this year, especially because it’s our 20-year anniversary, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be celebrating! We’ve
Show your support for post office funding
-- from Sandy Strehlou -- This morning, Sunday, August 23, 2020, Friday Harbor residents turned out to show support funding for the USPS, and to protest any attempt by the Trump administration to rig the 2020 elections through mail and election tampering. Yesterday the House of Representatives passed legislation to
WSF postpones upcoming release of new reservations by two weeks
-- from Washington State Ferries -- Because of an unplanned technical problem with its Vehicle Reservation System, WSF must postpone the upcoming release of reservations for vehicle space on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Port Townsend/Coupeville routes by two weeks. Reservations for the sailing dates of September 27, 2020 through
Life in Words workshop coming up at Orcas Senior Center
-- from Lena Kassa for Orcas Senior Center -- As our community continues to feel the effects of the COVID pandemic, the Senior Center has been looking for ways to begin offering classes again. “Your Life in Words,” a six-week writing course offered by Diane Craig, is our first sojourn
Orcas Fire calls in mutual aid for manpower as they battle a slow-moving wildland fire
-- from Kim Kimple for Orcas Island Fire & Rescue -- Crews from Orcas Island Fire & Rescue are currently on the scene of a slow-moving brush fire in the area north Cow Hill Lane off Point Lawrence Road in the Doe Bay area. The fire is under control and
SJC organization receives $750,000 grant for long-term care solutions
-- from Evan Perrollaz for SJC Long-Term Care Coordination Network -- The San Juan County LTC Care Coordination Network (Network) is pleased to announce a $750,000 three-year grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the purpose of implementing a suite of solutions for long- term care
Letter to Editor | Mary Pugh delivers great programming service to islanders
-- from Tom McDonough -- Sometimes you never know who is in the background doing something pretty darned important. They go unnoticed but really they need to be applauded for all their efforts. So welcome to the spotlight: Mary Pugh! Mary Pugh transitioned some time ago to a new role at the
Editorial | At the end of the weekend, WSF sent this alert
||| by Lin McNulty, Orcas Issues Editor ||| On Sunday evening, at 7:39 p.m., Washington State Ferries (WSF) sent the following alert to WSF subscribers: Is this the latest WSF has been behind, or is it just my overworked, overloaded tolerance level that makes me want to weep? The #1
Time to sign up/renew Senior Center memberships
-- from Lena Kassa for Orcas Senior Center -- What do you miss most about the Senior Center being closed during these days of the pandemic? The coffee and community that comes together inside the front door? The opportunity to visit with friends and share stories? Exercise classes? Access to
Letter to Editor | What about social distancing for whale watchers?
||| from Tracy McQueen ||| 5:35 PM on [Saturday], Doe Bay looking east toward South Peapod Island, there are at least six whale hunting boats including Western Explorer II, Blackfish IV, Island Explorer 5, and Western Prince II. I would swear on a stack of orcas that none of those
Planning Commission holds seven-hour briefing on parts of draft Comp Plan
-- by Steve Bernheim, Orcas Issues reporter -- Friday’s marathon Planning Commission meeting started at 8:30 inthe morning and finally wound up seven hours later at 3:30 pm only halfway through the agenda. At the end of the day, few decisions had been made, but commission members had emphasized the
Larsen votes to protect USPS, ensure safety of 2020 elections
-- from Congressman Rick Larsen's Office -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted for critical legislation to protect the United States Postal Service and promote the safety of the 2020 elections. The bipartisan Delivering for America Act passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 257 to 150. “The
Unsung guardians stand watch on Orcas Island
-- by Lin McNulty, Orcas Issues Editor -- For 24 hours a days, seven days a week, month after month, a stoic group of characters have been standing guard, masked up for the pandemic while keeping watch over the comings and, mostly, goings at the Orcas Island ferry landing. No
Crews respond to wildland fire on Shadow Road
And that was just the beginning... -- from Kim Kimple for Orcas Island Fire and Rescue -- Orcas Island Fire and Rescue personnel responded to a wildland fire in the area of Shadow Road on Friday, August 14 around 3:20 p.m. Crews were returning from a previous call and were
