Here’s a thought…
“The belief in the possibility of a short decisive war appears to be one of the most ancient and dangerous of human illusions.”
ROBERT LYND
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
School Board to convene regular meeting
-- from Orcas Island School District -- Orcas Island School District Board will ZOOM-meet on Thursday, August 27, at 5 p.m. AGENDAZoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/76617837715:00 PM CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING Approve AgendaApprove Consent AgendaSPECIAL REPORTPTSA- Michele RodriguezADMINISTRATORS’ REPORTProject Manager - Liz LeRoyBusiness Report – Keith WhitakerSuperintendent’s Report - Eric
Letter to Editor | Thanks from Durland, along with a candidate endorsement
||| from Michael Durland ||| I ran for County Council District 2 Orcas because I feel that the current Council is not in touch with the wishes of the citizens of San Juan County. I ran on a platform to bring accountability and responsiveness to local government. I want to thank all
In Memoriam | David Thomas McPeake, 1938 – 2020
-- from Jim Biddick -- David Thomas McPeake was born October 16, 1938. On August 17, 2020 he died in Mount Vernon, Washington of heart failure. Orcas Island certainly changed for the better when David T. McPeake arrived on Orcas Island around 1998 with wife Lina McPeake. Both moved to
Fire at Orcas transfer station sparks reminder to dump wisely
-- from Kim Kimple for Orcas Island Fire and Rescue -- Orcas Island Fire and Rescue personnel responded to a container fire in the transfer station area at the Exchange around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 13. Smoke and flames visible from Orcas Road prompted a call to fire personnel,
State and local public health respond to outbreak in Kitsap County hospital
-- from Washington State Department of Health -- OLYMPIA – Kitsap Public Health District and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) are working with St. Michael Medical Center in Bremerton to contain an outbreak of COVID-19 at the hospital. As of Friday afternoon, more than 30 cases of COVID-19 had
