Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Village Voices | What are your hopes for the New Year?
Orcas Issues debuts a new column for 2020, Village Voices, wherein Minor Lile takes to the streets to hear directly from islanders. -- by Minor Lile, Orcas Issues reporter -- New Year’s Day, January 1, 2020 Outside Darvill’s Bookstore Nancy: We’ve got to solve the plastics issue. We’ve got to
Year in Review | Looking back at what the heck happened in 2019
-- by Lin McNulty, Orcas Issues Editor -- What a year, eh?! January 2019 was only 12 days old when we reported the shocking news that Kevin Ranker (D-Orcas Island) had resigned his state senatorial position amid questionable interactions with an employee. He was welcomed back to his Orcas Island
15 agencies successfully converge to assist in Orcas Island search for missing man
-- from Kim Kimple for Orcas Island Fire & Rescue -- An Orcas Island man who went missing from his residence near Moran State Park on Monday afternoon was found alive Tuesday morning, December 31, after spending 18 hours in the wind and rain, with temperatures dipping into the mid-40’s.
Local flu activity increasing; immunization recommended
Flu shot clinic Tuesday, January 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., County Health Dept. -- from San Juan County Communications -- Flu activity and hospital visits for flu-like symptoms are rapidly increasing in Washington. “While flu cases are on the rise in San Juan County, it is still not too
Petrochemical export project canceled: Deal prevents climate pollution, protects SRKW population
-- from Lovel Pratt for Friends of the San Juans -- Deal signed by Environmental Organizations, Skagit County, and Refinery will allow clean air projects to proceed and halts new petrochemical processing and export at Anacortes Oil Refinery SKAGIT COUNTY, WA — In an agreement announced December 20, 2019 the
SJC 2019: Comp Plan, tourism, and vacation rentals
-- by Matthew Gilbert, Orcas Issues Reporter -- This past year saw San Juan County take on a series of issues with impacts that will extend far beyond 2019. What ties them all together is how citizens define “quality of life,” a meaningful but subjective notion that differs depending on
Search underway for missing 67 year old male
UPDATE: The missing man from Orcas Island has been found and is being returned to his home and family. Thanks to all who shared information and assisted in spreading the word. -- from Brendan Cowan, Department of Emergency Management -- Orcas Island residents are asked to keep alert and report
Port of Orcas year in review
-- by Minor Lile, Orcas Issues Reporter -- By island standards it was a turbulent year for the Port of Orcas and its management of the Eastsound airport. Much of the turmoil was grounded in a long range planning process that seemed to suddenly burst to public attention after an
Fish For Teeth brings mobile dental clinic to Friday Harbor
Friday - Saturday, January 24 - 25, Friday Harbor -- from Hayley Day -- Islanders can receive affordable dental care, thanks to the local nonprofit Fish For Teeth, on Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, at the Mullis Community Center on San Juan Island. "Many volunteers and local businesses
‘Whale of a Show’ features adult performers when it returns to Orcas Center
Auditions: Friday, January 10, 5 - 6:30 p.m. Performance: Friday, January 17, 7 p.m., Orcas Center. -- from Bethany Marie for Orcas Center -- Whale of a Show was an annual tradition that goes way back to the early days of Orcas Center. After a while, it became a show
Update on current status of Vacation Rental Permit moratorium process
-- from The Vacation Rental Work Group -- Per the request of County Council, the Vacation Rental Working Group has developed regulatory language and sent recommendations in Mid-December 2019 to Council. There is no guarantee that the Council will consider either the regulatory language or a moratorium. Additional public input requesting a moratorium is
2020 Winter birding workshop coming to San Juan: Registration open
Weekend of February 7 - 9, San Juan Island -- from Tracie Merrill for The Whale Museum -- The Whale Museum is holding a “Winter Birding Workshop in the San Juans” in partnership with San Juan Islands Audubon. Taking place the weekend of February 7-9, 2020, the intent is to increase
Aging like a Guru | I have no time for serenity … As if I’ve got something better to do
-- from Rosie Kuhn -- In a few minutes I have a meeting. I want my day to start as I usually start my day with reading and being contemplative -- feeling into serenity so that I'm a state of relative peace all day long. However, this particular morning, there
PBS will soon air Hedrick Smith’s ‘Democracy Rebellion’
-- from Hedrick Smith -- The news flow has been pretty rough in the closing weeks of 2019 - the harsh conflict over impeachment, threats from North Korea and the persistent challenge of China, the dangers of fresh Russian interference in the 2020 elections, relentless partisan warfare. But there's another
Planning Commission closes year by looking at shoreline, employment, density maps
-- by Matthew Gilbert, Orcas Issues reporter Nothing seismic occurred at the County Planning Commission’s (PC) last meeting of 2019. Outside of administrative updates, staff from the Department of Community Development (DCD) reported on the following: Shoreline Master Program Review The DCD received an $84,000 grant from the WA State
89 local poets enter Friday Harbor poetry garden contest
-- from Julie Greene for Town of Friday Harbor -- San Juan County residents responded enthusiastically to the Friday Harbor Arts Commission’s call for submissions for its first Poetry Garden Contest. The Town received 271 poems composed by 89 adult and student poets. Those entering the contest were required to
