Here’s a thought…
“There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe everything or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking.”
ALFRED KORZYBSKI
Meet Allison O’Brien, new English language learners teacher
-- from Orcas Island School District -- How would your elementary school or high school classmates remember you? I hope they would think back fondly on our memories together. They might remember me as a basketball player, a student who worked hard in school, someone who was friends with everyone,
Book Review | ‘How Democracies Die’
-- from Jens Kruse -- Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt are professors of government at Harvard University, who have been studying failures of democracy in Europe’s 1930s and Latin America’s 1970s for many years. But they open this book with a question they never thought they’d be asking; “Is our
Orcasional Musings | New uses for what? Outhouses?
||| ORCASIONAL MUSINGS BY STEVE HENIGSON ||| During the early history of Orcas Island, there was a whole lot of smuggling going on. We're just so close to the Canadian border that the temptation has always been hard to resist. And we're on an island in the middle of a
Sheriff’s Report | July 31 – August 5, 2019
-- from San Juan County Sheriff's Office -- Wednesday, July 31, 201919-006238 Found Property 10:38:49 07/31/19 A Deputy responded to a found property call in Friday Harbor. The owner of the property was not able to be located and the property was submitted into the evidence room as found property.
Janet Marlow appointed new commissioner for Orcas Fire
-- from Kim Kimple for Orcas Island Fire and Rescue -- Orcas Island Fire and Rescue (OIFR) Board of Fire Commissioners welcomes Janet Marlow as the newly appointed Commissioner for San Juan County Fire Protection District #2. Marlow joins the team as Fire Commissioner #1 and brings with her extensive
Still time to enjoy Moran State Park’s ‘Walks & Talks’ summer program
-- by Orcas Issues reporter Matthew Gilbert -- Flying under the radar of Orcas Island’s typically busy summer tourist season is a new series of educational lectures and interactive sessions at Moran State Park called “Walks & Talks.” Sponsored by Friends of Moran and spearheaded by Nancy Quackenbush, FoM’s new
Public Hearing scheduled on draft Lopez Village subarea plan, regulations
Monday, August 19, 9:15 a.m., Council Hearing Room -- from San Juan County Communications -- San Juan County Council will continue their July 8, 2019, public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance regarding the creation of a new Lopez Village Subarea Plan, new development regulations for the Lopez Village
San Juan Island National Historical Park presents special programs to commemorate 160th anniversary of boundary crisis
-- from Brandon Cadwell for San Juan Island National Historical Park -- San Juan Island National Historical Park will be presenting a series of special programs from August 22 – 25, 2019 to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the 1859 Boundary Crisis known as the “Pig War.” The peaceful actions
Doe Bay Fest means extra sailing to America on Sunday Night
-- from Washington State Ferries -- There will be an additional late night sailing from Orcas to Anacortes this upcoming Sunday to help with the anticipated increase in travelers for Doe Bay Fest. Scheduled for 10:30 p.m. on August 11, the extra sailing will take vehicles and passengers straight to
Nashville singers-songwriters coming to Grange stage
Saturday, August 24, 7:30 p.m., Orcas Grange -- from Mandy Troxel for House Concerts and Such -- Internationally touring Nashville singer-songwriters Mare Wakefield and Nomad (www.marewakefield) will be performing at the Orcas Grange Saturday August 24, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. Mare Wakefield and Nomad were 2016 and 2015 Kerrville NewFolk
Letter to Editor | There is an answer
-- from Bob Maynard -- There is a combination of ingredients that create difficulties on Orcas Island: people (residents and guests), traffic, cars, and thus parking. These ingredients are also where we look to solve the problems. A concern I continue to think about is the lack of employee housing
Orcas Island Health Care District considering health care options
A message from the Board of Commissioners -- from Anne Presson for Orcas Island Health Care District -- As we previously reported to the community, the Orcas Island Health Care District is facing escalating practice subsidy costs, challenges in providing island appropriate care, and staffing issues in our existing system.
Join Senior Center for lunch at Buck Bay Shellfish Farm
Tuesday, August 13, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. -- from Lena Kassa for Orcas Senior Center -- Join the Orcas Senior Center Nonprofit on Tuesday, August 13 for an on-island field trip and lunch at the Buck Bay Shellfish Farm. The farm offers fresh locally caught crab, prawns, salmon, halibut, and other seasonal
PlayFest soon underway, seeking directors, actors
-- from Aaimee R. Johnson for Actors Theater of Orcas Island -- PlayFest 2019 will be performed in October 2019. This is a change from our usual spring performances, however the lineup, as always, is sure to delight you regardless. You can read the plays on fabulous paper at the
Historical Museums invite you back to school
Sunday, August 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Crow Valley School -- from Carol Kulminski for Orcas Island Historical Museums -- The Orcas Island Historical Museums is inviting the community to Crow Valley School for an Open House on Sunday, August 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you
Fair food and furry, feathered friends do not mix
Keep people food out of the barns and wash your hands -- from Adrienne Bourne for San Juan County Fair -- The San Juan County Fair is happening very soon! Our data shows that there are two very important activities most fairgoers make a priority. Eating Fair food like corn
