Here’s a thought…
“Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.”
HEATHER FRENCH HENRY
Guest Opinion | New road going in the wrong direction
-- from Mindy Kayl -- As I sit in my house and watch Mt. Wollard go by in the back of gravel trucks, I wonder why is our county government so reactionary, backwards, and fearful when we have such capacity to be visionary and innovative? Because of where we have
Tourism to San Juan Island NHP creates $19.3 million dollars in economic benefits
Report shows visitor spending supports 164 jobs in local economy -- from Brandon Cadwell for National Park Service -- A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 255 thousand visitors to San Juan Island National Historical Park in 2018 spent $15.1 million dollars in communities near the park. That
Fill a great need: Learn about foster parenting in San Juan County
Thursday, June 13, 6 p.m., San Juan Grange -- from Lauren M. Franciosi for San Juan County Superior Court -- Foster care is the temporary placement of children -- often due to child abuse or neglect -- outside of their own homes and into approved relative care or licensed foster
Early bird passes available now for this fall’s film festival
The Orcas Island Film Festival is a film lovers' dream with over 30 buzz-worthy, brand new films screened in state of the art cinemas in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Films at the Orcas Island Film Festival are, "the crème de la crème of the first-tier festival circuit," says Charles
Open enrollment now for summer and fall quarters at Skagit Valley College
-- from Arden Ainley for Skagit Valley College -- You belong here! Open Enrollment for all students is going on now for Summer and Fall quarters at Skagit Valley College. Summer classes start July 1 and Fall classes start September 24. Begin your college experience with us and save money
Master Gardeners Question Table will be setup to answer your gardening queries
Saturday, June 1, and Wednesday, June 5, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- from Dianne Macondray for Orcas Master Gardeners -- Announcing the Orcas Master Gardener’s Question Table at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday, June 1 and at Driftwood Nursery on Wednesday, June 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both
Meet this year’s Indian Island youth steward fellowship award
-- from Russel Barsh for Kwiaht -- Emma Thoron is this year’s winner of the Robyn Lowe youth steward fellowship for Indian Island. The nonprofit conservation laboratory Kwiaht makes this $3,000 work-study award to an Orcas Island student each year. A senior at Orcas Island High School headed to Reed
State ferry on Bainbridge run collides with a gray whale
-- from KOMO News -- A ferry on the Seattle to Bainbridge Island run hit a gray whale Tuesday night in Elliott Bay, according to a Washington State Ferries spokesperson. At 8:18 p.m. the M/V Wenatchee left Colman dock, westbound toward Bainbridge Island. The whale breached in front of the
OPALCO awarded $5.8M to fund member energy efficiency projects
Switch it Up! puts thousands back in members’ pockets -- from Krista Bouchey for Orcas Power & Light Cooperative -- OPALCO is now offering on-bill financing for members who want to Switch it Up! and install super-efficient ductless heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and electric vehicle chargers. These upgrades
Guest Opinion | The Feds and the damage done
-- from Joseph Murphy -- When someone’s dogs are being pinched it is human nature to look aroundfor someone to blame. It is becoming more apparent by the day and hourthat the force which is most responsible for the ongoing damage to theway of life preferred by Islanders is us.
So where, how did Memorial Day first began? Depends upon your source
-- from Axios -- Library of Congress, LC-BH825-40 The history of Memorial Day is the subject of a longstanding academic smackdown, with dozens of cities and towns claiming to be the holiday’s birthplace, Axios' Jennifer Kingson reports. The backstory: Scholars agree that in 1868, three years after the Civil War’s end, Union
Learn about SJC Orca Protection Initiative in upcoming meeting
Tuesday, May 28, 5:30 p.m., Orcas Library -- from Natalie Menacho for Our Revolution San Juan County -- Our Revolution San Juan County has endorsed the San Juan County Orca Protection Initiative 2019-9. Please join us for an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28 in the Orcas
Cedar: Summer exhibit at Orcas Island Historical Museum
Opening reception: Thursday, June 13, 4-6 p.m., Orcas Island Historical Museum -- from Carol Kulminski for Orcas Island Historical Museums -- Cedar has been a “Tree of Life,” providing material for many uses. Humans have approached the cedar tree with respect, skill, and knowledge. This year’s featured exhibit at the
Renowned travel photographer to teach class at SJIMA
Sunday, June 30, 1 - 5 p.m., San Juan Islands Museum of Art -- from Diane Martindale for San Juan Islands Museum of Art -- The San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) brings Ray Pfortner to teach PHOTOGRAPHY OUT ON THE ROAD on Sunday, June 30th, 1-5 PM. Ray
Learn how US Army divers will extract derelict fishing nets from SJC waters
Tuesday, June 25, 7 p.m., The Whale Museum -- from Tracie Merrill for The Whale Museum -- On June 25, Joan Drinkwin, Natural Resources Consultants, and Monica Shoemaker, Washington Department of Natural Resources, will present information about an innovative new project that will bring Army soldiers to dive deep to
“One of the most unusual events I can recall with a killer whale”: Orca pod preys on gray whale in Puget Sound
-- from Q13 FOX -- A pod of orcas apparently preyed on a gray whale near Whidbey Island Saturday, and experts are calling this an extremely “unusual event.” Passengers aboard a Puget Sound Express ship saw a family of Bigg’s orcas, also called transient orcas, circling a grey whale and
