Ferry Alert:Hyak Down; Sailings Cancelled/Added
-- from Washington State Ferries -- UPDATED POST: August 22, 5:52 p.m. On August 22, the M/V Hyak was removed from service for urgent motor repairs. The M/V Chelan will replace the Hyak on domestic San Juan Islands routes beginning on August 23 through August 29. Please see below for
OPAL Fundraising: a Conversation with Senator Cantwell
-- by Margie Doyle -- U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (fourth from right) is flanked by OPAL staff, members and other community members concerned with affordable housing at a meeting in Eastsound on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Photo by Margie Doyle U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington sat down
Major Power Outage Was Caused by Car Accident
-- from Suzanne Olson for OPALCO -- Crews from Lopez, San Juan and Orcas islands worked almost 10 hours to rebuild the transmission system. (photo credit: Steve Horn) All of Orcas, Shaw, Blakely and some of Lopez island were without power for almost 10 hours after a car
Rep. Larsen to Visit for Roundtable Housing Discussion
Thursday, August 23 -- from Amanda Munger for Rick Larsen's Office -- On Thursday, August 23, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) will host an affordable housing roundtable to discuss some of the obstacles to affordable housing in San Juan County and the recent New Democrat Coalition report on housing. The discussion
School Board Meeting in Regular Session
Thursday, August 23, 5 p.m., Orcas School Library -- from Orcas Island School Board -- Orcas Island School Board announces the following agenda for a regularly scheduled meeting in Thursday, August 23, at 5 p.m. in the school library. 5:00 PM CALL TO ORDER *1. Approve Agenda *2. Approve Consent
Sheila Gaquin’s Art Quilts at Community Art Show
Friday, September 7, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Orcas Center -- from Kathleen Youngren -- Sheila Gaquin will present a short program at the Opening Reception Friday, Sept 7, 5:30 to 7:00, Sheila’s talk and Q&A will be at 6:00. Don’t miss it. In a conversation from her home on Orcas,
Learn One of the Hottest New Ways to Show Art
Sunday, August 26, 1 - 5 p.m., San Juan Islands Museum of Art -- from Diane Martindale for San Juan Islands Museum of Art -- This special workshop is for any one who wants to take advantage of the one of the hottest ways to show art today- no matter
San Juan County Burn Ban in Effect
-- from San Juan County Communications -- San Juan County: A Burn Ban will begin Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at noon. Elevated temperatures for extended periods and our lack of precipitation has created a high fire danger in San Juan County, and across the region. San Juan County will be
San Juan Island National Historical Park Issues Fire Restrictions
-- from San Juan Island National Historical Park -- Due to very dry conditions and increasing fire danger on San Juan Island, Superintendent Elexis Fredy has announced fire restrictions in San Juan Island National Historical Park. Beginning August 21, 2018, fire restrictions prohibit: Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire
Letter to Editor | Gratitude to First Responders
-- from Virginia Erhardt -- On Thursday evening, as I was driving home from the ferry, I began to experience extreme tightness and pain in my chest as well as nausea. It was a totally unfamiliar sensation, not like heartburn. I pulled over across from the Nutts’ property and called
Locum Physician Joins Orcas Family Health for September
-- from Orcas Family Health Center -- David Shinstrom, M.D. and the staff of Orcas Family Health Center are excited to announce that Lauren Sonderegger, M.D will be joining their practice as a locum physician for the month of September. Lauren is originally from wacky Berkeley, CA. She studied history
Martin Lund Opens the World of Jazz at Orcas Center
-- from Jim Connell -- Martin Lund, founder of the Orcas Island Jazz Festival, comes to Orcas Center on Labor Day weekend Martin Lund’s 4th annual Orcas Island Jazz Festival will light up Orcas Center over Labor Day weekend. Tickets are on sale now at www.OrcasCenter.org for four dazzling nights
Interactive Map Shows Obesity, Drinking Rates for U.S. Counties
-- from KOMO News -- This interactive map shows the obesity and alcohol drinking rates of every county in America, with men topping both categories in overwhelming amounts. If you hover over each county, you’ll see the drinking and obesity rate in that specific area and how it compares to
A Vigil for the Whales and Wake for Tahlequah’s Baby
Sunday, August 26, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Eastsound Waterfront Park -- from Gretchen Krampf -- This gathering, a Sister Vigil with Lopez Islanders, is to mourn the loss of another Orca whale calf and acknowledge the grief of the Southern Resident Orca. These whales hover on the edge of extinction and
New Lab Results Give Researchers New Insight on How to Save an Emaciated Orca
-- from NOAA Fisheries -- Biologists are mobilized and responding to an emaciated and ailing three year-old killer whale (born December 2014), J50 also known as Scarlet, of the critically endangered Southern Resident population. J50 appears lethargic at times with periods of activity, including feeding. Scientists observing her agree that
Women Candidates at Orcas Women’s Coalition Quarterly Meeting
Sunday, August 19, 4 - 6 p.m., Senior Center -- from Cindy Wolf for Orcas Women's Coalition -- We now have confirmation that we will be joined at our meeting this Sunday by: Cecily Hazelrigg-Hernandez - She won advancement to the general election for Judge, Court of Appeals, District 3
