If you haven’t returned your ballot yet, I’m encouraging you to check yes for Orcas Island Parks and Rec and send it off today.

For years, Orcas Rec served an important function for our island kids and families. It meant after school, weekend and summer programs, not only to keep youngsters busy, but also to spark interests and develop skills whether sailing, computers or soccer. It meant safety. It meant organized and supervised activities available to any child or young person who wanted or needed to participate. It was always there. Until suddenly the county was forced to pull its support and after some months of trying to exist on donations, the Rec Program was gone!

Since then a group of community members, including our elected Orcas Parks and Rec commissioners, who have in common a concern to preserve our Orcas parks and recreation activities for children and adults, have worked to put together a program that will return the lost benefits to the community while remaining affordable. I thank our Parks and Rec (volunteer) commissioners for spending so much time and thoughtfulness, doing their homework and working to find a supportable program and bottom line that we can vote for.

I hope you’ll join me in voting yes!

Coleen O’Brien

Orcas Island