Four years and 8,000-plus hours on the job later, three of Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) apprentice linemen – Kai Burleson from Lopez, Roger Sandwith from San Juan Island and Dan Watters on Orcas (all native islanders) – are “topping out,” which is lineman lingo for completing the apprentice program and reaching the 100 percent mark on the union wage scale as journeymen linemen.
June 25 outage causes minor grass fire on Blakely
Ferry diverted to help goat
November’s elections will add member to State School board; deadline to apply is Aug. 1
For the first time this decade, AAA estimates a decline in the number of Americans traveling 50 miles or more…
County forms taxing district to provide passenger-only ferry service
Peter Fisher, retiring Chair of the Eastsound Planning Review Committee, presents the second “Annual Report” to the County Council on June 24. Reprinted in its entirety.
“Celebrate the Classics” is the theme for the Chamber of Commerce’s annual community parade scheduled for Saturday, July 5 in Eastsound. “We live in a fast-paced world, one that is constantly looking for the latest and greatest trend. But there are many things we all value that have withstood the test of time, and the chamber thought the community Parade would be the perfect moment for people to celebrate their own classics,” said Lance Evans, Chamber Executive Director.
The Orcas Island School District’s Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) has taken last year’s budget and this year’s history to propose that $365,991 can be cut from the projected 2008-2009 general fund budget.
The San Juan County Land Bank’s recent purchase of Vern and Sidney Coffelt’s Farm on Orcas Island has helped ensure a future for local agriculture. The 185-acre working farm spans Crow Valley, connecting Fowler’s Pond and Turtleback Mountain Preserve, and encompassing an expanse of scenic open-space, habitat resources, and productive agricultural land.
On Monday, June 23, the Orcas Island Fire Department announced that its meeting would be held at the Eastsound Fire Hall instead of at the Deer Harbor Community Club, as previously announced. For information, contact 376-2331.
San Juan County will receive over $206,000 as part of a state-wide grant program from the Department of Ecology. Local governments are getting $17.5 million in help from the State Department of Ecology to help keep communities cleaner and safer. The grants cover 176 projects to better manage solid and household hazardous wastes, prevent illegal dumping and promote waste-reduction, recycling, and composting. The State Department of Ecology issues the funds – called Coordinated Prevention Grants – every two years from a tax paid by wholesale distributors of petroleum and other hazardous materials.
“As in any rural community, the family practice here at Orcas Medical Center has to be ready to address a wide range of medical issues,” said Cortney Boulton, a second-year University of Washington medical student who is nearing the end of a month-long study program on Orcas Island. “I’ve really learned a lot by just observing Dr. Giefer’s way of listening to patients carefully and understanding their needs.”
