Clear stories will be missed
We are writing to express dismay at Margie Doyle’s separation from The Islands Sounder. Margie has demonstrated a keen understanding of events that are important to islanders. She knows how decisions are made and writes clear and comprehensive stories that include useful background to set the context for current events. Her editorials provided a suggested focus or action steps that made it easier to know what we, as citizens, could do to engage. Her tone was just right: positive and inclusive, with an appropriate amount of scrutiny. It is noteworthy that in a relatively short period of time, Margie demonstrated these traits. We have come to respect her work and wish that she could continue as editor.
Laurie Gallo
Lisa Byers
Eastsound
Another voice of praise
I wish to add my voice to the many others who are stunned and dismayed by the end of Margie Doyle’s tenure as Editor of the Sounder. Margie’s professionalism, commitment, integrity and understanding were outstanding. She made the Sounder come to life, presented balanced points of view on controversial issues, reported on the full spectrum of local news with sensitivity and style. I will miss her thought-provoking editorials. What a loss for the Sounder and for the community.
JoEllen Moldoff
Olga
Thanks for the work
We wish to thank Margie Doyle for having been an outstanding editor of our community newspaper, and are sadly dismayed that she no longer holds that position. Margie kept us well informed on all of the important local issues, and we were grateful to have been able to depend upon her for that. Having attended a number of the same meetings and events about which Margie reported, we found her articles to be consistently thorough, extremely accurate, unbiased, and well written. Her editorials were inspiring, and reflected a broad perspective regarding the issues that affect our community. In addition, Margie, in both her editorials and articles, included information for contacting the parties involved, should readers wish to take action on the issues.
As a 15-year subscriber to The Islands’ Sounder, we have felt a sense of pride and admiration for the high quality of our community newspaper. Margie Doyle upheld this standard as being both conscientious and dedicated to excellence. We believe that her severance from the newspaper was ill-conceived, and that she will be almost impossible to replace.
Jean and Steve Henigson
Eastsound
Community
Missing dog
My husband, Steve Cohan, and I would like to thank all the kind people in the community who have helped us search for our missing doggy over the last week and a half. While she is still missing, we have found renewed sense of belonging on Orcas seeing our neighbors respond to this very personal crisis in our lives.
And again, I plea, if anyone has seen or heard of someone seeing a small (15 pound) rather fox-like dog, please contact us at 5505 or 5552. Nina, a timid Shiba Inu, is our only child. She became frightened during a chimney demolition and dashed out in fear.
She is microchipped, so if brought to a vet will be identified and returned, but so far the police, the animal shelter and the veterinarians have not seen her. Where oh where can she be? One does not know how big an island this is until looking for one very small dog.
P. Morgan Randall MA
Eastsound
Garage sale thefts
To those that decided to “take” various items without paying at our Pioneer Hill neighborhood garage sale, you were seen and identified. What you don’t know is that the money from the sale is used to buy milk for homeless children, sleeping bags, warm coats and shoes for homeless adults. You can “atone” and shorten your karma by sending the money to:
Sharehouse
PO Box 1209
Vancouver, WA 98666
For your sake and theirs DO THE RIGHT THING.
G. G. Town
Olga
Thanks to many
The Orcas Island Education Foundation would like to say a big thank you to all who made our recent fundraiser a great success! We thank all the local artists and student and teacher artists who created the amazing art fish for our auction. We would also like to thank Camp Orkila and their staff for their support and use of the lodge, all the local businesses and the public library which displayed the art fish prior to the event, Susan Osborn and David Densmore for the use of the Living Room, the fantastic chefs who created great food, and the volunteers who gave their time before, during and after the benefit. We raised nearly $30,000 and so appreciate everyone who attended the event and supported public education. Our island’s children are so fortunate to be surrounded by a community that values the importance of an excellent public education.
Michelle Reed,
President
Orcas Island Education Foundation
United Way
It takes a
village
It is often said that it takes a whole village to raise a child. This is especially true in the Village on Lopez Island. With the outstanding and ongoing support of the San Juan County United Way, the Lopez Island Children’s Center is an important link in our children’s education. As with all of San Juan County’s early childhood facilities, the Center is focused on providing a positive early learning environment that nurtures the healthy growth and development of our young children and families.
With your support to United Way you will be helping continue the early childhood education for our youngest islanders and their families. The Lopez Children’s Center houses two outstanding programs. The Lopez Cooperative Preschool has a history of more than 30 years of working with families and their two to five year olds. As a cooperative, parents take an active part in their child’s early experience while working in the center. Parent education is of equal importance under the direction of Skagit Valley Community College. A second program is the Play and Learn Program (PAL) which supports working families on Lopez. PAL provides childcare and early learning year round in full day and half day settings.
The Lopez Children’s Center wishes to thank United Way for their ongoing support to our community. Please join us by donating to the United Way Fund Drive that runs through the end of December. Your donation is vital in continuing the programs that make the San Juan Islands a wonderful place to live, work and learn.
Ellin Evans
Program Supervisor
Lopez Children’s Center
Port of Orcas
Plane investigation
The Port of Orcas regrets the miscommunication which appeared to draw the conclusion that keys had been left in the aircraft stolen from the Orcas Island airport. There was no intent to conclude an investigation better left to law enforcement. We are sorry to have had this concept publicized, and any unintended consequences which arose from it.
Sincerely yours,
Bea vonTobel
Airport Manager
