Scientists track harbor seal 'Sandy' by satellite
Robin Lindsey photo
Sandy with her tracking device, which allows her travels to be monitored.
Dump truck topples under lopsided load
An uneven load of "beauty bark" caused a dump truck to topple over and land in a ditch in the 1000 block of Orcas Road early Friday afternoon. No injuries were reported, and fire fighters and employees from two island towing companies teamed up to get the truck righted and back on the road.
Orcas Has Talent finalists to compete TOMORROW
The finalists are: high school band AllMost Canadian, Al Bentley on saxophone, Carl Burger on guitar, children’s acoustic string group Ceolinas led by Pamela Wirght and singers KT Laslo, Marissa Veldman, Maura Pelleteri and Rhiannon Lawson.
Orcas School District makes tough budget decisions; Booster Club working on funding for spring sports
The board agreed to the following cost-saving measures, which are effective Feb. 27: reduction of .57 FTE para-educator, reduction of library hours, cutting Waldron aide position in half, reducing classified non-rep positions by 668 hours, slimming down prof/tech positions by one hour a day, reducing custodial positions by two hours a day and maintenance positions by one hour a day, and applying for a waiver of two snow days because it was a “public emergency.”
Public meeting about tree removal at Moran State Park
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will be hosting a public meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 15 to discuss forest health issues and safety concerns around the Moran State Park Retreat Center and Primitive Campground areas.
Marriage equality passes Washington State Senate
“I was taught that a family was not determined by the genders of the persons involved, but by the love and commitment that they shared. I was taught that every person is to be treated with respect and dignity," said Senator Kevin Ranker.
Senate approves gay marriage bill; House review next
As Senate President Brad Owens announced that the same-sex marriage bill, ESSB 6239, had passed, an anxious audience of hundreds watching attentively during tense floor debate erupted in applause. The bill, which had bipartisan support, passed in the Senate 28-21 late Feb. 1. The bill has already garnered enough support in the House after it moves through committees to pass and is expected to be on the governor’s desk early next week.
‘Taste of History’ exhibit opens this Friday
The exhibit will feature selections of historic photos, documents, stories and objects from the museum archives, as well as photos from days gone by which have been carefully restored by Peter Fisher.
‘Sip and chop’ literary event
This event is part of the library’s “Orcas Reads” program, which is focusing on the works of Thornton Wilder. “The Bridge of San Luis Rey,” Wilder’s Pulitzer prize-winning novella, takes place in 18th century Peru. “We’re interested in reaching out to a wider audience,” says librarian Holly King, “by offering several different means to approach the content of the book.”
Student chef competition coming up
The Farm to Cafeteria Program has made some fun changes in this year’s third annual Student Chef competition on March 31.
The biggest change is that the afternoon competition for Middle School and High School students will consist of teams: one student and one OISD teacher, administrator or employee (excluding cafeteria kitchen staff.)
Novelist to ‘hustle’ at salon
The Artsmith Salon Series continues its writers’ salon and open mic into 2012 at Kangaroo House. The event will feature novelist and writing professor Jason Skipper reading from his novel “Hustle” on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.
