Staff report
It was another robust Orcas Chamber of Commerce Community Parade in Eastsound on July 7.
This year’s theme was “Retro Orcas” and judges took that into account when making their winning selections of the more than 40 entrants. The chamber typically awards a best overall entry and two runners-up but this year it was increased to four runners-up.
Best entry (won a $100 gift certificate to Island Market)
“Montgomery Family – 100 Years on the Rock.” The Montgomery family is celebrating 100 years on Orcas Island. Joseph Ray and May Montgomery moved to Orcas in 1918 and established a commercial produce farm in Deer Harbor called “Meadow Farms.” Since that time there has been a continues presence of Montgomery family members on the island except for about two years during the Second World War.
Runners-up (won a $50 gift certificate to Island Market)
• “Friends of Moran.” The float featured a Flatbed truck with equipment and participants representing the Civilian Conservation Corps.
• “Odd Fellows.” The Odd Fellows of Mt. Constitution Lodge wore nostalgic regalia from yesteryear and stirred up the passions of onlookers with their drumming rhythms and kazoo band. They’ve been serving the Orcas Community since 1841.
• “Shaw Island School.” Direct from their triumph as grand marshals of the Shaw Island Parade last weekend, Shaw School lead teacher Diane Clifton and music teacher Anita Orne were chauffeured by Gordon Koenig on a classic island rig.
“Woman in the Woods Productions.” This organization promotes racial and cultural differences through various forms of artistic expression. The float featured “Oprah” and her bodyguards.
Four candidates ran for the honorary mayor of Eastsound this summer, but there could only be one winner. Two candidates’ campaign promises — one for a healthy lifestyle and the other for a waste-free environment — kept our village from “going to the dogs” in the 10th Annual Honorary Mayor of Eastsound race.
Hopping into first place and taking home the title of mayor for a year was Tinker, a pure-bred French Lop bunny, with 3,801 votes. Tinker was sponsored by Crow Valley Gallery, Darvill’s and Orcasong Farm.
The annual honorary mayor race is a fundraiser held by the Orcas Island Children’s House. It costs $1 to vote for the candidate of your choice. In total, $8,450 was raised by the 2018 election.
Previous mayors include famous local animal icons April the cow and Granny the orca.
Coming in at second place was Ginger, the miniature horse, sponsored by Madrona Point Insurance with 3,166 votes; followed by Sgt. Pepper, a terrier mix sponsored by Wild Island with 852 votes; and bringing up the rear was Rocky, a miniature poodle with 631 votes.
