On the afternoon of May 14, a single-occupant vehicle went off Enchanted Forest Road and over an embankment, rolling over twice before landing on its roof.
In preparation for the busy Memorial Day weekend, WSDOT Ferries Division is rolling out the second phase of its new pilot reservations program for the Port Townsend/Keystone route. On Monday, May 19, customers will be able to use advance reservations to receive priority boarding on the ferry. They will also be able to make both advance and same-day reservations by phone and at the Port Townsend and Keystone terminals starting Monday.
Islanders are reminded that, as graduation approaches, contributions to a scholarship in honor of Gitte Sofaer should be made soon.
On Sunday, May 4 the Orcas Island Yacht Club held its annual Opening Day Yacht Parade honoring Commodore Katie Thomas to the theme of “Pirates of Orcas Island.”
On May 17, the County’s Lead Entity for Salmon Recovery presented a day highlighting the protection and recovery efforts of the habitats critical to salmon survival. The Lead Entity produced the event, which included a Kids’ Camp, displays by the San Juan Nature Institute, People for Puget Sound and Friends of the San Juans among others, and luncheon and field trips, was funded by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and federal and state salmon recovery money. Walking and boat tours of the estuary rounded out the day. About 45 people attended the event were some of the groups that displayed at the event in the Deer Harbor Community Clubhouse.
Farm Education And Sustainability for Teens (FEAST), will kick off at 1 p.m. on May 24 in the garden heart of Eastsound, the old Senior Center lots between Prune Alley and North Beach Road.
Corrected Story: The 71st Annual Meeting of the members of Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) took place Saturday, May 17th on the ferry. A record-breaking 435 people attended the meeting, which included a local lunch by The Galley of Lopez Island. Six members who sent in their absentee ballots were drawn for $50 credits on their next OPALCO bills. The six lucky winners were: Stanley & Gretchen Liebenberg, Sonja Zarek, Edith Blomberg, George Spees, Mark Lewis, Mark Fleming.
Turns out the idea of using the Land Bank as leverage proved too hot to handle.
In further service to their mission, “providing safe, affordable, high quality, consistent childcare and preschool while supporting Orcas Island working families,” Kaleidoscope Childcare Center has announced plans to add fulltime infant and toddler care to its program.
Congestion and heavy traffic is expected at all WSDOT Ferries Division terminals over Memorial Day weekend, particularly on the afternoon and evening of Friday, May 23 and on Monday, May 26.
On May 12, the Orcas Island School District (OISD) board met to vote on options for reducing the hours for the principals, as part of the Reduced Educational Program for 2008-2009. This program must be approved in order to begin the process of hiring staff – and reducing in force (RIF) – contracted teachers for the coming school year.
County Administrator Pete Rose contacted the Sounder with the following information: I would like to communicate some corrections to the guest opinion the Islands Sounder published in the May 14 edition regarding the letter to our federal delegation. The letter has not yet been formally approved and sent. When the two councils met on April 22 and discussed the issue, it was agreed that the Mayor and Council Chair would draft a letter. The letter published by your newspaper was the draft that was to be put in front of each council for adoption.
The Fire Chief and his Commissioners have a full plate, as evidenced at the May 13 regular meeting: the Community Report, formalization of an employment policy, Deer Harbor station planning, the Assistant Chief position, additional paramedic/firefighter hiring, revision of the cross-training requirement, Strategic Plan review, vote for increase in commissioners, and front-desk duties, aside from their “regular” work of firefighting, emergency medical services, district operations and financial oversight.
