It’s hard to deny that the antics of a California sea lion that showed up recently on San Juan Island are – let’s say – amusing.
Between piloting assignments for the Coast Guard, John Heath developed an interest in building computers. Heath has expanded that interest in computers and, since 2006, has been the Technology Coordinator for the Orcas Island School District. Heath is based in a small office in the Orcas Elementary School but also works with the high school and middle school to maintain and troubleshoot the 200 plus computers on the OISD campuses. School Superintendent Glenn Harris is the Technology Director and oversees the whole technology program.
For her senior project Rebecca Mason of Shaw Island is collecting supplies to send to Iraqis caught up in the war. The project, entitled “Build Iraqi Hope,” is an operation, started by a U.S. soldier which Mason has continued, to send clothing, school supplies, baby formula and toys to Iraqi citizens in areas that have been blocked off by insurgents.
Orcas Montessori Pre-School will be hosting an open house for prospective families Saturday May 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
ORCAS ISLAND
Whether it’s sunny and charming in-town gardens, meadows with native plants with ponds and water features or shady waterfront settings with beautiful vistas, the annual Orcas Island Garden Club Tour on Saturday, June 7 has something for every gardening enthusiast.
Last week’s oil spill drill at Ocean Shores helped federal, state, tribal and local governments, SeaRiver Maritime Inc., and private response contractors together to determine how best to respond to a major oil spill off the outer coast.
United Way of San Juan County has announced the receipt of a $5,000 grant from the Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund. The grant will be used for program support exclusively in San Juan County and will assist in funding programs which provide services to thousands of county residents. According to a Tulalip Tribes spokesperson, “The Tulalip Tribes would like to congratulate this organization for its continued dedication and support for such a worthy cause”.
Mary J. Getten of Orcas Island and Bob Emerson of Olympia would like to share the joy of their decision to join their lives together. They met late last year and quickly formed a deep loving connection. Mary and Bob share a love of animals and nature, and are excellent communicators (they talk a lot).
For years, Dan Powell has had a sign on his computer in the San Juan County Assessor’s office that reads: “You have a yearning for perfection” and he has applied that ambition to creating maps that are infinitely more accurate than the paper maps that were being phased out when he joined the office in 1996. Now, after 12 years of service, he is leaving the County’s employ to join a local real estate firm.
On Tuesday June 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Washington Liquor Control Board and Orcas Island Prevention Partnership will be offering the annual summer training on alcohol and tobacco laws at the Orcas Island Fire Hall Conference Room. The training reviews the Washington state laws regarding the sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors and places a special emphasis on checking IDs accurately, refusing sales to intoxicated customers, and promoting increased comfort in knowing when to ask for identification. This training does not qualify the restaurant and bar staff for their Mandatory Alcohol Servers Training (MAST) but does increase employee and business skills in accurately reading identification and refusing sales as needed.
