On behalf of the Odd Fellows, we would like to thank the community for making this Thanksgiving at the Odd Fellows Hall the best and most attended ever. Your participation guaranteed a memorable evening and showed us why we live here on Orcas and why we love Orcas. Thanks also go to Orcas Center for their contribution of chairs and tables, a big thank you to Kyle at Orcas Homegrown, Ron at Orcas Village Store, and Jason at Island Market for their donation of turkeys. They were appreciated more than you can imagine.
We do have a request: if you took any pictures and can share them with us, please send them to: The Odds, P.O. Box 1286, Eastsound WA 98245 or email them to: jay@oddshall.org.
Once again, thank you for an unforgettable evening and we will see you next year.
Bill and Monique Gincig
Eastsound
Community support of United Way
With economic challenges facing island communities, please remember vital local organizations such as the United Way of San Juan County need your support to do their good works in our county.
If possible, please take the time to donate to United Way of San Juan County so programs in our communities may continue to receive much-needed funding. The Orcas Island Recreation Program is one of the many organizations who have received vital United Way grants. On behalf of the many families who appreciate Orcas Island Recreation Program activities for kids of all ages, I wish to thank the United Way of San Juan County for their continuing support and invite you to send them a donation today to PO Box 3181, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Your donation helps families and local organizations that reach out in many ways! Thank you.
In gratitude,
Didier Gincig
Coordinator,
Orcas Island Recreation Program
Victim of plane theft speaks out
About six years ago, I finally overcame a lifelong fear of flying. I was one of those people who would never get on an airplane (any airplane) unless it was absolutely required. Any bump or noise would have me clutching the seat.
What happened? I met some very special people who happened to be pilots, and I became fascinated. I asked a million questions. I bought eight years of flight instruction magazines on Ebay. A friend said “why don’t you try an introductory lesson?” I took five introductory lessons, but was still nervous and not ready, until a local airline captain told me about a veteran pilot who would sometimes give lessons in the San Juan Islands.
On Orcas Island I began my training with this wise and seasoned instructor and a community of aviators who taught me to do something I never thought possible. The day of my first solo flight was the one of the happiest days of my life. Everyone I met at Eastsound Airport took part in grading my landings, reminding me to fly safe, and that a good pilot is always learning.
How did I overcome my fear of flying? Well, I didn’t really. I came to realize that I had always wanted to fly, but what I really had was a fear of crashing. I still do, and I can do a lot about it. Mostly what I do is continue to take regular flight instruction, add ratings, read about safety, and always fly difficult IFR (in the clouds) with a safety pilot.
When there is an auto accident, it hardly ever makes the news. When anything happens to an airplane, it is a big story. Whatever you see on TV or read in the newspaper is usually full of speculation and often inaccurate, despite everyone’s best intentions. Why?
1. Facts are few, because investigations are not completed. The NTSB and authorities don’t report fast enough for the news cycle.
2. To speculate about what happened and the lessons to be learned is automatic, and part of why flying is so safe. It’s in the DNA of aviators. This is a good thing.
A recent article in the Sounder seemed to imply that a thief saw keys in an airplane and decided to steal it. That same story much later noted the airplane was in a locked hangar.
The Cessna 182 was last seen at 2:30 p.m. on November 12. Most likely early the next morning, it was stolen from a secure hangar at Eastsound airport. Unfortunately, it happened to be mine. It crashed after flying about three and a half hours on the Yakima Indian Reservation, high on a mountain ridge, in very unusual circumstances. I was, and still am STUNNED. I don’t want to even think that anybody could do something like this, but there it is. If locks do help keep people honest, that wasn’t enough in this case.
The hangar door was forced open, and while there were not keys in the airplane, there may have been a forgotten key somewhere inside the building. We don’t know for sure. If anyone has any idea who might have committed this kind of crime, I hope they will please contact the San Juan County Sheriff’s office.
I am told that nothing like this has ever happened here. I have since learned that another hangar door was previously tampered with at Eastsound. Unfortunately, no warning went out at that time.
In the spirit of that old adage “A Good Pilot Is Always Learning,” let’s get the word out. Fly Safe.
Bob Rivers
Orcas Island
Possible use for Opalco generator
Back in October I wrote a letter about the generator shed located by the food bank off of Mt. Baker Rd. My hope was to generate interest in the artifacts contained within the green structure. Instead, my interest in this matter was met with the main generators being removed through a gaping hole in the east side of the shed. I had heard a rumor that the big generator had been sold a while back. Whether it was for wholesale scrap or for use by a private party was not disclosed at the time of my conversation. My hope is that they went to a private party to be used for one venture or another.
It would be inconceivable to turn such a beautiful machine into liquid metal just for the profit of a few. The two smaller generators are left and now that OPALCO has made their nickel off of the main attraction, perhaps they may wish to donate at least one of the two remaining generators to the community.
The machines appear well maintained and there is no reason that they (or at least one of them) couldn’t be maintained for the sake of an interesting, educational community attraction. To see one of these old style generators at work is truly a great educational treat that OPALCO shouldn’t sell off to the highest bidder just to line the golden pockets of wealthy investors. It’s just not right. This is our local heritage for sale.
In closing, I would like to thank the person who responded to my original letter. A factual correction is ALWAYS appreciated, thank you for your time and interest in my letter.
Sincerely,
David Dunlap
Orcas Island
Margie will be missed
One can say that “All good things must come to an end,” but why Margie? Why now? In Margie Doyle, we had an editor not only committed to the community and the newspaper’s importance to our island, but also to thoroughness and accuracy. She worked hard to really understand the issues she reported on, tirelessly pursued information and ideas to bring stories of real importance to all of us.
Her support of the arts at all levels was matchless, her editorials thoughtful, sensitive, and well-placed, and to all appearances, her management of the office at the Sounder congenial and professional. It was so gratifying that, after trying someone “other” after Ted’s retirement, one of our own was named to head our island voice. And to see how well she did the job just proved again that we have an enormous well of talent and ability in our tiny community.
Whatever your reasons for this change of leadership, know that we will miss Margie’s voice when we open our Sounder each week. We can only hope that whatever issues brought about this travesty, they might be ironed out and Margie will be returned to our paper. If that can’t be, then we must wish her well in whatever she chooses to pursue next, and hope the Sounder can find an equal talent to pick up the pieces.
Patty Monaco
Orcas Island
School not covered
Since the loss of Margie Doyle as Editor of the Sounder, coverage of the Orcas Island School District’s school board news has been non-existent. Margie was diligent about attending the meetings, as well as reporting the dates of upcoming meetings. As there was no coverage of our last meeting, I thought I would write directly to the Sounder in hopes the public would have some notice about an important upcoming workshop.
Our regularly scheduled meeting is the fourth Thursday of every month. This month, because of Christmas, our board meeting has been rescheduled to December 18 at 5:30 p.m. Prior to the meeting, however, there will also be a workshop about a possible new bond for the district.
The bond would replace an existing bond and could be a significant construction project for our schools. The school board will be discussing the pros and cons of this important project. As with all our meetings, we hope the public is in attendance; we are especially hopeful there is public attendance when it comes to critical issues such as a bond.
To that end, please note: there will be a special OISD school board bond workshop on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m. in the school library. We look forward to seeing you there.
Janet Brownell
Orcas Island School Board
Library accepting applications for trustees
The Library Trustee Nominating Committee is seeking nominees for the position of Library Trustee for a five-year term. Nominations are due to the committee by Friday, Dec. 12. The committee will select a candidate based on the written criteria for the position and forward the candidate’s name to the County Council, which makes Trustee appointments.
Serving as a Library Trustee is a wonderful way to support the Orcas community. Our library serves as a center where we learn and come together in support of our own growth, and our growth as a community.
The Library Trustee Nominating Committee is made up of Sheila Gaguin, Barb Skotte, and myself. Nomination materials are available from the library. We hope that you will consider making a difference for Orcas by being a nominee.
Sincerely,
Diane G. Berreth
Library Trustee Nominating Committee Chair
“The Tank” being misused
Does anyone else find it annoying that our ‘ad tank’, across from Country Corner, is being used to advertise 20% OFF SALES? It was fine with me, and charming, that it would be used to announce anniversaries, birthdays, events and community-benefiting activities….but not sales.
Do we want this to start, as a community — painting objects on the road side for business advertising? I would hope not.
Thomas Hiltner
Orcas Island
