In the outbreak of the current novel influenza, the management and dissemination of information both locally and nationally has been much better than it was 33 years ago. But the technical jargon and terminology has made it difficult for many to understand the vast amount of information that has been publicized. So, let’s decipher a few terms.
In these efforts, our community is the embodiment of the often-cited quote from Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” As I am walking out in the woods we now share and pass a fellow islander, these will be the words on my mind.
Memorial Day belongs to the fallen. It is for them we mourn and for them that we search our hearts for that deeper meaning that is never fully satisfied. Those of us who have been on the point of our nation’s interests know this.
Have an idea of how to make the community a better place in which to live, play and work? There’s no better chance than now. Run for public office. As a candidate, you will contribute to public discussion about issues. If you win, you will — depending on the position with which you will be entrusted — make decisions that affect our level and quality of local education, fire protection, health care, port services, recreation, sewer and water service, and other public services.
A good decision does not need to be defended. Good choices stand on their own merits. This was not the case in the recent guest column of May 6 by County Council members Pratt and Peterson.
A single-car accident striking a power pole in Sedro-Woolley left more than 100,000 people in five counties without electricity. Here at the end of the long “extension cord” to the islands, power restoration started about 9 p.m., with some areas reporting the outage lasting until 10:30 p.m. In the islands, we are more used to these outages occurring during wind, or winter storms. After these storms and outages, we usually remind folks of the steps we can take as individuals to help our community prepare for these events.
In this era of economic uncertainty, good news regarding savings and investments is always welcome. Here’s some: You’re going to see a sizable reduction in your 2010 property tax bill. You can help save school sports and still see a sizable reduction.
Underage and high-risk drinking, alcohol abuse and binge drinking are complex problems. No one strategy can remedy the risks, but one effective, proven approach is the higher (age 21) Minimum Legal Driving Age, or MLDA.
The San Juan Island solid waste transfer station, one of the most contentious issues on the island today, may help bring peace between the town and county governments. If the county vacates the Sutton Road site for another location, the town could conceivably operate its own waste transfer station. But the state Department of Ecology and the town and county’s joint planning policy discourage the operation of two waste transfer stations on the island. So, the town and county are drafting letters of intent, pledging to work toward a single solution to the island’s solid waste woes. This is a major diplomatic move and we applaud it.
I am utterly dismayed by the letter from Glenn Kaufman that appeared on SanJuanJournal.com (“Opposed to PeaceHealth/San Juan Community Hospital Committee proposal,” March 9). I am the administrator of the Orcas Medical Center and am deeply concerned that I was misrepresented in paragraphs four and five of this letter.
It’s taken 18 months of researching and planning, but the Shared Care program is now available on the islands. And we think it’s a great thing. Shared Care is a regional service based in Bellingham. It is operated through PeaceHealth, which operates St. Joseph’s Hospital and proposes building a hospital on San Juan Island. Because the San Juans are in the St. Joseph’s service area, PeaceHealth agreed to extend the program to us (the Orcas Island Fire Department worked with PeaceHealth to bring the program here).
Hard times are always harder on children. The challenges of ordinary life are magnified when the stress of economic difficulty is imposed on a family. Foreclosures, layoffs and budget woes can lead to desperate behaviors. The overall gloom of the times affects even those who are not at immediate risk.
April gives us a lot more to think about than spring. This month is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Alcohol Awareness Month — three issues that plague our society yet three issues on which we can make such a big difference. Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of the San Juan Islands is using this month to make you aware of some important facts.