Opinion Piece

Gluten Free Spoken Here - by Cynthia Olsen

We are so fortunate to have many gluten free food choices in Friday Harbor at Marketplace (in the Natural Foods Section) and the San Juan Island Food Co-op. Several people, on learning that I am gluten…

Written by Cynthia Olsen

My Turn – How Do We Make EMS Successful and Sustainable

The #1 responsibility of a board – nonprofit or otherwise - is to promote the mission of an organization and ensure financial viability. Financial stewardship is critical, because without it, the rest doesn’t matter.

Written by Monica Harrington

Larsen: Supporting Veterans Starts Locally

As a grateful nation pauses to honor women and men who served in the military this Veterans Day, I call on community members to reflect on how to best support local veterans.

Written by U.S. Congressman Rick Larsen

The Veterans of Iraq & Afghanistan Owe Thanks and Gratitude to Vietnam Veterans

I was speaking to a group of small business owners a few days ago about the benefits of military service and hiring military veterans for their businesses. As I received their still very special, “Thank You…

Written by Chad Storlie, Adjunct Professor of Marketing, Creighton University & Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel (Special Forces)

Guest Column: Making a federal case out of it is costly to taxpayers

A couple of weeks ago the county’s Superior Court judge, Kathryn Loring, ruled that the county’s law limiting how long before election day political signs could be posted was most likely unconstitutional and she temporarily barred…

Written by Alex MacLeod

Guest Column by Jim Corenman: How you can influence decisions about future of WSF

Washington State Ferries recently released the draft for their Long Range Plan looking out the next two decades to 2040. This has been a long time in the making, including meetings over the last year and…

Written by Jim Corenman Chair, San Juan County Ferry Advisory Committee

Why two-year delay in revealing Brady letter?

When Randy Gaylord talked to the county council in January 2017 about Detective Stephen Parker’s sexual relationship with the victim in the Orcas teacher-student sex case, he introduced the council to something called a “Brady” letter.

Written by Alex MacLeod

Tagged under

2018 Election

Guest Column: Why didn't San Juan County Council members select Lytton to replace Ranker

Last Tuesday Feb. 5th our representatives threw away a golden chance to appoint a strong strategic advocate for San Juan County. The San Juan County Council voted unanimously to appoint a State Senator who was not…

Written by Cindy Wolf

Guest Column: State ferry system and economy need new ferries

Washington State Ferries’ new Long Range Plan, released in January, was the result of nearly two years of input, experience and expertise of a wide range of stakeholders who know what it takes to ensure the…

Written by Rick Hughes, San Juan County Council member

Guest Column: In Service to our Community’s Seniors

The District Committee of the Mullis Community Senior Center has worked through many challenges over the past few months and confronted concerns in our Friday Harbor community. We have come to better understand the perspectives of…

Written by Anna Coffelt, Mullis Center Manager

Guest Column: Carol Whalen beats meningitis. Thank you, community!

Hello everyone, This is the post our family has prayed we'd be able to write since Tuesday, July 9, 2019 -- an unbelievable 62 days ago. Our beautiful Rockstar Mom BEAT MENINGITIS AND IS COMING HOME!!!…

Written by The Whalen Ladies

MacLeod: Ballot measure not the same as the petition signed by voters

Last fall, a group of Shaw Islanders grew concerned when word circulated that the longtime owners of the Shaw General Store were putting it, and adjacent properties, including the Shaw post office, up for sale. When…

Written by Alex MacLeod