Opinion Stories - San Juan Islands

U.S. Census: it's time to stand up and be counted

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:57 PDT

Protecting teens from the wrong kind of love

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:57 PDT

What’s best for Tillikum now, and what have we learned? | Guest Column

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:57 PDT

The terrible tragic death of veteran trainer Dawn Brancheau at Sea World Florida has suddenly generated a nationwide public examination of our feelings about captive orca shows. We’ve now seen the harm they can do even to compassionate humans, and the mental distress captivity can cause in the orcas. Google shows at least 6,892 articles on the trainer’s death. No other single news event has brought out such a groundswell of emotions doubting the ethical wisdom of using captive orcas for entertainment.

Lessons from Chile: What the Pacific Northwest can learn from the Chilean earthquake | Guest Column

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:57 PDT

First Haiti, now Chile. Widespread destruction on a scale most of us have seen only in a Hollywood movie has many in the Pacific Northwest wondering what it would look like here after a similar quake. And the reality is, of course, that it will happen here.

Ruth Marcus

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:58 PDT

WASHINGTON—Sometimes I think I’ve gotten too cynical after so many years in Washington.

Ruth Marcus

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:58 PDT

WASHINGTON -- Boy, you could see that one coming. It was a pivotal moment earlier this month when Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen and Defense Secretary Robert Gates backed repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Pivotal, but not enough. I don’t spend a lot of time chatting up military officers, but enough to know that, just below the top-most ranks, there remains an enormous, if incomprehensible, amount of squeamishness about letting gay men and women serve openly in the military.

What’s best for Tillikum now, and what have we learned? | Guest Column

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:58 PDT

Lessons from Chile: What the Pacific Northwest can learn from the Chilean earthquake | Guest Column

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:58 PDT

I support renewal of the San Juan EMS levy, and th

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:58 PDT

U.S. Census: Lots of vital reasons to stand up and be counted | Guest Column

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:58 PDT

In the coming weeks, we have a chance to claim our fair share of federal revenues for important services and infrastructure improvement and to improve the quality of life in our island communities. Stand up and be counted in 2010!

What’s best for Tillikum now, and what have we learned? | Guest Column

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:58 PDT

Lessons from Chile: What the Pacific Northwest can learn from the Chilean earthquake | Guest Column

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:58 PDT

Join Relay for Life and make a difference; kickoff is today at 5:30 p.m. | Editorial

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:58 PDT

Times are tough right now. But for just a few dollars, and a little bit of your time, you can bolster cancer research and help provide services for local cancer patients. The kickoff for Relay for Life is today — Feb. 23 — from, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the San Juan Island Library. The kickoff is open to the public.

We did the right thing on Election Day | Editorial

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:58 PDT

Voters did the right thing when they approved property tax levy renewals for San Juan Island EMS and San Juan Island School District maintenance and operations. You will continue to pay a property tax of 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation for EMS services. If your home is worth $300,000, that’s $105 a year – no out of pocket. It’s a great investment in the health and security of you and every member of your household.