There was a good turn out for the Vacation Rental meeting on Sept. 25th at the school cafeteria. The organizing group did a good job presenting some interesting data on the issue and impact vacation rentals are having on resources. You can read more and view presentations on their website. It is a complicated issue and I appreciate the effort this group is making to facilitate a community conversation.
Sept. 28th is the Fall Great Island Clean Up. Pick up supplies in Eastsound at the Village Green between 10 am and 2 pm. All trash can be dropped there as well. There appears to be plenty of roadside and beach trash for the picking! The Orcas Farm Tour is also happening both Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29 and 29. It is a great way to tour (and taste) the island.
Next Saturday, October 5th, the Orcas Island Healthcare District Commissioners will host a community meeting to discuss how the current health care structure is impacting the long term sustainability of health care on Orcas (3-5 pm at the Eastsound Fire Hall). There will also be a follow up meeting on October 28th to discuss the findings from the consultant who has done a deep dive into the sector and will present findings and recommendations for moving forward. The future of health care on Orcas remains a complicated discussion and one that impacts us all. Hopefully, we are walking towards a sustainable system.
Hope you have a lovely weekend,
Hilary