This weekend brings opportunities on Orcas to meet our newly elected municipal leaders. The Sheriff’s Office is hosting Coffee with a Cop on Saturday at Tide Pool on North Beach Road from 10-Noon. Sheriff Eric Peter will be there with a few additional deputies to meet the community and listen to ideas and concerns.

Councilwoman Cindy Wolf is hosting a gathering to introduce additional newly elected and appointed County leaders including Judges, Assessor, Auditor, Prosecuting Attorney, Clerk, Treasurer, Sheriff, and the full County Council. They will be at the Orcas Senior Center on 62 Henry Road from 1:30–2:30.

As we head into late winter and dream of the Spring, the Friends of Moran are working on getting the Park cleaned up and ready for visitors. If you are interested in volunteering with trail maintenance, helping with Interpretive Programs, or staffing the Summit Gift Shop, please email them.

Our effort to purchase the Pea Patch Property continues. We have initiated the environmental studies and surveys needed to evaluate the parcel. For those of you interested in tracking the process, we have set up a page on our website and will be posting updates there. We continue to work on securing the financial commitments for the purchase price. Our goal is to have those in hand by May 1, giving us a little cushion prior to a July closing date. I would welcome a conversation with anyone interested in learning more about the fundraising needs.

I hope that you stay cozy this first blustery weekend of February.

All the best —
Hilary