||| FROM HILARY CANTY |||
The new playground is taking form at Buck Park, thanks to the Kiwanis and Park and Rec crew. They have been working tirelessly to get this up and open to the community. It will be a wonderful improvement and their efforts are greatly appreciated.
We are making strides in getting a dental program in place following the departure of Medical Teams International. San Juan County Health, the Orcas Health Care District and the Community Foundation are working together to start a mobile clinic that will provide services to community members who are on medicaid or who are uninsured. The County is contracting with Dr. Jessica Dubek, who has provided dental services to the Lummi Nation for the past decade. She is now embarking on a new endeavor- DentALL- with a goal to increase access to dental care for all.
This is a very collaborative effort. The Community Foundation is providing funding to purchase the needed equipment and supplies, the Community Church is offering the use of their Family Center to host the clinics, the Mercy Flight pilots are flying Dr. Dubek and team over from Bellingham, and the Food Coop will continue to provide lunches. The Orcas Community Resource Center is coordinating the schedule and conducting client intake and Marsha Waunch the chief volunteer overseeing it all. Dr Jack Ehlen, a former volunteer with the MTI Dental Clinic, has moved to the island and will be volunteering his service as needed. If any local hygienists are interested in participating, we will now be able to pay for your time, thanks to grant funding. Please reach out to OICF for more information.
Tomorrow is the seed swap at the Library starting at noon. Always a fun start to gardening season!
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
Thank you Hillary and Marsha, (two names that our community is often beholden to), members of our Buck Park Assn., our Kiwanas, our Park & Rec crew, members of our San Juan County Health Assn., our Orcas Health Care District, members of our OICF, Dr. Jessica Dubek, our Community Church, our Mercy Flight pilots, Dr. Jack Ehlen, and Lerner & our local COOP members for taking on what are obviously huge endeavors that many in the community will benefit from far into the future.
Also, thank you MTI members for what you have done for us in the past. Thank you library board and staff for what you mean to our community. And thank you Lin for the sounding board allowing intra-island communications at moments like this.
You people are part of the solution, and you don’t get enough recognition for what you selflessly do for others.
Safe and productive children are happy children. And, if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life. Help a man keep his teeth and he can actually eat it.