Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Newest J Pod calf is a female
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| On May 26, the Center for Whale Research staff encountered J pod during a photo-ID and aerial observation survey. The whales were very social, with lots of rolling both under and at the surface. During this encounter, the team managed to capture photographs
‘Occam’s Razor’ | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Welcome to our weekly feature, Occam's Razor, from local artist S.C. Watson.
Tourism Plan completes Phase 1: What does the community want?
||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER ||| The consultants and steering committee that are driving the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan (STMP) have wasted no time moving the process forward as a series of three meetings on the three main islands concluded on May 19. The purpose of the meetings
Canoe journey storytelling at Village Green will proceed at 2 p.m.
||| FROM DAVID TURNOY ||| So sorry for those who went out to Camp Orkila on Wednesday, as the Health Department would not allow the canoe landing to be open to the public due to the Covid spike among the Orkila staff. However, the storytelling event will take place as
Gov. Inslee tests positive for COVID-19
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee tested positive for COVID-19 on a rapid antigen test. Inslee is experiencing very mild symptoms including a mild cough. Inslee is working from home. He is consulting with his doctor to set up treatments for Paxlovid antiviral treatments.
Health Care District conducting a health care needs assessment
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE, ACTING HEALTH CARE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT ||| Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD) is developing a strategic plan to guide them in developing needed services. A first step in the process to engage Orcas Islanders is to learn the types of services we need and use. Commissioners
COVID boosters now available for 5-10 year olds
||| FROM KYRA JAHANFAR for SJC HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES ||| An additional mRNA dose will help further protect children, ages 5-11 years, and slow disease spread across Washington and in San Juan County. Booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are now available for children in this age group. The
WSF looking forward to pre-pandemic level travel to San Juans this weekend
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| SEATTLE – May is the start of the busy travel season for Washington State Ferries. Service has returned to pre-pandemic levels on the Seattle/Bainbridge, Mukilteo/Clinton and Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes. However, people driving on board should still plan for long waits across the system
Thoughts from Eric Webb following yesterday’s school shooting in Texas
||| FROM ERIC WEBB, ORCAS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ||| Students, Families, Staff and Community, Today, our deepest sympathies are with those in Texas who suffered an unthinkable act of violence yesterday. Please be reassured that the safety and security of our students and staff are always at the forefront of our
Statement from Washington State Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ||| OLYMPIA, WA --- “Once again we find ourselves grieving from the loss of innocent lives to a senseless act of gun violence. While mass shootings blare from the headlines across the country, we must recognize that an average of two deaths per day
Guest Opinion | Don’t forget to breathe; construction upheaval is only for one season
||| FROM CINDY WOLF, SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER ||| This Spring the news from the bigger world has been rough and our own political sphere has been contentious. It is difficult to avoid the vortex of despair. Sometimes we find ourselves putting a lot of emotional energy into small stuff
Breaking News: Canoe Journey event no longer open to the public
||| FROM DAVID TURNOY ||| Due the incidence of Covid positive tests among several of the staff at Camp Orkila, the canoe journey events tonight are not open to the public. Sorry, but please don't come to Camp Orkila today. As of now, storytelling is still on for Thursday.
County makes it official: Vacation rental permits are limited
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Council voted unanimously (3-0) on May 17 to limit the number of vacation rental permits on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Island, as well as on outer islands. Vacation rental permits are limited per island as follows: San Juan
Guest Opinion | About those trees at The Longhouse…
||| FROM PEGEEN WHITE ||| This weekend I spent several hours gathering signatures for a petition to save the trees at The Longhouse, a donated apartment building for low-income seniors and the disabled. I have lived in many places in my lifetime, but I have never found a community more
Lummi canoe journey Is underway
||| BY EDEE KULPER, theORCASONIAN REPORTER ||| The Lummi Gathering of the Eagles Canoe Journey began Sunday, as the canoeists paddled from Anacortes to Lopez Island. On Monday, they paddled from Lopez to San Juan Island. Today, they will paddle to Orcas Island, landing at Camp Orkila at 4 p.m.,
Washington part of multi-state Salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter
||| FROM STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ||| OLYMPIA -- Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is working with local and federal public health partners to investigate a case of Salmonella that is likely linked to consuming contaminated Jif® brand peanut butter products. The Whitman County resident, who was not hospitalized, has a confirmed case
