Here’s a thought…
“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers.”
THOMAS PYNCHON
Newest COVID-19 numbers from State Health Dept.
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 1,776,370 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 23. There have been 13,843 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. Wednesday, Aug. 24: The R-effective Estimates page in the Disease Activity and Testing section
Letter to Editor | Let me tell you my Prune Alley experience
||| FROM SUSAN MUSTARD ||| Before the celebration of completed sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and storm water drainage on Prune Alley a bit of history is in order. I do not want to rain on parades, but it is long past time to address the sad and upsetting tale of my
Write what you’ve always wanted to write in this Tish Knapp workshop
Creative Writing Workshop by Tish Knapp at Orcas Senior Center: Tuesdays, September 6-October 11, 2-3 p.m. ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Write what you always thought you wanted to write at a 6-week creative writing workshop designed for writers of all genres at Orcas Senior Center!
Cultivating success: Growing future farmers (además en Espanol)
Learn how to develop a sustainable small farm ||| FROM KATE SMITH FOR WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY ||| Interested in farming? Not sure how to begin? Do you dream of beginning or expanding your own small farm? The Cultivating SuccessTM series of courses combines workshop and farmer-direct learning experiences to help
Fire Commission to pass a resolution changing regular meeting times
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for ORCAS ISLAND BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS ||| The Orcas Island Board of Fire Commissioners will present a Resolution during the September 19 5:30 p.m. regular meeting to change the time of the regular monthly meeting. The Board currently meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third
‘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.
CWR’s new Research Director explains why ongoing study of Salish Sea orcas is essential
Why Orca RESEARCH matters ||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| To understand the drivers and consequences of natural processes, scientists need to observe and record that process over relevant timescales. For researchers studying animal populations, this means collecting data on those animals throughout a lifespan or, ideally, over multiple
Orcas Senior Center cards have been rebranded as ‘Friendship Cards’
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Orcas Senior Center (OSC) realizes that staff and volunteers couldn’t do this good work without you, our friends! To “second that emotion,” OSC is rebranding its discount cards as “Friendship Cards.” The new cards provide all the same perks with your
Port of Orcas to launch search for Airport Manager, as Sharpe resigns
||| FROM ROBERT HAMILTON for PORT OF ORCAS ||| I am sad to report that Jeannie Sharpe is resigning from her position as Port of Orcas Airport Manager. Jeannie has done a fantastic job over the past two years and is liked and respected by the community and airport users
Next week, join in this celebration of access on Prune Alley
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is proud to announce the opening of Prune Alley in Eastsound. The public is invited to join County officials and community members in a celebration of access event on Thursday, September 1 at 6 p.m. at the north end of
Hot Topic #38: Diseases in the headlines: Monkeypox virus (MPV) and Polio
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| COVID-19 is not the only disease making national headlines, so we thought it was a good time to bring back our Hot Topic series. There is a lot of information to sift through out there, so we’ve done our best to compile everything
Tourism Management Plan grinds toward reality checks
||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER ||| On August 23, Kendra Smith, Director of Environmental Stewardship, updated the County Council on the progress of the Sustainable Tourism Management Plan (STMP). The vision and the goals have passed initial scrutiny, and the consultants and project managers are now in the
OI Health Care District (OIHCD) strategic planning continues
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE, OIHCD INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT ||| At its August 23 meeting, the OIHCD Board received an update on new needs assessment data. Ms. Jody Carona of Health Facilities Planning and Design summarized findings from focus groups (listening sessions) designed for Spanish speakers and individuals with children. Four more
Makers Fair at Pelindaba is opportunity to come out and show your support
||| FROM SAN JUAN MAKERS GUILD ||| The FULL BLOOM Makers Fair at Pelindaba is an opportunity to come out and show your support for the Island Makers who provide such valuable cultural and culinary joy to our lives. Over 50 Makers are now involved in the event and will
Amid housing crises vacation towns limit short-term rentals
||| FROM AP NEWS ||| STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — In the Colorado ski town of Steamboat Springs, motels line the freeway, once filled with tourists eager to pitch down the slopes or bathe in the local hot springs. Now residents like Marc McDonald, who keep the town humming by
Orcas Island Jazz Festival opens next weekend at Orcas Center
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| The Orcas Island Jazz Festival (OIJF), lights up Orcas Center every Labor Day weekend to celebrate and share the music of jazz. This year, join us in person or on the free livestream for three fantastic nights of live music! Friday, September
