Here’s a thought…
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and the government when it deserves it.”
MARK TWAIN
Let’s celebrate our history this May
||| FROM SANDY STREHLOU for TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| It’s time to celebrate history again, in person and on-line! So, get ready, start planning, and let us know what fabulous local history-related event you have in mind for May 2022. This is a great opportunity to promote your
Inslee closes out a busy week with bill signings, new transportation package
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Move Ahead Washington plan takes a completely new approach to transportation in Washington state On Friday at events in Mukilteo and Tacoma, Gov. Jay Inslee signed several climate and clean energy jobs bills, including the historic new 16-year Move Ahead Washington
Land Bank invites comments to objectives, policy document
||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| San Juan County Conservation Land Bank welcomes public input on its updated final draft Agriculture: Overview Objectives and Policy document. This updated version incorporates public input on the first draft circulated in December 2021; it is intended as an
Rep. Lekanoff wraps up the legislative session
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF ||| I know it has been hard for you and your family. The past two years have been rough, our nation is experiencing inflation, and too many workers and small businesses are still dealing with the economic fallout of COVID-19. While some
Sheriff’s Report | March 16 – 22, 2022
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 22-001617 Lost Property 09:16:49 03/16/22 A Deputy on San Juan Island took a report of a dock that had gone missing. The reporting party believes it might be weather related. There is currently no suspect information or workable leads.
Sheriff’s Office alerts islanders to phone scam
||| FROM ZAC REIMER for SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple reports from community members that are receiving calls from phone scammers claiming to be officials from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. They are telling people that they have a
Health Care District releases statement on behavior within clinic
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE, ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT ||| Members of our community have held a long-standing appreciation that we are living on a small island in close proximity to each other. The phrase “neighbors helping neighbors” is often mentioned to convey that recognition. In a time
Newest COVID numbers from State Health Dept.
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 1,448,779 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on March 22. There have been 12,392 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. Data note (Monday, March 14): Due to a technical issue in our data systems,
Guest Opinion | Snake River dams and human nature
||| FROM BILL APPEL ||| The Snake River dam issue is heating up arguments for their removal (“save the salmon and our totemic southern resident killer whales”) or retention (“our ability to reduce fossil fuel usage requires an assured generation capacity to convert our lifestyle and economy from fossil fuels
San Juan County numbers reflect diminished case count
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday March 18, there have been three new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current case count is now 1265. LOPEZ ISLAND: There are no new cases on Lopez Island since the last
Port’s regular monthly meeting is Monday
||| FROM JEANNE SHARP for PORT OF ORCAS ||| Please see 2022 03 28 Regular Agenda for the Port's Regular Monthly Meeting on Monday 3-28-22 at 5 p.m. This will be a Zoom meeting. The Commissioners will be talking about future in-person meetings at this meeting. Hope to see you
EPA grants $52 million to Washington for drinking water, wastewater infrastructure improvements
State estimates $253.5 million available for wastewater, $22 million for drinking water ||| FROM U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ||| SEATTLE -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will help fund Washington’s $22 million plan for key drinking water projects and $253.5 million plan to improve wastewater infrastructure. In addition
‘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.
Fire Department responds to a downed aircraft at the Port
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Orcas Island Fire and Rescue career and volunteer staff responded with the San Juan County Sheriff's Office yesterday afternoon to reports of a downed aircraft south of the airport. Fire and EMS crews arrived to find a Cessna Grand
How can we better prepare for natural hazards on our coasts? Inter-organizational collaboration to assist local efforts may be key
A newly completed project lays the foundation for a team to help Washington’s coastal communities be better prepared for floods, erosion and other coastal hazards ||| FROM WASHINGTON SEA GRANT ||| Floods. Erosion. Sea level rise. Tsunamis. All of these hazards threaten Washington State’s coasts — with potentially dire consequences.
Governor signs bill to allow candidates to use campaign funds for child care
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE DEMOCRATS ||| OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee today signed legislation that explicitly allows candidates running for office in Washington state to use campaign funds for child and other dependent care. Senate Bill 5855, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes), clarifies existing rules regarding the use of campaign funds. This
