Here’s a thought…
“Deep breath. Deep breath. The air is free. You can take as many as you want.”
BUDDHIST MONK
The Great Islands Clean-up is back in person
||| FROM PETE MOE for EXCHANGE ORCAS ||| Come join your fellow islanders for the 2022 Spring Great Islands Clean-up on Saturday, April 23, 2022 between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Grabbers, gloves, bags and safety vests will be available for pickup at The Exchange starting Monday, April 18, or
Sheriff’s Report | March 23 – 29, 2022
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ||| WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 22-001757 Wanted Person 09:59:40 03/23/22 Deputies on San Juan Island attempted to contact a person with a warrant. The person did not answer their door or acknowledge the Deputies. Deputies will continue to attempt to locate and contact the
DOH issues health advisory for norovirus-like illnesses linked to raw oysters
Individuals sickened after consumption of oysters from British Columbia, Canada ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Officials at the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) advise Washington residents to not serve or eat raw oysters harvested from an area of British Columbia (BC), Canada until further notice. Eighteen Washington
A hyperactive sunspot just hurled a huge X-class solar flare into space
||| FROM SPACE.COM ||| A fast-erupting sunspot just hurled out a huge flare. The hotbed of sun activity, known officially as AR2975, sent out a powerful X-class flare that has already created a temporary blackout in shortwave radio signals in the Americas, according to SpaceWeather.com. (AR2975 has already burped more than 17 moderate-sized flares in
Senior Center offers Silver Swans for basic, gentle ballet
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS ISLAND SENIOR CENTER ||| Join Emily Anton for Silver Swans, an hour of basic and gentle ballet for older adults on Wednesdays, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. by Zoom. Improve your mobility, posture, stability, and balance with this movement class that has been specially
Local group forms to lure, entice more tourists on Orcas with new activities
||| BY ADNIL LEHCAR, SPECIAL TO theORCASONIAN Much to the surprise, and perhaps consternation of many in the community, a local group has formed to increase tourist activities on Orcas Island. "I mean, really, what is there to do on Orcas once you get here," says one of the active
New approaches to housing and behavioral health top Inslee’s budget takeaways list
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| As legislators convened for the start of the 2022 legislative session in early January, Gov. Jay Inslee called on elected leaders to continue their bold charge on housing and homelessness, reducing poverty, and tackling climate change. The themes may sound familiar,
Developer group seeks major overhaul of downtown Eastsound
||| BY WALTER ZUSTOVICH, theORCASONIAN GUEST REPORTER ||| With the popularity of Orcas Island reaching new post-pandemic highs, a loose coalition of on-and off-island developers called Building the Future is seeing an opportunity to bring Eastsound proper into the 21st century. Noting two recent projects adding luxury rental suites to
Latest COVID numbers from State Health Dept.
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Statewide Response Updates Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 1,454,772 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on March 29. There have been 12,478 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. Data note (Wednesday, March 30): DOH is still experiencing delays in reporting
WSF weekly update
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Governor signs Move Ahead Washington funding bill at Mukilteo terminal Gov. Jay Inslee signed two transportation funding packages on Friday, one of them at our Mukilteo terminal. With our newest ferry Suquamish as a backdrop, he put his signature on the Move Ahead Washington bill,
Final (so far) weekly COVID update from San Juan County
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday March 25, there have been 10 new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current case count is now 1275. LOPEZ ISLAND: There are no new cases on Lopez Island since the last
Orcas Islanders join together to link arms for Ukraine
||| BY STAFF REPORTER SHIN BREEM ||| Orcas gun owners and gun control advocates shared vegan BBQ while celebrating their successful combined campaign to help arm the Ukrainian army as more than 5,000 donated guns and 75,000 donated rounds of ammunition have been collected so far at multiple drop-off debris
‘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.
Council still on deck for climate change
||| BY STAFF REPORTER SHIN BREEM ||| “It’s all hands on deck,” said one County official as the County Council unveiled its long-awaited first draft of a proposed series of priorities to address possible approaches to final decisions about parameters for further aggressive action on climate. “When the ship is
Roulac’s Qigong series returns to Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS ISLAND SENIOR CENTER ||| Joan Roulac Quiet the mind and strengthen the body with Joan Roulac’s Ease Please four week Qigong series. These 15-minute sessions will gently loosen muscles, strengthen immunity, build balance, and increase energy. Series begins either Wednesday, April 6
You’re invited to IT Basics for Business workshop
||| FROM GAIL SCHNEE for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| The Economic Development Council of San Juan County (EDC) invites business owners and entrepreneurs to an informative workshop on IT Basics for Business. Course instructor Monica Johns is a serial entrepreneur, a program management leader, a Wharton MBA, and Certified Scrum
