Here’s a thought…
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”
ANNIE DILLARD
Washington is a sanctuary state for abortion
Inslee and state legislators respond to Supreme Court decision ||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee held a press conference on Saturday, June 25 to declare Washington a sanctuary state for those seeking abortion care. The press conference followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs
Midnight Mutterings | Tipping point?
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| When did it happen? When did she realize she couldn’t look the other way any longer? Had she previously chosen to believe what she saw and heard wasn’t happening? That in the big scheme of things it wasn’t the most important thing? That
Although Prune Alley work encounters supply chain disruptions, work continues
||| FROM COLIN HUNTAMER for SJC PUBLIC WORKS ||| Progress Update: This weeks planned work activities were impacted by supply chain disruptions in the construction industry. Unfortunately many industries continue to operate with single points of failure which are especially vulnerable and disruptive in our island community. All project work is
Health Care District appoints Carolyn Fiscus to vacant seat
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE FOR OIHCD ||| Carolyn Fiscus This Spring, Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD) Commissioners appointed Carolyn Fiscus to serve the remainder of Art Lange’s term. Ms. Fiscus will serve until the November 2023 elections. For those of us who don’t know her, Carolyn has
Sheriff’s Report | June 21 – 28, 2022
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| TUESDAY, JUNE 21 22-004031 Accident-NonInj 23:07:29 06/21/22 A Lopez Deputy responded to an accident without injury. A vehicle traveling downhill from Pavey Boulevard swerved around a deer and struck a tree. There were no injuries and minimal property damage. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22
Some timely reminders for July 4th safety
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – As many prepare for Fourth of July gatherings and summer outings, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) wants to remind folks to stay healthy and celebrate safely. “Have a safe summer. Be aware of hazards and take precautions to protect yourself
What you should know about parking in Eastsound this weekend (and rest of summer)
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ||| As you all know, driving and parking in Eastsound this summer is extremely frustrating. The Prune Alley project will end in a few months, but until that time please consider having employees park slightly away from the busy North Beach and A
Letter to Editor | Massive ‘thanks’ from A*OK
||| FROM SUSAN SINGLETON, BROOK MEINHARDT, & DANNA KINSEY for A*OK ||| Dear Neighbors and Friends, As the 2021/22 school year comes to a close, we just want to say an extra big thank you for the support you have given to A*OK (a program of the Orcas Island Education
State continues with weekly COVID case updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 1,659,152 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on June 28. There have been 13,129 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent number of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
‘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.
Will we see you at this Saturday’s annual community parade?
||| FROM LANCE EVANS for ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ||| The Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce invites you to join in our annual Community Parade in Eastsound on Saturday, July 2 at 12 noon. Our theme this year is Honoring Island Families. The past few years have been a
Some things you may want to know about 4th of July ferrying
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Fourth of July holiday ferry travel If your Independence Day weekend travel plans include a ride on our ferries, prepare for long waits if boarding in a vehicle. All riders should regularly check our online sailing schedules, as some timetables are dependent on crewing
Inslee issues directive prohibiting state law enforcement cooperation with abortion-related investigations
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee announced this past weekend he was preparing to direct the Washington State Patrol to refuse cooperation with any investigatory requests related to abortion that come from agencies in states that don’t allow or significantly constrain access to abortion.
Create a Kabul experience during summer family fun days at SJIMA
||| FROM DIANE MARTINDALE for SAN JUAN ISLANDS MUSEUM OF ART ||| This summer, the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) offers families an amazing opportunity to become familiar with the history, culture, and customs of one of the world’s oldest cities, Kabul. With inspiration from the museum’s current
Money pours into Democrat-on-Democrat fight over natural gas
||| FROM THE WASHINGTON OBSERVER ||| REPRINT AT REQUEST OF ORCASONIAN READER Remember that Democrat-on-Democrat throwdown over natural gas we previewed a while back? Well, it looks like the first round ahead of the August primary will feature some high-dollar hardball. The Jackson Legacy Fund, a political action committee that backs moderate
WSF guidelines for ferry travel on upcoming 4th of July weekend
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Customers should be prepared if their travels this holiday weekend include riding aboard a ferry. Some routes will be sailing on their holiday sailing schedules on Independence Day, July 4th. Customers can note specific holiday sailings as they are marked on the timetables for each route. However,
