Here’s a thought…
“Deep breath. Deep breath. The air is free. You can take as many as you want.”
BUDDHIST MONK
Latest COVID numbers from State Health Dept.
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 1,434,783 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on March 8.* There have been 12,133 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. Data notes *Effective Jan. 24, 2022, DOH updates the COVID-19 data dashboard on Mondays, Wednesdays,
Rep. Lekanoff: Legislative session wrap-up
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF ||| We just wrapped up the 2022 Legislative Session! After a jam-packed 60-days, we adjourned late last night after passing the finalized transportation and operating budgets. In future newsletters, I'll go into depth on the investments made in the final budgets and
Sheriff’s Report | March 2 – 8, 2022
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 22-001347 Alarm 22:16:11 03/02/22 A Deputy on San Juan Island responded to a medical alert call with EMS. The patient was found to be alert and conscious and refused further assistance. THURSDAY, MARCH 3 22-001354 Found Property 10:17:11 03/03/22
This just in from San Juan County: Mask requirements update
||| FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| The statewide indoor mask mandate is being rescinded tonight, March 11, at 11:59 pm, in many settings. The local Health Officer face covering order is also being rescinded at the same time. L&I is updating their mask requirements for businesses as well. Per
Legislative session concludes with 300 bills sent to Inslee for signature
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| The Legislature ended a short but historic session Thursday night, headlined by a once-in-a-generation transportation revenue package that will reduce emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels. The Legislature also closed on important investments in housing and homelessness, education, and salmon
Letter to Editor | Our school staff members are heroes, role models
||| FROM ERIC WEBB, ORCAS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ||| As we approach the two-year anniversary of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we begin to reflect upon the opportunities and challenges that have been thrust upon our staff, families, students, and community throughout this unprecedented time. The demands and expectations placed
Land Bank’s, Preservation Trust’s offer on Glenwood Inn property was not the top bid
||| FROM CRAIG CANINE for SAN JUAN PRESERVATION TRUST ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank and San Juan Preservation Trust announced today that they jointly submitted an offer to purchase the Glenwood Inn property on Orcas Island. The property includes a third of a mile of shoreline, which
Choose carefully | Going maskless is now possible starting tomorrow
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday March 4, there have been 23 new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current case count is now 1247. LOPEZ ISLAND: There are no new cases on Lopez Island since the last
In Memoriam | Rose Ann Schreiber, May 5, 1929 – March 1, 2022
||| FROM LOIS CORNELL ||| Rose Ann Schreiber (May 5, 1929-March 1, 2022) Rose Ann Schreiber (nee Hickey) passed away peacefully on March 1, 2022 at Josephine’s Caring Community in Stanwood Washington at age 92. She is preceded in death by her husband Paul Schreiber, son John Schreiber,
School Board acknowledges devotion of teachers, staff with unexpected gift
||| FROM AYN CARRILLO-GAILEY, ORCAS SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR ||| With deep respect and gratitude, I am writing on behalf of the Orcas Island School District Board to acknowledge the extraordinary—our teachers, administrators, and all school staff—and announce what we hope will be an empowering gift for all school staff. During
Weekly WSF report indicates they are ‘working on it’
||| FROM NICOLE MCINTOSH for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Service restoration plan Today, we released our COVID-19 Service Restoration Plan, which outlines steps to restore service to pre-pandemic levels on a route-by-route basis. However, our restoration efforts have been underway for months, with full service back to reliable levels on our
‘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.
WSF shares their road map to pre-pandemic ferry service
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Washington State Ferries is actively working to bring service to pre-pandemic levels. While that won’t happen overnight, staff have developed a plan that outlines how to get there. Customers are encouraged to take a look at WSF’s COVID-19 Service Restoration Plan to get a clearer picture
Dolphin Bay Road project underway: Expect traffic delays
||| FROM SUZANNE OLSON for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| OPALCO contractors are at work on Dolphin Bay Road between Shaner-Armstrong Road and Killebrew Lake on Orcas Island replacing old direct-buried single-phase conductor with new three-phase conductor and fiber in conduit. The work is expected to continue into May
Island Primary Care – M Avenue welcomes pediatrician Valerie Horn, D.O.
||| FROM LAURA MORONEY for ISLAND PRIMARY CARE - M AVENUE ||| Island Primary Care – M Avenue welcomed pediatrician Valerie Horn, D.O., M.S. to the team this week. Horn earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Crozer-Chester Medical
Amy Vira announces candidacy for San Juan County Prosecutor
||| FROM AMY VIRA ||| San Juan Prosecutor candidate Amy Vira Attorney Amy Vira of San Juan Island announced her candidacy for San Juan County Prosecutor today. “I came to San Juan County 10 years ago to work as a deputy prosecutor and built a life in a
