Here’s a thought…
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man.”
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Sheriff’s Report | February 2 – 8, 2022
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 22-000754 Domestic Dispute or Assault 12:41:20 02/02/22 Lopez Deputies responded to a domestic incident. An arrest was made for DV Malicious Mischief 3rd and DV Assault 4th. 22-000756 Found Property 16:45:14 02/02/22 A San Juan Deputy responded to a
Weekly WSF report indicates plans still underway for service restorations
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Planning for restoration of service We know our alternate service schedules are significantly affecting many of our riders and I assure you we’re working hard on building back our service. We have a team currently analyzing our employee numbers, vessel availability and ridership
Newest numbers from State Health Department
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 1,391,026 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 8.* There have been 11,194 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. Data notes: *Effective Jan. 24, DOH will update the COVID-19 data dashboard on
Canvassing Board scheduled to meet February 17
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Canvassing Board will meet on Thursday, February 17, to review the results of the February special election and to review and adopt proposed changes to the San Juan County Canvassing Board Manual. By statute, the canvassing board is
Another Fantastic Friday report from Rep. Lekanoff
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF ||| Introducing Move Ahead Washington, a transportation package for a sustainable future I’m excited to announce that House Democrats have unveiled Move Ahead Washington, our transportation package that creates a sustainable, achievable future for our transportation sector. It delivers historic investments to preserve our
Letter to Editor | Here are reasons for my resignation as Fire Commissioner
||| FROM JANET MARLOW ||| In order to clarify the reasons behind my resignation from the Orcas Island Fire & Rescue Board of Fire Commissioners, the full content of my February 1 resignation letter follows. Dear BOFC members, OIFR members, and interested community members: It’s with a heavy heart that
SJC case count up or down depending on your island
||| BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday February 4, there have been 64 new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current case count is now 1112. This is slightly more than the number of cases reported last week, cases remaining
Join in on this Senior Center Meeting of the Minds
Meeting of the Minds: “What Makes our Islands so Rich with Marine Life and Biodiversity?” presented by Jess Newley - Wednesday, February 16 at 1 p.m. by Zoom ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Jess Newley Jess Newley, Community Science and Education Manager for Friends of
Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
||| OCCAM'S RAZOR by S. C. WATSON ||| [EDITOR'S NOTE: Apologies to Mr. Watson. This formatting is hopefully temporary as we play catch-up to the internet.]
Put Socrates Café on your to-do list
Orcas Socrates Café @ Orcas Senior Center by Zoom: Sunday, February 13, 4-6pm ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Orcas Senior Center continues to virtually host the Orcas Socrates Café from 4-6 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month. It’s an opportunity to engage in an open discussion on
Senate unanimously passes Lovelett bill to conserve and restore kelp forests
Now on to the House ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE DEMOCRATS ||| OLYMPIA – Today the Washington State Senate unanimously approved legislation to conserve and restore the plants that are the foundation of our marine ecosystems and key in our fight against ocean acidification. Senate Bill 5619, known as the Kelp
Letter to Editor | I feel a need for apologies to Ray’s Pharmacy for last week’s demonstration
||| FROM VELMA DOTY ||| Apologies to Rays Pharmacy and all others who were recipients of last weeks “protest.“ Not on behalf of the group BUT because some on our island who chose that behavior I am writing this. Orcas has always had a reputation for its intermingling of people
Guitar virtuoso JIJI to play at Orcas Center
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| Coming to Orcas Center’s Main Stage on Saturday, February 19 is guitarist JIJI. Applauded by the Calgary Herald as “…talented, sensitive…brilliant,” JIJI is an adventurous artist known for her virtuosic performances that feature a diverse selection of music, ranging from traditional and
EGC announces OPALCO board candidates; Nominations by petition due Feb. 18
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| The volunteer member Elections & Governance Committee (EGC) has completed their nominations process and selected a slate of candidates for the 2022 OPALCO Board of Directors election. There are three open positions one in District 1 (San Juan, Brown,
Guest Opinion | Former OIFR Commissioner says Fire Department allegations are serious
||| FROM AMANDA MONTAGUE ||| The recent articles posted by Mia Kartinger on the dysfunction in OIFR leadership elicited some uninformed and unfortunate comments that need to be responded to. I could not agree more with Henry and Carol, and also want to thank Mia for the thankless role of
Larsen: Postal Service Reform Act ensures USPS can continue to deliver for NW WA
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) supported the Postal Service Reform Act, bipartisan legislation that ensures the United States Postal Service (USPS) remains independent and financially viable while continuing to provide high-quality service to Northwest Washington communities. The bill passed the
