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
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.
Island Primary Care–Orcas successfully ‘grandfathered’ as Rural Health Clinic
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| When Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, it included an unexpected reduction of payment rates for Provider-Based Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) that would have jeopardized access to care for Orcas Island residents and visitors. The
Guest Opinion | How gerrymander wars hurt voters
||| RECLAIMING THE AMERICAN by HEDRICK SMITH ||| WASHINGTON – Partisan gerrymandering has run so wild and rampant since the 2020 census that, hard to believe, the next Congress promises to be even more sharply polarized and gridlocked than the current Congress, and there’s nothing voters can do about it
This ballet class for older adults will improve stability, balance
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Beginning Wednesday, February 2 and every Wednesday through March 2, join Emily Anton for an hour of basic and gentle ballet for older adults. Improve your mobility, posture, stability, and balance with this movement class that has been specially designed for
Film Fest will begin the year with this Classics Film Series
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL ||| In our ever-changing landscape driven by Covid-19, we are all eagerly awaiting the crest and fall of this latest Omicron variant so we can begin our 2022 programming and get back to enjoying films. We are going to start this year with a
School Board Spotlight | Linda Sheridan
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT || Linda Sheridan and family Linda Sheridan has been on the School Board since the spring of 2019, and was re-elected this past November. After living here for 17 years, she decided it was time to give back. Her decision to serve
School Board will be meeting Thursday – updated location is school library
January 27, 2022 @ 5pm ||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island School District School Board will be hosting their meeting IN-PERSON in the School Library AND online VIA ZOOM. Here is the link to sign up for free ZOOM: zoom.us/freesignup/ Please click on this link to join
Island Hospital is now Island Health
||| FROM ISLAND HEALTH ||| Today, Island Hospital leadership announced a new name, logo and tagline to better encompass all the services they provide. Island Hospital is now Island Health. “While the building that houses our Emergency Department, Acute Care Unit, Intensive Care Unit, Surgical Services and Birth Center will
Int’l. Year of the Salmon announces official launch of 2022 Pan-Pacific expedition
||| FROM INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE SALMON ||| The International Year of the Salmon (IYS) and the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC) are excited to announce the launch of the 2022 IYS Pan-Pacific Winter High Seas Expedition supported by NPAFC member countries (Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the
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 1,203,311 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 23.* There have been 10,458 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. *Data note: As noted in the new release mentioned below — Effective Jan. 24,
School Board Spotlight | Bridget Broderick
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| Bridget Broderick and family Bridget moved to Orcas Island with her family of five in the fall of 2018. She has three children currently attending Orcas Island School District. Her background is elementary education. She taught 3rd and 4th grade for
Library’s Endurance Series to feature Bruce Benton and his book ‘Riverblindness in Africa’
||| FROM CAROL DAPOGNY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Bruce Benton Author Event: Wednesday, February 2 at 6 p.m. – The Endurance Series Episode 7: The Enduring Benefits of Collaboration in the Treatment of Riverblindness in Africa with Bruce Benton. This hybrid event will be held at the library and by Zoom meeting.
School Board will be meeting Thursday
January 27, 2022 @ 5pm ||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island School District School Board will be hosting their meeting IN-PERSON in The OISD Multipurpose Room behind the Old Gym AND online VIA ZOOM. Here is the link to sign up for free ZOOM: zoom.us/freesignup/ Please click
Take climate change action with OPALCO
Stewards, Energy Roundtables and Island Way Workshops ||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| Are you looking for things you can DO to combat climate change? Is there a home energy efficiency project you’d like to DO this year? Do you have ideas for how we
Letter to Editor | Stewardship, community, and living wage jobs
||| FROM MIA KARTIGANER ||| Unlike mainland emergency responders with easy access to hospital ERs, Orcas Island’s EMTs are uniquely mentored in helping to sustain life for as long as it takes to shepherd people off island. We have to wait for emergency transportation to the nearest hospital or the
Warmenhoven announces candidacy for SJC Auditor
||| FROM NATASHA WARMENHOVEN ||| Natasha Warmenhoven, candidate for San Juan County Auditor It is with great excitement that I announce my candidacy for San Juan County Auditor. I believe that my education and experience will make me a great fit for this position and the County. After
