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
Washington state reports record number of coronavirus infections on Christmas Eve
||| FROM ANNE PRESSON for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The Washington Department of Health has reported a sharp increase in coronavirus cases, including a new record number of cases tallied in a single day. According to DOH, state officials confirmed 6,235 new cases on Dec. 24, surpassing the
Tips for those who don’t want freezing pipes
||| FROM EASTSOUND WATER ||| We hope you had a great holiday and are thriving during this cold weather spell we’ve been having. This is a fragile time for your water pipes. We have received several calls in the past few days to turn off water meters due to
Western ‘Zoom towns’ take aim at short-term rentals
Vacation rentals reducing availability of housing for local workers ||| FROM THE BULLETIN ||| Reprint at request of Orcasonian reader DEPOE BAY — Postcards with big promises began showing up in mailboxes in Oregon coastal communities in 2019: “Rent your home short term, use it when you want to, guaranteed
The rare spots of good news on climate change
It looks increasingly clear that we'll at least sidestep the worst-case scenarios. ||| FROM TECHNOLOGY REVIEW ||| REPRINT AT REQUEST OF A READER The deadly consequences of climate change only grew clearer this year, as record-shattering heat waves, floods, and wildfires killed thousands and strained the limits of our disaster responders. In the closing days
Weather Service: Wind chill as low as -25 degrees
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| RAW Weather Service Message: * WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 25 below zero. * WHERE...San Juan County, including Stuart Island, Waldron Island, Orcas Island, San Juan Island, Lopez Island, Blakely Island, and Decatur Island and Lowlands of western Whatcom
Sun Days on Orcas | Merry snowy day after Christmas
||| SUN DAYS ON ORCAS by EDEE KULPER ||| I sit here writing on Christmas night in Lake Oswego, Oregon. We are visiting my husband’s family, enjoying love and laughter, and eating meal after beautifully crafted meal. After two all-too-quiet Christmases, the usual things that go along with gathering feel
Sheriff’s Report | December 15 – 21, 2021
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15 21-010661 Fraud 10:04:04 12/15/21 A Deputy responded to a walk-in report of a Fraud. An unknown suspect used the reporting person's name & email address, however, there appears to be no monetary loss incurred at this time. There is
WSF: Again, lack of elves means only two San Juan Islands boats Sunday
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| For December 26, the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route will operate on it's alternate schedule with 2 boats due to a lack of crew. Inter-island service has also been cancelled for the service day. Please check the Alternative Anacortes / San Juan Islands Schedule for available sailings. Customers are
WSF’s Christmas gift to the San Juans: Something about not enough elves?
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| For December 25, the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route will operate on it's alternate schedule with 2 boats due to a lack of Coast Guard documented crew. Inter-island service has also been cancelled for the service day. Please check the Alternative Anacortes / San Juan Islands
Current case count continues to climb
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 714,869 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 22. There have been 9,784 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. NOTE: DOH will not update the data dashboard on Friday, Dec. 24, in observance of
Case count up in San Juan County, surge anticipated in days ahead
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday December 17, there have been 13 new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current case count is now 479. However, there are a number of suspect cases currently under investigation that are
‘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.
Washington receives money to replace lead water service lines
||| FROM STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ||| OLYMPIA -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that Washington State will receive over $63 million to replace lead service lines as part of the federal bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This funding will greatly aid in expediting the removal of lead
EverlyWell COVID-19 test kit expiration dates extended
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Health & Community Services and community partners distributed several thousand EverlyWell COVID-19 Home test kits over the last week. Some of these test kits had an expiration date of December 21, 2021. We were informed that the expiration dates for
Island Hospital has a new Superintendent / CEO
||| FROM LAURA MORONEY for ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| ANACORTES, Washington – Today, Island Hospital Board of Commissioners announced the appointment of Elise Cutter, MBA as the new Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Island Hospital, effective immediately. Cutter will take the helm after twice serving as interim CEO in
Island Hospital expresses gratitude for the service of Anne Presson
||| FROM ISLAND HOSPITAL STAFF ||| Outgoing Health Care District superintendent Anne Presson The entire Island Hospital and Orcas Clinic team would like to send our heartfelt appreciation for Anne Presson who has served as the Superintendent of OIHCD since 2018. Her last day will be December 31,
