Here’s a thought…
“Deep breath. Deep breath. The air is free. You can take as many as you want.”
BUDDHIST MONK
Letter to Editor | Lum Farm wraps up the season with thanks and good memories
||| FROM MANDY TROXEL for LUM FARM ||| The close of this year has been full of so much news (and weather events!) that the Lum Farm Holiday Tree Sale feels like a long time ago – but we would still like to button things up with some thank you’s.
Did Robert Burns compose Auld Lang Syne? Not really
||| FROM BRITTANICA.COM ||| Auld Lang Syne, Scottish song with words attributed to the national poet of Scotland, Robert Burns. The composer is not definitely known. In English-speaking countries, the first verse and chorus are now closely associated with the New Year festival. The lyrics of “Auld Lang Syne” are in the Scots language. The title,
Recap of recent state Health Department COVID-19 news and updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 747,702 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 29. There have been 9,853 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. NOTE: DOH will not update the data dashboard on Friday, Dec. 31, in observance of
State Health warns of E. coli outbreak, so toss these organic salad greens
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) confirmed today that the state is part of an E. coli outbreak affecting six states. The seven cases of E. coli O157:H7 found so far in Washington are likely linked to Simple Truth Organic Power Greens purchased at QFC and Fred Meyer
WSF Weekly Report | Weather, service, SJC marine training
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Winter weather, crewing challenges affecting service Due to the winter weather, an increased number of breakthrough COVID cases among our crews and ongoing staffing shortages, most routes will remain on their alternate service schedules through at least Saturday, Jan. 1. That’s one-boat service on all routes
There is reason for optimism as rising local case count surge may continue
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| NOTE: the situation is changing quickly and cases are increasing. This will be a long update, but please read the entire document. There are a number of critical details that it is important the community be aware of. Thank you!
SJIMA welcomes new board members
||| FROM DIANE MARTINDALE for SAN JUAN ISLANDS MUSEUM OF ART ||| Joining the board of the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) are Lisa Brooks, Barb Snider and Rob Ray who all share of love of the arts. Join us in welcoming them to our art museum board.
What should you do if you test positive for COVID-19?
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA –The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is offering a detailed reminder about what people should do if they test positive for COVID-19. Cases are rising sharply, driven by the omicron variant, which is believed to be more contagious than previous variants, including
‘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.
Ferry alert! There may be no onboard restroom service, so … you know
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Onboard restrooms may not be available Friday 12/31 & Saturday 1/1 as we've been unable to pump sewage due to frozen pipes on route's terminals, which are forecast to remain below freezing. Portable toilets unavailable due to weather.
Statewide COVID-19 cases spike significantly in the past week
Omicron variant likely cause ||| FROM STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ||| OLYMPIA -- The state of Washington is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases, and transmission is expected to rise in the coming weeks. While it is still too early to tell how much of the increase is due to Omicron, epidemiologists
Prime Time Family Reading begins Jan. 13 at Orcas Library
||| FROM CAROL DAPOGNY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| We are excited to be partnering with Humanities Washington, Prime Time©, and Orcas Island Public School to bring the love of books and reading into your family. Together we want to develop a lifelong love of reading for families, focusing on
Artists’ Registry Show celebrates it’s 10-year anniversary with a peek behind the scenes
||| FROM DIANE MARTINDALE for SAN JUAN ISLANDS MUSEUM OF ART ||| Volunteers at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) have been busy over the last few weeks, preparing for the annual Artists’ Registry Show, which opened its doors December 17. The show is the much-anticipated event highlighting
Orcas Choral Society brought joy to the island
||| FROM LYNN BAKER for ORCAS CHORAL SOCIETY ||| Dogs barked. Kids played. Airplanes roared overhead. And Orcas Choral Society sang, joyfully and in full voice, to open the holiday season at the tree lighting ceremony on the Eastsound Village Green this December, vaccinated, masked and distanced for safety. “It
State Health Dept issues updates to isolation / quarantine guidance
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA -- Today, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced updates to state isolation and quarantine guidance, in alignment with the newly released recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Monday, the CDC announced the following shift in isolation and quarantine recommendations
Latest COVID numbers in ongoing saga from State Health Dept.
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 737,652 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 27. There have been 9,822 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent number of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
