Here’s a thought…
“The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.”
WILLIAM GIBSON
Sheriff’s Report | May 18 – 24, 2022
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 22-003080 Unwanted Person 11:03:56 05/18/22 An Orcas Island Deputy served a subject with a trespass warning letter from the Washington State Ferry system after the subject caused a disturbance on the Tillikum. 22-003086 Found Property 12:11:17 05/18/22 A Deputy
COVID is still in the San Juans, in all its iterations
||| FROM KYRA JAHANFAR for COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the update last Friday May 20, there have been 61 new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current case count is now 1640. The following represents active confirmed or probable cases reported across the islands. LOPEZ
Island Reproductive Health functioning well on Orcas Island
||| FROM JANNICE ROSE for ISLAND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INITIATIVE ||| The recent drafted opinion of Supreme Court Justice Alito is a dark harbinger of what lies ahead for women's right to make decisions about their health. As the program coordinator for Island Reproductive Health Initiative (IRHI), I’d like to let
Current COVID case count
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 1,565,696 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on May 24. There have been 12,820 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. Data note (Wednesday, May 25): Due to a technical issue in our data systems,
Newest J Pod calf is a female
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| On May 26, the Center for Whale Research staff encountered J pod during a photo-ID and aerial observation survey. The whales were very social, with lots of rolling both under and at the surface. During this encounter, the team managed to capture photographs
‘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.
Tourism Plan completes Phase 1: What does the community want?
||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER ||| The consultants and steering committee that are driving the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan (STMP) have wasted no time moving the process forward as a series of three meetings on the three main islands concluded on May 19. The purpose of the meetings
Canoe journey storytelling at Village Green will proceed at 2 p.m.
||| FROM DAVID TURNOY ||| So sorry for those who went out to Camp Orkila on Wednesday, as the Health Department would not allow the canoe landing to be open to the public due to the Covid spike among the Orkila staff. However, the storytelling event will take place as
Gov. Inslee tests positive for COVID-19
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee tested positive for COVID-19 on a rapid antigen test. Inslee is experiencing very mild symptoms including a mild cough. Inslee is working from home. He is consulting with his doctor to set up treatments for Paxlovid antiviral treatments.
Health Care District conducting a health care needs assessment
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE, ACTING HEALTH CARE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT ||| Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD) is developing a strategic plan to guide them in developing needed services. A first step in the process to engage Orcas Islanders is to learn the types of services we need and use. Commissioners
COVID boosters now available for 5-10 year olds
||| FROM KYRA JAHANFAR for SJC HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES ||| An additional mRNA dose will help further protect children, ages 5-11 years, and slow disease spread across Washington and in San Juan County. Booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are now available for children in this age group. The
WSF looking forward to pre-pandemic level travel to San Juans this weekend
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| SEATTLE – May is the start of the busy travel season for Washington State Ferries. Service has returned to pre-pandemic levels on the Seattle/Bainbridge, Mukilteo/Clinton and Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes. However, people driving on board should still plan for long waits across the system
Thoughts from Eric Webb following yesterday’s school shooting in Texas
||| FROM ERIC WEBB, ORCAS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ||| Students, Families, Staff and Community, Today, our deepest sympathies are with those in Texas who suffered an unthinkable act of violence yesterday. Please be reassured that the safety and security of our students and staff are always at the forefront of our
Statement from Washington State Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ||| OLYMPIA, WA --- “Once again we find ourselves grieving from the loss of innocent lives to a senseless act of gun violence. While mass shootings blare from the headlines across the country, we must recognize that an average of two deaths per day
Guest Opinion | Don’t forget to breathe; construction upheaval is only for one season
||| FROM CINDY WOLF, SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER ||| This Spring the news from the bigger world has been rough and our own political sphere has been contentious. It is difficult to avoid the vortex of despair. Sometimes we find ourselves putting a lot of emotional energy into small stuff
Breaking News: Canoe Journey event no longer open to the public
||| FROM DAVID TURNOY ||| Due the incidence of Covid positive tests among several of the staff at Camp Orkila, the canoe journey events tonight are not open to the public. Sorry, but please don't come to Camp Orkila today. As of now, storytelling is still on for Thursday.
