Here’s a thought…
“Deep breath. Deep breath. The air is free. You can take as many as you want.”
BUDDHIST MONK
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,
School Superintendent has rightful praise for staff, parents, community, students
||| FROM ERIC WEBB, ORCAS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ||| The holiday season has always been one of my favorite times of year, as it is a special time of caring and sharing with others. The holiday season is also a great time for reflection. What a year this has been to
Most recent state COVID update
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 709,600 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 20. There have been 9,725 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent number of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
Orcas Christian students produced knockout Christmas Carol performance
||| BY EDEE KULPER, theORCASONIAN COLUMNIST ||| Orcas Christian School teacher Andy Rivera had done it again, tapping into the theatrical arts of his students, after last year's production of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, my son was the sound engineer, but I'm not just gushing as a biased parent. You've got
First dog license of 2022 has been issued
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| First SJC dog tag goes to Churchill The dog licensing season is upon us! The San Juan County Auditor’s office gets the exciting opportunity to name the celebrity dog each year and award them the first dog tag. For 2022, the
Did you mail your obligatory Christmas cards this year?
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| Remember when you would check your mailbox (exterior, metal thing) for your yearly dose of Christmas greetings from friends and family? You'd open all the envelopes that arrived and display their contents on the fireplace mantel, a doorway, or a wall. It was
Snow on the way? County Public Works will be on top of it
||| FROM COLIN HUNTAMER for SJC PUBLIC WORKS ||| Snow is currently in the forecast for this weekend. If you would like to learn more about how the County prioritizes and responds to snow events on County Roads please visit Map Gallery | San Juan County, WA see where you can
Wintry weather likely for Christmas weekend, but the County is on it
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Snow is currently in the forecast for this weekend. If you would like to learn more about how the County prioritizes and responds to snow events on County Roads please visit Map Gallery | San Juan County, WA see where you can view our
Letter to Editor | Your support of school music makes all the difference
||| FROM SHARON HO for ORCAS MUSIC ADVOCACY GROUP ||| As 2021 winds down, we want to thank you, the Orcas Island community, for your support of school music through what has been an extended challenging time for teaching and learning music with its myriad adaptations by OISD music teachers
SJC Land Bank has provided a summary of last Friday’s meeting
||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank met on Zoom Friday, December 17, 2021, to discuss its agricultural program goals as well as specific goals for Coffelt Farm Preserve on Orcas Island. In addition to Conservation Land Bank staff
