Here’s a thought…
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and the government when it deserves it.”
MARK TWAIN
Heavy rain impacts island roadways, including Doe Bay washout
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Heavy rain is causing challenging conditions on island roads. Drive with extreme caution and expect water and/or debris in roads. Point Lawrence Road on Orcas is washed out just past Doe Bay Resort. Public Works, Emergency Management, and Orcas Island
Inslee leads subnational governments reducing emissions at U.N. climate summit
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| GLASGOW, Scotland – Gov. Jay Inslee highlighted Washington state's progress in the fight against climate change and challenged other national and subnational governments to commit to aggressive actions to slash carbon emissions as the disastrous effects of climate change become increasingly
Point Lawrence Road washes out, stranding residents
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| This is a developing story as we await word from Public Works Dept.
Editorial | In the meantime, Orcas islanders still rely on you, OIFR, so do the right thing
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| There's definitely something awry at Orcas Island Fire & Rescue. My email recently has been beset with messages that reveal unsettling, internal strife, and personal angst with increasingly serious contention within the ranks. I could recite (print) any number of potentially serious issues
Fire Commission to meet Monday evening | Postponed
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for ORCAS FIRE COMMISSION ||| The Board of Fire Commissioners will hold a regular public meeting on Monday, November 15 at 5:30 p.m. - see attached agenda. Meeting access information can be found on the agenda and below my signature. Public comment will be held, if
This was a big part of Olga Symphony’s journey to Orcas Center stage
||| FROM ANITA ORNE for THE OLGA SYMPHONY ||| Shortly after Orcas Center opened in the 1980s, the Center’s Everything But Classical Music Committee began producing its annual gift to the community – Holiday Magic. It was a fun and music filled evening with all performers donating their time. Admission
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical nationally recognized with an ‘A’ for Fall 2021 Leapfrog hospital safety grade
||| FROM ANNE WILLIAMS for PEACEHEALTH ST JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER ||| Bellingham, Wash. – PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center was awarded an ‘A’ in the fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a distinction recognizing the hospital’s achievements in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. The Leapfrog Group
Youth For Change: Environmental Leadership Club is looking for participants
||| FROM JESS NEWLEY for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| Calling all high school students on Orcas and San Juan Islands interested in environmental action! Are you passionate about the environment? Do you wish to see positive change in your community? Join the Youth for Change Environmental Leadership Club, a
Sun Days on Orcas | Festivity inventory
||| SUN DAYS ON ORCAS BY EDEE KULPER ||| Take a look at the following festivities that we islanders have grown so accustomed to celebrating together throughout the year, every year... Seniors Have Talent show at the Senior Center (November) Hops on the Rock in Eastsound (November) Clay Cafe in
Local, on-island COVID vaccine appointments filling quickly
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| More than 2,500 islanders have made appointments to receive their COVID booster shots this coming week, and hundreds of island children are signed up for upcoming Pfizer pediatric vaccine clinics. While some offerings are filled completely, there is still room
Senior Center’s next Meeting of the Minds features Jay Kimball on climate change
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Jay Kimball Please join Orcas Senior Center and Jay Kimball, founder of 8020 Vision, a consulting firm that helps organizations understand global impacts and related environmental changes for an engaging dialogue on climate change and its impact on the
Endurance Series continues at Library with circumnavigation adventure
||| FROM CAROL DAPOGNY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Orcas Island Library is excited to present Episode Four of The Endurance Speaker Series: Irene's Eastabout Circumnavigation with Peter and Ginger Niemann. Peter and Ginger recently returned from their second circumnavigation of the globe during which Covid struck. They will share their
Island Hospital kicks off “thankful for you” campaign with retention bonuses
||| FROM LAURA MORONEY for ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| ANACORTES, Washington – Island Hospital Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a retention bonus plan this week for all staff, kicking off a “Thankful For You” campaign in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Announced today to staff, Island Hospital senior leaders launched
Sheriff’s Report | November 3 – 10, 2021
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 21-009662 Trespassing 10:21:13 11/03/21 D Alexander INA An Orcas Island Deputy investigated a trespassing on the 600 Block of Blanchard Rd. An incident report was authored. 21-009678 Harassment 19:00:15 11/03/21 Someone contacted the Sheriff's Office hoping to speak with
Weekly case count update shows no new Orcas cases
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday November 5 (revised November 7), there have been 19 new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current case count is now 376. Of these 19 new cases, initial investigations indicate that seven
Memories of Abby Rueb’s life on Orcas continue to feed an island, and our souls
||| BY EILEEN DEAN, KAY GROSSMAN, LIN MCNULTY ||| Orcas Island recently lost a beloved icon when Abby Rueb passed on Monday, October 26, 2021. Our memories of this beautiful, gifted, impish little dickens kicked into overdrive, prompting us to recall and share some stories. We were all working at
