Here’s a thought…
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and the government when it deserves it.”
MARK TWAIN
Orcas High student marks 16th birthday with amazing day of ‘firsts’
||| FROM BOB WAUNCH for AIRHAWKS FLYING CLUB ||| Bethany Carter, an Airhawks Flying Club scholarship recipient had a “Day of Firsts” on November 2, 2021. Bethany, a freshman at Orcas High School had her 16 birthday. She also received her driver’s license and most importantly flew her first solo
Pediatric vaccination appointments now available for ages 5-11
||| FROM ANNE PRESSON for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| With FDA and CDC approval of the Pfizer vaccine for those ages 5 to 11 now granted, San Juan County Health & Community Services has opened registration for a series of pediatric clinics starting on November 15 and lasting through
Bruce Hanna poem for today | Standard time
||| FROM BRUCE HANNA ||| Our clocks revolted Yesterday Refused to move forward Perhaps reflecting on a season Buds, flowers, long days Wanting to linger First the dryer clock Set to work on a heavy load But stayed in place Others joined in Sneaking backward Minute here, minute there Then
Upcoming Island Hospital classes
||| FROM RACHEL LAMBERT for ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| Island Hospital offers online class on healthy digestion Take a journey into the digestive system with Registered Dietitian Amber Phillips in this free, online class. Learn common symptoms of digestive distress. Tuesday, November 16, 10 a.m. Register online www.islandhospital.org/classes or call 360-299-4204. Swallow Screening
Sun Days on Orcas | How to “do” Sundays?
||| SUN DAYS ON ORCAS BY EDEE KULPER ||| Before I read the bible, Sundays were duplicate Saturdays. Fun days. Do-anything days. Ever since reading the bible, Sunday has become my least favorite day of the week once I get home from church. This is why… The fourth commandment of
Updated (corrected?) COVID report from the County
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday October 29, there have been four new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current case count is now 357. This means that approximately one of every 48 island residents have become infected
Where do you go from here if you need to receive Level I trauma care?
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| A decision of where to transfer you, a patient, in case of illness or trauma may come from your personal doctor or it may come from Paramedics at the scene in consultation with the on-call medical doc who will determine what level of
Michigan House approves controversial short-term rental protections
||| FROM THE DETROIT NEWS ||| REPRINT AT REQUEST OF A READER Michigan House lawmakers in an overnight session Tuesday approved legislation in a 55-48 vote that would prohibit cities and townships from banning short-term rental housing. Last-minute changes to the bill do not appear to have wooed opponents of the
WSDOT launching redesigned website Sunday morning, Nov. 7
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| WSDOT will be launching its improved and newly redesigned website this weekend on Sunday, Nov. 7. The new site will be easier for users to navigate and find the information they find most useful. The transition from the previous site to the new one
Letter to Editor | Did you meet Assistant Fire Chief finalists on island today for interviews?
||| FROM PATRICK SHEPLER, BOFC-elect ||| Orcas Island Fire Chief, Scott Williams, has been without an Assistant Chief since he took the position over five years ago. The Board of Fire Commissioners (BOFC) have announced in numerous meetings, that they are actively searching to fill this long-vacant critical position. Today, the
Willing or not, looks like we get to do the time warp, again
||| FROM SEATTLE TIMES ||| Washington state Rep. Marcus Riccelli isn’t quite ready to give up on the popular bipartisan movement to adopt permanent daylight saving time and do away with the biannual clock switch. But we still have to set our clock back one hour on Sunday, Nov. 7.
Midnight Mutterings | Have you thanked your kidney lately?
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS by JACKIE BATES ||| A few years ago I made a new friend. We don’t get together often and therefore don’t know a whole lot about each other. On a recent visit, she told me she had donated one of her kidneys to her sister a decade
Letter to Editor | Let’s bring back Armistice Day
||| FROM SHARON ABREU ||| Each year our local school district holds a Veterans Day celebration. It concerns me that our schools continue to celebrate those who fought in wars without acknowledging the tremendous damage done to the people - mostly innocent civilians - where these wars occur - the damage done to
A Betty Hall quilt awaits your winning bid at Senior Center
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Lifelong islander, Betty Hall has generously donated a beautiful and festive quilt to Orcas Senior Center for a silent auction. The 42 ½ by 49 ½ inch quilt, adorned with a Christmas tree using what’s called paper piecing, was expertly crafted
Sheriff’s Report | October 27 – November 2, 2021
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27 21-009488 Animal at Large 12:30:38 10/27/21 A Lopez Island Deputy was called to check for a dog running at large. The dog had returned home before the Deputy arrived in the area. 21-009498 Vehicle Prowl 16:22:45 10/27/21 A Deputy
Larsen: Bold investment in nation’s infrastructure creates jobs, builds greener transportation network
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, DC – Tonight, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) supported passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, bipartisan legislation that makes bold, long-term investments in the nation’s infrastructure to create well-paying jobs, keep the economy moving and fight climate change. The Infrastructure Investment and
