Here’s a thought…
“Deep breath. Deep breath. The air is free. You can take as many as you want.”
BUDDHIST MONK
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
Latest COVID update from State Health Dept.
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 648,779 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 3. There have been 8,767 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent number of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
New local case count indicates we are not done with this COVID thing BUT SEE UPDATED REPORT
SEE UPDATED REPORT ||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday October 29, there have been 12 new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current case count is now 356. This means that approximately one of every 48 island residents
Permaculture, resiliency is next Garden Club presentation
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| On Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 10:30 a.m., the Orcas Island and Lopez Island Garden Clubs present Jessi Bloom’s virtual (Zoom) presentation Permaculture and Resiliency. This presentation will be not be recorded. The link to the live meeting provided by the Orcas Island
OISD wraps up strategic planning process
||| FROM SUZANNA SMITH for ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| My name is Suzanna Smith, and I just started working at the Orcas Island School District as the Student Support Specialist. Part of my job will be to write a regular community newsletter, so this will be the first of
WSF Weekly Report | Focus on recruitment, hiring, training to restore service, and a new website coming
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Building back our staffing and service To provide more predictable travel, we made the difficult decision last month to temporarily move to reduced service schedules on most routes. Understanding the importance of our sailings to thousands of Washingtonians who ride for work, medical
New Library program on conflict management: What do you say when…?
||| FROM CAROL DAPOGNY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Has the pandemic increased conflicts in your life? Orcas Island Public Library is offering a new program to help with such challenges. Adapted from a seminar, “What Do You Say When….Conflict Management as You Interact,” Dr. Jeanne McPherson will facilitate two,
