Here’s a thought…
“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers.”
THOMAS PYNCHON
Be on the watch: Great Backyard Bird Count will soon celebrate its 25th anniversary
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| My co-worker recently shared a picture of the first red currant flower he's seen this year. (above) It was a joy to receive that photo as it reminded me that spring is around the corner. So this morning, whilst enjoying my first cup
Green aluminum? Complex deal seeks to restart last smelter in PNW
||| FROM NW PUBLIC BROADCASTING ||| REPRINT AT REQUEST OF ORCASONIAN READER A complex deal is taking shape to revive the Pacific Northwest’s last remaining aluminum smelter. Alcoa idled its Intalco Works smelter near Ferndale, Washington, a year-and-a-half ago and laid off virtually all the workers there. The plan to
Additional free COVID at-home test kits are available locally while supplies last
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| San Juan County Health and Community Services has been able to secure an additional 3,000+ at-home COVID test kits and will be making them available to islanders at no charge. Thanks to the support of the local non-profits and businesses
WA Legislature reaches deal on multi-year transportation package
||| FROM CINDY WOLF, SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER ||| I just got this text from Rep. Ramel. He, Rep. Lekanoff and Senator Lovelett have been pushing hard for the ferry funding in this package. It is just exciting to see them so close to passing this thing FINALLY! We have
Inslee lauds legislators’ ‘Move Ahead Washington’ transportation proposal
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee released a statement today after legislators unveiled a new state transportation funding proposal. “The Move Ahead Washington proposal will provide major benefits to communities all across our state. As our state continues to grow, we need to make sure
Larsen: Federal infrastructure funding in state package means jobs, continued economic recovery
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| EVERETT, WA – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) applauded the inclusion of $3.4 billion from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in the state’s “Move Ahead Washington” transportation package, which State Senator Marko Liias (D-Everett) and State Representative Jake Fey (D-Tacoma) announced today. “Senator Liias’s and Representative Fey’s
State re-opens COVID-19 test portal for third time
Rapid antigen tests can be ordered and shipped directly to Washington households at no-cost ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA –The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is re-opening a statewide portal that allows people to order COVID-19 rapid tests online, then have them shipped to their doorsteps. This
Garden Club presentation to feature Jennifer Harris
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| On Wednesday, February 16, at 10:30 a.m., the Orcas Island and Lopez Island Garden Clubs’ virtual (Zoom) meeting will feature Jennifer Harris presenting A Designed Pacific Northwest Native Meadow on San Juan Island: bare root native perennials, natives from seed, and mineral mulches.
Get to know the acting Health Care District Superintendent
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE, INTERIM ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT ||| I was asked to serve as interim superintendent [of the Orcas Island Health Care District] following Anne Presson’s move to a new professional, career opportunity. Since coming on board January 1, I have developed a tremendous appreciation not
Orcas Island Lit Fest seeks lodging donations for June return
||| FROM THE ORCAS ISLAND LIT FEST ||| After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the Orcas Island Lit Fest is returning this June 3 – 4. Authors and panel topics are currently being finalized, and the popular Friday night Lit Walk has expanded to six venues. The Orcas Center will again
February Library artists are Carol Ann Anderson, Fred Enge
||| FROM CAROL DAPOGNY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Carol Ann Anderson has been acquiring skills for a lifetime: sewing, knitting and crocheting from her grandmother, drawing/ painting skills and aesthetics from her fashion illustrator mom, knitting Fair Isle style sweaters from her American Field Services hosts in the Faroe
Letter to Editor | Orcas Food Co-op response to the January 31 protest
||| FROM LEARNER LIMBACH, ORCAS FOOD CO-OP GENERAL MANAGER ||| In light of the mask mandate related protest that took place on Monday, January 31, in Eastsound, I’d like to take the opportunity to share this statement from myself and on behalf of Orcas Food Co-op. This statement summarizes the
Suspected Eastsound burglary suspect has been booked into jail
||| FROM SHERIFF RON KREBS ||| On February 4, 2022 the Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant on the residence of Jason Buehler of Orcas Island in regards to the theft of numerous items that were reported missing during burglaries starting the first of December 2021. Numerous items including jewelry,
A mask mandate protest in Eastsound seems to have overrun its peaceful intent
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| Monday, the last day in January, the weather was sunny-ish for this time of year, as a group of islanders gathered in the early afternoon at the Village Green in what was supposed to be a peaceful protest of COVID mask mandates. The
School Board will meet in-person this week for budget work session
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| A Budget Work Session is scheduled for in-person only participation in our School Library on February 10 at 5 p.m. Here is the link to BoardDocs agenda. https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/orcasisland/Board.nsf/Public.
Kwiaht to continue Indian Island stewardship with grant from Madrona Club
||| FROM RUSSEL BARSH for KWIAHT ||| Kwiaht will be able to strengthen its protective and educational presence on the beaches and tide pools around Indian Island this summer, thanks to a generous grant from the Madrona Club’s Robin DiGeorgio endowment “in support of Kwiaht’s stewardship and good work on
