Here’s a thought…
“We all live under the same sky, but we don’t all have the same horizon.”
KONRAD ADENAUER
Do you need a vaccine booster? Yes and no
||| FROM ANNE PRESSON for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| Need a good news boost? Look no further than the arrival of COVID-19 vaccine boosters. Recently authorized by the CDC and the FDA for the Pfizer vaccine and for certain groups of people, boosters are here to protect higher risk populations
Orcas School District identifies 11 COVID positive students
||| FROM ERIC WEBB, ORCAS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ||| Over the past few days, Orcas Island School District has identified 11 COVID positive students and several other positive individuals within their households. All cases originated from outside of the district, and no spread within the district has been identified. During this
This week’s COVID-19 statewide response update
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Statewide Response Updates Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 612,757 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 13. There have been 8,198 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics,
Letter to Editor | Strong support for Shepler as Fire Commissioner
||| FROM BRIAN EHRMANTRAUT ||| I strongly endorse and recommend Patrick Shepler for Fire Commissioner. I believe Patrick is well positioned to help craft a path forward for the Fire District that honors and respects the entire island community. I have worked with him over the years at Orcas Island
Spooky reminder: Second half property taxes are due on Halloween
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Rhonda Pederson, SJC Treasurer San Juan County Treasurer, Rhonda Pederson would like to remind county property owners that the second half property taxes and personal property taxes are due October 31. Since the due date falls on a weekend, mailed payments must
This week’s ferry update: Reduced service schedules begin tomorrow
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Temporary reduced service schedules starting Saturday, Oct. 16 First off, I want to thank our riders for their continued patience and understanding as we navigate through a worldwide shortage of mariners and the effects of the pandemic on our ability to
Letter to Editor | Wes Heinmiller has my vote for fire commissioner
||| FROM ART LANGE ||| I would like to express my strong support for re-election of Commissioner Wes Heinmiller. This election is, unfortunately, occurring within a context of a serious controversy within Orcas Island Fire and Rescue. Based on previous volunteer consulting I have done with the department in past
Letter to Editor | I encourage you to support our charter amendments
||| FROM SHARON ABREU ||| Dear San Juan County Neighbors, I encourage you to vote in favor of the six San Juan County Charter amendments proposed by the Charter Review Commission. I'm impressed with the quality of the members of the CRC and proud to have been elected to serve
‘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. Celebrating one year!
A secretive hedge fund is gutting newsrooms
What threatens local newspapers now is not just digital disruption or abstract market forces. They’re being targeted by investors who have figured out how to get rich by strip-mining local-news outfits. The model is simple: Gut the staff, sell the real estate, jack up subscription prices, and wring as much
Conservation groups challenge Washington’s artificial “fix” to SRKW and salmon recovery
||| FROM WILD FISH CONSERVANCY and THE CONSERVATION ANGLER ||| This week, conservation organizations Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler filed suit against the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for its repeated refusal to follow state environmental laws when setting statewide hatchery policy, including when it recently embarked
Meet your local Alpha Home Health & Hospice team
||| FROM SHILA WACHTEL for ALPHA HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE ||| Some of you may know a few of our Island Team clinicians with Alpha Home Health and Hospice and some may be curious as to who is providing home health in the San Juan Islands. Alpha Home Health and
Letter to Editor | Shepler knows how a Fire Department is supposed to work
||| FROM TOMAS ARDAVANY, RN, PARAMEDIC ||| “Who are you?” he asked me at the gas pumps on Mt. Baker Road. “I’m the Paramedic today", I said, as I pumped gas into the rig. “I thought Patrick Shepler is the only medic on the island,” he replied, staring me down.
State to implement schedule tweaks, reduced service system-wide starting Saturday
Service on most routes to be reduced due to severe staff shortages ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| SEATTLE – Beginning Saturday, Oct. 16, Washington State Ferries will temporarily operate reduced schedules on most routes to provide more predictable and reliable travel. The change comes as the system is exercising
It’s time to get ready for Medicare’s annual open enrollment
||| FROM PEGI GROUNDWATER for SHIBA ||| Medicare beneficiaries have an opportunity each year between October 15 and December 7 to review their insurance coverage and make sure that their current plans will be the right ones for them in the coming year. Why should you do this? Because your
How does housing contribute to a thriving community?
A Dialogue with Coastal Washington Communities Wednesday, October 20, 2021, 9:30-11:00 am PT (virtual) Register for free now! ||| FROM WA STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ||| This discussion will explore questions about housing challenges that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges affect the community in multiple intersecting
