Here’s a thought…
“Peace is not something we ask for — it’s something we practice, together.”
WALK FOR PEACE
Letter to Editor | Please join me in supporting upcoming climate proposals on the ballot
||| FROM SUE BAUER ||| Please research then consider joining me in supporting the CRC proposals, especially Proposition 3 which creates a “Climate and Environment Commission.” This body would be made up of 11 of our neighbors each appointed by County Council but from these crucially important and currently unrelated groups:
Sheriff’s Report | October 6 – 12, 2021
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6 21-008967 Agency Assistance 09:20:39 10/06/21 A Lopez Island Deputy accompanied representatives of a state agency to contact a resident. The person was not located. 21-008972 Theft 12:43:36 10/06/21 A San Juan Deputy took a report of an incident of
School Board holding an in-person, all-day work session tomorrow
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island School District School Board will be hosting a meeting IN-PERSON only for an all-day work session on Saturday, October 16, at 9 a.m.. The School Board will convene at Four Winds, Westward Ho Camp Lodge - 286 Four Winds Rd.
This week’s numbers: Lopez 0, San Juan 4, Orcas 16. This is not a sports score
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday October 8, there have been 20 new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current total case count is now 332. Of these 20 new cases, initial investigations indicate that 3 appear to
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
