Here’s a thought…
“Peace is not something we ask for — it’s something we practice, together.”
WALK FOR PEACE
San Juan County Democrats have endorsed all six Charter Amendments on November ballot
||| FROM DAVID TURNOY for SAN JUAN COUNTY DEMOCRATS ||| Please read your Voters’ Pamphlet as there is a great deal of information in it. The ‘con’ statements to the Propositions, however, present a lot of dis-information. If you would like to read more about the propositions, please visit the
State Health Dept. releases VACCS report as a guide for future collaboration, highlighting milestones
Mission to continue vaccination effort across state of Washington, partnership remains key ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Recognized as a national leader and model during the national vaccine rollout, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Vaccine Action Command and Coordination System (VACCS) Center released a report highlighting milestones achieved
Letter to Editor | Hey, Council, did you see this?
||| FROM ALEX MACLEOD ||| OPEN LETTER TO SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCIL I trust you all saw this week’s WSF newsletter from Patty Rubstello. Along with making no mention of WSF’s mounting service failures, it touted the fact that Rubstello spent the past week in Santander, Spain, at an international
Dr. Mark Donovan brings diverse skillset to Island Surgeons
||| FROM LAURA MORONEY for ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| ANACORTES -- Island Hospital welcomed Mark Donovan, MD, FACS to Island Surgeons this week. Donovan comes with more than a decade of experience as a general surgeon, most recently at Centennial Medical Group in Roseburg, Oregon. A graduate of Albany Medical College in
NOTICE! Submit your WSF personal stories before Lekanoff’s Monday morning meet with Governor
||| FROM DAVID TURNOY for SAN JUAN COUNTY DEMOCRATS ||| At the Saturday meeting of the San Juan County Democrats, Rep. Debra Lekanoff addressed concerns about the ferries. She will actually have a meeting with the governor on this topic Monday morning, and she has asked that we provide personal stories that
World’s best performers are coming to the Orcas Center screen this autumn
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| This season’s On-Screen lineup at Orcas Center includes a host of offerings from The Metropolitan Opera, Bolshoi Ballet, and National Theatre Live. Filmed live in HD, these on-screen events feature a diverse sampling of the world’s best performers at the height of
Letter to Editor | I strongly support Heinmiller’s retention on Fire Commission
||| FROM ANNE L. PRESSON ||| I would like to express my strong support to re-elect Commissioner Wes Heinmiller for the Orcas Island Fire & Rescue Board of Fire Commissioners, District #2. (OIFR BOFC). Over the years, Wes has been a steady and reliable presence on the OIFR BOFC. He
Island Hospital classes: Childbirth education, end-of-life paperwork
||| FROM RACHEL LAMBERT for ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| End-of-life paperwork class Join an end-of-life expert from Hospice of the Northwest to learn more about POLST, Advanced Directives, and HCDPOA forms. This free online class takes place on Tuesday, October 19 at 10 a.m. Register online at www.islandhospital.org/classes or call 360-299-4204. Online childbirth
Sun Days on Orcas | Island time explained
||| SUN DAYS ON ORCAS by EDEE KULPER ||| Let's get to the root of "island time." I can speak on this topic because I am an expert. It's not something I go around touting; rather, I'm a bit ashamed of it. We're all supposed to be prompt individuals, mindful
Port of Friday Harbor announces intent to assume operations of shipyard
||| FROM PORT OF FRIDAY HARBOR ||| NOTICE OF INTENT TO OPERATE A BOATYARD PERMIT The Port of Friday Harbor intends to assume operations of the Albert Jensen and Sons Shipyard at 1293 Turn Point Road, Friday Harbor WA as of November 1, 2021. Boats currently in the boatyard will
At least it’s not just the San Juans on the WSF chopping block for tomorrow
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| In an effort to provide more reliable, predictable service in light of severe crewing shortages, Washington State Ferries will be operating on an alternate service schedule on Sunday, October 10. Service across the system will be reduced as outlined below. Please visit our website
Guest Opinion | A haunting visual honors our COVID dead
||| FROM HEDRICK SMITH, RECLAIM THE AMERICAN DREAM ||| Washington – The ravaging of America by Covid-19 is so immense that most of us have trouble fathoming the depth of our national trauma. Corona has so engulfed our lives that we have become numb to our upward spiraling death toll.
Letter to Editor | Tourism does not contribute to actual neighborhoods
||| FROM SHEILA GAQUIN ||| The vacation rental debate rages on. People argue about housing affordability, water usage, and traffic, but sadly, little attention is paid to the long-term damage being done to residential neighborhoods. I’ve lived in a neighborhood where the homes were occupied by owners and long-term renters,
Sheriff’s Report | September 29 – October 5
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 21-008773 Fraud 07:10:42 09/29/21 A Lopez Island resident reported receiving two “robocalls" that were believed to be a fraud scam. The resident wisely did not respond to the calls, despite the threat of "legal action." 21-008776 Trespassing 10:33:18 09/29/21
About half of Orcas Island residents qualify for food assistance
||| FROM RICK RHOADS for ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK ||| In response to the pandemic, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) —a federal program that provides food to low-income Americans at no cost — raised its maximum income limit from 185% of the federal poverty level to 400%. The resulting
Fall 2021 Great Islands Clean-up was a great islands success
||| FROM KATIE FLEMING for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| Our islands became much cleaner during the Great islands Clean-up on September 25 thanks to dedicated volunteers on Orcas, San Juan, Shaw, and Lopez Islands. Over 100 Islanders participated. Total garbage picked up was 2,318 pounds (plus 11 garbage
