Here’s a thought…
“Deep breath. Deep breath. The air is free. You can take as many as you want.”
BUDDHIST MONK
Not fully vaccinated? Perfect opportunity coming up
||| FROM KYRA KINNAMAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT || Appointments are available, with pre-registration required, for Pfizer and J&J vaccines. San Juan Island: Tuesday October 5 Orcas Island: Wednesday, October 6 Lopez Island: Thursday, October 7 Pre-registration is required. Go to www.sjccovid.com to register.
Orcas Senior Center drive-through senior BBQ served many
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| On Thursday, September 23, the Nutrition Program partners—Orcas Senior Center, San Juan County, and Whatcom Council on Aging—hosted a “Drive Through Senior BBQ” for Orcas Island seniors at Orcas Senior Center (OSC). Meals on Wheels and More Director, Julie Meyers noted,
Feeling disconnected, detached? Local organizations need your help
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| One of the harder aspects of these pandemic days is the feeling of isolation. Being masked and distanced has taken a toll. A great way to combat that feeling is to find new ways to safely reconnect. Many of our
Good News | Washington’s plastic bag ban goes into effect Oct. 1
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Following a delay due to Covid-19, the Washington Plastic Bag Ban (RCW 70A.530) will go into effect statewide on October 1, 2021. This means that retailers and restaurants throughout the state will be prohibited from providing single-use plastic carryout bags. As Washington prepares
School District taps facilitator to identify district priorities
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| What is the process for a Strategic Plan? The district has engaged the services of an independent facilitator, Dr. Spencer Welch, to work with OISD stakeholders on identifying their priorities for the district. Welch will then share his insights with the OISD School
Latest state update on COVID data
||| FROM STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 579,684 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 27. In all, there have been 7,591 deaths in Washington due to COVID-19. For the most recent data on cases by county, demographics,
A Bruce Hanna poem for today | Magic at the Village Green
||| BY BRUCE HANNA ||| magic at the village green pure magic in the shade of an apple tree pure magic in the center of Orcas’ main weekend distraction amid tents of treats smells and sounds barking dogs ten young beings give their full attention to a book ? just
Letter to Editor | No evidence exists to support VR caps
||| FROM LINDA BANNERMAN ||| It is time for the members of our community to demand that the planning commission and county council reject any ordinance implementing caps. Such an ordinance, especially when made in the absence of evidence, would be a failure on the part of the commissioners and
Sheriff Krebs: No shirt, no shoes, no service also includes ‘no mask’
||| FROM RON KREBS, SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF ||| On Monday, September 27 th , 2021, at approximately 4:00pm, the Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to The Friday Harbor Marketplace on San Juan Island after employees called to report patrons refusing to follow the clearly posted signs for the county and
Over 300 runners, swimmers participated in Odyssey SwimRun Orcas triathlon adventure
||| FROM JUSTINE OWEN ||| This past weekend, you may have noticed more bright running shoes in town, unseasonable swimming in Cascade Lake, and early-morning, late-90s rock music carrying on the breeze at Rosario. More than 300 athletes, plus their friends and family, were drawn to the island to participate
Coming Up | Orcas Makers Stroll through Eastsound
||| FROM SAN JUAN MAKERS GUILD ||| Orcas is home to over a hundred creative Makers and their innovations are a natural part of the island lifestyle we love and cherish. On Friday, October 1, come enjoy an Eastsound Makers Stroll that features products using materials grown on Orcas and
Fire Commission is meeting again tomorrow in special session
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for ORCAS BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS ||| The Board of Fire Commissioners will hold a Special Meeting on Tuesday, September 28 at 5 p.m. Meeting access information is located on the agenda. Call to Order / Welcome and Introduction Public Comment Executive Session Employment Separation Agreement
The Ants and the Grasshopper film available for viewing before Thursday talk with Director
||| FROM SAN JUAN MAKERS GUILD ||| The San Juan Islands Farm Tours present a newly released film for online viewing through Thursday Sept 30. https://youtu.be/6J29qHOMm8k This award-winning documentary, ten years in the making, weaves together the most urgent themes of our times: climate change, gender and racial inequality, and
Upcoming! Farm touring fun for the whole family
||| FROM SAN JUAN MAKERS GUILD ||| The Orcas Farm Tours invite explorers of all ages to come enjoy safe, outdoor learning experiences on any of seven local farms with shell fishery and winery stops. Saturday and Sunday, October 2-3, open farm days invite self-guided walkabouts, tours, free samplings and
Inslee letter to President Biden urges action for Point Roberts and border communities
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee sent a letter last week to President Joe Biden reiterating his call for a targeted exception to border restrictions for the Point Roberts community and a partial reopening of the U.S.-Canada land border. The letter comes after 18 months of
NYPD seizes several vans used as illegal Airbnb rentals
||| FROM NEWSWEEK ||| Police in New York City impounded seven vans that were being used as illegal Airbnb rentals for the past two years. Some of the vans faced numerous parking violations and expired registrations. © Darieus/Getty Images The NYPD has launched an investigation into the illegal Airbnb rentals that were
