Here’s a thought…
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man.”
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Letter to Editor | Get ready for the marauding hordes
||| FROM BRAD BROWN ||| Here is the word on the street – and in the labs – regarding where to shelter from climate disruption. From Ben Strauss, a vice president of Climate Central, the preeminent global analysis and communication bureau for such disruptions: “The answer is the Pacific Northwest,
Two new Asian giant hornet sightings confirmed in Whatcom County
The new sightings were in the same general area the WSDA found Asian giant hornet nests in 2020 and 2021 ||| FROM KING5 NEWS ||| WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Two new Asian giant hornet sightings were confirmed by the Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA) in the same area where two
COVID case count currently climbing across San Juan County
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday September 3rd, there have been twenty-two new confirmed cases in San Juan County. Current total case count is now 288. Of these twenty-two new cases, initial investigations indicate that eight appear to have occurred
You are invited to partake in Yom Kippur Kol Nidre services at Cascade Lake
||| FROM JOHN GOTTMAN ||| The first communal prayer service of Yom Kippur takes place immediately prior to sunset on the evening of Yom Kippur. This service is called Kol Nidre (“All Vows”). These are the first words of a special legal formula that is recited at the beginning of this
‘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.
Inslee announces mask requirement for large outdoor gatherings as COVID-19 wave persists
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced a new statewide requirement for masks to be worn at large outdoor gatherings as Washington’s fifth wave of COVID-19 persists. Starting on Monday, the state’s current requirement for indoor facial coverings will be expanded
Tree protections? Planning for growth? Your help is needed by Sept. 14
||| FROM R. BRENT LYLES for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| It's time to spring into action! On the morning of Tuesday, September 14, the County Council will hold a hearing on the 2021 docket. This year's docket includes proposals for new tree-protection standards, stormwater-management standards, and doing an
Camas Club sprouts a new website for island backyard restorationists
||| FROM SHAUN HUBBARD for CAMAS CLUB ||| The recently formed Camas Club has launched a website created for and by islanders to connect with other backyard habitat enthusiasts. It is a place where native habitat aficionados can ask questions, share resources, organize seed swaps, and more. By exchanging information
It takes a village to clean an island
||| FROM HEATHER WALLACE ||| The Great Islands Clean-up is back! In honor of National Public Lands Day, come join your fellow islanders for the 2021 Fall Great Islands Clean-up on September 25. This year’s theme, It Takes a Village to Clean an Island, celebrates the history of the Great
WSF weekly report | New hires, ferry landings from the air, Seattle weekend traffic
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| New engine room employees in training As I’ve mentioned many times recently, the maritime sector, like many industries both locally and internationally, is facing a shortage of experienced employees. We’re one of many marine transportation systems dealing with a staffing shortfall.
Center for Whale Research encounters J Pod out in Boundary Pass
||| FROM THE CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Date: 05-Sep-21 Sequence: 1 Encounter Number: 63 Enc Start Time: 15:26 Enc End Time: 17:56 Vessel: Orcinus Observers: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss, Charli Grimes Pods or ecotype: J Pod Location: Boundary Pass Begin Lat/Long: 48 46.189 N/123 02.835 W End Lat/Long: 48
Nationally-recognized gardener/author coming to speak at library
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| The Orcas Island Garden Club welcomes Karen Chapman on a virtual (Zoom) presentation called Touchstones: a journey of healing and discovery on Wednesday September 15, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. Karen Chapman Karen Chapman is a garden plant specialist and the owner
State Health: Statement on hospital capacity, crisis standards of care
Emphasizing stress, stretch, and support ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Hospital capacity is currently stressed across the state of Washington. The surge in hospitalizations is one that Washington Department of Health (DOH), with its healthcare partners, has been monitoring closely. At this time, partners across Washington have undertaken
Guest Opinion | 2021 Docket request (build-out analysis)
||| FROM JANET ALDERTON ||| I understand that trying to fulfill this docket request would consume vast amounts of staff time and attention, if the goal is to get as close to a perfect analysis as possible. It has been said that the perfect is the enemy of the good. I do
Latest COVID numbers from State Health Dept.
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 525,243 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 6. In all, there have been 6,745 deaths in Washington due to COVID-19. For the most recent data on cases by county,
School Board has a special board meeting coming up
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| Please be advised of an upcoming Special School Board Mtg./Learning Tour of OISD Facilities this Thursday, September 9, at 9:30 a.m. - the meeting will convene in person in The School Library Here is the link to our online platform with detailed Agenda
