Here’s a thought…
“Peace is not something we ask for — it’s something we practice, together.”
WALK FOR PEACE
Orcas Montessori School welcomes new Head of School
||| FROM ARTHUR DE HAAN for ORCAS MONTESSORI SCHOOL ||| As you may have heard, Teresa Chocano will be retiring towards the end of the year. This is not a goodbye yet as Teresa will help with the transition. I do want to take this opportunity to thank Teresa for
Council adds indoor residential tennis courts to work plan
||| BY STEVE BERNHEIM, theORCASONIAN REPORTER ||| Planning Staff Priorities At its Tuesday meeting, September 28, the San Juan County Council agreed that the County’s planning staff should add draft rules allowing private indoor tennis courts in the “Rural Farm Forest” zone to its list of priorities. Former County Councilperson
Qigong returns in weekly 15-minute Zoom workouts with Joan Roulac
Beginning Wednesday October 6 at 9 a.m. ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Quiet the mind and strengthen the body with Joan Roulac’s Jump Start in 15 Qigong series. These quick 15-minute sessions will gently loosen tense muscles, strengthen the immune, build better balance, and increase energy. The Jump Start in 15 series fee is $40 and will begin Wednesday, October 6 at 9am via Zoom and weekly thereafter.
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
