Here’s a thought…
“Deep breath. Deep breath. The air is free. You can take as many as you want.”
BUDDHIST MONK
Here’s this week’s COVID case count for the county
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday September 10, there have been four new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current total case count is now 292. Of these four new cases, initial investigations indicate that two appear to
‘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.
Emergency units respond to downed aircraft off Point Lawrence Road
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF RON KREBS ||| On Thursday, September 16, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office received reports of a downed aircraft in the 3300 block of Point Lawrence Road on Orcas Island. It is believed the aircraft experienced mechanical issues while in flight after taking off from Friday
Local shoreline habitat restoration actions support marine food webs
||| FROM TINA WHITMAN for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| It was an exciting week for local forage fish and out-migrating juvenile salmon as Friends of the San Juans and the Salmon Point Community have successfully restored priority shoreline habitat along their local beach.At the south end of Lopez
We’re about to be reminded of winds and rain — glorious rain
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| GALE WARNING ISSUED: 8:47 AM SEP. 16, 2021 – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ...GALE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TO 5 PM PDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...Southeast winds 25 to 35 kt. * WHERE...East Entrance U. S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca and
PeaceHealth needs our help because we need PeaceHealth’s help
"We can't do this alone!" ||| FROM BEV MAYHEW for PEACEHEALTH NW NETWORK ||| PeaceHealth needs your help! PeaceHealth hospitals, clinics, doctors and nurses in Northwest Washington need the community’s help to make sure they can continue to safely provide care – not only to those suffering from severe illness
It’s time to reinvigorate Senior Center’s Hearts and Hands program
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| As more people are venturing out and getting together, it is time to call on our community to help reinvigorate the Hearts and Hands program at the Orcas Senior Center. Hearts and Hands volunteers have provided in-home companionship visits to seniors
EDC’S business resilience calls resume this Thursday
||| FROM VICTORIA COMPTON for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| Join the EDC for our newly-resumed Business Resilience Calls starting this Thursday, September 16, at 9 a.m. This week's discussion brings Senator Liz Lovelett, SJC Department of Emergency Management Director Brendan Cowan, and EDC Director Victoria Compton, for a conversation about current legislation and other
SJC Land Bank is ZOOM-meeting on Friday
||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for SJC LAND BANK ||| Coastal Geological Services visit Upright Head Preserve to assess a small pocket beach adjacent to the ferry landing. The San Juan County Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting on September 17, from 8:30 - 11:15 a.m. via
Auditor answers pressing questions, concerns regarding upcoming General Election
||| FROM MILENE HENLEY, SAN JUAN COUNTY AUDITOR ||| It’s that time again, Islanders! With the 2021 General Election just around the corner, and the heightened focus on our electoral process, your Elections Team wanted to take a moment to share some frequently asked questions. Q: When will my ballot
Statewide COVID-19 updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Statewide Response Updates Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 544,899 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 13. In all, there have been 7,037 deaths in Washington due to COVID-19. For the most recent data on
SUNY prof to speak about gardens and climate change at Library event
||| FROM CAROL DAPOGNY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Orcas Island Library presents a hybrid speaker event with Barbara Bentley (Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Ecology and Evolution, SUNY Stony Brook) on the Library’s south lawn and by Zoom meeting on September 16 at 6 p.m. Barbara Bentley will speak about
In Memoriam | John Anthony Mazzarella, June 13, 1933 – February 9, 2021
||| FROM ANNETTE MAZZARELLA ||| John Anthony Mazzarella. John Anthony Mazzarella was born the first of three sons to Eleanor Fiorito Mazzarella and Anthony Mazzarella in Queens, New York. Although he lived most of his life in Seattle and on Orcas Island, he never left his New York
Washington to destroy third murder hornet nest in battle to save bees
||| FROM THE GUARDIAN ||| A third Asian giant hornet nest was discovered in Washington state, a day after entomologists discovered a second. 'They give me the willies': scientist who vacuumed murder hornets braces for fight The Washington state agriculture department tweeted on Saturday that it planned to eradicate the nest
U.S.C.G. Auxiliary offers upcoming online Boating Safety Education Card
||| FROM CHUCK DALLDORF for U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY ||| BELLINGHAM, WASH. – This fall, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Bellingham and San Juan Islands Flotilla is providing boaters online, Washington State Basic Boater Education Course. All Washington state residents must carry a Boater Education Card while on the water
Long-time island doctor looks ahead to retirement, exploration of the world
Retirement celebration has been postponed due to COVID concerns ||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| Although I attended high school with David Shinstrom, I didn't know him. It was a large enrollment back in the 60s; he was a sophomore and I a senior, and probably neither of us
