Here’s a thought…
“Deep breath. Deep breath. The air is free. You can take as many as you want.”
BUDDHIST MONK
Orcas Island restaurants struggle with more tourists, fewer workers, high cost of living
||| FROM SEATTLE TIMES ||| ORCAS ISLAND — During the peak of this summer’s tourist season, Orcas Island seemed to attract just about everyone — except the workers who make it run. Posted on the entrance of Enzo’s Caffe and Gelateria in downtown: “Our summer staff is going back to
Sigh….Weekly SJC COVID case update
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday August 27, there have been sixteen new confirmed cases in San Juan County. Current total case count is now 266. Of these sixteen new cases, initial investigations indicate that five appear to have occurred
Island Hospital to host virtual community briefing on COVID-19
||| FROM RACHEL LAMBERT for ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| Island Hospital will host a virtual community briefing Thursday, September 9 at 5:30 on the current state of COVID-19 in our region. Chief Executive Officer Charles Hall, MSN, MBA and Chief Medical Officer Jason Hogge, MD will be leading the briefing, which
Joan Roulac returns to Senior Center with new T’ai Chi Chih and Qi Gong series
Mind-Body Workshops with Joan Roulac: September by Zoom ||| BY LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Quiet the mind and strengthen the body with Joan Roulac’s Fresh Start in 15 Qi Gong series. These quick 15-minute sessions will gently loosen tense muscles, strengthen the immune system, build better balance, and
‘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.
WSF weekly update anticipates a few reduced service disruptions for Labor Day weekend
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Labor Day weekend ferry travel If your holiday weekend plans include a ride aboard our ferries, plan for long vehicle boarding lines and possible disrupted sailings due to COVID-19 cases and quarantines among crew, the global shortage of mariners and the possibility of
Port Commissioners invite you to discussion of 5-year plan
||| JEANNIE SHARPE for PORT OF ORCAS ||| Orcas Airport is inviting you to a scheduled Special Meeting Commissioner Round Table Zoom meeting. SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA September 13, 2021 12:30 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 824 7968 4052 Passcode: 324083 One tap mobile +12532158782,,82479684052#,,,,*324083# US (Tacoma) +13462487799,,82479684052#,,,,*324083# US (Houston)
Salish Seeds Project 2021 fall native wildflower sale begins Sept. 10
||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for SJC LAND BANK ||| The Salish Seeds Project’s popular, twice-annual wildflower sale is happening soon. Reserve plants online September 10 - 17, and pick them up on Saturday, October 2 at locations on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan islands. All plants are produced locally by
Orcas Fire crews battled wildland fire with assist from DNR
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Orcas Island Fire personnel responded to reports of a grassfire in the 4200 block of Orcas Road at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Saturday. Crews arrived to find approximately one-half acre of grazing field consumed by flames reaching 4-feet high
Orcas Senior Center introduces new, strong old-growth forest logo
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Old growth forests: Peaceful yet strong, calm yet constantly renewing. Though they may appear timeless, old growth forests age through constant regeneration and renewal. With their multi-layered canopies and interwoven roots, old growth forests are more than forests of trees, they
Inslee statement on SCOTUS failure to pause Texas anti-abortion law
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee released a statement today in response to the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear a challenge to an anti-abortion law in Texas that represents one of the most extreme attacks on reproductive rights since the Roe v. Wade
Washington State Ferries cruise toward a rocky Labor Day weekend
||| FROM SEATTLE TIMES ||| Canceled sailings at Washington State Ferries could worsen for Labor Day weekend as crew shortages and quarantines continue to rock the schedules, and rumors abound that some workers might skip holiday shifts to protest mandatory vaccinations. Travelers are advised to prepare for delays, choose an early or
Inslee signs onto letter to Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer supporting climate action
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| In case you missed it: Gov. Jay Inslee today joined nine other governors to send a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer. The letter asks congress to pass key climate policies in the bipartisan infrastructure deal and in
Black-tail deer hunting season opens September 1 at Lopez Hill, Mount Grant Preserves
||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| Make some room in your freezer – deer hunting is open for early and general seasons only at Lopez Hill and Mount Grant Preserves. Specific dates for 2021 are as follows: Archery September 1-24 Muzzle Loader September 25-October 3 Modern
SHIBA has a new home at Orcas Senior Center from which to help with health benefits questions
Free, confidential appointments ||| FROM PEGI GROUNDWATER for SHIBA ||| The SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) volunteers on Orcas are pleased to announce that they are now helping people with Medicare and other health insurance questions from their new home at the Orcas Senior Center. Our trained volunteers provide
Latest COVID updates from State Health Dept.
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Statewide Response Updates Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 505,476 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 30. In all, there have been 6,574 deaths in Washington due to COVID-19. For the most recent data on
