Here’s a thought…
“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers.”
THOMAS PYNCHON
Latest COVID update | Two major outbreaks underway in county
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday November 12, there have been 28 new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current case count is now 404. Of these twenty-eight new cases, initial investigations indicate that at least ten appear
Letter to Editor | Open letter to community from Fire Chief Williams
||| FROM SCOTT WILLIAMS, CHIEF, ORCAS FIRE & RESCUE ||| To the Orcas Island community: First and foremost, I will say the members of Orcas Island Fire & Rescue appreciate all of you and your support. As you explore the field of Emergency Services you will find caring people who
Bipartisan legislation introduced to protect Southern Resident Killer Whales, marine mammals
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) introduced bipartisan legislation to protect marine mammals nationwide, including Southern Resident Killer Whales (orca). The Protecting Our
Letter to Editor | I’m leaving the fire department with heavy heart
||| FROM HILARY CANTY ||| It is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation from Orcas Fire and Rescue, through which I have had the pleasure to serve this community as a volunteer EMT for the past 22 years. I had hoped to have a couple of new
Waking up to the storm of a lifetime
||| BY EMILLIE NOVAK, theORCASONIAN REPORTER ||| Orcas Island was the unexpected beneficiary of 60 hours of heavy rain, a deluge of tons of storm rainwater that left islanders stunned with the catastrophic impact, and working to create new networks of support, physically and as a community. Dan Carlberg, a
Christmas trees and “Winter Wooly Pop Up” are coming to Lum Farm
||| FROM MANDY TROXEL for LUM FARM ||| Lum Farm will be offering Christmas Trees this holiday season. Noble, Frasier and Douglas Fir trees from 2 ft. to 10 ft. will be available. Tree sale hours are Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 1071 Crow Valley Rd.
Now the recovery, repairs begin following our deluge
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Some island roads still have isolated spots with water or small debris over the roadway. Drivers should continue to use caution, especially while driving at night. San Juan County Public Works crews have been working diligently to clear obstructions and
Cascadia Innovation Corridor Conference focuses on open borders, sustainability
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE || In case you missed it: Gov. Jay Inslee joined leaders from British Columbia and Oregon today to announce partnerships to promote business expansion, collaboration and sustainability. As part of the Cascadia Innovation Corridor Conference, Inslee along with Gov. Kate Brown and
New funding available to support private landowners in forest health and reduce wildfire danger
||| FROM KAI HOFFMAN-KRULL for SAN JUAN ISLANDS CONSERVATION DISTRICT ||| The San Juan Islands Conservation District (SJICD) has received funding from the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to assist forest landowners in San Juan County with improving the health and wildfire resiliency of their forests. The forest health
Local poetry | A Poem for Our Time
||| FROM DAVID KOBRIN ||| A Poem for Our Time After the martyrdom of Rabbi Akiva (c. 50 - 135), publicly tortured to death for continuing to teach when prohibited They all watch the martyrdom in agitation their unblinded eyes see again, and again the metal-headed Roman soldier his fine-toothed
Frank Loudin painting auction to benefit Orcas Center
||| FROM KATHLEEN YOUNGREN ||| Frank Loudin Island treasure and renowned watercolorist, Frank Loudin has generously offered a wide array of his original watercolor paintings for sale to benefit Orcas Center. Postponed earlier due to COVID precautions, the online auction for these wonderful watercolor landscapes will begin at
Severe weather impacted Turtleback, south entrance parking closed
||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for SJC LAND BANK ||| The Conservation Land Bank’s Turtleback Mountain, Judd Cove and Coho Preserves on Orcas Island sustained heavy damage from last weekend’s record rainfall. Although staff are prioritizing safety-related repairs to roads and trails, please expect minor disruptions. Some repairs may take months
Inslee appoints Sen. Steve Hobbs Washington’s next secretary of state
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Steve Hobbs appointed as new Secretary of State Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday named state Sen. Steve Hobbs as Washington's next secretary of state. Hobbs replaces Kim Wyman, who is vacating the position to take a role with the
Governor declares state of emergency
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Today, Gov. Jay Inslee declared a severe weather state of emergency in Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Lewis, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Mason, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, and Whatcom counties. Events leading up to this emergency include a severe wind and
Update on current road conditions
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Public Works crews from both the County and the Town of Friday Harbor have been responding since late last night. Orcas Island in particular has experienced a number of significant impacts, most notably a complete washout of Pt. Lawrence Road just past the
Whidbey SAR conducts rescues from Skagit River area
||| FROM NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND ||| A Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island rescued three people caught in flood waters during a wind and rain storm impacting large swaths of Western Wash. November 15, 2021. The SAR crew was originally notified about
