Here’s a thought…
“The belief in the possibility of a short decisive war appears to be one of the most ancient and dangerous of human illusions.”
ROBERT LYND
Newest statewide COVID numbers
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 625,677 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 20. There have been 8,417 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent number of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
WSF weekly check-in | “Starting to look at our ability to increase service”
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Giving thanks to our employees I want to start this week by asking everyone to join me in recognizing and thanking our hardworking and dedicated employees. The last 19 months have created tremendous strain on our workforce and many of my
A dozen new COVID cases in SJC this week
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Since the last update on Friday October 15, there have been 12 new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current case count is now 344. Of these 12 new cases, initial investigations indicate that five appear to have
Our community met the need for food assistance, but the challenge grows
||| FROM THE ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK ||| As the pandemic continues to negatively affect San Juan County and the rest of the nation and world, we at the Orcas Island Food Bank continue to investigate the need for food support and how we can meet that need in our
‘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. Celebrating one year!
Health District to hold public hearing on FY’22 budget, levy
||| FROM ANNE PRESSON for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| As a local government entity that imposes a regular property tax levy, the OIHCD is required to hold a public hearing on the setting of the FY ’22 proposed Budget and Levy. At its Regular Board meeting on Tuesday,
Wire sculptures exhibit at SJIMA appropriately titled ‘On Being Alive’
||| FROM DIANE MARTINDALE for SAN JUAN ISLANDS MUSEUM OF ART ||| The Atrium of The San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) has come alive with the figurative wire sculptures of Bellingham artist, Francie Allen. The exhibit, titled, On Being Alive!, invites the viewer to viscerally engage in the
Editorial | We are being too nice to receive excellent WSF service. Wait — what!!??
"Vashon Island has four ferry boats (including Pt. Defiance in Tacoma) that service it, and THOSE islanders complain FAR MORE than ANYONE in the San Juans!" --Anonymous WSF worker ||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| An anonymous Washington State Ferry worker has reached out to theOrcasonian to, if nothing
Orcas islander reaches out to share his cancer journey, help others
||| SHARED BY JIM HELMINSKI ||| As an almost 30-year veteran of the Secret Service, Jim Helminski took pride in maintaining his physical health — both for his own sake and to be better fit to protect others. His demanding career placed the safety of Presidents Bill Clinton and George
This bird’s-eye view of orca explains how, when, and why
In the following Q & A with CWR’s Dr. Michael Weiss, we learn what it’s like to fly a drone over top of whales and the new knowledge gained from the captured video footage. ||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Southern Resident orcas J22, J51, and J58 chasing
Dementia friendly Washington conference inspires Orcas Senior Center
||| FROM STEVEN ZIEGLER for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| As a staff member at Orcas Senior Center, I recently had the opportunity to attend a virtual conference about dementia friendly communities. For two days, I listened to participants’ heartfelt experiences about caring for others suffering from dementia. As I work
In run up to UN Climate Conference, Bellingham-based environmental group launches new initiative aimed at galvanizing bold investments in climate resilience
RE Sources releases an illustrated guide for climate change solutions in northwest Washington ||| FROM JAY KOSA for RE SOURCES BELLINGHAM, Wash. — On October 19, Bellingham-based environmental nonprofit RE Sources launched a new initiative blending art, science and on-the-ground stories to help catalyze regional investments in climate resilience, efforts
Join in the fun at upcoming Family Game Night at Orcas Library
||| FROM CAROL DAPOGNY for ORCAS LIBRARY ||| Join us Friday, October 22 from 6-8 for Family Game Night at the library! While all games in the collection will be available, volunteers from the Orcas Board Game Society will be on hand as guides for featured games.
Newest numbers from State Health Department
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Statewide Response Updates Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 621,467 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 18. There have been 8,322 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics,
Firefighter’s union calls for independent investigation
||| FROM INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS (IAFF) LOCAL 3911 ||| The San Juan County Paramedic & Firefighter Association, IAFF Local 3911, is a Labor Union, representing the professional career Paramedics, EMTs and Firefighters of Orcas Island Fire & Rescue. In September at a membership meeting of IAFF Local 3911, the
Islander shares her experience in surviving an abusive relationship
||| SUBMITTED ANONYMOUSLY THROUGH SAFE SAN JUANS ||| To this day, I still don’t fully understand when my relationship became abusive. I was fully aware of what makes a relationship healthy and unhealthy, I knew all the signs to look for. And yet I still ended up in an abusive
