Here’s a thought…
“No one, I mean no one, has the right to sit in judgment of who’s American enough.”
MICHELLE OBAMA
Food Bank Director says Orcas workers must be able to live healthy lives
An interview with Amanda Sparks, the first executive director of the Orcas Island Food Bank, by Food Bank volunteer and board member Rick Rhoads. ||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK ||| Rick: Amanda, you were hired as manager of the Food Bank in April 2020, a few weeks after Covid-19
Newest news, numbers 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 691,077 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 6. There have been 9,460 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent number of cases by county, demographics,
Support our food bank tomorrow, on ‘Unique Donor Day’
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK ||| WHAT IS UNIQUE? Unique: One of a kind, special, singular, outstanding, extraordinary, unequalled, second to none, unparalleled, peerless, unsurpassed, incomparable, beyond compare, inimitable. On Thursday, December 9, YOU can become all of the above by participating in the Give Orcas "Unique Donor Day"! The non-profit that has the most number of unique donors in this
Hot Topic #57 | The new Omicron variant and what it may mean for the islands
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| The rise of a worrisome new variant is front and center in headlines for good reason, but as is so often the case, finding the balance between irrational fear and legitimate concern is difficult. This hot topic will attempt to
Woman in the Woods has some good news to share
||| FROM WOMAN IN THE WOODS PRODUCTIONS ||| Woman in the Woods Productions (WIWP) has exciting news to share this holiday. The 501c3 arts organization has added three new powerhouse board members: Jeff Henigson, Ayn Carrillo Gailey, and Julie Gottman. They join an already dynamic board, lead by founder and
Roses bids farewell, welcomes new owners
||| FROM JONI & JOHN TRUMBULL ||| Very dear friends and neighbors, Joni and I would like to announce that as of November 30th, the old fire station building that Roses Bakery Cafe inhabited over these past years in Eastsound has new owners. Erin Gainey and Philip Kramer of Deer
Sign up now for Whale Museum’s upcoming Marine Naturalist Program
||| FROM TRACIE MERRELL for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| Registration is now open for a spring virtual session of TWM’s Marine Naturalist Program. This dynamic and high quality program will be 6-sessions and run on the following dates: April 23, 24, 30, & May 1, 7, & 8, 2022. The
El Fondo Comunitario de Respuesta a Emergencias brinda alivio por daños por inundaciones
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| El Fondo Comunitario de Respuesta a Emergencias brinda alivio por daños por inundaciones La Fundación Comunitaria de la Isla Orcas (Orcas Island Community Foundation, OICF) y el Centro de Recursos Comunitarios de Orcas (Orcas Community Resource Center, OCRC) están lanzando
Community emergency response fund to provide relief from flood damage
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| The Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) and the Orcas Community Resource Center (OCRC) are launching a trial program to help individuals and families who experienced property damage and suffered economic losses due to the recent deluges. Thanks to generous community
Join us in helping Jennifer and Sebastian heal from Lyme
||| FROM CAITLIN & ZACKARYA LECK ||| We invite you to join us in supporting our dear friends and long-time Orcas Islanders, Jennifer and Sebastian Posada. Jen and Seb are on a healing journey with Lyme, and they need our help to defray the costs of treatment. After exhausting literally
Repair Economy Summit 2021: Who has the right to repair your possessions?
||| FROM STEPHEN SHRADER for SAN JUAN MAKERS GUILD ||| The San Juan Makers Guild attended the Repair Economy Summit 2021: Connecting for Inspiration on Saturday, December 4. Others attending the Washington-based, five-hour virtual gathering, included fixers, makers, tool librarians, as well as staff or volunteers with associated groups, policymakers,
COVID-19 boosters essential for protection as omicron variant spreads across the country
Everyone 18 and older should get a booster shot as soon as they are eligible ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Vaccines remain the best public health tool available to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission, and preserve our healthcare system. The emergence of the omicron variant in Washington further
Inslee letter to FEMA requests swift consideration for flood aid
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| In case you missed it: Gov. Jay Inslee sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on Friday requesting the federal agency's swift action on providing aid to Washington's flood-damaged regions once the state's damage assessment is complete, which is expected soon. The letter
LaPorte Road opens tonight, closes again during day on Tuesday, Wednesday
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| LaPorte Rd. will be open to traffic after crews wrap up their work at the end of the day today. However, the road will be closed again from 8am until 5pm on Tuesday and Wednesday so that utility providers may
Hawaii housing crisis has Maui pushing to phase out 3,000 short-term rentals
||| FROM SFGATE.COM ||| REPRINT AT REQUEST OF CLAYTON PARSONS As Hawaii’s high housing costs and rising property taxes continue to price out struggling residents seeking to find and keep their homes, Maui is examining how to create long-term housing opportunities to make sure local residents remain local. However, some
Auditor’s customer service will close for annual meeting Dec. 15
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The Auditor’s Customer Service division will be closed from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 15, for the department’s annual meeting. Customer Service provides recording services, as well as licensing services for vehicles, vessels, marriages, and dogs. Services will be available on
