Here’s a thought…
“Deep breath. Deep breath. The air is free. You can take as many as you want.”
BUDDHIST MONK
PeaceHealth reminder of special opportunity to get or change health insurance
Eligible individuals can enroll in or change 2021 Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans through August 15 ||| FROM HILARY ANDRADE for PEACEHEALTH ||| Bellingham, WASH. — In an effort to expand access to affordable health care, the federal government has established a special enrollment period for coverage through the Affordable Care
Statewide COVID response updates from State Health Dept.
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 420,921 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on July 14. There have been 6,036 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
Ecology specifies concerns during drought emergency in record-breaking heat wave
Heat wave exacerbates already dry conditions across state ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY ||| OLYMPIA – A historically dry spring and summer, followed by a record-breaking heat wave, have affected water supplies across Washington, prompting the Washington Department of Ecology to issue a drought emergency for most of the state. The
Kruse Reviews | How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America
||| A BOOK REVIEW by JENS KRUSE ||| With How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, Clint Smith has given us a remarkable book that I cannot recommend highly and urgently enough. Smith is a staff writer at The Atlantic and a published
Washington State reaches 70% vaccination initiation milestone
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is thrilled to share today the state reached its 70% vaccination goal. As of July 12, 70% of people 16 and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This percentage includes vaccination
Larsen: Expanded Child Tax Credit puts money in pockets of NW Washington’s working families
Benefits 42,600 Households, 85.8% of All Children in WA-02 ||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| EVERETT, WA – Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) is encouraging Northwest Washington’s working families to be on the lookout for advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit of up to $300 per month per child
State Parks Boating Program shares tips for paddlesport safety
Get on board with safety during Paddle Safe Week July 18-24 ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE PARKS ||| Olympia – The Washington State Parks Boating Program wants paddlers to have fun – and be safe - on the water. Paddle Safe Week runs from July 18 through July 24. The campaign encourages
Most recent statewide COVID numbers
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 419,603 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on July 12. There have been 6,022 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more,
Port of Orcas disseminates an approach reminder for pilots
Because a happy community is a happy airport ||| FROM JEANNIE SHARPE for PORT OF ORCAS ||| After a noise/low flight complaint [yesterday], and many others recently, I’ve decided to email a friendly reminder about flights in Crow Valley and other parts of the island. Please fly 1500’ AGL over
Inslee rescinds two proclamations related to COVID-19 pandemic
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee [yesterday] gave advance notice of the termination of two proclamations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Advance notice is provided to give stakeholders time to adjust their procedures. Proclamation 20-51 This proclamation waives/suspends laws that created barriers to holding community association
Larsen to visit SJI Family Resource Center, Community Theatre and more on Wednesday
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| On Wednesday, July 14, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) will meet with San Juan Island Family Resource Center Director Jennifer Armstrong to discuss the child care needs of San Juan County residents and the historic expansion of the Child Tax Credit. Child
EDC has the latest info to get your business back on track
||| FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| About the Small Business Flex Fund The Small Business Flex Fund provides access to flexible, low-interest loans and business support services to small businesses and nonprofits across Washington. Backed by the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Fund is a collaborative partnership of local
Letter to Editor | Failure to coordinate may have endangered Indian Island Oystercatchers
||| FROM RUSSEL BARSH for KWIAHT ||| No, it wasn’t Kwiaht’s Indian Island on top of Indian Island Monday. It was the Orcas Youth Conservation Corps, which went ahead with a weed-removal project over our objections that Oystercatchers and other birds were still nesting on the island, and should be
Council extends vacation rental moratorium
UPDATED JULY 14, 2021 ||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER ||| After a public hearing on July 12, the County Council unanimously approved an amended extension of the vacation rental moratorium that now includes “findings of fact” and a work plan. The new deadline is January 13, 2022, and
Norris Carlson is WaFed’s featured artist for July
||| FROM NORRIS CARLSON ||| Two Boats Under the Moon by Norris Carlson Interdisciplinary artist Norris Carlson is excited to share Marks&Paper at Washington Federal Bank through the end of July. Norris’ recent work was part of Submergence: Going Below the Surface with Orca and Salmon at Jack
Public invited to Land Bank Commission meeting on July 16
||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| A Department of Natural Resources (DNR) crew arrived by boat to Watmough Bay Preserve and picked up creosote logs that Lopez Preserve Steward, Amanda Wedow, had tagged for removal. As part of the DNR Creosote Removal Program, creosote logs
