Here’s a thought…
“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers.”
THOMAS PYNCHON
It’s not just COVID that necessitates paying attention to safety tips this weekend
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – With hospital capacity stressed statewide and health care resources stretched nationally, take steps to reducing your chance of needing emergency care. Keep these safety tips in mind this weekend: Prevent foodborne illnesses by following a few simple food safety tips. Follow water safety tips if you go swimming
Statewide Coronavirus response updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 512,162 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 1. There have been 6,643 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
Honolulu Airbnbs shut down when pandemic began. Mayor wants to keep it that way
The mayor sees the crackdown on vacation rentals as a tourism control measure. ||| FROM HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT ||| REPRINTED AT REQUEST OF READER When Hawaii tourism came to a halt in 2020, Honolulu residents were able to feel what the island was like before the advent of short-term vacation
OIFR responds to successfully extinguish small brush fire on Pinneo Rd.
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for ORCAS FIRE & RESCUE ||| On Thursday, September 2 just before noon, Orcas Fire & Rescue units were dispatched to the 700-block of Pinneo Road due to multiple reports from individuals passing through the area. Smoke was visible from Orcas Rd + Swan Rd. Orcas
Orcas Christian School completes campus-wide LED retrofit
||| FROM MIKE PARNELL for ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| With interest from the Principal, an energy grant, and a partial donation of fixtures and lights, the Orcas Christian School completed a campus wide retrofit, replacing all of their traditional light bulbs, including fluorescent bulbs to “Best Reading” LED bulbs in
Midnight Mutterings | Nurse Ratched
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS BY JACKIE BATES ||| I have been off island assisting my adult son as he recovers from knee replacement surgery. Will be returning in a couple of days for more of the same. I hope I do a better job this next time. My experience with ‘professional’
Sheriff’s Report | August 25 – 31, 2021
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25 21-007695 Citizen Assist 09:17:40 08/25/21 A Lopez Deputy responded to a citizen assist call. A citizen was provided information regarding an ongoing neighborly conflict. 21-007702 Citizen Assist 10:59:49 08/25/21 A Lopez Deputy responded to a citizen assist call. A
Planning Commission recommends aggressive caps on VR permits
||| BY theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER MATTHEW GILBERT ||| The issue of establishing caps on vacation rental permits continues to attract significant public interest, and at the August 20 meeting of the SJC Planning Commission, it was discussed at length with the goal of providing a recommendation to the Department of
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
