Here’s a thought…
“That confidence — that the law cannot reach you because you are the one wielding it — is the oldest and most dangerous delusion in Washington.”
MILES TAYLOR
Oprah sells Orcas Island estate for $14 million
||| FROM BUSINESS JOURNAL ||| Oprah Winfrey has sold her 43-acre waterfront estate known as Madroneagle on Orcas Island’s Catspaw Lane for $14 million, the Business Journal has learned. Sources familiar with the deal say it is the highest price ever paid for an Orcas Island property. Winfrey, who bought the
New data reveals COVID-19 impact on unvaccinated Washingtonians
Between February and June 2021, most people in Washington who died of COVID-19 were unvaccinated ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA -- New reporting from the Washington State Department of Health reveals the devastating impact of COVID-19 on people who are unvaccinated, and underscores once again the need for
EDC has much more help available for your business
||| FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| Small Business Flex Fund Have a leak? Broken equipment? Is this the last thing your business needs after a long year? If you're thinking about taking out a business loan, consider the Small Business Flex Fund. It offers flexible, low interest loans for Washington's
Masks required for all K-12 students and staff heading back to the classroom
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Safely returning to the classroom for full time in-person instruction this school year is important for students, teachers, and staff. Today, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released updated guidance for the 2021-2022 school year. DOH’s guidance aims to minimize transmission and
Latest statewide COVID-19 response updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 430,103 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on July 26. There have been 6,097 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more,
Census redistricting data | What to expect and when
||| FROM DR. RON JARMIN for U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ||| Since releasing the apportionment results in April, we’ve had several teams working hard on the next set of 2020 Census data — the redistricting data. These data play an important role in our democracy and will begin to illuminate the
Free healthcare career training offered by EDC and Cornerstone
||| FROM MICHELANGELO (MICKEY) VON DASSOW for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| Those seeking to enter health care careers, obtain side income while helping their neighbors, or boost personal care business are invited to get free Home Care Aide (HCA) training through a program offered by the Economic Development Council (EDC)
Whatcom County Council vote changes the future of industry at Cherry Point
||| FROM BELLINGHAM HERALD ||| Whatcom County Council unanimously approved a series of Comprehensive Plan amendments for the Cherry Point industrial zone, adding tougher environmental and development rules for the region that’s home to two of Washington state’s five oil refineries. Tuesday’s vote was hailed by environmental groups as a
Tourists | Again, we’re not the only island feeling overrun
||| FROM SFGATE.COM ||| [Reprint at request of an Orcasonian reader.} “We are not Disneyland. People live here,” says Kai Duponte, a Native Hawaiian who was born and raised on Maui, responding to the unprecedented numbers of tourists to the island. “Although no one wants to stop tourism altogether, when
Inslee rescinds three proclamations related to the COVID-19 pandemic
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today rescinded two COVID-19 emergency proclamations and gave advance notice of the rescission of a third emergency proclamation. Proclamation 20-20 Proclamation 20-20 waived/suspended statutes related to tax penalties, fees, interest, and due dates in order to provide tax
ADVISORY: Inslee and agency leaders to discuss digital inclusion to connect people to social safety net
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee will meet with state agency leaders on Wednesday, July 28, to hear about how state agencies are working toward ensuring digital equity and digital inclusion. This meeting will include hearing from community partners and listening to customer experiences
COVID-19 cases are increasing across the state
Vaccination rates not increasing fast enough to control the virus ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The latest COVID-19 modeling and surveillance situation report from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) shows a new surge: cases are increasing in the state as the Delta variant becomes more widespread. As
Congressman Rick Larsen speaks out on Capitol Police testimony
||| FROM REP. RICK LARSEN ||| “On January 6, violent domestic terrorists stormed the Capitol building, attacked law enforcement and threatened the exercise of our democracy. Today, the House January 6th Committee hears sobering testimony from members of the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department who bravely defended
Orcas Community Church | Saturday night interview with a pastor and a rock star
||| FROM BRIAN MOSS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH ||| On Saturday, July 31st at 7:00 pm, you are invited to an evening with David Taylor at Orcas Island Community Church. David will share a film interview on the Psalms that he did with Pastor Eugene Peterson, author of The Message translation of
Chamber Music Fest releases additional in-person tickets
||| FROM ANITA ORNE for CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| After careful consideration of the latest COVID-19 figures and local, state, and federal regulations, we are thrilled to announce the release of additional seats for all concerts of the 24th Festival Season of the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, August 6
COVID, climate, and calamity
||| FROM PATRICK SHEPLER ||| There are essentially three stories on the National News networks these days: (1) COVID is coming back with a vengeance. primarily among the unvaccinated; (2) The Olympics, minus fans, plus COVID; And (3) the horrific western state Megafires. There is no doubt that wildfire danger
