Here’s a thought…
“P H E W !!”
THE WORLD
Graduation! Orcas Seniors are getting set to say goodbye to high school
OHS Graduation, June 12, 2 p.m. ||| FROM KYLE FREEMAN for ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| We are excited to announce the following graduation events for the Orcas Island High School Class of 2021. While we are continuing to take precautionary steps to protect our students and community and will
Saving the rarest whale is topic at upcoming library ZOOM presentation
Thursday, June 17, 6 p.m., Orcas Library ||| FROM CAROL DAPOGNY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| On Thursday, June 17 the Orcas Island Library presents Captain Kevin Campion who will share his tale to save the rarest whale: the North Pacific right whale. You’ll learn about what right whales mean for
Share your thoughts in new Library survey as they review hours of operation
||| FROM CAROL DAPOGNY for ORCAS LIBRARY ||| This is a great opportunity to rethink our options after 10 years of consistent days and hours when the building was open—until that sudden shutdown in March of 2020. Do you think that new times might better serve you and other community
EDC hosting seminar on becoming a construction trainer
||| FROM MICHELANGELO (MICKEY) VON DASSOW for SAN JUAN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| Tradespeople seeking a second career are invited to an online seminar on Work as a Construction Trainer offered by the Economic Development Council (EDC). Rich Jones, Co-Owner/Training Director of South Sound Residential LLC, and Al Audette,
Most recent COVID updates from State Health Dept.
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 406,399 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on June 7. There have been 5,785 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more,
Inslee sends letter requesting border opening between the United States and Canada
In case you missed it ||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee sent a letter last week to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas urging an immediate full or partial reopening of the U.S.-Canadian border to provide relief for
State Parks Clean Vessel Act Grant Program funds $900,000 in new pumpout projects
Recreational boat pumpout facilities expand across the state ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE PARKS ||| OLYMPIA – June 8, 2021 – Keeping Washington’s waterways clean will get easier thanks to more than $900,000 in federal pass-through grants for recreational boat pumpout projects statewide. Awarded by the Washington State Parks Clean Vessel Act
Funhouse Commons welcomes new Mentor Program Coordinator
||| FROM FUNHOUSE COMMONS ||| The Funhouse Commons is thrilled to announce Jesse Fabrikant will be joining us as our new Mentor Program Coordinator! Jesse moved to Orcas Island from Davis, California in 2019 when his partner was offered a job at Sucia State Marine Park. Fabrikant shares: “We moved
Editorial | I’ve got a preposition and a couple other tidbits to discuss with you
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| Every once in awhile, we receive a request from someone looking to re-connect with an old acquaintance, to look up a childhood or college friend. The requester kind of assumes that a local news site would be a good spot to check-in --
Act in Granny’s memory on World Oceans Day and during Orca Action Month
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| WWe've recently spent quite a bit of time reflecting on our five-decade-long ORCA SURVEY research of the Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW). The importance of mothers and grandmothers in the fish-eating orca community stands out as a valuable discovery. Unfortunately, while many female
Statement from State Department of Health about your lottery eligibility
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recognizes many people have experienced challenges while trying to confirm their records were transmitted to the Washington State Immunization Information System (WAIIS) and they are eligible for the “Shot of a Lifetime” lottery drawing. DOH
San Juan County Council agenda for Tuesday, June 8
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| PRELIMINARY AGENDA: Discussion items may be added and/or the order or content changed at the discretion of the Council Chair. If there is a change in location, the alternative meeting location will be visibly posted at the location indicated above. Public Hearings will
Skagit Valley College registration is going on now for Summer AND Fall
||| FROM ARDEN AINLEY for SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE ||| Did you know you can register now for Summer AND Fall quarters at Skagit Valley College? Summer classes begin July 6 and Fall classes begin September 21, offering Online, Hybrid, and In-Person options. Applied Bachelor’s — Bachelor of Applied Science in
Vaccine data reconciliation between state and federal sources will take time
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is aware there are differences between vaccination data displayed in the state’s data dashboard compared to vaccination data in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID Data Tracker. The CDC reports 7,843,092 doses of COVID-19 vaccine
Boaters encouraged to ‘Be Whale Wise’ for Orca Action Month
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| After what felt like a very long winter, Puget Sound residents are excited to get out on the water and enjoy the beauty of our region. June is Orca Action Month, a time to celebrate and protect one of our region’s most iconic
Charter Review Commission recommends climate czar, tourism plan
||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER ||| On June 1, the County’s Charter Review Commission (CRC) released the results of months of deliberations on desired changes to the current county charter. CRC chair Kevin Ranker described the charter as essentially a county’s “Constitution. It creates a structure from which
