Here’s a thought…
“I am so convinced of the advantages of looking at mankind instead of reading about them, and of the bitter effects of staying at home with all the narrow prejudices of an islander, that I think there should be a law amongst us to set our young men abroad for a term among the few allies our wars have left us.”
LORD BYRON
Orcas Community Church invites you to celebrate Holy Week with them, in-person or online
||| FROM BRIAN MOSS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH ||| You are invited to join us at Orcas Island Community Church as we celebrate Holy Week. Everyone is welcome as we gather both in-person and online. MAUNDY THURSDAY We will have a communion service starting at 6:30 pm. This in-person
Mobile Dental Clinic announces 2021 service dates for San Juan County
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Residents of San Juan County who don’t have dental insurance or who are covered by Apple Health (Medicaid) can get free or reduced-cost dental care at upcoming mobile clinics on each of the islands. The public-private partnership making the dental care available includes
State’s online eligibility tool no longer required starting March 31
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Phase Finder, the state’s online vaccine eligibility tool, will no longer be required to verify COVID-19 vaccine eligibility starting March 31. That means that people who want a vaccine should check DOH’s prioritization guidance webpage to see when they are eligible to get vaccinated.
Letter to Editor | In support of Proposition 2 for our schools
||| FROM LESLIE HUTCHINSON ||| I write in support of Proposition 2. This is a renewal request for an expiring technology levy for our schools. It is not a new tax but instead is the 2021 Replacement Capital Projects/Technology Levy which was previously approved by voters. Its purpose is to replace outdated equipment,
Washington partnership leverages AmeriCorps to address unprecedented food insecurity efforts across state
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Last year, Serve Washington, the state’s service commission, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Schultz Family Foundation created the Response Corps to respond to unprecedented levels of food insecurity across the state. New findings reveal just how successful the partnership was to help make the AmeriCorps
Working Washington small business emergency funding grants are available
Round 4: Working Washington Small Business Grants Applications for up to $25,000 in emergency funding Apply now. Portal closes Friday, April 9! Don't delay in reviewing the details from Washington State's Department of Commerce. $240 million has been allocated for grants. Applications portal opened today and continues for two weeks. Click here to visit
There are some free State Park Days coming up in April
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE PARKS ||| OLYMPIA – March 29, 2021 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to celebrate the spring season and Earth Day with two free days at state parks in April. On free days, visitors do not need a Discover Pass for day-use
Orcas Family Health Center to remain somewhat operational during transition to new clinic
||| FROM ORCAS FAMILY HEALTH CENTER ||| David Shinstrom, M.D. As many of you are aware, on April 5 Island Primary Care-Orcas, the merger of UW Orcas staff and Orcas Family Health Center, will begin seeing patients. Although the majority of the OFHC staff including PAs Jennifer Utter
Inslee updates proclamation on in-person education
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today updated the Children’s Mental Health Crisis proclamation related to in-person education physical distancing guidelines. The update will permit Washington's K-12 school districts to follow the new CDC guidance allowing physical distancing in classrooms of 3 feet. Schools are still
Vaccine Milestones: More than 1 million people fully vaccinated in Washington, 3 million COVID-19 doses administered
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is thrilled to share the state surpassed two major vaccine milestones this week. More than 1 million people in Washington are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and more than 3 million doses of vaccine have been administered
OCS will be adding a new teaching position for 21/22 school year
||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ||| “Orcas Christian has announced a new staff hire for the 2021/22 school year”, stated Principal/CEO Terry Pottle. “We already have a waiting list for most of our classrooms for next school year and our decision was that if we could identify and retain exceptional
COVID-19 vaccine distribution update from the Washington State Department of Health
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Next week Washington will open COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to those who qualify under Phases 1B tier 3 and/or 1B tier 4. This expansion is estimated to begin March 31 and will add about 2 million people to the roughly 3 million currently eligible
Weekly legislative update from Rep. Lekanoff
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. LEKANOFF ||| Updates on my bills House Bill 1117 integrates salmon recovery into the Growth Management Act (GMA) and sets a standard for net ecological gain in community development. Through these policies, we can protect our environment and mitigate the impacts of climate change as we
Inslee’s weekly update addresses COVID, Legislature, anti-Asian hate
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Inslee calls on leaders to condemn anti-Asian hate and be part of the solution Gov. Jay Inslee was joined Monday by members of Washington's Asian and Pacific Islander community and local leaders to condemn growing harassment and violence against the community. "This is
New vaccine registration window opens on Monday March 29 @ 9 a.m.
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| San Juan County Health and Community Services will be opening registration for first dose vaccine appointments on Monday March 29 at 9 a.m. These clinics will be on Orcas and San Juan Island. Please note that Lopez doses will be
The return of the Orcas Lions Easter Bunny
||| FROM STEVE SCHAEFER for ORCAS LIONS CLUB and KIWANIS CLUB ||| The bunny is back. On Saturday, April 3rd, from 10am to noon, the Orcas Island Lions Club and the Kiwanis Club will be handing out Easter treats, drive through style at the Public School drop off and pick
