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
COVID-19 vaccine distribution update from Washington State Department of Health
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues to make progress with our COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration efforts. As of March 13, more than 2,517,506 doses of vaccine have been given across the state, which is nearly 80% of the 3,165,350 doses that
Guest Opinion | A brief history of vaccines — today’s best defense against COVID-19
||| BY THOMAS O. BALDWIN, PhD ||| As a result of amazing strides in basic biomedical science over the past several decades—development of methods allowing the cloning of genes, DNA sequencing, etc.— it has been possible to develop several exceptionally effective vaccines against COVID-19 over the past year, an accomplishment
Inslee announces extension of eviction moratorium, expansion of vaccine eligibility, resumption of long-term care visitations
|||FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE||| Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that the statewide eviction moratorium will be extended through June 30, as well as upcoming vaccine eligibility expansion, including restaurant workers and Washingtonians 60 and older. He also announced that effective immediately, many visitations at long-term care facilities
Lopez Fire Chief Bigby weighs in on water safety
||| FROM PHILIP PROD'HOMME for FRIENDS OF LOPEZ ISLAND POOL ||| For many islanders, warmer weather means water weather. But as people hit the seas for sailing, kayaking, fishing, and (gasp!) even swimming, there are important safety measures to consider. Recently, Friends of Lopez Island Pool (FLIP) talked with Lopez
Sheriff’s Report | March 10 – 16, 2021
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10 21-002024 Fraud 09:10:18 03/10/21 A San Juan Deputy responded to a report of fraud. The reporting party realized the transaction was fraudulent and canceled it, resulting in no loss to them. The incident was documented. 21-002025 Threats 09:24:14 03/10/21
New vaccine registration window opens on Monday 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 22 at 9 a.m. These clinics will be on Orcas and San Juan Island. Those who are eligible and wishing to
Rep. Lekanoff shares some good news updates in her weekly report
||| FROM REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF || As of today, all six of my bills have had their public hearings in Senate committees! House Bill 1117 integrates salmon recovery into the Growth Management Act (GMA), which guides land management and planning in our state. The bill also sets a standard for net ecological gain,
School Board is set to meet March 25 on Zoom — and in person
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| The Orcas Island School District School Board will be hosting their meetings in-person in The School Cafeteria AND online VIA ZOOM, beginning MARCH 25, 2021 at 5 p.m. Public health guidelines in response the Covid-19 pandemic will be followed. In-person attendees will be expected to sign in with their
Recap of recent COVID-19 news, statewide response updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 331,820 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on March 17. There have been 5,168 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
With more customers, more hours, more fresh food, Orcas Food Bank enters pandemic year 2
||| FROM RICK RHOADS for ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK ||| As people lost jobs and income, demand on the Orcas Island Food Bank tripled, practically overnight, from its pre-pandemic level. The demand had to be met under new conditions, including masking and maintaining social distancing between and among volunteers and
No new COVID cases in SJC; Rates remain high in neighboring counties
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Note: Current positive case numbers are available online at the County Case Data Dashboard. As indicated on that page, these numbers are only updated after case confirmation is complete, usually daily. It is possible that other information sources in community
In weekly update, WSF reminds riders to limit ferry travel to essential trips
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Despite increasing COVID-19 vaccinations and lower case numbers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends we delay travel if possible. That’s why we continue to ask the public to limit rides on our ferries to essential purposes only. Even though
‘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.
Vaccine Command and Coordination System (VACCS) leverages unique public-private partnership innovations to help Washingtonians find vaccine appointments
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH || OLYMPIA – The Vaccine Command and Coordination System (VACCS) Center continues to bring large and small Northwest employers together for a common goal: to help all eligible Washingtonians get vaccinated. This unique public-private partnership includes both large and small Northwest employers coming together for
Inslee announces extension of eviction moratorium, expansion of vaccine eligibility, long-term care visitations may resume
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today announced that the statewide eviction moratorium will be extended through June 20, as well as upcoming vaccine eligibility expansion, including restaurant workers and Washingtonians 60 and older. He also announced that effective immediately, visitations at long-term care
Join our 40th District state legislators in upcoming virtual town hall
||| FROM REP. ALEX RAMEL'S OFFICE ||| Please join Sen. Liz Lovelett, Rep. Debra Lekanoff, and me for a 40th District virtual town hall on Saturday, March 20 at 11:30 a.m. The town hall will be streamed live on the House Democratic Caucus’ social media pages. You can submit questions
