Here’s a thought…
“P H E W !!”
THE WORLD
The Lundeen’s legacy lives on in our island community
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| Bob and Betty Lundeen loved Orcas and worked to build a strong community. They were especially engaged in ensuring medical access, excellent public education, support for the aging population, and a robust library, as both were lifelong learners. In their
Orcas Fire quickly extinguishes brush fire on Turtleback
||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| Late afternoon Wednesday, May 26, 2021, the Orcas Island Fire & Rescue responded to an isolated brush fire that moved from a neighbor’s burn pile into the southeast corner of the Land Bank’s Turtleback Mountain Preserve. The fire charred
Inslee announces update to spectator event guidance
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today approved an update to the guidance documents for spectator events to help bring these events in line with other occupancy restrictions in Phase 3 of the Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery plan. The changes are effective immediately. Under
Senior Center seeks programs, activities coordinator
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Are you creative? Are you good at coordinating events, programs, or activities? Orcas Senior Center has the perfect job for you! We are seeking applicants for our Programs and Activities Coordinator position. This position oversees and supports ongoing activities, events, and
Three islanders donate funds to OPAL for purchase of seven affordable rentals
||| FROM CRYSTAL MOSSMAN for OPAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ||| Motivated by their concern about the loss of affordable housing for local families, islanders Maia and John Vechey and Dave Roberts partnered with OPAL Community Land Trust in early May to buy seven apartments on Mt. Baker Road. “When these
Rep. Larsen to visit OPALCO, airport, Wildlife Cycles, primary care clinic and critical infrastructure projects
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RiCK LARSEN ||| SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA – On Thursday, May 27, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) will visit Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) to meet with Executive Director Foster Hildreth. Larsen and Hildreth will discuss how the utility is working to improve broadband
Remaining opportunity for SJC single-shot J&J COVID vaccinations for month of June
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| The San Juan County Vaccine Team will be operating single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine clinics on Orcas, Lopez, and San Juan Islands through June. These clinics will be one of the best remaining opportunities for COVID vaccination in the
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 May 22, more than 6,749,266 doses of vaccine have been given across the state, which is nearly 86% of the 7,875,030 doses that
Public health funding will improve service, outcomes in Washington State
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Public health support and outcomes are set to improve for all people across Washington state now that Governor Jay Inslee has signed the budget recently passed by the Washington State Legislature. The budget for the current biennium, and future budgets, will allow
GiveOrcas companion services grant fully funded thanks to you
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Orcas Senior Center is overjoyed with the outpouring of support from our community during the recent GiveOrcas campaign! Over 81 donors helped fund our $19,000 grant request for our Companion Services program. In addition, we received a whopping 46 donations on
Check ferry schedules, plan for long waits for Memorial Day weekend travel
Several routes operating with modified service different from years past ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| SEATTLE – If a Washington State Ferries ride is part of your holiday weekend travel plans, double check sailing schedules and prepare for the possibility of long waits if driving a vehicle on board. Most routes
Recap of recent COVID-19 news and updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 396,713 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on May 24. There have been 5,722 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
Join in this online workshop to learn about writing historical fiction
Thursday, May 27, 10:30 a.m. ||| FROM SANDY STREHLOU ||| Author and genealogist John Ickes is a distant relative of early San Juan Island artist Marjorie Walker (1906-1992). His historical research contributed to the understanding of Marjorie’s life and the online publication of her story on HistoryLink.org John has done
School District wants to hear from every one of us in new community survey
||| FROM ERIC WEBB, ORCAS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ||| Starting on May 26, the Orcas Island School District wants to hear from you about…hearing from you. We are looking to better understand how we send out information -- and how we receive information. We want to understand how you communicate with
Letter to Editor | Orcas Island has always been Lummi Nation homeland
||| FROM SPIRIT EAGLE ||| While appreciating Michael Riordan’s letter to the editor to the Islands' Sounder regarding the Lummi totem pole journey to Orcas Island, there is something of a misconception I would like to clear up: The Lummi Nation did not use Orcas Island as a place where
State investigating reports of possible cardiac symptoms, post-vaccination
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is aware of reports of a small number of cases of myocarditis or pericarditis in some patients, post-vaccination. Further investigation is needed to determine if these cases are connected in any way to COVID-19 vaccines. Health
