Here’s a thought…
“If you don’t vote you don’t exist. It is the only place where we’re all equal, the voting booth.”
GLORIA STEINEM
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
Sheriff gives peek into how department, community may be impacted by new state laws
||| FROM SHERIFF RON KREBS, SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF ||| San Juan County Sheriff Ron Krebs As of 12:01 a.m. on July 26, the State of Washington enacted a group of laws aimed at “police reform.” These laws are aimed at enhancing accountability, training, and transparency among law
With upcoming virtual County Fair, there are a variety of in-person activities
||| FROM CARLENE BALCOMB-BARTOK for SAN JUAN COUNTY FAIR || SJC Fairgrounds is hosting a variety of in person activities this August leading up to and during the Virtual Fair. Saturday Aug. 14 9-2 Fair Market & Plant Sale 6-9 Fair Summer Music Series in partnership with Going Left Music
Medicare online class presentation is coming up on Thursday
Online presentation Thursday, July 29, 2 p.m. ||| FROM PEGI GROUNDWATER, SHIBA VOLUNTEER ||| Will you be joining Medicare this year? If so, there’s a lot for you to learn. Medicare has its own vocabulary and rules. There are deadlines you must meet and penalties (some lasting a lifetime) for
As fuel at airport runs out, as COVID cases increase, Orcas Fly-In has been cancelled
||| FROM JEANNIE SHARPE for ORCAS AIRPORT ||| As of late last week I was told the local EAA Chapter is cancelling the Orcas Fly-In due to new COVID cases on the island. I am sure we will still have many campers as usual. Also, as of this morning we
SJC joins regional effort to curb rising infection rates | Masks recommended indoors for all
||| FROM KYRA KINNAMAN for SJC HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES ||| As a part of a regional effort to curb the rising infection rates in Washington, San Juan County Health Officer Dr. Frank James recommends that islanders mask up when entering an indoor public space, including businesses, whether vaccinated or
‘Very saddened’: Toa, the orphaned baby orca that enthralled New Zealand, is buried
Orca cared for by hundreds of volunteers and experts in bitter cold after becoming separated from its pod two weeks ago ||| FROM THE GUARDIAN ||| An orphaned baby orca that captured the hearts of people across New Zealand has been farewelled at a special ceremony and taken away for burial,
Have enough water? San Juan prepares to find out, with USGS study
||| FROM SALISH-CURRENT ||| Over the last 50 years, San Juan County has grown from a year-round population of 3,856 to 18,040 and has attracted a growing number of seasonal visitors and part-time residents. Lopez Island aquifers logged some of the highest recharge rates in the county when water
Effective today, WA law enforcement agencies have new laws charting their responses
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| A package of five new laws in the State of Washington aimed at law enforcement reform and accountability that were signed by Gov. Jay Inslee in May are now set to go into effect today, Sunday, July 25. The reforms follow the national
A long-time island couple ties the matrimonial knot
||| FROM KRIS KREGER ||| Grace Grantham and Jim Glozier were happily married August 24th at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Eastsound, Washington. Grace and Jim have been best friends for 25 years, many of those years as a couple. A reception and celebration followed with dinner and dancing.
Island Hospital will host car seat clinic in their parking lot
||| FROM RACHEL LAMBERT for ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| Safe Kids Northwest is hosting a free car seat clinic on Thursday, August 12 from 3–5 p.m. Learn how to properly install and use your car or booster seat. Located in the 24th Street parking lot of Island Hospital, Anacortes. Due to COVID-19
Christina is putting some mussels into upcoming Library virtual cooking event
Thursday, July 29, 6 - 7:30 p.m. ||| FROM CAROL DAPOGNY for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Join Christina Orchid, long time Orcas resident and world renowned chef, as she prepares mussels three ways in celebration of National Culinary Arts Month. Click image to register. Recipes will be available
What would happen if the moon were twice as close to Earth?
||| FROM SPACE.COM In the 2003 Jim Carrey movie "Bruce Almighty," Carrey's character suddenly acquires God-like powers, and uses those powers to lasso the full moon and pull it closer to Earth to woo his beloved. Later in the movie, background shots show TV news reports about massive, unprecedented flooding around
