Here’s a thought…
“Peace is not something we ask for — it’s something we practice, together.”
WALK FOR PEACE
SVC spring quarter registration for new students is now open
||| FROM ARDEN AINLEY for SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE ||| Yes! Skagit Valley College will be open for Spring Quarter! While classes will be offered mostly online, we will offer in-person opportunities in select courses and Workforce programs. Our Basic Education for Adults program will also include limited in-person classes. Classes
COVID-19 vaccine distribution update from the 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 Feb. 15, more than 1,201,120 doses of vaccine have been given across the state, which is nearly 83% of the 1,453,425 doses that
Salmonberry students held Walk for Water fundraiser
||| FROM LAURA BLACK for SALMONBERRY SCHOOL ||| On February 8, Salmonberry’s Cedars class of 6-9 year-olds spent their school day participating in a Walk for Water fundraiser in which they raised over $4,000 through pledges by walking 1/2 mile laps, all in the name of raising funds to supply
Local vaccine shipments still delayed due to winter weather across country
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Due to east coast weather delaying vaccine shipments, San Juan Island vaccine clinics on Thursday 2/18 and Friday 2/19 are postponed. These are in addition to the postponed Orcas Island clinic from Wednesday 2/17. Those who have registered for these
Canada makes border exemption for Point Roberts residents
||| FROM GOV. JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that Canada will not require COVID-19 testing for Point Roberts residents who travel through Canada for essential services. Land access to Point Roberts, located south of Vancouver, B.C., on the Tsawwassen Peninsula, is only possible via a 25-mile
Salish Sea declared a Hope Spot in celebration of new marine animal hospital
||| FROM SEALIFE RESPONSE, REHABILITATION, AND RESEARCH (SR3) ||| SEATTLE – February 17 – The Salish Sea has been declared a Hope Spot by international nonprofit Mission Blue in recognition of SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research (SR³) and their partners’ conservation goals to protect the local marine biodiversity. SR³ is kicking off their
Severe weather continues to impact SJC vaccine supply chain
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Severe winter weather across the United States has disrupted the overnight delivery of vaccine and vaccine supplies from manufacturers to local health districts across the United States, including San Juan County. The recent snow in WA is not the culprit
There’s a new baby in L-pod
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| The Center for Whale Research (CWR) is thrilled to confirm that a new calf, L125, has been born into the Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) community. Following word that J, K, and L pod were in Haro Strait, CWR dispatched two boats with
Health Commissioners hear more about transition plans to Island Hospital clinic
||| BY SUSAN MCBAIN, theORCASONIAN REPORTER ||| The commissioners of the Orcas Island Health Care District heard a lot of details at the Feb. 16 meeting about Island Hospital’s (IH’s) plans for opening a new practice on Orcas in April. But for the community, perhaps the most interesting information was
Helpers on Orcas join forces to assist us in signing up for COVID-19 vaccine
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Do you know a community member who needs extra assistance with signing up for the COVID-19 vaccine? If so, help is available through a collaboration between San Juan County Health and Community Services, the Orcas Senior Center, and the Orcas Community
DOH expands school testing initiative to encourage more in-person learning
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) in partnership with the Washington Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction (OSPI) and Health Commons is expanding its COVID-19 testing service for schools and adding voluntary testing options to its toolkit for school districts.
Recap of recent COVID-19 news, updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 312,828 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 15. There have been 4,709 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of Health's
Larsen, Veasey introduce bill to fight discriminatory voter ID laws
||| FROM REP. RICK LARSEN'S OFFICE ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Marc Veasey (TX-33) introduced legislation to protect citizens who face disenfranchisement because of restrictive voter identification laws. The America Votes Act establishes new federal protections for voters arriving at polls to affirm their identity by submitting a sworn,
Here’s a good reason to become a Garden Club member
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Each month the Orcas Island Garden Club emails an informative eclectic Newsletter to its members. We’re sharing the gardening goodness with the community, along with some recipes, a webinar, poetry, and a variety of stories about local individuals and a long-time business. Click
How some frustrated COVID-19 vaccine hunters are trying to fix a broken system
||| FROM SEATTLE TIMES ||| That pretty much said it all, the other day, when a 90-year-old remarked in a Seattle Times story that the easy part of navigating our COVID-19 vaccine system was when she had to walk 6 miles through the snow to get the shot. George Hu is only 52,
CRITICAL UPDATE: Severe weather impacts SJC vaccine supply chain. No clinic tomorrow.
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| CRITICAL UPDATE Severe Weather Impacts San Juan County Vaccine Supply Chain Impacted Vaccine Clinics: Wednesday 2/17 – ORCAS (Orcas Center): POSTPONED Thursday 2/18 – SAN JUAN (Fairgrounds): POTENTIALLY POSTPONED Friday 2/19 – SAN JUAN (Fairgrounds): POTENTIALLY POSTPONED If you are
