Here’s a thought…
“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers.”
THOMAS PYNCHON
All counties move into Phase 3 after reopening pause
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Today, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced that all Washington counties have moved into Phase 3 of Governor Jay Inslee’s Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery phased reopening plan. This includes Cowlitz, Ferry, Pierce and Whitman counties which were previously in
San Juan County Land Bank meeting & agenda for May 2021
Monthly meeting on May 21, 8:30 a.m. via Zoom ||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| A Land Bank team tackled Lopez’s Weeks Wetland Preserve for the Great Islands Cleanup and removed over 400 lbs. (!!) of wood debris: plywood, pressure treated lumber and creosote.
Inslee signs police accountability legislative package
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee signed a dozen bills today that will improve accountability for law enforcement in Washington state, and will create the nation’s strongest police accountability system. The governor, joined by community members and families of those impacted, signed the bills
Letter to Editor | Urge county to create a “Truth in Planning” document and public buildout analysis
||| FROM NATALIE MENACHO ||| Hey Islander! I hope this little San Juan County love note finds you reveling in the verdant opulence of springtime. We all moved here for the love of our islands. Gorgeous nature. Tight-knit community. Sweet rural vibes. With gratitude, I think most of us
New book from John Geyman M.D.: America’s Mighty Medical-Industrial Complex
||| FROM EMILY GEYMAN ||| The rise of an enormous medical-industrial complex over the last 60 years in the United States has brought wealth to ever-larger corporations, their shareholders, and CEOs at the expense of most Americans who struggle gaining access to affordable health care. Dr. Geyman describes the failures
Planning Commission to decide if county should create “Truth in Planning” component to Comp Plan
Letters needed now! Planning Commission meets Friday May 21 ||| FROM ISLAND STEWARDS ||| The San Juan County Planning Commission is set to decide if the county should create a "Truth in Planning" component to the Comp Plan in an upcoming public hearing at 9 a.m., Friday, May 21, 2021.
Bipartisan, bicameral legislation introduced in Congress to protect Washington orca and other marine mammals
||| FROM THE SUBURBAN TIMES ||| Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) introduced bipartisan legislation along with Representatives Stephanie Murphy, (FL-7), and Brian Mast (FL-18) to protect marine mammals like orca, dolphins, seals, and whales. H.R.2848, the Marine Mammal Research and Response Act increases funding for two initiatives—the Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue
Larsen announces more than $80 Million for NW Washington students, colleges, universities
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced more than $80 million in emergency funding for students, colleges and universities in Washington’s Second Congressional District under the American Rescue Plan. The funding will help local institutions weather the severe financial fallout
Alchemy Art Center prepares for 2021 Artists in Residence, workshops, community programming
||| FROM GLENN HENDRICK for ALCHEMY ART CENTER ||| After suspending much of their programming for more than a year, Alchemy Art Center is thrilled to announce the return of their summer Artist in Residence and Internship Programs and workshops, a new artist talk series, and even more community outreach
Superintendent confirms three positive COVID-19 cases in school district
If you are not contacted by the county in the next day or two, you are not considered a close contact. ||| FROM ERIC WEBB, ORCAS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ||| I want to take a moment to update you on the current COVID-19 situation that I first wrote you about this
Join this livestream evening of conversation (and music) with internationally known composer
||| FROM LINDA SLONE for ORCAS CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| On Thursday, May 27, at 5 p.m. Pacific Time, composer Jake Heggie joins Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival Founder and Artistic Director Aloysia Friedmann for an informative and entertaining livestream discussion about his career. A Guggenheim Fellow, Heggie is internationally
It’s official: Face masks still required inside local San Juan County businesses
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Regarding the continuation of the San Juan County Health Officer Order requiring that face coverings still be worn inside businesses: There are updated posters for businesses available, in both 11 x 17 and 8.5 x 11 versions. As a reminder, this policy will be
Spring GiveOrcas grant campaign fully funded a full week before deadline
||| FROM MEGAN NEAL for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| The Orcas Island Community Foundation’s 2021 Spring GiveOrcas grant campaign was fully funded last week with a week to spare! 255 donors contributed to the 24 proposals, funding a total of $231,031. Because of the generosity of those donors, local
Schedule your preventive health screening coming up at Senior Center
Life Line Screening at Orcas Senior Center: Thursday, June 10, 2021 ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| There is a simple, convenient way for you to get preventive health screenings and learn your risk for stroke, heart disease and other chronic conditions. These painless screenings go beyond
Commerce awards $234 million in fourth round of Working Washington small business relief and recovery grants
Over 20% of the 11,697 grantees say they will use funds to reopen ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ||| OLYMPIA, WA --- The Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded an additional $234 million in Working Washington relief and recovery grants to 11,697 small businesses impacted by the pandemic.
WWU team launches innovative approach to help curb climate change
||| FROM SALISH CURRENT ||| We hear a lot about the evils of carbon. However, carbon got its evil reputation because of what humans do with it. We dig it, pump it, burn it and toss it into our atmosphere. Our oceans, trees and soils are doing their best to
