Here’s a thought…
“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”
READER BOARD
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
Inslee updates proclamation on consumer debt garnishments
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today updated a proclamation related to consumer debt garnishments. Proclamation 20-49, et seq., which generally prohibits garnishment for consumer debt in certain circumstances, is updated by replacing the specific reference to "federal stimulus payments" with "federal payments of any kind issued
Reminder: Island Hospital, Island Primary Care community briefing is tonight
Orcas Island Community Briefing Thursday, March 18 from 5 – 6 p.m. ||| FROM ANNE PRESSON for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| Please join leaders from Island Hospital and the Island Primary Care – Orcas Clinic as they share the latest on how the transition is going, what to
Hot Topic #46 | Phases & tiers: Increased vaccine eligibility and reopening
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Info below will attempt to provide some context around two recent State level decisions that may impact islanders. The first one we’ll address is the new eligibility rules for vaccine distribution. After that, we’ll look at the pending move to
Last Sunday in March, join your friends in this virtual vineyard with hard cider
“the virtual vineyard” by Zoom – Hard Cider by Orcas Senior Center and Doe Bay Wine Company: Sunday, March 28, 5 p.m. ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Join Orcas Senior Center and Doe Bay Wine Company’s Cole Sisson to taste Cuvée Annie, a local hard cider
Port Commissioners’ regular meeting is now scheduled
||| FROM JEANNIE SHARP for PORT OF ORCAS ||| REGULAR MEETING AGENDA MARCH 22, 2021 5 p.m. Meeting Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89869389691?pwd=OFQ2aHYwOEZoM2twZ29JZ2NmaFlGdz09 Meeting ID: 898 6938 9691 Passcode: 778670 One tap mobile +12532158782,,89869389691#,,,,*778670# US (Tacoma) CALL TO ORDER – 5:00 P.M. AGENDA AMENDMENTS PUBLIC ACCESS Executive Session- Continued-To evaluate the qualifications of
COVID Phase 1b-2 expansion: Individuals with disabilities that put them at high risk become eligible for vaccines
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA -- As the state advances to the next tier of vaccine eligibility, the Washington State Department of Health wants to emphasize that the expansion will include some people with disabilities. People with disabilities continue to experience access barriers to the COVID-19 vaccine and certain
