Here’s a thought…
“There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe everything or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking.”
ALFRED KORZYBSKI
Chelan replaces Suquamish, so capacity reduced by 20 vehicles for next week
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| The 124-vehicle Chelan has temporarily replaced the 144-vehicle Suquamish on the Anacortes/San Juan Island route starting on June 3, due to unplanned maintenance. This will be a reduction in capacity of 20 vehicles. Customers are encouraged to arrive early at the terminal during this
Master Gardeners available for gardening, pest* questions at Driftwood Nursery
||| FROM DIANNE MACONDRAY for SAN JUAN MASTER GARDENERS ||| The Master Gardeners of San Juan County will be available to answer your gardening and pest questions at Driftwood Nursery on Wednesday June 9 from 11 - 1. Please accompany your plant samples or bug specimens with the appropriate form
Inslee announces update to business and employee guidance documents
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today issued updates for most business and employee guidance documents to incorporate the new facial covering guidance from the CDC and Washington Department of Health. Additionally, the governor announced that some industries with minimal customer or general public interaction will no longer need
Washington State Transportation Commission still seeking your feedback on ferry fares
||| FROM REEMA GRIFFITH for STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ||| The Transportation Commission will need to increase fares on all routes to meet current state revenue requirements set forth in the 2021/23 Transportation Budget that was passed by the Legislature this spring. In an effort to gather public comment on the
Hot Topic #47 | As we move into a new COVID phase, we look to our way forward
COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders ||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| As we move into a new (and far better!) phase of the pandemic, now is a good time to look at the current COVID situation, and where
Mark your calendars for these upcoming summer concerts on The Village Green
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER || Orcas Center and Doe Bay are collaborating to bring great performers to the Village Green this Summer. That's right: LIVE and IN-PERSON outdoor concerts! Naturally, COVID-friendly precautions will be taken to limit the number of guests in the immediate stage area. See
When will Orcas Senior Center re-open?
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| It has been a little over a year since the Orcas Senior Center closed its doors due to COVID-19 safety concerns. Since then, we have successfully introduced new services like Buddy Check-In, now a mainstay of the center. We moved many
This is President Biden’s oft-quoted poem, wherein hope & history rhyme
CURE OF TROY by Seamus Heaney Human beings suffer, They torture one another, They get hurt and get hard. No poem or play or song Can fully right a wrong Inflicted and endured. The innocent in gaols Beat on their bars together. A hunger-striker's father Stands in the graveyard dumb.
HEY! Walk-in vaccine clinic Wednesday, 3 – 6:30 p.m., Orcas Center for age 18+
YO ORCAS! Please help spread the word ||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Walk in vaccine clinic today, Wednesday, June 2, from 3 - 6:30 p.m. at Orcas Center. Walk up welcome, or to speed things up for you and us, register in advance here: prepmod.doh.wa.gov/appointment/en/reg/5613629076
Updates on PPP, EIDL and resource for RRF from EDC
||| FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| Email address for support: leighj@seattlechamber.com Source: Washington Economic Development Association PEO Education Loans Available! Thanks to Mary-Brooke Barger from Mirabella Skincare for passing on this loan information available locally from our Island PEO Chapter IU IU Foundation Fund: Woman/family needs to be a resident of
SJC Council June 8 public hearing has been cancelled
||| FROM INGRID GABRIEL for SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCIL ||| Please take notice that the June 8 SJC County Council scheduled public hearing below has been canceled. PUBLIC HEARING(S): Public Testimony Accepted To Consider a Resolution Regarding the Lopez Community Center Association Property Authorizing a Boundary Line Modification, Approving a Property Maintenance
IslandRides adds a fully-electric vehicle to fleet, seeks volunteer drivers
||| FROM CURT VANHYNING for ISLANDRIDES ||| A grant from Orcas Island Community Foundation has funded the purchase of a lightly used, fully-electric blue Nissan Leaf from “Island e cars” and generously offered to pay for a locally based Project Coordinator. Volunteer drivers for each day of the week are
State Parks launches new campaign to sell gift cards
Reserve camping, purchase Parks merchandise and more ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE PARKS ||| OLYMPIA – June 2, 2021 – Washington State Parks announces it is now selling gift cards that can be used to reserve campsites, cabins and vacation homes and purchase Parks merchandise, and more. Gift cards will be available in
Statewide COVID response updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 402,536 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on May 31. There have been 5,789 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
Montessori is busting some myths, misconceptions of pedagogy to highlight what they do
||| FROM TERESA CHOCANO for ORCAS MONTESSORI SCHOOL ||| Did you know that the Orcas Montessori School has been on Orcas for the past 33 years? The school was opened in a basement of a home in West Sound, moved to a double wide trailer across from the public school,
DOH launches mobile vaccination service to support community organizations and increase vaccine access
OLYMPIA – On June 1st, the Washington State Department of Health launched a new mobile vaccine service called “Care-A-Van” that will deliver vaccines to communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. DOH is working closely to support community partners and local health jurisdictions to increase vaccine access for priority communities, which include: Counties
