Here’s a thought…
“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers.”
THOMAS PYNCHON
New property tax deferral signed into law for businesses with real property
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Rhonda Pederson, San Juan County Treasurer said Gov. Jay Inslee signed a new bill into law on April 16, 2021, ESHB 1332 , which provides a deferral of 2021 property taxes for businesses with real property. Businesses with a documented 25% reduction of its
Inslee statement on Chauvin trial verdict
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee released a statement today regarding the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. "This was more than the death of one person. It
Hot Topic #47 | This is your best chance to get vaccinated; Sign up now
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| More than 2,000 vaccine appointments are now open on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands. Sign up ASAP to ensure you get a spot. Links to register at: www.sanjuanco.com/1737/COVID-Vaccine-Info 18* OR OLDER? NOT VAXED? RIGHT NOW IS YOUR BEST REMAINING
Hurry! Sign up! Vaccine appointments still available
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| For many months, islanders have been awaiting the day that San Juan County is fully vaccinated. We’re getting close, and the best remaining opportunity for anyone over the age of 18 to get their shot is open for registration now.
Agenda posted for second School Board meeting on Thursday
||| 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,. Public health guidelines in response the Covid-19 pandemic will be followed. In-person attendees will be expected to sign in with their names and contact information prior to
School Board schedules annual meeting with Waldron School
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| ANNUAL SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING with WALDRON SCHOOL via ZOOM, Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - 10 a.m. 10:00 AM CALL TO ORDER via ZOOM 1.1 Call to Order 1.2 Approve Agenda 1.3 Student Presentations 1.4 2021-22 Budget Presentation ADJOURN 3. IMPORTANT FUTURE DATES: MAY 13, 2021; MAY
State Health Dept. recap of recent COVID news, updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 361,104 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on April 19. There have been 5,407 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
Letter to Editor | I have questions before I can vote for school levy
||| FROM BEA VON TOBEL ||| In order to help me decide how to vote on the levy, I have the following questions: What does OISD project as the annual funds to be made available through this levy, starting in 2022? Since the printed levy information states that ‘a portion
Local poet shares his spring poetry
Narcissus by Dave Kosiur Slowly it lifts its greenery from the soil And then spring into a bright bloom. Oh, what an appropriate name Spring is for the season! We may have planted the bulb and admire the clean whiteness of the bloom But it just stands there in the
Motorcycle operator from last week’s fatality accident has been identified
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR ||| The operator of a motorcycle involved in a fatality accident on Monday, April 12 has been identified. An Orcas EMS Paramedic was enroute to another call at 2:30 a.m. on Crow Valley Road when he happened across a motorcycle off the roadway that
Rena Priest is named 2021-2023 Washington’s newest Poet Laureate
||| FROM DIANE MARTINDALE for ARTSWA COMMISSION ||| FROM OLYMPIA, WA - In conjunction with National Poetry Month, poet Rena Priest has been appointed Washington State Poet Laureate by Governor Jay Inslee. Rena Priest, an American Book Award-winning poet and member of Lhaq'temish (Lummi) Nation, is the first indigenous
Orcas Montessori about to reap benefit of a new, larger classroom
||| FROM TERESA CHOCANO for ORCAS MONTESSORI SCHOOL ||| Perhaps you are wondering what all the activity has been at the Montessori School on North Beach Road these past several months. We have been building a new larger classroom and modernizing our old space. This new light and airy space
Coming soon: Master Gardeners spring plant sale
||| FROM MO SLOANE for MASTER GARDENERS ||| Healthy veggie starts and locally grown perennial landscaping plants need new homes! Like last year, our sale is online at SpringSale.org. The sale begins Wednesday, May 5 at 9 a.m. and closes May 12 at 5 p.m. Perennials include both natives and
Here’s the agenda for tomorrow’s Fire Commission meeting
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Regular Meeting Agenda San Juan County Fire Protection District #2 Monday – April 19th, 2021 5:30 p.m. Online / by phone via ZOOM: Dial # (253) 215-8782 / Meeting ID: 852 8703 3526/ Passcode: 241988\ Call to Order /
Skagit Valley College accepting Fall Quarter applications for its Applied Bachelor in Applied Management degree
Includes tracks in General Management and Health Care Management ||| FROM ARDEN AINLEY for SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE ||| Skagit Valley College (SVC) is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for Fall enrollment in its Applied Bachelor in Applied Management (BASAM) degree program. The program offers two tracks,
Cheese, crackers, wine, ZOOM: Sr. Center, Doe Bay Wine bringing Taste of Tuscany to you
“the virtual vineyard” by Zoom – Taste of Tuscany by Orcas Senior Center and Doe Bay Wine Company: Sunday, April 25, 5:00pm ||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS ISLAND SENIOR CENTER ||| Join Orcas Senior Center and Doe Bay Wine Company’s Cole Sisson, as we traverse through Tuscany for this
