Here’s a thought…
“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers.”
THOMAS PYNCHON
Rep. Lekanoff’s legislative wrap-up spotlights a busy week
My bill honoring Billy Frank Jr. was signed by Governor Inslee! On Wednesday, Governor Inslee signed into law my bill to honor Billy Frank Jr. by placing a statue of him in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C., House Bill 1372. The bill signing ceremony was held at the
Time to apply for a Lions Club scholarship if you are a local high school senior
||| FROM STEVE SCHAEFER for ORCAS ISLAND LIONS CLUB ||| Each year, thanks to fundraising and generous donations from the local community, the Orcas Island Lion Club awards scholarships to graduates of Orcas Island High Schools. Some of these are designated as "academic" and others are "vocational". This year we
Bring your old prescription drugs to this forthcoming Coalition for Orcas Youth disposal Take-Back Event
Saturday, April 24 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Key Bank Drive-up ||| FROM ALISON SANDERS for COALITION FOR ORCAS YOUTH ||| The Coalition for Orcas Youth hosts event to help prevent opioid misuse in community Eastsound, WA: The Coalition for Orcas Youth will be hosting a prescription drug take-back event
Governor’s report looks at this week’s legislative accomplishments as end of session approaches
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Inslee signs legislation to add Billy Frank Jr. statue to U.S. Capitol Gov. Jay Inslee signed HB 1372 on Wednesday, which will place a statue of tribal leader Billy Frank Jr. in the National Statuary Hall. Inslee was joined by members of Frank’s
Next Meeting of the Minds | Rediscovered fruit: Conserving the islands’ ancient food forests
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS ISLAND SENIOR CENTER ||| While the booming fruit export industry in the San Juan Islands of a century ago has waned, evidence of it continues to live among us in the unique seedling offspring of those early trees. Please join Meeting of the Minds
Letter to Editor | Now is the time for School District to think in imaginative, experimental way
||| FROM ANDREA HENDRICK ||| The difficulties maintaining school, in person and virtually, has been a challenge world-wide during this pandemic. The coming months can be a perfect time for the Orcas Island School District to think in an imaginative, positive, experimental and exciting way. A new Bill in the
Midnight Mutterings | Crows ll (no cats this time)
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS BY JACKIE BATES ||| I had planned to return to voter suppression tonight, and mutter about the efforts of the Georgia state legislature to pass new legislation that makes people of color have a more difficult time voting. More difficult even than in the recent rerun, when
Sheriff’s Report | April 7 – 13, 2021
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7 21-002841 Welfare Check 17:59:47 04/07/21 An Orcas Island Deputy was dispatched to a welfare check. An informational report was taken. THURSDAY, APRIL 8 21-002865 Domestic Dispute or Assault 19:52:26 04/08/21 A Deputy on Orcas Island responded to a domestic
Ray’s Pharmacy now taking appointments for COVID-19 Moderna vaccines
||| FROM RICK HUGHES for RAY'S PHARMACY AND GENERAL STORE ||| Ray’s Pharmacy is has expanded our vaccination services to now include COVID-19 vaccinations. Flu and shingles vaccinations can be scheduled by calling the pharmacy to schedule your appointment. All community members who currently qualify on April 15 for COVID-19
State program created to support quarantine and isolation needs is saving lives
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – A program created by the state Department of Health (DOH) and partners to support people who have been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19 has reached almost 13,500 people and played a role in saving lives. Working with local health jurisdictions
Recent COVID-19 news, updates from State Health Dept.
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 355,387 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on April 14. There have been 5,362 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
Weekly case update report for our local island populations
||| 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
Get registered | National Guard is returning to county to administer additional inoculations
Vaccine Registration Opens TUESDAY APRIL 20 at 9 a.m. ||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| In a piece of very welcome news, the same WA National Guard team that vaccinated 2,000 islanders in February and March will be returning to the islands at the end of
WSF staffing challenges cause change to upcoming service plans
They also want you to know they are taking applications ||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Change to upcoming service plans Because of crewing challenges, we made the difficult decision to delay the addition of a second boat on our Port Townsend/Coupeville route until no sooner than Sunday, June
‘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.
Today’s the day | Vaccine eligibility expands to everyone 16 and older in Washington state
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Starting today everyone 16 and older who wants a COVID-19 vaccine can receive one in Washington. The eligibility expansion marks the four-month anniversary of vaccine rollout in our state. Since mid-December, nearly 4.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across
