Here’s a thought…
“Peace is not something we ask for — it’s something we practice, together.”
WALK FOR PEACE
State recap of recent COVID-19 news, updates
Statewide Response Updates ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 248,580 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on January 4. There have been 3,541 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department
NAS Whidbey conducts first MEDEVAC of year from Orcas Island
||| FROM WHIDBEY ISLAND NAVAL AIR STATION ||| NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. – A Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island conducted a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) from Orcas Island in the afternoon of Tuesday, January 5, 2021. The SAR team was called at
State agencies adopt rules to implement Washington’s 100% clean electricity law
New rules put state on path to greenhouse gas emission-free electricity by 2045 ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE & UTILITIES & TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ||| OLYMPIA, WA --- Washington state has passed another milestone on the path to 100% clean electricity. The Washington State Department of Commerce and Washington Utilities
Inslee announces “Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery”
The state will shift to a two-phase system in accordance with regional case counts ||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today announced “Healthy Washington — Roadmap to Recovery,” a COVID-19 phased recovery plan. Beginning on January 11, the state will follow a regional recovery approach with
Madrona Club ‘Robin DiGeorgio’ grant goes to OIEF/AOK
||| FROM JANET BROWNELL for ORCAS EDUCATION FOUNDATION ||| It is with great pleasure that the Orcas Island Education Foundation announces that it has been awarded a $3000 grant from the Madrona Club’s Robin DiGeorgio Endowment to support AOK (Art for Orcas Kids). The mission of the Robin DiGeorgio Endowment is
Reminder: Parent orientation night coming up tomorrow
||| FROM LORENA STANKEVICH for ORCAS SCHOOL DISTRICT ||| Orcas Island School District has put together a parent orientation night to showcase the three public school options for the Orcas Island School District, especially for those students entering 1st grade. The Zoom event will last about an hour, with short
Navy remains committed to environmental stewardship, conducts critical training in PNW
||| FROM CAPT. MATT ARNY, COMMANDING OFFICER, NAS WHIDBEY ||| Numerous area media outlets, including The Seattle Times, published stories, which cited studies that have raised questions about whether Navy jet noise affects Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) and the soundscape of the Olympic Peninsula. We disagree with some scientific
County Boards need your participation, input
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY NEWS ||| The County Council is searching for San Juan County citizens to fill current and upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions. Additional information about each committee is available on the County's website at: http://sanjuanco.com/641/Board-Committee-Vacancies. Persons interested in serving on a board or advisory
Wind gusts up to 55-60 mph anticipated for our Tuesday
||| FROM U.S. WEATHER SERVICE ||| * WHAT...Southeast winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 55 to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...San Juan County, Western Whatcom County and Western Skagit County. * WHEN...From Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines.
Guest Opinion | Rebuilding the guard rails of our Republic
||| FROM HEDRICK SMITH, RECLAIM THE AMERICAN DREAM ||| Hedirck Smith, NY Times reporter, Frontline producer and founder of Reclaim the American Dream (reclaimtheamericandream.org) Washington – Just when you think we are out of the woods and that, for all his histrionics, Donald Trump will surrender the White
ArtsWA, Department of Commerce announce investment of $3.405 Million in relief funds
||| FROM DIANE MARTINDALE for ArtsWA ||| The CARES Act funding brings much needed assistance to the state’s cultural sector and San Juan County organizations. Nearly 390 nonprofit arts and culture organizations serving 32 Washington counties received funding in recent rounds of CARES Act funding in Washington State. The state’s
PBS to feature Orcas Island’s “Bison antiquus” in upcoming episode
Airs Thursday, January 7, 2021 ||| FROM CAROL KULMINSKI for ORCAS HISTORICAL MUSEUMS ||| The story may be familiar to some residents who remember the remarkable find of the Bison antiquus, the extinct giant bison, at a swamp and peat bog adjoining Obstruction State Park. In 2003, some workmen were digging a trench with a
Senior Center service numbers since March 2020
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| The following are Orcas Senior Center service numbers since March, the beginning of the pandemic: Total # of Buddy Check-In volunteer hours = 730 Total # of Buddy Check-In phone calls = 3,929 Total # of home delivered meals = 8,235
Report on COVID emergency rental and mortgage assistance through Dec. 31
||| FROM LISA BYERS for OPAL ||| I am writing to provide you with an update on the use of OICF grant funds for Covid related rental and mortgage assistance through December 30, 2020. To date, OICF has granted $280,000, and Federal and County funds have provided an additional $95,654.
Food Bank service numbers for 2020
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| The Orcas Island Food Bank had an increase of 2,201 recorded visits in 2020 than in 2019. Our annual percentage growth rate for new customer was 48% and bags of food distributed increased by 174%. Based on the 4 lb average
Guest Opinion | The more things change, the more they stay the same
||| FROM MICHAEL "MJ" JOHNSON ||| On a macro level the beginning of 2021 gives good reason for optimism with the hope that the vaccines coming out now will prove to be a cure-all for the COVID-19 virus. Whether it does or not we can be assured that the criteria
