Here’s a thought…
“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”
READER BOARD
Latest county COVID update shows us remaining steady, with no new cases
||| 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
Inslee statement on Biden signing the American Rescue Plan Act
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee released a statement today after President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act. “The passage of the American Rescue Plan Act is welcome news for millions of Americans. I applaud President Biden and congressional leaders for acting
Most recent recap of state COVID-19 news, updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 327,672 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on March 10. There have been 5,107 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more,
Guest Opinion | Amend the Charter with a “Universal” bill of rights that includes the rights of nature
||| FROM JULIENNE BATTALIA FOR COMMUNITY RIGHTS SAN JUAN ISLANDS ||| Is there potential for expanding San Juan County’s Home Rule Charter to include a Bill of Rights recognizing the Rights of Nature within the Salish Sea ecosystem? The Salish Sea is a transboundary body of water that goes from
COVID-19 vaccine distribution update from Washington State Department of Health
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues to make progress with our COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration efforts. As of March 8, more than 2,140,418 doses of vaccine have been given across the state, which is nearly 78% of the 2,746,870 doses that
On the path to normality, Library is expanding its hours! Repeat: Library is expanding its hours!
||| FROM PHIL HEIKKINEN for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The Orcas Island Library is pleased to offer the following expanded hours and services, effective March 15, 2021: Open hours from 12 to 5 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Access within the building for up to 30 people concurrently,
‘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.
In 11 days, Governor says the entire state of Washington will all move to Phase 3
Take me out to the ballgame! ||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today announced that Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery will be transitioning from a regional approach to a county-by-county evaluation process. The governor also announced a new third phase of the Roadmap, a
Peace Island Medical Center names Chief Administrative Officer
||| FROM DEANNA ELLEFSON for PEACEHEALTH PEACE ISLAND ||| FRIDAY HARBOR, Washington, March 10, 2021 — Charles Prosper, chief executive for PeaceHealth in the Northwest, announced the appointment of Jack Estrada as the chief administrative officer (CAO) for PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center. Estrada had been acting as interim CAO since Mary
Orcas Garden Club preparing for upcoming 2021 Safe Garden Tour
||| FROM ORCAS GARDEN CLUB ||| Each year, as spring brings sunshine and warmer temperatures, gardeners begin their search for new plants. We gardeners are varied in our planning. Some design an artistic palette of flowers, some raise an abundance of healthy food, and others create a refuge for birds,
State Parks’ annual ‘Spring Aboard’ campaign launches this month
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE PARKS ||| OLYMPIA – March 10, 2021 – The Washington State Parks Boating Program encourages boaters and paddlers to prepare for the upcoming season by taking a safety education course. Developed by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), and produced under a grant administered by the
Land Bank requests seasonal sheep grazing lease proposals for 2021-2022
FOWLER’S POND PRESERVE, ORCAS ISLAND 12 acre Seasonal Sheep Grazing Short-term Lease Arrendamiento de Agrícola para Ovejas Que Pastan 12 acres ||| FROM TANYA WILLIAMSON for SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| The San Juan County Land Bank is requesting proposals from anyone interested in a short-term seasonal sheep grazing
Letter to Editor | The pure joy, gratitude of having received my vaccine
||| FROM SUSAN BAUER ||| My husband and I were almost too excited to concentrate on much else in advance of our first Covid vaccine date last week. Like everyone, we are yearning to see and hug loved ones -- both family and friends. The morning of we made pathetic
Poetry from Jens Kruse | Quandary
QUANDARY By Jens Kruse With apologies to Kafka’s ‘’The Cares of a Family Man’’ A box showed up on our porch. We took it in, opened it, and found a strange creature. Round, black, maybe 12 inches across, with short protrusions like mandibles sticking out one side. Occasionally it’ll tweet
Unvaccinated? Over 65? County wants to hear from you in this survey
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| To better understand the current need for vaccinations from the San Juan County 65+ community, San Juan County Health and Community Services asks that those who meet ALL of the four measures below fill out a simple form. PLEASE BE:
Council approves VR moratorium but limits length/scope
||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER ||| A February 23 public hearing on an emergency moratorium on new vacation rental permits was extended to the County Council’s regular March 9, and although the comment period was officially closed, three hours of open access time showed the public still had
