Here’s a thought…
“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”
READER BOARD
San Juan County seeks arguments against upcoming ballot measures
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County is seeking volunteers to write opposing arguments for measures on the ballot in the April 2021 Special Election. Four measures will be on the ballot. All measures have “pro” committees, and all are in need of “con” committees. The Town
Letter to Editor | Urge to uphold vacation rental moratorium
||| FROM NATALIE MENACHO ||| Dear County Council and San Juan County Community, The future of our county is at stake. I urge you to uphold the vacation rental moratorium. The moratorium is not taking away vacation rental permits from the folks that already have them. More time is needed
Artsmith and Darvill’s Salon Series Reading coming up this Thursday
||| FROM JILL MCCABE JOHNSON for ARTSMITH ||| Ian Boyden, Margot Kahn, and Jessica Gigot are the featured readers this Thursday in the Artsmith and Darvill's Salon Series. The reading takes place via Zoom, 5:00-6:30 pm PST. Ian Boyden, an artist and resident of San Juan Island, is the author
Letter to Editor | In support of moratorium on vacation rental permits
||| FROM NIK SCHULZ ||| Dear County Council and San Juan County Community, I’m writing in support of the Vacation Rental Permit moratorium. I see harm by unfettered vacation rental permit issuance in these ways: When a two-bedroom house can be rented for $2,000/month to long-term tenants or $4,500 to
Salish Sea Science Symposium: Implications of noise from navy aircraft for the Salish Sea and Olympic Region
||| FROM CHRISTINA KOONS for SJC MARINE RESOURCES COMMITTEE ||| The San Juan County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) and the Salish Sea Institute at Western Washington University invite you to learn about navy jet noise and impacts to humans and wildlife in the region at this upcoming Salish Sea Science
State Health Department receives planning grant to institute 988 suicide phone line
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has received the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 988 State Planning Grant through Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline). The Lifeline provides free and confidential support 24 hours a
Senior Center celebrates 49 years of Meals on Wheels’ connection to community
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| The Meals on Wheels program, first signed into law in March 1972 by President Richard Nixon, has for nearly 50 years delivered more than just nutritious meals, it also provides a vital lifeline and connection to the community. By now you
Upcoming State Park free day coincides with agency’s 108th birthday
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE PARKS ||| OLYMPIA – Washington State Parks invites visitors to help celebrate the agency’s 108th birthday on Friday, March 19, by enjoying a state park for free that day. March 19 is the third of 12 State Parks free days in 2021, when visitors are not required
Hot Topic #44 | The Johnson & Johnson vaccine
COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders ||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| As most are aware, the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine is now the third vaccine approved for use in the United States. While it is unclear when
Charter Review Commission has scheduled two upcoming town hall meetings
It happens once in a decade ||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ||| The San Juan County Charter Review Commission (CRC) will be conducting two Town Hall meetings, on March 12 (5:30 - 7:30 PM) and March 13 (2:00 - 4:00 PM). Come learn about the work of the Commission and 'have your
Moving into Phase 1B-2: Critical workers, pregnant people eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in late March
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Governor Jay Inslee have set a date for advancing to the next phases of vaccine eligibility, making the life-saving shot available to more people in the coming weeks. Changes to who is eligible are projected
Dr. Fleming is latest doc to not pursue a contract with Island Primary Care-Orcas
||| FROM CAMILLE FLEMING, MD, MBA ||| After much consideration, I have decided not to pursue employment at the Island Hospital Orcas Clinic [Island Primary Care-Orcas] at this time. It has been a great honor to serve you under OMC/IH and UW Medicine. I have high hopes that the new
Inslee makes educators COVID vaccine eligible after White House directive
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Following a White House directive to state providers to make all preK-12 educators, school staff and childcare providers, eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday announced their immediate eligibility. Inslee issued a statement that read, in part: “Like President Biden,
Washington hits goal of administering 45,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine per day
||| FOM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is thrilled to share the state has reached its goal of vaccinating 45,000 people per day. As of March 3, an average of 45,221 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given and reported each day over
Deer Harbor Plan Review Committee recruiting new members at upcoming meeting
||| FROM BARRY MADAN for DEER HARBOR PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE ||| Public Meeting Agenda for March 10, 2021 4:00-5:30 p.m. Deer Harbor Plan Review Committee Monthly Meeting (DHPRC) VIA Zoom Meeting ID 87963051969 Password 236211 Chair: Barry Madan Call to Order: Establish a quorum: Chair: Recognize public attendees. Members of
COVID-19 vaccine registration assistance is available
||| FROM ANNE PRESSON for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| Do you know a community member who needs extra assistance with signing up for the COVID-19 vaccine? If so, help is available through a collaboration between San Juan County Health and Community Services, the Orcas Senior Center, and the
