Here’s a thought…
“Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.”
HEATHER FRENCH HENRY
When will Orcas Senior Center re-open?
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| It has been a little over a year since the Orcas Senior Center closed its doors due to COVID-19 safety concerns. Since then, we have successfully introduced new services like Buddy Check-In, now a mainstay of the center. We moved many
This is President Biden’s oft-quoted poem, wherein hope & history rhyme
CURE OF TROY by Seamus Heaney Human beings suffer, They torture one another, They get hurt and get hard. No poem or play or song Can fully right a wrong Inflicted and endured. The innocent in gaols Beat on their bars together. A hunger-striker's father Stands in the graveyard dumb.
HEY! Walk-in vaccine clinic Wednesday, 3 – 6:30 p.m., Orcas Center for age 18+
YO ORCAS! Please help spread the word ||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Walk in vaccine clinic today, Wednesday, June 2, from 3 - 6:30 p.m. at Orcas Center. Walk up welcome, or to speed things up for you and us, register in advance here: prepmod.doh.wa.gov/appointment/en/reg/5613629076
Updates on PPP, EIDL and resource for RRF from EDC
||| FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| Email address for support: leighj@seattlechamber.com Source: Washington Economic Development Association PEO Education Loans Available! Thanks to Mary-Brooke Barger from Mirabella Skincare for passing on this loan information available locally from our Island PEO Chapter IU IU Foundation Fund: Woman/family needs to be a resident of
SJC Council June 8 public hearing has been cancelled
||| FROM INGRID GABRIEL for SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCIL ||| Please take notice that the June 8 SJC County Council scheduled public hearing below has been canceled. PUBLIC HEARING(S): Public Testimony Accepted To Consider a Resolution Regarding the Lopez Community Center Association Property Authorizing a Boundary Line Modification, Approving a Property Maintenance
IslandRides adds a fully-electric vehicle to fleet, seeks volunteer drivers
||| FROM CURT VANHYNING for ISLANDRIDES ||| A grant from Orcas Island Community Foundation has funded the purchase of a lightly used, fully-electric blue Nissan Leaf from “Island e cars” and generously offered to pay for a locally based Project Coordinator. Volunteer drivers for each day of the week are
State Parks launches new campaign to sell gift cards
Reserve camping, purchase Parks merchandise and more ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE PARKS ||| OLYMPIA – June 2, 2021 – Washington State Parks announces it is now selling gift cards that can be used to reserve campsites, cabins and vacation homes and purchase Parks merchandise, and more. Gift cards will be available in
Statewide COVID response updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 402,536 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on May 31. There have been 5,789 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit
Montessori is busting some myths, misconceptions of pedagogy to highlight what they do
||| FROM TERESA CHOCANO for ORCAS MONTESSORI SCHOOL ||| Did you know that the Orcas Montessori School has been on Orcas for the past 33 years? The school was opened in a basement of a home in West Sound, moved to a double wide trailer across from the public school,
DOH launches mobile vaccination service to support community organizations and increase vaccine access
OLYMPIA – On June 1st, the Washington State Department of Health launched a new mobile vaccine service called “Care-A-Van” that will deliver vaccines to communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. DOH is working closely to support community partners and local health jurisdictions to increase vaccine access for priority communities, which include: Counties
Orcas Center included in Capital Grants for the arts from the State
||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER ||| ArtsFund announced that with the passage of the 2021-2023 biennium state capital budget, the Building for the Arts program was awarded $16 million, a receipt of the full funding requested for 21 capital projects across the state - including our own Orcas Center. ArtsFund
Notice of Planning Commission hearing on 2021 Annual Docket
||| FROM LYNDA GUERNSEY for DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ||| NOTICE OF A SAN JUAN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE TESTIMONY ON THE 2021 ANNUAL DOCKET OF PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE SAN JUAN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE The San Juan County Planning Commission will
Inslee announces update to agriculture requirements
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee issued updates to the agriculture workplace requirements to coincide with changes to the emergency rules for temporary worker housing released by the departments of Health and Labor & Industries. The emergency rules are linked here. The new governor-issued requirements formalize CDC
Auditor seeks arguments against ballot measures
||| FROM MILENE HENLEY, SAN JUAN COUNTY AUDITOR ||| The San Juan County Auditor is seeking volunteers to write opposing arguments for measures on the ballot in the 2021 Primary Election. Two measures will be on the ballot. Both measures have “pro” committees, and both need “con” committees. Lopez Island
San Juan Co. Sheriff’s Office investigating fatality accident on San Juan
||| FROM SHERIFF RON KREBS, SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| On May 31, 2021 at approximately 5:15 p.m. a grey Subaru was travelling into town from the west end of San Juan Island when the car veered into the oncoming lane at Beaverton Valley and Lowe Lane and struck
Transportation Commission seeking feedback (from you) on ferry fares
Really! They want to hear from you ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| The Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) is required to adjust ferry fares every two years and is seeking input from the public on fare increase alternatives. Please visit the WSTC’s website for more information about the alternatives
