Here’s a thought…
“There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe everything or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking.”
ALFRED KORZYBSKI
Inslee signs historic climate change legislative package
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee signed a historic climate change legislative package [Monday] during a three-stop tour through King County. The governor signed the Climate Commitment Act, environmental justice legislation, a clean fuels standard and bills related to reducing Washington’s single-use plastic waste
Another COVID update from state health department
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 391,188 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on May 17. There have been 5,653 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department
County Council considers options for vacation rental caps
||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER ||| On May 18, Director of Community Development Erika Shook gave council members four options for establishing countywide and/or island-specific caps on vacation rental permits (excluding Friday Harbor). Driving those options, she explained, were “logical possibilities related to actual numbers.” She also emphasized
State leaders urge drivers to plan ahead when it comes to fueling up as surge in road travel expected
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ||| Smartphone apps can help drivers locate open gas stations as ongoing shortage of fuel truck drivers may cause lag in deliveries OLYMPIA, Wash. --- Memorial Day is approaching, bringing with it the unofficial launch of the spring and summer travel season. While air
Guest Opinion | Greenwashing San Juan County
||| FROM ELISABETH ROBSON ||| Today I received in my inbox an email from OPALCO extolling an affordable energy future powered by renewables and carried by electric vehicles. We get pictures of solar panels and an electric vehicle happy deal. They claim in this email that their vision of the
Spring donors give big to Community Swim Center
||| FROM CLAIRE ANDERSON for FRIENDS OF LOPEZ ISLAND POOL ||| This spring, Lopezians, San Juan Islanders, and mainlanders together raised a total of more than $144,000 for the Swim Center. To date, the Swim Center has reached 67% of its campaign goal and is currently focused on seeking funding
RE Sources to honor 2021 Environmental Heroes in evening of powerful stories
The nonprofit’s virtual celebration and benefit on June 9 will recognize three NW Washington Environmental Heroes and will also feature State Rep. Debra Lekanoff and WA State Poet Laureate Rena Priest ||| FROM JAY KOSA for RE SOURCES ||| BELLINGHAM, WA — Every year, regional environmental group RE Sources holds
No charge Connection Practice coaching session this weekend
||| FROM SHARON ABREU ||| As a certified Connection Practice Coach, I am so pleased to be able to offer you a coaching session at no charge during the Global Connection Practice Weekend happening this coming weekend, May 22 & 23! If you would like to try out the Connection
All counties move into Phase 3 after reopening pause
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Today, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced that all Washington counties have moved into Phase 3 of Governor Jay Inslee’s Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery phased reopening plan. This includes Cowlitz, Ferry, Pierce and Whitman counties which were previously in
San Juan County Land Bank meeting & agenda for May 2021
Monthly meeting on May 21, 8:30 a.m. via Zoom ||| FROM TANJA WILLIAMSON for SAN JUAN COUNTY LAND BANK ||| A Land Bank team tackled Lopez’s Weeks Wetland Preserve for the Great Islands Cleanup and removed over 400 lbs. (!!) of wood debris: plywood, pressure treated lumber and creosote.
Inslee signs police accountability legislative package
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee signed a dozen bills today that will improve accountability for law enforcement in Washington state, and will create the nation’s strongest police accountability system. The governor, joined by community members and families of those impacted, signed the bills
Letter to Editor | Urge county to create a “Truth in Planning” document and public buildout analysis
||| FROM NATALIE MENACHO ||| Hey Islander! I hope this little San Juan County love note finds you reveling in the verdant opulence of springtime. We all moved here for the love of our islands. Gorgeous nature. Tight-knit community. Sweet rural vibes. With gratitude, I think most of us
New book from John Geyman M.D.: America’s Mighty Medical-Industrial Complex
||| FROM EMILY GEYMAN ||| The rise of an enormous medical-industrial complex over the last 60 years in the United States has brought wealth to ever-larger corporations, their shareholders, and CEOs at the expense of most Americans who struggle gaining access to affordable health care. Dr. Geyman describes the failures
Planning Commission to decide if county should create “Truth in Planning” component to Comp Plan
Letters needed now! Planning Commission meets Friday May 21 ||| FROM ISLAND STEWARDS ||| The San Juan County Planning Commission is set to decide if the county should create a "Truth in Planning" component to the Comp Plan in an upcoming public hearing at 9 a.m., Friday, May 21, 2021.
Bipartisan, bicameral legislation introduced in Congress to protect Washington orca and other marine mammals
||| FROM THE SUBURBAN TIMES ||| Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) introduced bipartisan legislation along with Representatives Stephanie Murphy, (FL-7), and Brian Mast (FL-18) to protect marine mammals like orca, dolphins, seals, and whales. H.R.2848, the Marine Mammal Research and Response Act increases funding for two initiatives—the Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue
Larsen announces more than $80 Million for NW Washington students, colleges, universities
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced more than $80 million in emergency funding for students, colleges and universities in Washington’s Second Congressional District under the American Rescue Plan. The funding will help local institutions weather the severe financial fallout
