Here’s a thought…
“Peace is not something we ask for — it’s something we practice, together.”
WALK FOR PEACE
Inslee issues proclamations on travel restrictions, updates to existing religious guidance
||| FROM GOV. JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Proclamation 20-83: COVID-19 Prohibitions on Travel from Countries with 501Y.V Variant Circulation Today Gov. Jay Inslee issued a 14-day quarantine requirement for anyone returning to Washington state after visiting the United Kingdom, South Africa and other countries where a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2
Orcas Family Health brings mobile COVID testing to Orcas community
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, EDITOR ||| Orcas Family Health rolled out Orcas Island's first mobile rapid COVID testing at the Olga artworks on Monday. With results available in 15 minutes, 32 tests were conducted in two hours. Testing was done by OIHC nurses Shila Wachtel and Valentina Rivera, as well
Inslee statement on federal coronavirus relief and omnibus package
||| FROM GOV. JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today released a statement on Congress reaching agreement on an omnibus funding package that includes emergency relief to address the health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. “While it is many months overdue, I am pleased Congress has reached
Health District/Island Hospital presentation available online
||| BY SUSAN MCBAIN, ORCASONIAN REPORTER ||| At least 100 community members tuned in to the Zoom presentation by Island Hospital (IH) and the Orcas Island Health Care District on Dec. 17. They were there to hear IH CEO Charles Hall, his senior staff, and District representatives describe the services
Solstice Poetry | Still Point by Bruce Hanna
Still Point by Bruce Hanna Contemplating the Infinity of Time and Space a Pacific Ocean still point An ordinary act of profundity in my neighborhood From the edge of a continent at sunset’s minus tide Moon and Earth aligned Near the Winter solstice A special stillness Will the light return?
The Medicare mystery explained in upcoming ZOOM session
||| FROM JULIE MCKEE for ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| Do you find Medicare a mystery? Are you unsure which Medicare plan is best for you? Join SHIBA online for a virtual Medicare 101 class where we will cover the "A, B, C, Ds" of Medicare. Our certified SHIBA volunteers will be
Letter to Editor | Use these three P’s to determine if something is true
||| FROM DAVID KOBRIN ||| The “Three P’s” are a basic method for distinguishing something that’s true — that is actually happening — from something that is “fake” news, or an unsubstantiated internet rumor that’s gone viral. I’ll use a personal household example to illustrate how the “Three P’s” method
Inslee issues proclamation delaying implementation of single-use plastic bags
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee issued a proclamation [Friday] delaying implementation of a law related to single-use plastic bags. Single Use Plastic Bags (20-82): This order delays implementation of a law that passed the Legislature in 2020 that was set to go into effect on January
Moderna vaccine approved by Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the authorization of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine by the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup. The announcement comes after the FDA and CDC granted their initial authorization of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The Western States Workgroup, comprised of
Upcoming free class: Powerful tools for caregivers
||| FROM JAMI MITCHELL for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| If you are an unpaid, family or friend caregiver, you are invited to a FREE six-week class series called Powerful Tools for Caregivers. This workshop offers tools and strategies to help handle the unique challenges caregivers face. The online series will
Solstice Poetry | Sunny Solstice Greetings
Sunny Solstice Greetings by Bruce Hanna As Mister Rogers said... It’s a beautiful day In the neighborhood He also said... It’s a neighborly day In this beauty wood Let’s make the most Of this beautiful day Since we’re together Might as well say Would you be, Could you be, Won’t
Food Bank: It’s the time of year to give, and to give thanks for what we receive
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK BOARD ||| We at the Orcas Island Food Bank are overwhelmed with gratitude for what our community has given us during this difficult year. We offer our deepest thanks for your willingness to support us in feeding two to three times as many customers
Eth-Noh-Tec: In the final hours of this year, the future is ours
||| FROM ETH-NOH-TEC ||| It’s a New Year a’comin! And we need to take charge of what that is going to be for ourselves. With this year’s last Thursday of the Month ‘Storytelling with Eth-Noh-Tec’, we will gather together on Zoom to process how 2020 impacted us and create 2021
Skagit Valley College announces new online courses for Winter
||| FROM ARDEN AINSLEY for SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE ||| Skagit Valley College’s Continuing and Community Education program (CCE) is pleased to announce new online workshops for Winter Quarter. CCE allows you to engage, connect, learn, and grow from the comfort of your home by offering short-term, non-credit courses. For more
Midnight Mutterings | Rudolpha
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS BY JACKIE BATES ||| A long time ago when I had a specialty, my specialty was what would today be called ‘gender studies.’ Back then it was called, well, nothing, because such a field did not exist, at least in the august halls of academia, where I
State’s first new ferry terminal in 40 years opens Dec. 29
New Mukilteo multimodal ferry terminal honors tribal history of land ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| MUKILTEO – State ferry riders on the Mukilteo/Clinton route will get an upgrade on Tuesday evening, Dec. 29. That’s when Washington State Ferries’ new, safer and more efficient Mukilteo multimodal terminal will open to replace its cramped
