Here’s a thought…
“Peace is not something we ask for — it’s something we practice, together.”
WALK FOR PEACE
New County Council will start 2021 by voting on a Vacation Rental Permit moratorium
||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER ||| As reported last week, the county Planning Commission (PC) has unanimously agreed to recommend that the County Council enact a moratorium on new vacation rental permits starting next year. The proposal (not yet formalized) addresses several issues: Establish a moratorium on new
OHS Key Club to host community food drive to benefit Food Bank
||| FROM IZIE JANECEK for OHS KEY CLUB ||| The Orcas Island High School Key Club will be holding a food drive for the Food Bank on Sunday, December 6th. On that Sunday the Key Club will welcome community members to drive by and drop off their food drive items
Treat yo ’elf this holiday season: Give a gift from the San Juan Islands
||| FROM AMY N. NESLER FOR VISITORS BUREAU ||| “I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes. Christmas is all around [us], and so the feeling grows…” If that feeling is finding the perfect gift for family near and far, there’s something from the San Juan
COVID-19 disease transmission exceedingly high in Washington: three-day cumulative total for cases is over 6,000
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH) data report for today includes a backlog of cases. So, while we are reporting 6,277 new cases today, that number represents roughly three days’ worth of cases. The message from health officials with the Washington
Letter to Editor | Inform yourself of history of vaccinations
||| FROM TOM BALDWIN ||| As we near the time when we may be protected from COVID-19 by vaccination, it’s vital that we be willing to receive that protection. As I thought about this matter, I remembered an excellent article on the subject prepared by the Federation of American Societies
Letter to Editor | Thank you, public health
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE ||| Today is National Public Health Thank You Day. When governmental Public Health works, we take it for granted. For more than 100 years, when free of political interference and with adequately funding, PH workers have successfully promoted health and prevented diseases including smallpox, polio and
Guest Opinion | There’s no wiggle room in this non-essential travel order
||| FROM JOE SYMONS ||| Dr. Frank James, Public Health Officer (PHO) for San Juan County, testified before the County Council on November 18, 2020, alerting the Council and the public about the significant change in the COVID exposure rate for county residents that has occurred in the last week
State’s safe medication return program gets underway
||| FROM STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ||| OLYMPIA -- Today is the go-live date for Washington’s Safe Medication Return Program, a pioneering effort aimed at reducing medication misuse, abuse, and poisonings. This program creates a unified, statewide, medication return program that will give Washington residents free, convenient, and environmentally responsible options for
Inslee announces additional COVID-19 financial support
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee ... announced additional financial support funds for families and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor was joined by Lisa Brown, Department of Commerce director, for the announcement. "We know this pandemic is taking an economic toll," Inslee said
Department of Health temporarily pauses reporting of negative COVID-19 test results
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is asking the state’s laboratories that conduct the largest volume of tests to temporarily stop sending individual negative COVID-19 test results, and instead send us the aggregate number of negative test results per day. During
Garden Club has some November offerings for community
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Newsletter and Featured Webinar The Orcas Island Garden Club continues to make contributions in the community. And while we aren’t meeting in person, we are actively engaged in enriching the gardening community. Do check out the November Newsletter and featured Webinar on the
Guaranteed funding available through Washington College Grant to attend Skagit Valley College
||| FROM ARDEN AINLEY for SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE ||| What’s next in your life? Considering attending Skagit Valley College in Winter Quarter, but need financial assistance? Great news! Guaranteed college funding for all eligible residents in Washington is available through the Washington College Grant, www.skagit.edu/wa-college-grant. Classes at SVC begin January
Editorial | Fifty-seven years ago this very day. It was a Friday
REPRINT FROM NOVEMBER 22, 2013 ||| BY LIN MCNULTY, EDITOR ||| There are some unfortunate, startling events in life in which we remember exactly where we were when we heard the news. The JFK assassination is certainly one of those moments in my life. I have never before revealed my
EDC presents Datapalooza 2020! – a statistics and demographics event for San Juan County
||| FROM JOHN GOMEZ for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| This year, more than ever, business owners and community leaders and legislators need data and information to make knowledgeable decisions. Join the Economic Development Council (EDC) for our fifth annual Datapalooza! event on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 from 11 a.m. to
Department of Health urges people to limit Thanksgiving gatherings, not seek screening tests
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| The Department of Health (DOH) strongly urges everyone to limit their holiday celebrations to only members of their immediate households. We also encourage anyone with symptoms or close contact with someone who is infected (or suspected to be infected) with COVID-19 to get
Island Hardware reduces hours following staff member’s positive COVID-19 test
||| FROM BOB PHALAN for ISLAND HARDWARE ||| We at Island Hardware take the health and safety of our loyal customers and staff seriously. Island Hardware has experienced its first positive test for Covid 19. This person has been in isolation since November 11. We are in close contact with
