Here’s a thought…
“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers.”
THOMAS PYNCHON
COVID-19 data show some concerning trends as well as promising signs for protection through vaccination
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Today the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released the latest statewide situation report on COVID-19. Report findings include: Case counts have increased slightly in western Washington and plateaued in eastern Washington as of late February. Case counts are still relatively high across the state—around
Rep. Lekanoff provides update on legislative session half-way point
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF ||| Join Us March 20 for a Virtual Town Hall! We've passed the halfway mark in session, and your 40th District legislators wanted to take some time to chat about our legislative priorities and answer your questions about the work being done and
Midnight Mutterings | Back to Georgia
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS BY JACKIE BATES ||| BUT FIRST I want to thank Brian and Neil who responded to my statement a fortnight ago that there had been next to nothing in the news about the financial cost of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection or the damage done to the
HOT TOPIC #45 | I’ve been vaccinated – now what? Also: A look at the road ahead
COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders ||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| To start, some information for and about those fortunate islanders who are now fully vaccinated: Recent CDC guidance for fully vaccinated individuals First off, this is remarkably
Sheriff’s Report | March 3 – 10, 2021
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3 21-001832 Wanted Person 13:10:23 03/03/21 San Juan Deputies located a subject with a warrant. The subject was taken into custody and was booked into the San Juan County Jail. 21-001835 Property Damage, Non Vandalism 14:37:39 03/03/21 A Lopez Island
New vaccine registration window opens up Monday morning, 9 a.m.
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| San Juan County Health and Community Services will be opening registration for first dose vaccine appointments on Monday March 15 at 9 a.m. Those who are eligible and wishing to register for an appointment should go to www.sanjuanco.com/1737/COVID-Vaccine-Info at 9
Latest county COVID update shows us remaining steady, with no new cases
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Note: Current positive case numbers are available online at the County Case Data Dashboard. As indicated on that page, these numbers are only updated after case confirmation is complete, usually daily. It is possible that other information sources in community
Inslee statement on Biden signing the American Rescue Plan Act
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee released a statement today after President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act. “The passage of the American Rescue Plan Act is welcome news for millions of Americans. I applaud President Biden and congressional leaders for acting
Most recent recap of state COVID-19 news, updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 327,672 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on March 10. There have been 5,107 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more,
Guest Opinion | Amend the Charter with a “Universal” bill of rights that includes the rights of nature
||| FROM JULIENNE BATTALIA FOR COMMUNITY RIGHTS SAN JUAN ISLANDS ||| Is there potential for expanding San Juan County’s Home Rule Charter to include a Bill of Rights recognizing the Rights of Nature within the Salish Sea ecosystem? The Salish Sea is a transboundary body of water that goes from
COVID-19 vaccine distribution update from Washington State Department of Health
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues to make progress with our COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration efforts. As of March 8, more than 2,140,418 doses of vaccine have been given across the state, which is nearly 78% of the 2,746,870 doses that
On the path to normality, Library is expanding its hours! Repeat: Library is expanding its hours!
||| FROM PHIL HEIKKINEN for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| The Orcas Island Library is pleased to offer the following expanded hours and services, effective March 15, 2021: Open hours from 12 to 5 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Access within the building for up to 30 people concurrently,
‘Occam’s Razor’ | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Welcome to our weekly feature, Occam's Razor, from local artist S.C. Watson.
In 11 days, Governor says the entire state of Washington will all move to Phase 3
Take me out to the ballgame! ||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today announced that Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery will be transitioning from a regional approach to a county-by-county evaluation process. The governor also announced a new third phase of the Roadmap, a
Peace Island Medical Center names Chief Administrative Officer
||| FROM DEANNA ELLEFSON for PEACEHEALTH PEACE ISLAND ||| FRIDAY HARBOR, Washington, March 10, 2021 — Charles Prosper, chief executive for PeaceHealth in the Northwest, announced the appointment of Jack Estrada as the chief administrative officer (CAO) for PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center. Estrada had been acting as interim CAO since Mary
Orcas Garden Club preparing for upcoming 2021 Safe Garden Tour
||| FROM ORCAS GARDEN CLUB ||| Each year, as spring brings sunshine and warmer temperatures, gardeners begin their search for new plants. We gardeners are varied in our planning. Some design an artistic palette of flowers, some raise an abundance of healthy food, and others create a refuge for birds,
