Here’s a thought…
“The United States has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side.”
ELBRIDGE COLBY
Hot Topic #40: Governor’s new two-phase plan and what it means for SJC
COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders ||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Last week Governor Inslee released details on what is being called the “Roadmap to Recovery.” This initial piece is a two-phased approach to taking a first step
SJIMA: The pandemic can’t stop you from enjoying everything
If you can’t come into the museum to see the art; we will come to you. ||| FROM DIANE MARTINDALE for SAN JUAN ISLANDS MUSEUM OF ART ||| Our team has been hard at work interviewing and photographing the artists and their creations so you can visit them online. As
Back to school plans have changed due to new Health Officer directive
||| FROM ERIC WEBB, ORCAS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ||| Dear Students, Parents, Staff, & Community, You may recall my communication on December 22, 2020 (below); these plans have changed due to San Juan County Public Health Officer, Dr. Frank James’ directive issued today. OISD’s plan remains steadfast in the desire to transition students
Registration open for Whale Museum 2021 virtual workshop: Species in the Spotlight
||| FROM TRACIE MERRILL for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| The Whale Museum is holding a virtual “Species in the Spotlight” workshop in partnership with NOAA. Taking place the weekend of February 10-12, 2021, the intent is to learn about the species highlighted by NOAA that are most likely going
Ferry ridership at lowest level in nearly 50 years. Annual riders down 10 million from 2019 due to pandemic
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| SEATTLE – Annual ridership aboard Washington State Ferries plunged by nearly 10 million customers in 2020 – a drop of 41% from the previous year – to roughly 14 million. Stay-at-home orders, remote work and decreased tourism because of COVID-19 are the main reasons for the
EDC will host a PPP webinar this Thursday
||| FROM JOHN GOMEZ for SJC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| On Thursday, January 14, 2021, the San Juan County Economic Development Council will host a Zoom webinar on the upcoming PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loan application process, presented by Janie Sacco and Steve Burke from the Washington Small Business Development
Inslee statement on start of 2021 legislative session
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee released a statement today on the first day of the 2021 legislative session: "Today convenes one of the most unique and challenging legislative sessions I can remember for our state. As the pandemic era has forced us all
Health District meeting focused on COVID, clinic transition plans
||| BY SUSAN MCBAIN, theORCASONIAN REPORTER ||| Two major topics occupied most of the Orcas Island Health Care District’s first meeting of 2021: combatting COVID-19, and planning for the transition to a single medical clinic at the beginning of April. Orcas Family Health Center (OFHC) staff members Aaimee Johnson and
Makerspaces and closing the solid waste loop in San Juan County
||| FROM MICKEY VON DASSOW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| Islanders interested in makerspaces and sustainability are invited to join the Economic Development Council of San Juan County (EDC) to hear about “closing the loop” on Thursday, January 14 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Nikyta Palmisani, the Training, Education
Deer Harbor Plan Review Committee will ZOOM meet on Wednesday
||| FROM BARRY & BEV MADDEN for DEER HARBOR PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE ||| P0Agenda for January 13, 2021 4:00-5:30 p.m. Deer Harbor Plan Review Committee Monthly Meeting (DHPRC) VIA Zoom Meeting ID 82206209066 Password 644605 Chair: Barry Madan Call to Order at: Establish a quorum: Chair: Recognize public attendees. Members
If you’re not doing anything else, why not write a play for PlayFest?
||| FROM AAIMEE JOHNSON for ACTORS THEATER OF ORCAS ISLAND ||| If you are like most of us, you are bored out of your mind. Do something! Exercise your mind! It's PlayFest time! Write a play!! There were almost 600 views of our 2020 Playfest (Titled PlagueFest) on YouTube. If
Letter to Editor | I’m challenging myself to listen; in the process, I might learn something
||| FROM SHARON ABREU ||| I've been reading discussions about the current issue of censorship and social media. I think it's a very important discussion. Censorship of any kind can be a slippery slope. I don't want FB, Twitter, etc. deciding whether or not my posts qualify for censorship. Yet
New texts from DOH will speed exposure notification across the state
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA –Starting today, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) will begin texting a verification code to every person in Washington state who tests positive for COVID-19. The goal is to help WA Notify exposure notification users alert fellow users faster if they’ve been exposed. People
Stimulus package update from SJC EDC
||| FROM SJ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| The EDC is continuing to analyze the details of the just-passed stimulus package, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Our comprehensive summary with article links can be found here and we will continue to post updates at that link. We are still days away from PPP
Two hundred was Senior Center’s magic number in 2020
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| Once again, the Orcas community has risen to the challenge! Thanks to you, the Orcas Senior Center non-profit has not only reached, but has exceeded, our annual fundraising goal of $50,000. Even more than the money raised, we are touched by
Island Hospital upcoming webinars on mental health, healthy sleep habits
||| FROM RACHEL LAMBERT for ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| Mental Health Webinar Join Dr. Hammer, a psychiatrist at Island Hospital Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Clinic, for a discussion on managing and maintaining mental health in the face of stress. We will discuss common myths and misconceptions about mental health, and you
