Here’s a thought…
“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers.”
THOMAS PYNCHON
New WSF Assistant Secretary transitions into new position
||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Ahoy, Washington State Ferries! Hello everyone, I’m Patty Rubstello, the new WSDOT Assistant Secretary of Washington State Ferries! I’m excited to be in this role and I’ve already learned so much from former head Amy Scarton and several of my new
‘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.
Inslee announces metric changes to Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today announced several changes to the state’s Healthy Washington — Roadmap to Recovery. The governor first announced the regional, phased reopening plan Jan. 6. The plan will be changed in two ways; first, the evaluation criteria for regions to move from Phase 1 to Phase
Children’s House is looking for some new board members
||| FROM CHILDREN'S HOUSE ||| We are reaching out today to seek recommendations from our long-standing Children’s House supporters. We recently lost a few members of our Board of Directors due to expired terms, and we are looking for new board members to replace these positions. We also wish to
South Africa records one of their own killer whales for first time
||| FROM BUSINESS INSIDER ||| The sounds of a "chatty" killer whale have been recorded in South Africa for the first time, off Fish Hoek in False Bay on Tuesday. The sounds were captured by researchers Tess Gridley and Simon Elwen from Sea Search, a non-profit based in Muizenberg that focuses
Pandemic will continue to affect ferry schedules; current schedule extended through May 8
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| As Washington State Ferries continues to operate under the constraints of the COVID pandemic, it will extend its current schedule through May 8. Currently vehicle reservations on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Port Townsend/Coupeville routes are available two weeks or two days in advance
Considering crossing a state line for vaccine?
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Given the limited supply of vaccine that is available at this time and our state’s commitment to equitable and fair access to vaccine, the state of Washington is requiring that those seeking COVID-19 vaccines in its four mass vaccination sites (Ridgefield, Spokane, Kennewick, and
Island Hospital has some new free classes on offer
||| FROM RACHEL LAMBERT for ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| FREE MEDICARE CLASS Learn more about your Medicare options at a free class on Monday, February 8, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Traditional coverage, supplements, advantage plans, prescription drug coverage, enrollment information and Medicare fraud protection will be covered. This is an
Dr. Alperin announces his plan to not pursue employment with Island Hospital
||| FROM MICHAEL D. ALPERIN, MD, MBA, MSS ||| I am writing to let the Orcas Island community know that I will not be pursuing employment with Island Hospital as they transition to the management of the clinic. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with community members over the past three
Orcas Fire welcomes two new familiar faces
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for ORCAS FIRE AND RESCUE ||| Orcas Island Fire and Rescue family recently welcomed two new hires, Lieutenant LaRen Gevaart-Rossie and Captain Kasey Jo Weigley. Both have served the department in various roles over the last few years. Rossie, a volunteer firefighter/EMT, also served as a
EDC launches survey to assess business impacts from COVID-19
||| FROM GAIL SCHNEE for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) has created a survey to assess existing and potential negative economic impacts from recent events. Responses to the survey are confidential and will be anonymized, aggregated and used to determine programs and resources
Recap of new statewide COVID-19 response updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 290,168 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on January 25. There have been 4,167 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of Health's dashboard and the
County Council hears from oil response team
||| BY STEVE BERNHEIM, theORCASONIAN REPORTER ||| Most of the San Juan County Council meeting of January 26, 2021 was devoted to a presentation from the staff associated with the Islands’ Oil Spill Association (IOSA), a non-profit, community oil spill response organization that provides local oil spill response and prevention
Inslee updates COVID-19 proclamation related to long-term care
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today updated the guidance documents in Proclamation 20-66 for long-term care facilities. Modifications include updated and additional resources; standardized community case rates related to moving between COVID phases; and enhanced guidance regarding compassionate care visitation, essential support persons visitation and
State ferries to host February virtual community meetings
Topics include hybrid-electric vessels, service and COVID-19 response ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| SEATTLE – Riders, commuters and terminal neighbors of Washington State Ferries are invited to attend upcoming virtual community meetings designed to provide updates and answer questions about the ferry system. At 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9,
Inslee statement on Biden climate plan
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee issued a statement today following a series of executive actions on climate change taken by President Joe Biden Wednesday. "I applaud President Biden’s executive actions today that will once again place the United States at the forefront of tackling the climate crisis
