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
Planning Commission backtracks from Vision Statement discussion
||| BY STEVE BERNHEIM, ORCASONIAN REPORTER ||| The San Juan County Planning Commission convened its regularly scheduled remote access meeting on Friday, December 18 and backtracked on its previous commitment to re-open discussion of the County Vision Statement adopted in 2018. While policies for so-called “resource lands” rural lands, and
Fire Commissioners set to ZOOM meet on Monday
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Regular Meeting Agenda San Juan County Fire Protection District #2 Monday – December 21st, 2020 5:30 p.m. Online / by phone via ZOOM: Dial # (253) 215-8782 / Meeting ID: 836 8338 4037/ Passcode: 824606 Commissioners: Tim Fuller, Janet
Recap of recent COVID-19 news and updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 209,344 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on December 16. There have been 3,117 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
Letter to Editor | Gratitude for amazing community support during pandemic
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| As we enter into the Holidays, I want to send my deepest gratitude to all of you who have been so supportive throughout this year. The Orcas community continues to respond to the pandemic and subsequent economic crisis with compassion and
WSF asks that we limit ferry rides to essential purposes only during upcoming holiday
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Limit holiday ferry travel to essential trips With guidance to limit gatherings during a time we normally spend with family and friends, the holidays will be different for many this year. We are asking the public to limit rides on our ferries to essential purposes only
‘Occam’s Razor’ | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Welcome to our new weekly feature, Occam's Razor, from local artist S.C. Watson.
A new back-to-school plan: State releases updated guidance around in-person learning
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA –Today the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released updated metrics to help local leaders and school officials make decisions about in-person learning and the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the school environment. Changes to the metrics include revisions to the COVID-19 incidence rates
Garden Club shares webinars, insight, favorite garden tools in recent newsletter
||| FROM HELEN HUBER for ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Newsletter and Featured Webinar The Orcas Island Garden Club has published our December Newsletter and Webinar. Visit the website https://www.orcasislandgardenclub.org. Chock full of webinars, book reviews and suggestions for reading, favorite garden tools, insight into a talented garden club member,
Letter to Editor | Land Bank going on a wild goose hunt?
||| FROM LILI HEIN ||| The Land Bank is proposing hunting of Canada geese at the Coffelt Farm Preserve in order to limit crop damage on the property. Deer hunting is also included. See link for details in the Stewardship and Management Plan (giving only a two-week comment period that
UPDATED: Inslee announces updated school guidance for in-person instruction
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| The update corrects a typo in the definition of “high” COVID-19 case counties and adds a link to the proclamation. Gov. Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal today announced an update in the metrics used to inform local school district decisions for
Lovelett bill adds funding options for affordable housing
||| FROM WA SENATE DEMOCRATS ||| Sen. Liz Lovelett (D- Anacortes) has pre-filed a bill which would provide local governments the option to fund affordable housing and social service programs through a special excise tax on internet-based, short-term vacation rentals. The bill allows government bodies of towns, cities, or counties
More doses of vaccine on the way as statewide vaccination effort continues
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health anticipates receiving tens of thousands more doses of COVID-19 vaccine later this week, as vaccinations continue for frontline health workers and long-term care residents and staff across the state. These groups are the first and only
Inslee announces Washington’s historic commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee [has] announced a historic equity policy package for the upcoming 2021 legislative session, including $365M for equity-related decision packages and budget items. For the first time, the governor directed state agencies to center budgetary decision packages and legislation around equity. The proposed
Antigen positive test results now included in DOH dashboards
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA - Starting today, The Washington State Department of Health will include antigen-positive COVID-19 cases in the COVID-19 Data Dashboard and the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Dashboard. Since September 30, antigen-positive testing data have been included in a separate weekly report because at the time, we were
COVID-19 safety behaviors remain necessary, even as vaccinations begin
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – As the first COVID-19 vaccinations begin this week, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is reminding people that it is very important to continue taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The initial distribution of vaccine is a major
Precautionary boil water advisory for Doe Bay cancelled
||| FROM WASHINGTON WATER SERVICE ||| GIG HARBOR, Wash. — Washington Water Service (Washington Water), has canceled the precautionary boil water advisory issued in the Doe Bay Water Users Association Water System it operates, after water quality test results confirmed that water quality was not impacted by Monday’s main break. “Out of an
