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
Don’t call Orcas Islanders vaccine ‘hesitant.’ They’re just vaccine procrastinators
||| FROM KUOW ||| There are no public opinion polls that show how many people on Orcas Island plan to get a Covid-19 vaccine when they finally get the chance. But the public schools on Orcas have exceptionally low vaccine compliance rates. A total of 93% of 6th grade students were out
Recap of recent COVID-19 news, updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 205,069 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on December 14. There have been 2,953 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
Governor announces bold climate package for 2021–2023 biennium
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today outlined his climate policy package for the 2021–2023 biennium. “Climate change is a health issue, an economic issue and an equity issue. We must address these very real threats to our state, and we cannot wait,” Inslee said at a
Letter to Editor | A huge thank you to islanders who support local island businesses
||| FROM CHRIS WOLFE ||| Thank you to the San Juan County island community for your support of Rainshadow Solar & Energy Solutions, Inc., this past year – we are so grateful for you. When you choose to work with a local business like ours, your choice supports living wage
Hot Topic #38 | Vaccine FAQ 2.0
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN, for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| This information expands and updates the initial vaccine FAQ from November 19, 2020. Understandably, there are a host of community discussions, concerns, and expectations about the vaccine. Before digging in, here are some general qualifiers: Patience and flexibility are required.
San Juan County software & web professionals to meet up
||| FROM MICKEY VON DASSOW for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| San Juan County software and web professionals, including retired or aspiring, are invited to a virtual meetup hosted by the Economic Development Council (EDC). Our archipelago is home to many people in information-focused professions who work remotely or in local
Letter to Editor | “Brave Discourse:” An open letter to Orcas Island School District
||| FROM PAIGE MCCORMICK ||| I believe Orcas Island School District (OISD) is at a crossroads of critical race theory (CRT). “Our Nation was built upon a foundation of systemic racism. This system was designed to benefit wealthy, white property owners.” This OISD statement opens as a refrain of faith
Washington state to host webinars on safety, development of COVID-19 vaccines
Experts to answer most common questions ahead of vaccine availability ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| The Washington State Department of Health today announced that we, in partnership with The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Latino Center for Health, will host two online panel discussions to answer
Gifts enable OPAL to acquire 30 acres for future affordable housing
||| FROM CRYSTAL MOSSMAN for OPAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ||| In keeping with OPAL’s long-term strategy of thoughtfully stewarding land for the benefit of the community and assuring that Orcas islanders will have access to homes they can afford, the board of trustees took action to acquire the property with
Coronavirus shows you may not be as good at detecting misinformation as you think
||| FROM SCIENCE ALERT ||| Most of us believe we're above average at detecting misinformation. This, of course, is a statistical impossibility – one that the coronavirus pandemic has well and truly put to the test. As case numbers surge in the US, bringing a devastating wave of over 2,000 deaths
Precautionary boil water advisory issued for some Doe Bay water customers
||| FROM WASHINGTON WATER SERVICE ||| GIG HARBOR, Wash. — Washington Water Service (Washington Water), operator of the Doe Bay Water Users Association Water System, today issued a precautionary boil water advisory for a portion of Doe Bay customers. The advisory is due to a service line leak that caused a
Mobile COVID-19 testing on Orcas Island will begin Dec. 21
||| FROM AAIMEE JOHNSON for ORCAS FAMILY HEALTH CENTER ||| Orcas Family Health Center (OFHC) has organized a mobile SARS-COVID-19 testing project. This project does not replace the COVID-19 testing that is currently being performed at the UW Orcas Clinic or OFHC; it is an additional option for the Orcas
Vaccines arrive in Washington State; People in Phase 1a will begin to receive vaccinations this week
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is happy to announce that COVID-19 vaccines are on the ground in Washington state, and this week, the first doses will be administered to high-risk health workers, as well as staff and residents of
OIHCD regular meeting on Dec. 15 is cancelled
||| FROM ANNE PRESSON for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| The December 15 Regular Meeting of the OIHCD has been cancelled. The Board will resume meeting on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 5 pm. Wishing everyone in the community a very safe and healthy holiday season. We look forward
Guest Opinion | Reasons for hope
||| FROM DAVID TURNOY ||| We find ourselves living in this country in perhaps the most polarized time since the American Civil War. The recent election and diverging opinions over protests this past summer for racial justice and equality are good illustrations. But are we really that divided? Aren’t there
Presson: On seeking care during the medical clinic transition
A Message from OIHCD, Island Hospital, and the Orcas Clinics ||| FROM ANNE PRESSON for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT ||| We are excited the process has begun to bring health care providers and staff from the two existing medical practices together. It’s been over 15 years since there has
