Here’s a thought…
“If you don’t vote you don’t exist. It is the only place where we’re all equal, the voting booth.”
GLORIA STEINEM
Lovelett bill to expand mental health care clears senate
||| FROM WASHINGTON SENATE DEMOCRATS ||| OLYMPIA - A bill aimed at expanding community-based support systems for Washingtonians living with mental illnesses passed the Washington State Senate today. Engrossed Senate Bill 5328, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes), would make funding available to establish Clubhouse services statewide. Clubhouses are voluntary
January 6, a poem by wasakalobo
||| FROM W. A. SCHMIDT ||| January 6 A poem by wasakalobo Humiliation comes in forms We often least expect When grounded way beyond the norms To which we pay respect January sixth was an event When hate came home to roost Feigning legitimate dissent By those in fact seduced
Reminders from State Health Dept. for safe building re-openings after COVID-19 closures to avoid risk of ‘Legionella’
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) wants to support the safe reopening of buildings that may have been closed for an extended period of time due to COVID-19 related restrictions. Low, or no water use in vacant or underused buildings increases
Tuesday was, literally, a welcome shot in the arm for hundreds of Orcas Islanders
||| BY LIN MCNULTY, EDITOR ||| The weather was cooperative, the parking lot was not full, greeters were everywhere to point us in the right direction, uniformed National Guard members processed all (pre-registered) comers and stuck needles into 361 willing arms gathered at Orcas Center on Tuesday, Mar. 2 to
State Health Dept. statement on federal school and childcare vaccination plan
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| As you heard [yesterday}, President Biden announced a directive to all states to get every pre-K educator, K-12 teacher, and childcare worker at least one shot of COVID-19 vaccine in the month of March. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recognizes the
Recap of recent COVID-19 news, statewide response updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 322,487 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on March 1. There have been 4,988 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of Health's
Inslee statement on Biden educator and licensed childcare workers vaccination directive
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee issued a statement today following President Joe Biden’s directive that all states must prioritize vaccinations of teachers and childcare workers. “Like President Biden, I am grateful for the hard work and sacrifice of educators every day, and especially
Middle Schoolers are returning to classes at Orcas Island School
||| FROM ERIC WEBB, ORCAS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ||| Over the past two months, we have welcomed our K-5 students back to campus following health and safety guidance provided by numerous federal and state agencies. Today, we welcomed our 6th grade students to campus for their first in-person day in the
Whale Museum has big day planned with virtual Marine Naturalists
||| FROM TRACIE MERRILL for THE WHALE MUSEUM ||| Friday Harbor, WA –The Whale Museum (TWM) is holding an exciting virtual Gear Up Workshop for Marine Naturalists this spring on Saturday, April 24. This workshop will be held from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time and registrants will join
Over 3,000 popular magazines now available for download through Orcas Island Public LIbrary
||| FROM HOLLY KING for ORCAS ISLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY ||| Orcas Island Public LIbrary is pleased to announce that over 3,000 popular magazines are now available to download and read on any device 24/7. Users with a library card can read digital magazines alongside ebooks and audiobooks on Libby, the
Washington State Department of Health provides next-generation genome sequencing of new COVID-19 strains
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has increased its capacity to identify new strains of COVID-19 using next-generation genome sequencing equipment. The goal is to test several thousand specimens a month at the Public Health Lab in Shoreline, WA. Sequencing
Change is coming to Orcas Family Health Center
||| FROM THE STAFF OF ORCAS FAMILY HEALTH CENTER ||| After 17 years of providing care to patients on Orcas Island, Orcas Family Health Center will be shutting our doors at the end of March 2021 and moving to the Orcas Medical Center building as part of the new Island
Lisa Bergman will give great composers a makeover in upcoming livestream event
Tuesday, March 16, 7:00 p.m. PDT ||| FROM LINDA SLONE for ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL ||| On Tuesday, March 16, at 7 p.m. (Pacific Time), join Gracie Award winning on-air radio announcer, pianist, and humorist Lisa Bergman as she brings her lively Great Composers Get a Makeover to Orcas
County Board and Advisory Committee Vacancies and Positions
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The County Council is searching for San Juan County citizens to fill current and upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions. Additional information about each committee is available on the County's website at: http://sanjuanco.com/641/Board-Committee-Vacancies. Persons interested in serving on a board or advisory
Second public hearing on vacation rental moratorium now scheduled
||| FROM ISLAND STEWARDS ||| San Juan County (SJC) Council will be continuing an online public hearing on Tuesday, March 9 to discuss whether the moratorium on the issuance of Vacation Rental Permits should be maintained or abandoned. ACTION ITEMS Read the updated announcement regarding this hearing by the Vacation Rental
Health Care Board Zoom meeting tonight, 5 p.m.
||| FROM ANNE PRESSON for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTHCARE DISTRICT ||| The materials for the March 2, 2021 Regular meeting of the OIHCD Board of Commissioners are now posted. You can access the Board Packet HERE. This will be a virtual meeting starting at 5 pm on Tuesday. Details to join
