Here’s a thought…
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man.”
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Ridership, service update from WSF
-- from Amy Scarton for Washington State Ferries -- We welcomed seven new crewmembers on Sunday upon completion of training. Hats off to our Training Department for adapting training to be COVID compliant, per stricter L&I standards. We will continue to train in small classes using masks and physical distancing
Over 100 Washington state leaders demand census deadline extension
Group asks Congress to allocate $400 million to address significant challenges -- from We Count Washington -- Seattle, WA—More than 100 leaders and elected officials in Washington state are calling on Congress to extend the census deadline and allocate $400 million to address census challenges, a move they say is
Recap of today’s COVID-19 news and updates
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported 659 new cases in the past day for a total of 65,339 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on August 12. There have been 1,736 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases
Summary of recent COVID-19 cases in San Juan County
-- from Brendan Cowan for Department of Management -- There has been one new confirmed positive test result in San Juan County since the last case summary on August 3. The case investigation was completed today (Thursday, August 13). This is the 31st case in San Juan County and the
Letter to Editor | Praise for the proper pavers
-- from Leith Templin -- Thank you Rick Hughes, Jessie Douglas-Seitz, and Colin Huntemer for replacing yellow pavers with the proper ones!
Hot Topic #29 | Guidelines for parents considering home based group learning
COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders -- from Brendan Cowan, Department of Emergency Management -- As we head into the second half of August, local public and private schools are pursuing a range of options for the start of the school year. This
Letter to Editor | Intolerance has made its way to Orcas Island
-- from Cindy Carter -- Early Wednesday morning, campaign signs of candidates currently actively campaigning were vandalized by those bringing hate to the island. Timothy Hazelo, Kim Wyman, Loren Culp and Joshua Freed are all candidates currently in a campaign and will be having signs all over the 2nd Congressional
Health Care District makes the big decision
-- by Susan McBain, Orcas Issues reporter -- After more than two years of research, extensive consultation with experts and community members, and painstaking consideration of the costs and benefits of various choices, the five commissioners of the Orcas Island Health Care District voted unanimously to move into contract negotiations
@ the Library | Meet Greg Bear, author, illustrator
An Orcas Island Public Library event August 15 @ 3pm via Zoom, with Mark Ferrari -- from Mary Pugh for Orcas Island Library -- Celebrated science fiction author, Greg Bear will join us for a discussion on the science fiction and fantasy genre. Greg has authored more than thirty novels,
Washington state changes negative test reporting for COVID-19
-- from State Health Department -- OLYMPIA -- Today the Washington State Department of Health announced COVID-19 testing data will soon be reported using the total number of tests completed. This is a change from the current reporting, which reflects the total number of unique individuals ever tested. For example, someone
Voters beware: Not of fraud, but the undercount
-- from Hedrick Smith, ReclaimTheAmericanDream.org -- Washington – Out in fly-over America, it’s popular to knock New York City. But truth be told, New York is often the canary in the coal mine for the rest of us. As with the coronavirus and now with the 2020 elections, too.Because if
@ the Library | Meet Tina Connolly – tonight
-- from Mary Pugh for Orcas Island Library -- Join us as we meet author Tina Connolly, who writes stories andnovels for teens described as, “bewitching, clever, delightful, original, and unexpected.” (clarionwest.org) Tina says, “Lately I want to tell stories of hope, and people working toward positive change, whether that’s
Letter to Editor | Vandals on Orcas
-- from Robert L. Waunch -- I drove by the North Beach Rd and School Rd intersection today where we’ve always had a number of signs of candidates for various offices. I observed that vandals had sprayed red paint over only the Republican candidates' signs. It’s disappointing the same destructive vandals
Coronavirus cuts off a Washington border town from two countries
-- from Crosscut.com -- On a clear Saturday morning in July, I called the Saltwater Café in Point Roberts, Washington. The café is usually crowded with dozens of customers seated inside and out on the patio, taking in the view of the Gulf Islands across the Salish Sea and enjoying
Recap of another day’s COVID-19 news and updates
Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported 495 new cases in the past day for a total of 64,151 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on August 10. There have been 1,716 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of Health's
School Board meets tomorrow to discuss school reopening
-- from Orcas Island School District -- The Orcas Island School Board will meet on Thursday, August 13 at 5 p.m. to discuss and adopt the WSSDA recommended reopening plan. Notice of a Special School Board MeetingThursday, August 13, 2020 AGENDA Please submit any comments or questions you may have
