Here’s a thought…
“The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.”
WILLIAM GIBSON
Orcas Family Health continues to conduct COVID-19 testing. Donations requested to help the effort
||| FROM AAIMEE JOHNSON for ORCAS FAMILY HEALTH CENTER ||| After nine mobile SARS-COVID-19 testing events, Orcas Family Health Center (OFHC) has provided 293 rapid tests to Orcas residents and their family members. Overall, the events have gone very well. Community members coming to be tested have expressed appreciation and
Roadmap to recovery update: All regions staying in Phase 1 for now
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Friday, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced that based on Governor Jay Inslee’s Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery plan, all eight (8) regions in Washington will remain in Phase 1 until at least Monday, January 25, 2021. As
ICYMI: U.S. Small Business Administration announces re-opening of federal Paycheck Protection Program loans to small lenders this week
Businesses can begin preparing to apply now; program will open to all lenders next week; information sessions for businesses offered by Washington Small Business Development Center ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ||| Olympia – The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and Department of Commerce are reminding Washington’s
“Virtual vineyard” in the offing from Senior Center, Doe Bay Wine
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER ||| “the virtual vineyard” by Orcas Senior Center & Doe Bay Wine Company by Zoom: Sunday, January 24, 5 p.m. Join Orcas Senior Center and Doe Bay Wine Company’s Cole Sisson and special guest, in “the virtual vineyard” for a fun and
Here’s the contact information at NAS Whidbey to log noise complaints
||| FROM THOMAS G. MILLS for NAS WHIDBEY ||| There has been an ongoing issue with the email comments line for NAS Whidbey Island operations. Written comments, including noise complaints, can be directed to NAS Whidbey Island’s comment line via email to comments@navy.mil. The comments phone line, at (360) 257-6665,
Advance camping reservations soon available for county residents
||| FROM ALICE HIBBERD for SJC PARKS & FAIR ||| San Juan County Parks & Fair is again offering advance camping reservations for people who reside in San Juan County year-round! Proof of residency is required. Choose from San Juan County Park, San Juan County Fairgrounds (RVs only), Odlin County
Non-profit aims to purchase Shaw General Store
||| FROM SAVE THE SHAW STORE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ||| Imagine the Shaw General Store open seven days a week, year round, managed by the Orcas Food Co-op. Imagine the store property owned by a community non-profit organization, self-supporting through the store, the marina, and other revenue sources on the
Midnight Mutterings | Ruthie and the Supremes
||| BY JACKIE BATES ||| National events this week have been so explosive I have to skip them entirely and return to the past in my fortnightly foray into talking to myself in the dark. For example, on Halloween Day, 2020, which now seems a long time ago, if you
Sheriff’s Report | January 6 – 12, 2021
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6 21-000130 Civil Problem 07:27:28 01/06/21 A Deputy responded to a request of a civil standby to get belongings from a relatives residence. The caller retrieve the belongings without incident and the owner of the residence trespassed the caller and
Recap of recent COVID-19 news and updates, effective Jan. 14
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 271,643 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on January 13. There have been 3,876 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of Health's
California man missing from ferry route between Lopez and Anacortes
||| FROM TAMARA GREENE for COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ||| A man from California was reported missing from the ferry Yakima after it traveled from Lopez to Anacortes on New Year’s Eve. His wife reports that he has not been seen or heard from in the two weeks since that day
Total SJC case count jumps from 88 to 96, one new case on Orcas
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Case Update Note: Current positive case numbers are available online at the County Case Data Dashboard. As indicated on that page, these numbers are only updated after case confirmation is complete, usually daily. It is possible that other information sources
Hot Topic #41 | Vaccine FAQ 4.0
COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders ||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| For obvious reasons vaccine roll-out is the very definition of a hot topic at the moment (and likely for many months to come). This Q&A will attempt
‘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.
Immediate moratorium approved on new vacation rental permits
||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER ||| On January 12, County Council members unanimously approved Resolution No. 03-2021: “A Resolution Enacting a Moratorium on Vacation Rentals of Residences or Accessory Dwelling Units.” The moratorium started immediately at 12:01am on January 13 and will be in place for a minimum
COVID-19 vaccine distribution update from the State Department of Health
||| FROM STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ||| OLYMPIA – Today the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) shared key updates on our COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration efforts. Phases & Changes We are eager to pick up the pace to get vaccines to people who need them and expect to move into Phase 1B
