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
Orcas Island’s new Sunspice is first ‘not-coffee’ shop to open in Washington
-- from Nicole Miller for Sunspice -- Celebrating the summer sun in the San Juan Islands is something special. A beautiful release after a dark winter. This year is a bit different for obvious reasons. Orcas Island in particular is a magical place usually filled with all kinds of festivities,
Recap of today’s COVID-19 news and updates
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Newest numbers. The state of Washington reported 797 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of cases to 47,743 as of July 19 at 11:59 p.m. The total number of deaths are at 1,453. For the most
School Board calls public hearing for 2020-21 budget adoption
-- from Orcas Island School Board -- Notice of aREGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGandPUBLIC HEARING #2 for the possibleAdoption of the 2020-21 BUDGETThursday, July 23, 2020 AGENDA Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7661783771 5:00 PM CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING. Approve Agenda Approve Consent Agenda ADMINISTRATORS’ REPORT Project Manager- Liz LeRoy Business Report
Letter to Editor | Does the emperor wear no clothes?
-- from Michael Johnson -- In a recent online conversation about the legitimacy of both non-essential travel, and people not staying local during SJCs current Phase 2 re-opening under Gov. Inslee's Stay Safe Stay Local Plan, the following was said, Comment: "...the repeal (by Dr. Frank James) of the orders
State returns Safe Start applications to seven counties
San Juan County remains in Phase 2 -- from Washington Department of Health -- OLYMPIA -- Today, Washington State Secretary of Health John Wiesman announced that he is returning all COVID-19 Safe Start applications from counties whose applications were put on pause or pending review before Governor Jay Inslee implemented a statewide pause
Over 200 Orcas businesses benefit from Paycheck Protection Program
-- by Minor Lile, Orcas Issues reporter -- Recent data released by the Federal government indicates that somewhere between $10,000,000 and $15,000,000 of funding from the Paycheck Protection program has been received by Orcas Island businesses, protecting more than 1,000 jobs. Not all of the jobs are located on Orcas,
Public comment period open for Shoreline Master Program
-- from San Juan County Communications -- NOTICE OF A SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCIL JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE WA DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY (ECOLOGY) TO HEAR TESTIMONY ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS REGARDING THE SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM REGULATIONS; AMENDING SAN JUAN COUNTY CODE (SJCC) 18.20.020, 18.20.140, 18.20.190, 18.50.020, 18.50.030, 18.50.040, 18.50.050, 18.50.450,
Letter to Editor | Leadership in the public interest
-- from Tom Eversole -- Reluctance of federal, state and local politicians to mandate face coverings may be due to their under-experience with infectious diseases and an over-experience with being in charge. However, pandemics don't work the way citizens do. Pathogens aren’t compliant, and they don’t negotiate. It took 20
Land Bank Nature Notes | A moveable feast
-- from Kayla Seaforth for San Juan County Land Bank -- Island Marble butterfly photo courtesy of WDFS The green and white butterfly known as Island Marble (Euchloe ausonides insulanus) has been on the minds and lips of biologists, land managers and private landowners in the archipelago leading up to its listing as
Poem for today | Assume the Position
Assume the Position by Jive Poetic The train came with a police officeron his gun. He shifts his weightagainst the door. A flash back loadsthe first time a service weapon was pulled in my face;the second time it made me lay on the ground;the third time it put my hands
Letter to Editor | Open letter to Councilmember Rick Hughes
-- from Christopher Evans -- I don’t know where to begin. As someone who voted for you and who has been your supporter, I can’t express my disappointment in your leadership. Especially since it seemed like you were in inches of doing the right thing at the Council meeting and
San Juan County Fair prepares for virtual launch
-- from Adrienne Bourne for San Juan County Fair -- San Juan County Fair staff are preparing to launch the San Juan County Fair virtually this year. The fair is an opportunity to showcase all the talents and resources of our islands, and we are working to host exhibits online, and
Letter to Editor | Let science rule the decision-making
-- from Penny Buttke -- I agree with Cindy Wolf. The decision to move from Phase 2 to Phase 3 should be made by Dr. James, not left in the hands of the Council. How the virus is managed is a life and death decision, especially for those of us older
The North Pacific right whale | Why you should care about the world’s rarest whale
Zoom presentation with Kevin Campion, Thursday, July 23, 6:30 p.m. -- from Katie Fleming for Friends of the San Juans -- Join Friends of the San Juans and Kevin Campion of Deep Green Wilderness on July 23 to hear about Kevin and his team's expeditions to film the North Pacific right whale. You’ll
WSF crews rescued four people in the past month
-- from Amy Scanton for Washington State Ferries -- A shout out to our highly trained crewmembers for rescuing four people in the past month! A Samish crew rescued a person whose kayak overturned yesterday near our Lopez Island terminal. Last week, on July 9, a Walla Walla crewmembers saved an overturned kayaker while
Letter to Editor | While you were sleeping
-- from Christopher Evans -- Scene at West Beach Resort, Friday night (7/17) at 10 pm: 16 people in their 20s gathered around one campfire on the beach in front of cabin 5. Zero masks, zero social distancing. Singing, dancing, and partying like it’s 1999. Blasting pop music from a
