San Juan County, Commerce, EDC grants provide relief to island businesses, organizations
||| FROM JOHN GOMEZ for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| San Juan County, the Washington State Department of Commerce, and the Economic Development Council (EDC) have awarded over $300,000 in COVID-19 relief grant funds directly to locally-owned and -operated small businesses, community nonprofit organizations and childcare facilities in San Juan County.
WSF: Thanksgiving weekend ferry travel will not be normal
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| With statewide restrictions in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19, this will not be a normal Thanksgiving for ferry travel. If you absolutely must ride our ferries, please wear a mask anytime outside of your vehicle as one is required aboard our vessels and
COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan update from Washington State Department of Health
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues to make progress with our COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning efforts, and are hopeful a safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19 will be available before the end of the year. Update on vaccine candidates This week we
Hot Topic #36 | Here are our COVID-19 vaccine expectations
COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders ||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| From the beginning of the COVD crisis, an effective and safe vaccine has been seen as the ultimate solution for ending the disruption and impacts of the
Dr. Frank James: The next month is the crux of the whole pandemic; it’s about the whole community
||| BY MINOR LILE, ORCASONIAN REPORTER ||| At today’s Board of Health meeting, Public Health Officer Dr Frank James shared his perspective on the current status of the pandemic in San Juan County and asked that his remarks be shared with the entire community. Here is what Dr. James had
Here’s a phone alert you wouldn’t want to miss: “You have likely been exposed.”
||| FROM WASHINGTON POST ||| [ EDITOR'S NOTE: Not yet available in Washington, but soon. If you're intent on traveling, the system is available in other states] The coronavirus surge is upon us, and your phone might be able to help. About 100 million Americans now have the ability to get
What’s the Thanksgiving dinner COVID risk across the country?
||| FROM WASHINGTON POST ||| With the coronavirus spreading uncontrolled across nearly the entire country, many public health experts are urging Americans to cancel their Thanksgiving gathering plans. But not everyone is taking this advice to heart: Roughly 40 percent plan to attend a Thanksgiving gathering with 10 or more people, according
Port of Orcas to meet in regular session Monday
||| FROM PORT OF ORCAS ||| REGULAR MEETING AGENDA Nov 23rd, 2020 5:00 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84572624414?pwd=ckV6RmZMd1UwZ0ppL0gvY2FxM1pVQT09 Meeting ID: 845 7262 4414 Passcode: 893293 One tap mobile +12532158782,,84572624414#,,,,,,0#,,893293# US (Tacoma) +13462487799,,84572624414#,,,,,,0#,,893293# US (Houston) CALL TO ORDER – 5:00 p.m. AGENDA AMENDMENTS PUBLIC ACCESS MONTHLY BUSINESS Approval of Previous Minutes
Recapping recent COVID-19 news, statewide response updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 134,121 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on November 16. There have been 2,571 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
Fishermen rescue woman who jumped off state ferry near Bremerton
||| FROM KOMO NEWS ||| BREMERTON, Wash. (AP) — The Coast Guard says a woman who jumped off the state ferry Chimacum during a Monday crossing was recovered and brought to St. Michael Medical Center in Bremerton. The Kitsap Sun reports the woman was found in the water by two
Know someone who would like to be on the Food Bank team?
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK BOARD ||| We're looking for a Dry-Storage Supervisor! This position reports to our Food Bank Manager. Duties include receiving, storing, handling, and distributing shelf-stable food; training and supervising volunteers; reporting on food ordering needs; and working with the Food Bank Manager and Cold-Storage supervisor. Must
Community Foundation: With a little help from our friends
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| As we enter into a new month of restrictions due to Covid, it is a good time to review what services are available on Orcas and how we as a community can help support each other through this crisis. With schools
Letter to Editor | People don’t suck — some do, but ignore or help them
||| FROM BRUCE HANNA ||| Saw daughter, Lauren’s, Facebook post from awhile ago... (just found it)... And my response, edited “People DON'T suck . . .well, some of them do, but just ignore them .. or help them. Primarily people are AWESOME - I"m on a SW flight and the
An overall COVID update in SJC, and some new cases
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| ORCAS ISLAND Since the last update, seven new cases have been identified on Orcas Island. This brings the total number of cases in San Juan County to 56. All of these new cases are tied to a nine-case cluster on
Oh! Look what’s about to blow in
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| * WHAT...Southeast winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph possible. * WHERE...San Juan County, Western Whatcom County, Western Skagit County and Admiralty Inlet Area. * WHEN...From Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down tree limbs and
Letter to Editor | Rough ride ahead
||| FROM LEITH TEMPLIN ||| As I sat and listened to our County Council meeting this week and watched how professionally and respectfully Rick Hughes chaired the meeting I was so appreciative of all that he has brought to the council and has accomplished for San Juan County and most
