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
Guest Opinion | Is this “America first?”
-- from Michael Riordan -- As the Fourth of July weekend begins, the nation to the east that some of us call ‘Merica seems in utter disarray — afflicted by police violence and racial unrest unlike anything witnessed in half a century, a severe pandemic that has taken over 125,000
Village Voices | What are your plans for the 4th of July?
-- by Minor Lile, Orcas Issues reporter -- Our monthly Village Voices series takes the pulse of the Orcas Island community. Every month we’ll be out and about, asking people to share their point of view on a particular topic. Sometimes the questions will be serious, sometimes more light-hearted. We
Two new movies for your July 4th weekend viewing
-- from SeaView Theatre -- Celebrate your Fourth of July weekend with a new film on living American hero JOHN LEWIS and the critically acclaimed Sundance Film Festival film, "MISS JUNETEENTH." Both films this week are by women directors. "Miss Juneteeth" USA | 2020 | 99min The debut feature from Channing Godfrey Peoples
Playground-on-the-Green set for September opening
Donate now for custom slide fabricated by island blacksmith, Zackarya Leck -- from Margaret Payne, Playground-on-the-Green Team -- On June 29, islanders Charlie Nigretto and his son Tyler, operating two huge excavators, lifted the equally huge “Pork Chop Rock” to its permanent location atop one of three rock “islands” at
Health Care District will hold a second town hall meeting
-- from Anne Presson, Orcas Island Health Care District -- The Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD) is hosting a second virtual Town Hall meeting to provide ongoing updates on the status of the Medical Clinic Operator Request for Proposal (RFP) that closed on June 26. We were very pleased
Planning Commission to hold public hearing on the 2020 Annual Docket
NOTICE OF A SAN JUAN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE TESTIMONY ON THE 2020 ANNUAL DOCKET OF PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE SAN JUAN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE -- from San Juan County Communications -- The San Juan County Planning Commission will hold a public
County Fair: Calling all island writers
-- from San Juan County Fair -- Time for all Island Writers to get ready to launch your entries for the “2020: A Fair Odyssey” Virtual San Juan County Fair! But, you say, the Fair is over a month away—August 12-15. True, but the deadline for the Written Word entries is
Recap of Today’s COVID-19 News and Updates
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Newest numbers. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of Health's dashboard and the state’s COVID-19 risk assessment dashboard. As of July 1, the state reported 728 new cases for a total confirmed case count of 34,151. Total deaths are 1,342.
Governor Inslee puts hold on all phase advancing
San Juan County remains in Phase 2 -- from Governor Jay Inslee's Office -- Today Governor Inslee announced that a minimum of a two week hold will be placed on all current applications to advance through the Governor’s four phase plan. This decision applies to San Juan County’s application to
Reminder: All personal fireworks are illegal In San Juan County
-- from San Juan County Fire Marshal’s Office -- A friendly reminder that all personal fireworks are prohibited in San Juan County. This includes firecrackers, mortars, sparklers, and bottle rockets. Personal firework discharge is a crime punishable by fines from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. Furthermore any fires linked
Guest Opinion | Shouldn’t Orcas act like other tourist destinations?
-- from Eleanor Hoague -- The San Juan Islands are not unlike other areas in the country which rely heavily on tourist dollars. Recently, NPR aired an illuminating piece on a similar area of the U.S., the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. That area’s response to planning for the next few
Recap of today’s COVID-19 news and updates
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Newest numbers – case counts rising. As of June 30, the state’s total confirmed cases are up from 32,824 to 33,435, an increase of 611 cases in one day. Total deaths are up from 1,332 to 1,339. Three counties remain in Phase 1 –
Even during a pandemic, free tooth extraction clinic coming up
-- from Terri Triplett -- Dr. Triplett’s dental office at 445 Madrona Street in Eastsound is reserving Monday July 20 for free tooth extractions for our Orcas, Shaw, and Waldron residents in financial need. Services are limited to both routine and surgical extractions (including wisdom teeth). To make an appointment
Inslee extends Safe Start proclamation one week
-- from Governor Jay Inslee's Office -- Gov. Jay Inslee today issued a brief extension of the Safe Start proclamation until July 9, in anticipation of additional modifications that will be made early next week. Safe Start Extension — 20-25.5 This Proclamation extends all of the provisions of previous versions, provides minor
New COVID-19 reports show concerning patterns of inequity, rise in cases among younger people
-- from Washington State Department of Health -- OLYMPIA – Today the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Bellevue-based Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) released two new reports analyzing COVID-19 data by age, race/ethnicity and primary language spoken. Both reports highlight the pandemic’s disproportionate and increasing impact on communities of
A-OK ready for upcoming garage-ish sale this weekend
-- from Janet Brownell for Art for Orcas Kids -- Remember March 2020? Well, WAY back then, AOK (Art for Orcas Kids) had planned a Garage Sale to raise funding for art classes in the public schools.Then Covid happened and the sale was cancelled. Art, however, continues – as does
