Here’s a thought…
“The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.”
WILLIAM GIBSON
Food Bank: It’s the time of year to give, and to give thanks for what we receive
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK BOARD ||| We at the Orcas Island Food Bank are overwhelmed with gratitude for what our community has given us during this difficult year. We offer our deepest thanks for your willingness to support us in feeding two to three times as many customers
Eth-Noh-Tec: In the final hours of this year, the future is ours
||| FROM ETH-NOH-TEC ||| It’s a New Year a’comin! And we need to take charge of what that is going to be for ourselves. With this year’s last Thursday of the Month ‘Storytelling with Eth-Noh-Tec’, we will gather together on Zoom to process how 2020 impacted us and create 2021
Skagit Valley College announces new online courses for Winter
||| FROM ARDEN AINSLEY for SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE ||| Skagit Valley College’s Continuing and Community Education program (CCE) is pleased to announce new online workshops for Winter Quarter. CCE allows you to engage, connect, learn, and grow from the comfort of your home by offering short-term, non-credit courses. For more
Midnight Mutterings | Rudolpha
||| MIDNIGHT MUTTERINGS BY JACKIE BATES ||| A long time ago when I had a specialty, my specialty was what would today be called ‘gender studies.’ Back then it was called, well, nothing, because such a field did not exist, at least in the august halls of academia, where I
State’s first new ferry terminal in 40 years opens Dec. 29
New Mukilteo multimodal ferry terminal honors tribal history of land ||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| MUKILTEO – State ferry riders on the Mukilteo/Clinton route will get an upgrade on Tuesday evening, Dec. 29. That’s when Washington State Ferries’ new, safer and more efficient Mukilteo multimodal terminal will open to replace its cramped
Sheriff’s Report | December 8 – 15, 2020
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 20-010378 Trespassing 19:30:19 12/08/20 A Lopez Island Deputy was called regarding a trespass issue at a residence. All parties involved were interviewed, and the trespasser departed without further incident. An information report was taken. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9 20-010398 Animal
Here’s the latest COVID case update from San Juan County
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| Note: Current positive case numbers are available online at the County Case Count Page. As indicated on that page, these numbers are only updated after case confirmation is complete, usually daily. It is possible that other information sources in community
Comp Plan | 2021 annual docket application period: Jan. 1 – Mar. 1, 2021
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The deadline for proposed amendments to the San Juan County Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Code (UDC) is 4:30 pm March 1, 2021. The “Annual Docket of Comprehensive Plan Amendments” or “Docket” process allows interested persons, citizens, hearing examiners, and staff of other
Planning Commission backtracks from Vision Statement discussion
||| BY STEVE BERNHEIM, ORCASONIAN REPORTER ||| The San Juan County Planning Commission convened its regularly scheduled remote access meeting on Friday, December 18 and backtracked on its previous commitment to re-open discussion of the County Vision Statement adopted in 2018. While policies for so-called “resource lands” rural lands, and
Fire Commissioners set to ZOOM meet on Monday
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE ||| Regular Meeting Agenda San Juan County Fire Protection District #2 Monday – December 21st, 2020 5:30 p.m. Online / by phone via ZOOM: Dial # (253) 215-8782 / Meeting ID: 836 8338 4037/ Passcode: 824606 Commissioners: Tim Fuller, Janet
Recap of recent COVID-19 news and updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 209,344 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on December 16. There have been 3,117 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
Letter to Editor | Gratitude for amazing community support during pandemic
||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| As we enter into the Holidays, I want to send my deepest gratitude to all of you who have been so supportive throughout this year. The Orcas community continues to respond to the pandemic and subsequent economic crisis with compassion and
WSF asks that we limit ferry rides to essential purposes only during upcoming holiday
||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| Limit holiday ferry travel to essential trips With guidance to limit gatherings during a time we normally spend with family and friends, the holidays will be different for many this year. We are asking the public to limit rides on our ferries to essential purposes only
‘Occam’s Razor’ | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Welcome to our new weekly feature, Occam's Razor, from local artist S.C. Watson.
A new back-to-school plan: State releases updated guidance around in-person learning
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA –Today the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released updated metrics to help local leaders and school officials make decisions about in-person learning and the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the school environment. Changes to the metrics include revisions to the COVID-19 incidence rates
Garden Club shares webinars, insight, favorite garden tools in recent newsletter
||| FROM HELEN HUBER for ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Newsletter and Featured Webinar The Orcas Island Garden Club has published our December Newsletter and Webinar. Visit the website https://www.orcasislandgardenclub.org. Chock full of webinars, book reviews and suggestions for reading, favorite garden tools, insight into a talented garden club member,
