Statement on statewide face covering order expansion
-- from Washington State Health Department -- Today, the secretary of health’s statewide face covering order will expand to require face coverings in any indoor setting outside of your home (not just public buildings) and expands the outdoor requirement to non-public settings when you can’t maintain 6 feet of distance from non-household
It’s sad, but official: There will be no Library Fair this year
-- from Dave Kosiur for Orcas Island Library -- In order to maintain the safety of the Orcas Island community, the Orcas Island Library and the Friends of the Library have decided to cancel this year's annual Summer Library Fair, which is usually held in August.
Recapping today’s COVID-19 news and updates
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Newest numbers. The state of Washington reported 865 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of cases to 50,824 as of July 23 at 11:59 p.m. The state’s rolling average number of cases has been well over
Orcasional Musings | The five platonic solids…or is it six?
||| ORCASIONAL MUSINGS BY STEVE HENIGSON ||| In order to graduate, Orcasian high-school seniors must create, and then successfully complete, a project that results in an improvement to the student, and improvement also to the school, to the island, to the environment, or to humanity in general. Not least of
Sheriff’s Report | July 15 – 20, 2020
-- from San Juan County Sheriff's Office -- Wednesday, July 15, 202020-005671 Accident-HitRun 11:49:24 07/15/20A Deputy on Lopez received a report of a damaged mailbox. A local construction company contacted the reportee and agreed to pay for damage. 20-005677 Explosives Problem 15:02:32 07/15/20A Deputy on Lopez was dispatched to a
Health District prepares for Island Hospital community presentation
-- by Susan McBain, Orcas Issues reporter -- The Orcas Island Health Care District’s meeting on July 21 consisted of two parts: A commissioners’ meeting, where more information about Island Hospital’s (IH’s) proposal to operate a consolidated medical clinic on the island was discussed; andA Town Hall, at which community
The fate or future of Eastsound? | District 2 council candidates respond
-- by Matthew Gilbert, Orcas Issues reporter -- With time for one final question before the District 2 primary and the arrival of two significant projects that will change the nature and experience of “downtown” – and perhaps set the stage for development to come – we focus on the
County to update COVID case reporting process
-- from Brendan Cowan, Department of Emergency Management -- As positive test results continue to occur in San Juan County, the County COVID-19 Response Team is going to adjust the reporting strategy and schedule. Going forward:-The Case Count Page will be updated when positive test results are received and initial investigation has
Alex Conrad returns to Orcas Fire following graduation from Harborview Paramedic Program
-- from Kim Kimple for Orcas Island Fire & Rescue -- After an intense 12-months immersed in the University of Washington Harborview Medical Center Paramedic training program, Alex Conrad has returned to serve the community with Orcas Island Fire and Rescue as a paramedic. The world-renowned program is known for
Today’s recap of COVID-19 news and updates
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Newest numbers. The state of Washington reported 766 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of cases to a new, sobering milestone 50,009 as of July 22 at 11:59 p.m. The total number of deaths are at
Inslee announces rollbacks to some activities to slow COVID-19 exposure
-- from Governor Jay Inslee's Office -- Gov. Jay Inslee and Secretary of Health John Wiesman today announced changes to “Safe Start,” Washington’s phased approach to reopening. The changes target activities that data have shown provide a higher risk of COVID-19 exposure. It has been four months since the governor
New COVID-19 case reported on San Juan Island
-- from Brendan Cowan, Department of Emergency Management -- One new positive COVID-19 case has been reported on San Juan Island, which brings the total number of cases in San Juan County to date to 26. The initial case investigation is complete. A small number of close contacts have been
County Council sets public hearing on marijuana regulations for August 25
Official comment period is July 29 - August 25, 2020 -- from San Juan County Communications -- NOTICE OF A SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020, AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL HEARING ROOM, LEGISLATIVE BUILDING, 55 SECOND STREET, FRIDAY HARBOR, SAN JUAN ISLAND BEGINNING AT OR AFTER 9:15
Letter to Editor | Transition is difficult and challenging
-- from Robert Boyd -- Transition for us humans is often both difficult and challenging. We find this to be true even when the experience of transition is driven by plans we, ourselves, make. However, living through transitions where the conditions driving the change are outside our initiation and control
Recap of today’s COVID-19 news and updates
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Newest numbers. The state of Washington reported 679 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of cases to 49,247 as of July 21 at 11:59 p.m. The total number of deaths are at 1,468. For the most
Letter to Editor | Where is our vacation rental permit moratorium?
-- from Joe Symons for Vacation Rental Work Group -- This month is the one-year anniversary of the Vacation Rental Work Group’s (VRWG) Community Conversation about vacation rental regulations in the San Juan Islands. An overwhelming conclusion of the three community conversations that took place in 2019 was the public’s
