Here’s a thought…
“The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.”
WILLIAM GIBSON
Letter to Editor | Land Bank going on a wild goose hunt?
||| FROM LILI HEIN ||| The Land Bank is proposing hunting of Canada geese at the Coffelt Farm Preserve in order to limit crop damage on the property. Deer hunting is also included. See link for details in the Stewardship and Management Plan (giving only a two-week comment period that
UPDATED: Inslee announces updated school guidance for in-person instruction
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| The update corrects a typo in the definition of “high” COVID-19 case counties and adds a link to the proclamation. Gov. Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal today announced an update in the metrics used to inform local school district decisions for
Lovelett bill adds funding options for affordable housing
||| FROM WA SENATE DEMOCRATS ||| Sen. Liz Lovelett (D- Anacortes) has pre-filed a bill which would provide local governments the option to fund affordable housing and social service programs through a special excise tax on internet-based, short-term vacation rentals. The bill allows government bodies of towns, cities, or counties
More doses of vaccine on the way as statewide vaccination effort continues
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health anticipates receiving tens of thousands more doses of COVID-19 vaccine later this week, as vaccinations continue for frontline health workers and long-term care residents and staff across the state. These groups are the first and only
Inslee announces Washington’s historic commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee [has] announced a historic equity policy package for the upcoming 2021 legislative session, including $365M for equity-related decision packages and budget items. For the first time, the governor directed state agencies to center budgetary decision packages and legislation around equity. The proposed
Antigen positive test results now included in DOH dashboards
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA - Starting today, The Washington State Department of Health will include antigen-positive COVID-19 cases in the COVID-19 Data Dashboard and the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Dashboard. Since September 30, antigen-positive testing data have been included in a separate weekly report because at the time, we were
COVID-19 safety behaviors remain necessary, even as vaccinations begin
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – As the first COVID-19 vaccinations begin this week, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is reminding people that it is very important to continue taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The initial distribution of vaccine is a major
Precautionary boil water advisory for Doe Bay cancelled
||| FROM WASHINGTON WATER SERVICE ||| GIG HARBOR, Wash. — Washington Water Service (Washington Water), has canceled the precautionary boil water advisory issued in the Doe Bay Water Users Association Water System it operates, after water quality test results confirmed that water quality was not impacted by Monday’s main break. “Out of an
Don’t call Orcas Islanders vaccine ‘hesitant.’ They’re just vaccine procrastinators
||| FROM KUOW ||| There are no public opinion polls that show how many people on Orcas Island plan to get a Covid-19 vaccine when they finally get the chance. But the public schools on Orcas have exceptionally low vaccine compliance rates. A total of 93% of 6th grade students were out
Recap of recent COVID-19 news, updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 205,069 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on December 14. There have been 2,953 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
Governor announces bold climate package for 2021–2023 biennium
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee today outlined his climate policy package for the 2021–2023 biennium. “Climate change is a health issue, an economic issue and an equity issue. We must address these very real threats to our state, and we cannot wait,” Inslee said at a
Letter to Editor | A huge thank you to islanders who support local island businesses
||| FROM CHRIS WOLFE ||| Thank you to the San Juan County island community for your support of Rainshadow Solar & Energy Solutions, Inc., this past year – we are so grateful for you. When you choose to work with a local business like ours, your choice supports living wage
Hot Topic #38 | Vaccine FAQ 2.0
||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN, for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ||| This information expands and updates the initial vaccine FAQ from November 19, 2020. Understandably, there are a host of community discussions, concerns, and expectations about the vaccine. Before digging in, here are some general qualifiers: Patience and flexibility are required.
San Juan County software & web professionals to meet up
||| FROM MICKEY VON DASSOW for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| San Juan County software and web professionals, including retired or aspiring, are invited to a virtual meetup hosted by the Economic Development Council (EDC). Our archipelago is home to many people in information-focused professions who work remotely or in local
Letter to Editor | “Brave Discourse:” An open letter to Orcas Island School District
||| FROM PAIGE MCCORMICK ||| I believe Orcas Island School District (OISD) is at a crossroads of critical race theory (CRT). “Our Nation was built upon a foundation of systemic racism. This system was designed to benefit wealthy, white property owners.” This OISD statement opens as a refrain of faith
Washington state to host webinars on safety, development of COVID-19 vaccines
Experts to answer most common questions ahead of vaccine availability ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| The Washington State Department of Health today announced that we, in partnership with The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Latino Center for Health, will host two online panel discussions to answer
