Here’s a thought…
“There are many forms of patriotism and telling the truth is one of them.”
ANDERSON COOPER
Giving thanks to family and friends
||| FROM BRUCE HANNA ||| I wrote this for the traditional thankful gathering of friends and family. I wrote it in 2002, the year my wife died, and most of my kids were together thereafter. For many of us, this year has been such a time — of sacrifice and
COVID-19 hospital occupancy is soaring in Washington state
New data provide deeper insight into the impact of COVID-19 patients on hospitals ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – COVID-19 hospital occupancy is rapidly increasing throughout Washington as the state continues to experience exponential growth in new cases. We are seeing alarming increases in the number of COVID-19 patients
Paul Kamin retires from Eastsound Water after 15 years of service
Dan Burke to Lead Association as New General Manager ||| FROM DAN BURKE for EASTSOUND WATER ||| On November 25, 2020, Eastsound Water User Association (EWUA) announced that General Manager Paul Kamin will be retiring from service on December 31, 2020. Dan Burke, a long- time islander and former Rock
The last covid-free places on earth have something in common: Travel shutdowns
Strict protocols kept these 10 places free of the coronavirus ||| FROM WASHINGTON POST ||| Before 2020, the remote islands of the South Pacific were more accessible to leisure travelers than ever before. Thanks to affordable global air travel, little-known places such as Tonga, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands welcomed
Recap of recent COVID-19 news and updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 151,019 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on November 23. There have been 2,690 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
Orcas Physical Therapy adds strict new requirement for clients
||| FROM SCOTT HEISINGER for ORCAS PHYSICAL THERAPY ||| These are difficult times for all. At Orcas Island Physical Therapy, we are trying hard to stay open during this current Covid-19 spike. To protect our patients, some of whom are elderly or medically vulnerable, we added a strict new requirement.
SJC courts issue emergency orders: All jury trials postponed
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SUPERIOR & DISTRICT COURTS ||| On Friday, November 20, 2020, San Juan County Superior and District Courts entered emergency orders postponing all jury trials until after January 15, 2021, due to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. San Juan County has experienced a resurgence of COVID-19 cases
Eastsound Water’s financial assistance program extended
||| FROM PAUL KAMIN for EASTSOUND WATER ||| At the recent November meeting of the Eastsound Water Board the Eastsound Water Financial Assistance Program was extended till the end of the year. The program was developed back in March and has provided dozens of members financial relief for their water
New County Council will start 2021 by voting on a Vacation Rental Permit moratorium
||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER ||| As reported last week, the county Planning Commission (PC) has unanimously agreed to recommend that the County Council enact a moratorium on new vacation rental permits starting next year. The proposal (not yet formalized) addresses several issues: Establish a moratorium on new
OHS Key Club to host community food drive to benefit Food Bank
||| FROM IZIE JANECEK for OHS KEY CLUB ||| The Orcas Island High School Key Club will be holding a food drive for the Food Bank on Sunday, December 6th. On that Sunday the Key Club will welcome community members to drive by and drop off their food drive items
Treat yo ’elf this holiday season: Give a gift from the San Juan Islands
||| FROM AMY N. NESLER FOR VISITORS BUREAU ||| “I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes. Christmas is all around [us], and so the feeling grows…” If that feeling is finding the perfect gift for family near and far, there’s something from the San Juan
COVID-19 disease transmission exceedingly high in Washington: three-day cumulative total for cases is over 6,000
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH) data report for today includes a backlog of cases. So, while we are reporting 6,277 new cases today, that number represents roughly three days’ worth of cases. The message from health officials with the Washington
Letter to Editor | Inform yourself of history of vaccinations
||| FROM TOM BALDWIN ||| As we near the time when we may be protected from COVID-19 by vaccination, it’s vital that we be willing to receive that protection. As I thought about this matter, I remembered an excellent article on the subject prepared by the Federation of American Societies
Letter to Editor | Thank you, public health
||| FROM TOM EVERSOLE ||| Today is National Public Health Thank You Day. When governmental Public Health works, we take it for granted. For more than 100 years, when free of political interference and with adequately funding, PH workers have successfully promoted health and prevented diseases including smallpox, polio and
Guest Opinion | There’s no wiggle room in this non-essential travel order
||| FROM JOE SYMONS ||| Dr. Frank James, Public Health Officer (PHO) for San Juan County, testified before the County Council on November 18, 2020, alerting the Council and the public about the significant change in the COVID exposure rate for county residents that has occurred in the last week
State’s safe medication return program gets underway
||| FROM STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ||| OLYMPIA -- Today is the go-live date for Washington’s Safe Medication Return Program, a pioneering effort aimed at reducing medication misuse, abuse, and poisonings. This program creates a unified, statewide, medication return program that will give Washington residents free, convenient, and environmentally responsible options for
