Here’s a thought…
“The belief in the possibility of a short decisive war appears to be one of the most ancient and dangerous of human illusions.”
ROBERT LYND
Medicare open enrollment underway with upcoming workshop
||| FROM JULIE MCKEE FOR ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 – December 7. During this time, plans can be reviewed and changes made for 2021. Attend a free online presentation to learn what’s new and how you can get help from a trained SHIBA volunteer.
PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center earns two national awards
Emergency department recognized for excellence in patient experience ||| FROM PEACEHEALTH PEACE ISLAND MEDICAL CENTER ||| PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center in Friday Harbor, Washington, has been named a 2020 Guardian of Excellence and 2020 Pinnacle of Excellence Award winner by Press Ganey. These awards are a nationally recognized symbols of
Village Voices | What are your thoughts about President Trump contracting Coronavirus?
||| BY MINOR LILE, REPORTER ||| With the monthly Village Voices series, we aim to take 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
Notice: Orcas Fire to hold 2021 budget hearing
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE FOR ORCAS FIRE & RESCUE ||| NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the San Juan County Fire Protection District #2 will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, October 19, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. to consider the 2021 Budget. Hearing access information can be found at www.orcasfire.org.
Letter to Editor | I strongly support Christine Minney for Council position
||| FROM CHUCK DALLDORF ||| I am a full-time resident in Friday Harbor and I strongly support Christine Minney for San Juan County Council in the upcoming November election. Council is a nonpartisan position (there’s no political party potholes or sewers). Christine is an independent, long-time resident of our islands,
Sheriff Krebs: Unlawfully removing political signs is a misdemeanor
||| FROM SHERIFF RON KREBS ||| With the political season upon us, the Sheriff’s Office has seen a rash of political signs either being stolen, vandalized or outright destroyed. We would like to remind everyone that unlawfully removing political signs is a misdemeanor and is punishable under RCW 9A.20.021. Each
Orcasional Musings | Island (Market) time
||| ORCASIONAL MUSINGS BY STEVE HENIGSON ||| Orcasian shopping trips always take a lot longer than you think they will, because, at Island Market, you see everybody you know. If you see someone you know, well, of course you have to stop and chat. After all, you haven't seen him
SJI Historical Park cautions visitors against aggressive attacking owls
||| FROM BRANDON CADWELL FOR SAN JUAN ISLAND NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK ||| San Juan Island National Historical Park is cautioning people recreating in the park about recent and aggressive behavior from owls that has resulted in at least four known attacks on visitors in the park. These encounters have been
Sheriff’s Report | September 23 – 29, 2020
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| Wednesday, September 23,2020 20-008166 Abandoned Vehicle 13:22:17 09/23/20 A Deputy on Orcas Island received a complaint of several vehicles with expired registration in the Crane Island parking area located in Deer Harbor. Several owners were contacted about the complaint and warning stickers
Introducing ‘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.
Council candidates Minney and Palmateer address issues on Orcas Island
||| BY MINOR LILE, REPORTER ||| Over the course of the last several months, the Orcasonian has run a series of Q&A articles with District 2 candidates Rick Hughes and Cindy Wolf (see here and here). Christine Minney and Ryan Palmateer are the two contenders for the District 1 County
Recap of recent COVID-19 news and updates
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| Statewide Response Updates Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 88,116 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on September 30. There have been 2,132 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of
After seven year project, salmon habitat restored on Sucia Island
||| FROM KATIE FLEMING FOR FRIENDS OF SAN JUANS ||| Almost seven years ago, Friends of the San Juans began working with Washington State Parks on a salmon recovery project on Sucia Island. After a lot of research, surveys, designs, engineering, and permitting, the on-the-ground work to restore habitat has
2020 Assessor change of value notices mailed on October 1
||| JOHN KULSETH, COUNTY ASSESSOR ||| The Assessor’s Office mailed the 2020 Change of Value Notices on October 1, 2020. The notices show market value as of January 1, 2020 based on sales between January 1, 2019 and April 30, 2020. The new values do not reflect much impact from
State Health Dept. prepares to deploy new rapid COVID-19 tests
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – Within the next five to ten days the Washington State Department of Health will receive and distribute the first batch of Abbott BinaxNOW antigen test kits for COVID-19 from the federal government. These are rapid tests that can return results in as
Letter to Editor | Standing up for your property rights in San Juan County
||| FROM MICHAEL DURLAND ||| SJC County Code has a procedure for appealing decisions you do not think follow County Code: 18.80.140 Appeals. At first it seems a daunting procedure but with careful reading, assistance from County employees, and some advice from one who has done it before it can
