Here’s a thought…
“The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.”
WILLIAM GIBSON
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
Inslee announces additional COVID-19 financial support
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee ... announced additional financial support funds for families and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor was joined by Lisa Brown, Department of Commerce director, for the announcement. "We know this pandemic is taking an economic toll," Inslee said
Department of Health temporarily pauses reporting of negative COVID-19 test results
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is asking the state’s laboratories that conduct the largest volume of tests to temporarily stop sending individual negative COVID-19 test results, and instead send us the aggregate number of negative test results per day. During
Garden Club has some November offerings for community
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Newsletter and Featured Webinar The Orcas Island Garden Club continues to make contributions in the community. And while we aren’t meeting in person, we are actively engaged in enriching the gardening community. Do check out the November Newsletter and featured Webinar on the
Guaranteed funding available through Washington College Grant to attend Skagit Valley College
||| FROM ARDEN AINLEY for SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE ||| What’s next in your life? Considering attending Skagit Valley College in Winter Quarter, but need financial assistance? Great news! Guaranteed college funding for all eligible residents in Washington is available through the Washington College Grant, www.skagit.edu/wa-college-grant. Classes at SVC begin January
Editorial | Fifty-seven years ago this very day. It was a Friday
REPRINT FROM NOVEMBER 22, 2013 ||| BY LIN MCNULTY, EDITOR ||| There are some unfortunate, startling events in life in which we remember exactly where we were when we heard the news. The JFK assassination is certainly one of those moments in my life. I have never before revealed my
EDC presents Datapalooza 2020! – a statistics and demographics event for San Juan County
||| FROM JOHN GOMEZ for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| This year, more than ever, business owners and community leaders and legislators need data and information to make knowledgeable decisions. Join the Economic Development Council (EDC) for our fifth annual Datapalooza! event on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 from 11 a.m. to
Department of Health urges people to limit Thanksgiving gatherings, not seek screening tests
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| The Department of Health (DOH) strongly urges everyone to limit their holiday celebrations to only members of their immediate households. We also encourage anyone with symptoms or close contact with someone who is infected (or suspected to be infected) with COVID-19 to get
Island Hardware reduces hours following staff member’s positive COVID-19 test
||| FROM BOB PHALAN for ISLAND HARDWARE ||| We at Island Hardware take the health and safety of our loyal customers and staff seriously. Island Hardware has experienced its first positive test for Covid 19. This person has been in isolation since November 11. We are in close contact with
Orcasional Musings | Hey! What about Thanksgiving dinner?
||| ORCASIONAL MUSINGS by STEVE HENIGSON ||| Governor Inslee's prohibition against family Thanksgiving dinners, the result of this winter's resurgence of COVID complications, has caught us with our collective aprons untied. For instance, in recent, more normal years, my wife and I have been invited to our cousin's home for
Sheriff’s Report | November 11 – 17, 2020
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 20-009644 Trouble Unknown 10:07:30 11/11/20 A Lopez Island Deputy was sent to check on a 911 hang up call. The call was inadvertently "pocket dialed" while stacking firewood. 20-009647 Abandoned Vehicle 12:30:27 11/11/20 A Deputy was contacted in
Planning Commission recommends moratorium on new vacation rental applications
||| FROM STEVE BERNHEIM, ORCASONIAN REPORTER ||| The San Juan County Planning Commission has recommended a moratorium on applications for vacation rental permits. The recommendation was adopted at the Commission’s monthly meeting on Friday, November 20 convened for the purpose of further pondering revisions to the Land Use Element of
Health District and clinics confront COVID surge
||| BY SUSAN MCBAIN, ORCASONIAN REPORTER ||| The surge in COVID-19 cases, and its effects on medical services on Orcas Island, were the main topics of the Orcas Island Health Care District’s meeting on Nov. 17. Managers of the two existing clinics gave reports on what they’re doing, and senior
Inslee letter urges Congress to immediately resume COVID-19 relief negotiations
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| In case you missed it: Gov. Jay Inslee sent a letter [yesterday] to congressional leadership and the Trump administration, urging an immediate restart to negotiations on another coronavirus relief package that can be passed and signed into law before the end of the
