Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
“COVID-19 Community Conversations” round five
-- from Brendan Cowan for Department of Emergency Management -- This week “COVID-19 Community Conversations” continues with another three videos that highlight specific efforts from organizations and people in our community that provide key services and provide crucial leadership around the county. You can find our entire collection of videos
State’s first weekly Risk-Assessment Dashboard update
-- from Washington State Department of Health -- Gov. Jay Inslee and the state Department of Health released an update today to the Risk-Assessment Dashboard. This tool helps gauge when and how to best lift restrictions around ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy” in Washington. The dashboard features five “dials” measuring different data points in
State Department of Health statement on “coronavirus parties”
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Camp Murray, WA — Washington State Department of Health officials are alarmed by reports of “coronavirus parties” in which uninfected people are mingling with COVID-19 positive individuals to try to contract the virus. “Gathering in groups in the midst of this pandemic can
A-OK art kits to continue weekly through June 8
-- from Janet Brownell -- AOK (Art for Orcas Kids) has been supplying free take-home art kits to kids since the school closure in March. The program, funded by the Orcas Island Education Foundation, has been so successful it was written up in the Seattle Times. Free art kits keeping
Letter to Editor | Islanders take care of their own
-- from Kate Agape-Lichter -- After reading some opinions about the process of “should we open or not yet", I thought I would drop a few words. I lived on Orcas for 27 years and island life is different, in that you have the ability to step away from the mainland
Recap of COVID-19 news and updates
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Numbers: As of 11:59 p.m. on May 5, there are 15,905 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington state, an increase of 311 cases in the last 24 hours. Visit the Department of Health's website for cases by county, demographics, and more. Statewide Response Updates Updated Long Term Care Facility COVID-19 death data
EDC survey to determine San Juan County impacts of paycheck protection program
-- from Victoria Compton for Economic Development Council -- The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) is collecting data to learn how well the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is working for islands businesses. Business owners are urged to participate in the EDC’s PPP survey here: https://forms.gle/DPxi4gUSpCtnKmDW6 For more information,
Tuning out the pandemic | Bach Prelude from Roger Sherman
— from your community — Our musical community reaches out during an unscheduled pandemic to share their tunes. Because music soothes, centers, distracts us. PRELUDE AND FUGUE IN B-FLAT MINOR, BACH WELL-TEMPERED CLAVIER | Roger Sherman If you have local music you wish to share, send us an MP3 file
Crescent Beach parking to close next week for improvements
Starting Tuesday, May 12 for a couple of days -- from Tanja Williamson for San Juan County Land Bank -- Please excuse our dust while your Conservation Land Bank completes improvements to the Crescent Beach Preserve parking areas on Orcas Island. Work is anticipated to begin Tuesday, May 12, and
HOT TOPIC #22 | Finding the balance between community health and local economy
COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders -- from Brendan Cowan, Department of Emergency Management -- Tightrope walking is the terrifying skill of being able to cross a rope strung between two high points. The phrase also refers to people that are faced with
Update for patients of San Juans Vision Source. Are you in need of care?
-- from Chris White for San Juans Vision Source -- Since our last update we have been managing acute cases daily, county wide, commonly on two islands on the same day. We have been preparing to reopen to a modified routine care schedule when San Juan County can emerge into Phase II. The CDC relaxed its urgent care restrictions on April 17, 2020. If all
Pandemic poetry | I Worried by Mary Oliver
I Worried Mary Oliver I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the riversflow in the right direction, will the earth turnas it was taught, and if not how shallI correct it?Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,can I do better? Will I ever be able
Governor Inslee extends 12 proclamations relating to COVID-19
-- from the Office of Governor Jay Inslee -- Gov. Jay Inslee announced the extension of 12 proclamations today in response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. A May 4, 2020, letter from the Legislature extends proclamations 20-15.1, 20-20.1, 20-21.1, 20-23.2, 20-26.1, 20-27.1, 20-29.1, 20-30.1, 20-32.1, and 20-34.1 until May 31, 2020. The statutory waivers and suspensions cited in 20-28.1 are extended until May 31, 2020,
Inslee issues two emergency proclamations
COVID, yes, but also Gypsy Moths -- from Governor Jay Inslee's Office -- Gov. Jay Inslee issued two emergency proclamations today. One is in response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and the other is related to non-native gypsy moths. The two proclamations are as follows: Maintaining access to the ballot: This
Recap of today’s COVID-19 news and updates
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Numbers: As of 11:59 p.m. on May 4, there are 15,594 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington state, an increase of 132 cases in the last 24 hours. Visit the Department of Health's website for cases by county, demographics, and more. Statewide Response Updates Safe Start advisory groups: Gov. Jay Inslee today announced members
Guest Opinion | Just because we can doesn’t mean we should
-- from Joe Symons -- Jay Inslee’s Stay Safe Order of 4 May 2020, references four phases for restoring the economic and social life of Washington residents. As you know, we are currently in Phase 1. The official order, as shown at the above link, has a chart indicating the
