Here’s a thought…
“America is and always has been an argument — it’s an experiment.”
DAVID W. BLIGHT
Letter to Editor | It’s imperative that we support our restaurants going into fall, winter
||| FROM ANNA MARIA DE FREITAS ||| As I listen to the rain bounce off my sky light and feel the fall chill settle in the air, I know that the days of outdoor dining for me and my restaurant industry colleagues are quickly coming to an end. What will
Auditor answers frequently-asked questions about ballots in upcoming election
90% turnout expected locally in upcoming election ||| FROM MILENE HENLEY, COUNTY AUDITOR ||| Interest is high in this year’s general election. As a result, San Juan County Elections staff have been receiving a record number of questions. Below are some of the questions asked most frequently, with the answers.
Some COVID-19 rule-breakers could be narcissists, experts say
||| FROM WASHINGTON POST ||| (Reprinted at request of Orcasonian reader.) Susan Whitbourne was shopping recently in her neighborhood Whole Foods in Framingham, Mass., when another patron caught her eye. The man, who was chatting on his cellphone as he meandered around the store, had pulled his face covering down —
School Superintendent: School may be getting closer to holding in-person classes
||| FROM ERIC WEBB, ORCAS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ||| Dear Students, Families, Staff, and Community, Fall is very much in the air as we enter week four of our Distance Learning Model at OISD! Teachers, staff, and parents have worked diligently to adjust to a new learning model for our children.
State health experts: Flu vaccine should be considered “essential” this year
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our daily lives, autumn brings with it another unwanted visitor – the flu. The presence of both viruses could put more people in the hospital and strain Washington’s health care system. While we don’t yet
Guest Opinion | Prune Alley — We CAN do better
||| FROM FRED KLEIN ||| OPEN LETTER TO COUNCIL: September 29, 2020 To: San Juan County Council, Councilmen Hughes, Stephens, and Watson Gentlemen, Once again I want to thank you for discussing Prune Alley at your meeting on September 15th. You have the power to redirect this project from being
Board of Health posts agenda for upcoming Skype-meet
||| FROM SJC BOARD OF HEALTH ||| BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING AGENDA September 30, 2020 Legislative Hearing Room, Friday Harbor Meeting to be Held Via Skype JOIN BY PHONE 1(360) 370-0599...441250# (San Juan County) Live Streaming Video Also Available 11:30 a.m. Approval of Agenda Approval of Minutes Excuse Absence Members
State to provide $300K in emergency grants to Washington shellfish growers
Departments of Commerce and Agriculture partner with Impact Washington to create Shellfish Seed Bank, offering up to $5,000 to shellfish growers severely impacted by COVID-19 ||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ||| OLYMPIA, WA -- The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $300,000 is now available for grants to
Guest Opinion | Our non-partisan local governance is a blessing in these times
||| FROM JUSTIN PAULSEN ||| If 2020 has highlighted nothing else within our country it is that political division has seeped into every function of our society. As our current generation navigates social, health and economic waters which have never before been explored, one factor continually crops up, which although
Letter to Editor | Minney brings critical skills, commitment to public service
||| FROM MARK MADSEN ||| I am writing in strong support for Christine Minney for San Juan County council. Christine is deeply committed to seeing and hearing all sides of the issues we face, and to me it is this quality — not the lack of “D” or “R” on
What’s up with Growlers? Join Quiet Skies, Sound Defense Alliance in ZOOM meet
||| FROM ANNE HARVEY FOR SOUND DEFENSE ALLIANCE ||| This will be a great opportunity to meet more San Juan Island residents who share your concerns about Growler jet noise, and learn more about Growler training increase and impacts, sound monitoring, an update on lawsuits and legislative action, and noise
Local goods auctions raising funds for farm programs
||| FROM STEPH COFFEY FOR SAN JUAN ISLANDS AGRICULTURAL GUILD ||| San Juan County has discovered a community super power and is applying it to strengthen access to locally grown farm fresh foods. Springing to action early in the pandemic, the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild focused on a fundraising
A hidden treasure, Sunrise Volunteers is at work in the shadows on Orcas
||| FROM STEVE SCHAEFER, PAST PRESIDENT, ORCAS ISLAND LIONS CLUB ||| About four years or so ago, several Lions Club members were discussing club membership. One of the discussion points was, “What do members enjoy most?” And the conclusion was that they enjoy working together on things that do good. Either directly
Full agenda on slate for tomorrow’s Port meeting
||| FROM KIM KIMPLE FOR PORT OF ORCAS ||| REGULAR MEETING AGENDA SEPT 28, 2020, 5 p.m. Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82225466583?pwd=T3VXYi9oNDA2Ynh1QUFITXFvSERkZz09 Meeting ID: 822 2546 6583 Passcode: 482803 One tap mobile +12532158782,,82225466583#,,,,,,0#,,482803# US (Tacoma) CALL TO ORDER – 5:00 p.m. AGENDA AMENDMENTS PUBLIC ACCESS EXECUTIVE SESSION 1. To receive and evaluate
COVID-19 transmission at a crossroads in Washington state going into fall
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – [Friday] the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released the latest statewide situation report. The report shows COVID-19 case counts continue to decrease overall in both eastern and western Washington, though some counties are experiencing plateaus or increases in disease activity.
Inslee on climate crisis: ‘We cannot give in to defeat and pessimism’
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| Rolling Stone published an op-ed this week from the governor in recognition of Climate Week and the many challenges that lay ahead in guaranteeing a sustainable future for Washingtonians. The op-ed reads, in part: "While we know this administration would be wise to
