Here’s a thought…
“No one, I mean no one, has the right to sit in judgment of who’s American enough.”
MICHELLE OBAMA
Governor tours wildfire damage, approves CARES Act distributions to local governments
-- from Governor Jay Inslee's Office -- Gov. Inslee tours wildfire damage across Washington Gov. Jay Inslee toured fire damage this week in Pierce and Whitman counties as wildfires around the state set historic records for acres burned in just five days. More than 629,000 acres have been consumed by
South field at Turtleback Mountain Preserve closed
||| from Tanya Williamson for San Juan County Land Bank ||| Due to the current fire risk in the County, the south field at Turtleback Mountain Preserve is temporarily closed.
COVID-19 activity declining in Washington state with the help of face coverings and distancing
-- from State Department of Health -- OLYMPIA – Today the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released the latest statewide situation report, which reflects an overall decline in COVID-19 activity as of late August. The report also highlights encouraging signs that keeping our distance, limiting gathering size and wearing face coverings
Orcasional Musings | On the Black Ball Ferry line up in Seattle
||| ORCASIONAL MUSINGS BY STEVE HENIGSON ||| Have you tried to go to or from the mainland lately? Did you have any difficulty making a reservation? Was the ferry running late? Washington State Ferries (WSF) tells us that we are getting slow, overcrowded service because WSF did not
Update on COVID-19 vaccine distribution & planning progress in Washington State
||| from State Health Department ||| OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues to make progress with our COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning efforts. Our federal government is leading the planning efforts around the release of a potential COVID-19 vaccine, including who the initial doses would be offered to
First confirmed cases of West Nile Virus reported in Washington
||| from State Health Department ||| OLYMPIA/YAKIMA – The first two cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in Washington this year have been reported by the Yakima County Health District and Benton-Franklin Health District. The Yakima County resident, a man in his 50’s, was hospitalized due to the infection. The Benton County resident, a man in his
Sheriff’s Report | September 2 – 8, 2020
||| from San Juan County Sheriff's Office ||| Wednesday, September 2, 2020 20-007466 Fraud 11:41:28 09/02/20 A Deputy responded to a walk in report of a Fraud in Friday Harbor. The reporting party stated that someone attempted to file for unemployment using his name in Pennsylvania. The is no suspect
It’s a tinderbox out there; burn ban extended
||| from San Juan County Communications ||| Due to fire danger and stretched resources, San Juan County is extending the current burn ban to prohibit all outdoor fires (including charcoal), effective immediately and until further notice. This change is prompted by several factors. Hot and dry weather has made conditions
Here’s where to monitor local air quality
||| by Minor Lile, Orcasonian reporter ||| With smoke from western wildfires adversely affecting local air quality, there are various online resources where one can obtain current information. A good place to begin is with the San Juan County home page, where you can check for the most recent updates
Rental assistance available for San Juan County residents
||| from Zanetha Amani Matisse for Community Resource Center ||| Are you a San Juan County resident who has fallen behind on rent as of March 1, 2020? If so, you may be eligible for assistance, care of the Opportunity Council. Renters may receive a maximum of 3 months total
Recap of recent COVID-19 news and updates
||| from State Department of Health ||| Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 78,467 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on September 9. There have been 1,985 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
Poetry | Just a dog by Bruce Hanna
just a dog by Bruce Hanna nice dog some kind of retriever but darker, smaller gray, not blushing blonde just a dog in church first time I saw her with a green vest don’t pet me, service dog in training oh, don’t touch in restaurants, grocery stores parks, movies motels,
WSF Puyallup crew makes two rescues in one day
||| from Washington State Ferries ||| On Labor Day, the crew of Puyallup saved the lives of multiple boaters during two separate rescues! The first involved a man suffering from heart problems on a nearby pleasure craft by our Kingston terminal. Our crew quickly deployed its rescue boat with Second Mate Jesse
Cost-share program will assist in upgrading buoys for eelgrass habitat
||| from Katie Fleming for Friends of the San Juans ||| Opportunity to help protect and restore eelgrass, herring, and salmon in the San Juans Pacific herring – also known as forage fish – play a key role in marine food webs as food for out- migrating juvenile salmon, seabirds,
Health Officer’s new order lifts limits on lodging, camping, playgrounds
||| from Brendan Cowan, Department of Emergency Management ||| Effective September 10, San Juan County Health Officer Dr. Frank James has signed Order No. 2020-9, lifting the 50% capacity restrictions on transient lodging. Operating at 100% capacity is allowed immediately. This order also immediately lifts the closure of all public
More wildfire smoke impacts expected through the weekend
||| from San Juan County Communications ||| A mass of smoke is currently sitting over Southwestern Washington. This smoke, from wildfires in Washington, Oregon and California, is expected to move north starting [Friday} and likely impact much of Western Washington through the weekend as it is pushed by southerly winds.
