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
Three new positive COVID-19 cases identified on San Juan
-- from Brendan Cowan, Department of Emergency Management -- Over the weekend of July 11-12, three new positive COVID cases were reported on San Juan Island. Two of these cases were close contacts of each other. In total, over 20 close contacts of those two positive individuals have been identified
Inslee requests extension of National Guard mission for COVID-19 pandemic response
-- from Governor Jay Inslee's Office -- Gov. Jay Inslee sent a letter today to the Trump administration requesting an extension of federal authority and funding for Washington National Guard employment in support of COVID-19 pandemic emergency response operations through December 31, 2020. The letter reads, in part: "As the number of positive
Letter to Editor | Upcoming school levy is critical
-- from Janet Brownell, Tony Ghazel, Scott Lancaster, and Chris Sutton -- In the past, the four of us have all been on the Orcas Island School Board. Collectively, we have decades of service to our public schools. We have served together, and separately. There are times we did not
Library welcomes multi-award-winning author via Zoom
-- from Mary Pugh for Orcas Island Library -- Join us as we talk with multiple award-winning author Kij Johnson, in her own words a “writer, dreamer, fritterer.” She did not start writing until she was twenty-five, yet still has an impressive lineup: novels, short stories, essays, poetry, script, and
No EPRC walkabout meeting tomorrow
-- from Leith Templin -- EPRC meeting scheduled for tomorrow with a walkabout has been cancelled. We are unable to legally walk about so that has been cancelled. The meeting on 13 has been postponed until July 30. Time and zoom link to be announced later.
Two proposals leave many Health District questions still to be answered
-- by Susan McBain, Orcas Issues reporter -- One thing became very clear at both the Orcas Island Health Care District’s regular meeting on July 7 and its public Town Hall on July 9: The commissioners still need many detailed answers from both groupsproposing to open a consolidated medical clinic
Michael Durland announces his candidacy for County Council
-- from Michael Durland -- I moved to Orcas Island in 1977 and raised a family here. I have served as a member of the Marine Resources Committee and a member of Island Oil Spill Association. I started and continue to run two local businesses. I ran for County Council in 2016
Southern Resident Orca – long absences punctuated by sporadic sightings
A closer look at July 4 Encounter #33 with J Pod -- from Katie Jones, CWR Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center Manager -- J31 and J56 during Encounter #33 (Photograph by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research) If you aren’t already a CWR Member, you may want to consider becoming
Fire Commission to meet in special session
-- from Kim Kimple for Orcas Island Fire & Rescue -- Special Meeting Agenda San Juan County Fire Protection District #2 Tuesday – July 14th, 2020 1:00 p.m. Online / by phone via ZOOM: Dial # (253) 215-8782 / Meeting ID: 894 0124 0038/ Passcode: 371639 Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89401240038?pwd=SFR5bHQwbWZmeGZUY1lYTVhhVGJoUT09 ______________________________________________________________________________
OISD Education Programs and Operations Levy will be on August ballot
-- from Eric Webb, Orcas Schools Superintendent -- At the primary election on August 4, 2020, voters in the Orcas Island School District will be asked to consider reauthorizing the Education Programs and Operations Levy (formerly the Maintenance and Operations Levy) for the years 2021-2024. This levy provides nearly 20%
Tuning out the pandemic | Veni Sancte Spiritus from Orcas Choral Society
— from your community — Our musical community reaches out during an unscheduled pandemic to share their tunes. Because music soothes, centers, distracts us. Orcas Choral Society singing Veni Sancte Spiritus from Lux Aterna by Morten Lauridsen. This is live from the Spring concert 2018. Provided by Marianne Lewis. If
Letter to Editor | Being black on Orcas Island
-- from Tim Webster black man, father, veteran (USMC) -- My name is Tim Webster and I have lived on Orcas for 12 years. I am a Black man and known by many. People assume many things ( usually negative or violent) based on my skin color. It’s time to grow
Get organized before you die. Who me?
-- Aging Like a Guru by Rosie Kuhn -- My friend Katherine passed about a week ago. She was a great contribution to people’s lives in so many ways. She’d been a therapist and advocator for people’s well-being on so many levels. She certainly was a gift of joy, love
This week’s film comes from Germany
-- from Orcas Island Film Fest -- We hope you are enjoying all of the films in our virtual cinema. This week we are adding a film from Germany, "THE TOBACCONIST," a tender, heart-breaking story about one young man and his friendship with Sigmund Freud during the Nazi occupation of
New report shows COVID-19 transmission continues to accelerate across most of state
-- from Washington State Department of Health -- OLYMPIA – Today the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released the latest statewide situation report, which shows COVID-19 transmission is still accelerating across most of the state as of the end of June. The report highlights concerning COVID-19 trends in Spokane County, the
COVID-19 news and updates recap for today
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Newest numbers. The state of Washington reported a total of 39,218 confirmed cases and 1,424 deaths as of 11:59 p.m. July 9. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of Health's dashboard and the state’s COVID-19 risk assessment dashboard. Please note that the
