Here’s a thought…
“If you don’t vote you don’t exist. It is the only place where we’re all equal, the voting booth.”
GLORIA STEINEM
Eat, shop, stay, play locally: Here’s the second in a series of stories about small business survival
Small businesses are relying more than ever on your support as they creatively cope with COVID. ||| from San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau, EDC and the Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Island Chambers of Commerce ||| When COVID-19 became a global pandemic in March, all of us were suddenly navigating
How and why to avoid butt dialing from your cell phone, especially to 911
||| by Lin McNulty, Editor ||| It's known as pocket dialing, or, even more colloquially, as butt dialing. It's when your cell phone dials all on its own because it's been activated by sitting on it. And the number most dialed with this rear maneuver is 911. Depending upon
SJ Fire concurrently transports two moms in labor, two different islands, to Anacortes
||| from Chuck Dalldorf for San Juan Island Fire & Rescue ||| This time, it wasn’t the stork who made the middle of the night call to assist two pregnant mothers. Just before 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 13, pagers beeped throughout San Juan Island announcing an urgent need for
OPALCO is prepared for wildfire prevention – are you?
||| from Orcas Power and Light ||| Safety is the primary objective at the core of everything OPALCO does. OPALCO continues to use an aggressive Right-of-Way Program (tree and brush trimming along power lines) and the latest technologies to reduce flammable material and mitigate fire risk. The long-term investment is
State Health Dept. releases initial case investigation and contact tracing performance metrics
||| from State Health Department ||| OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) today published new data related to COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing efforts in Washington state. These data will now be available for the public to view via PDF and updated weekly. Results are available by week, starting
With an eye to the sky, ORS/The Exchange announces air quality closure policies
||| from ORS/The Exchange ||| In the interest of public health, and the health of our employees, ORS has developed a closure policy based on commonly referenced “Air Quality Index Scores,” or “AQI.” The Exchange reuse store will be closed if the AQI exceeds 200; and the entire Orcas Transfer
Friends gather to honor Dave Castor for his efforts to preserve Kokanee hatchery
||| from Didier Gincig ||| On Sept. 13th, friends gathered to honor Dave Castor for his many years of service to Moran State Park as a career park ranger and for his absolute dedication to the Kokanee salmon hatchery project at Cascade Lake. Over the years, many people have been
Auditor: Registered voters do not need to request a mail-in ballot
||| from Milene Henley, San Juan County Auditor ||| San Juan County voters have been receiving postcards from the U.S. Postal Service encouraging voters to “plan ahead” for the November 3 General Election. Unfortunately, two of the recommendations included in the postcards are not relevant to Washington voters. One of
A rare, legendary close-up Superpod with CWR’s Ken Balcomb
||| from Lodie Gilbert Budwill, Community Relations Coordinator ||| September 5, 2020. The day started out hazy with a lot of chop on the water. Visibility was poor for sighting whales from my location at Eagle Cove facing south. If it weren't for a distant breach, followed by a large
Recap of recent COVID-19 news and updates
||| from State Department of Health ||| Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 80,465 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on September 14. There have been 2,015 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
Fire Commission will ZOOM-meet in Thursday’s scheduled meeting
||| from Kim Kimple for Orcas Fire & Rescue ||| Regular Meeting Agenda San Juan County Fire Protection District #2 Thursday – September 17th, 2020 1:00 p.m. Online / by phone via ZOOM: Dial # (253) 215-8782 / Meeting ID: 838 9586 2598/ Passcode: 873351 Commissioners: Tim Fuller, Janet Marlow,
Friends of Orcas Library releases director nominee list
||| from Dave Kosiur for Friends of the Orcas Island Library || Ken Gibbs (Term 2021-2023)The Board of Directors of the FRIENDS OF THE ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY (FOIL) has approved the following nominees to be elected as Directors by the membership-at-large during the annual meeting on Sunday, October 18, 2020,
Garden Club reaches out for new members
||| from Orcas Island Garden Club ||| The Orcas Island Garden Club is heading into the fall season intending that our members are informed, stay connected, and remain excited about the world of gardening. We would normally invite the public to our first general meeting of the year, but until
Upcoming workshop: Growing a year-round hummingbird habitat garden
||| from Teresa Smith -- Master Gardener Publicity ||| San Juan County Master Gardeners welcome keynote speaker Robin Haglund to the Annual Gardening Workshop Series. Robin’s presentation, Growing a Year-Round Hummingbird Habitat Garden, guides you through crafting and maintaining a gorgeous year-round garden that provides habitat for our resident hummingbirds.
Fish For Teeth brings free mobile dental clinic to Friday Harbor
||| from Hayley Day ||| The October Fish For Teeth clinic will be at half capacity and only host patients in urgent need of care. Islanders unable to afford dental care can receive it for free thanks to the local nonprofit Fish For Teeth on Friday, Oct. 2
WA governor sends open letter to White House occupant about climate change
||| from Governor Jay Inslee's Office ||| Gov. Jay Inslee sent an open letter to President Donald Trump today, it reads in part, "Mr. President, I hope you had an enlightening trip to the West Coast, where your refusal to address climate change — and your active steps to enable even more
