Here’s a thought…
“Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.”
HEATHER FRENCH HENRY
Kruse Reviews | Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen
||| by Jens Kruse ||| Carl Hiaasen is the author of 14 previous novels and until now I had not read any of them. That turned out to be a mistake, because, if this one is a good indication, I would have had a lot more laughter in my
Be a superhero for planet earth! Great Islands Clean-up September 28 – October 4
||| from Orcas Recycling Services & The Exchange ||| We’re asking Superheroes of all ages to unite and help us clean-up our islands during this year’s annual Fall Great Islands Clean-up! The event will be a week-long household/individual effort beginning September 28 and running through October 4, 2020. This is
Letter to Editor | Think globally, but we need to elect locally
||| from Susan Mustard ||| Think globally, act locally. County government on our island has a huge impact on our lives. Recently Rick Hughes promised to be an “Environmental Warrior” in a third term in office. Below is a photo of an ever expanding auto junkyard on the very edge
Scientists baffled by orcas ramming sailing boats near Spain and Portugal
||| from the Guardian ||| Scientists have been left baffled by incidents of orcas ramming sailing boats along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. In the last two months, from southern to northern Spain, sailors have sent distress calls after worrying encounters. Two boats lost part of their rudders, at least one crew
Unemployed from construction industry? Skagit Valley is here for you
||| from Arden Ainley for Skagit Valley College ||| Continue receiving unemployment while attending Skagit Valley College and have your tuition, books, and school-related fees covered! Unemployed from the Construction industry? Did you know you can continue receiving unemployment while attending Skagit Valley College’and sometimes receive a benefits extension because
Guest Opinion | Be prepared for Prune Alley
||| from Fred Klein ||| Main Street, Eastsound If you love and appreciate Eastsound, listen up. If you experience and enjoy the look, the feel, the ambiance of Eastsound’s Main Street as you enter the village…the landscaping, the street trees, the meandering sidewalk as it weaves around the little pockets
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
