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
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.
A tree burns on Seaview Street, still smoldering as it is cut down
||| from Kim Kimple for Orcas Island Fire ||| Orcas Island Fire personnel responded to reports of a brush fire in the 300- block of Seaview Street on Orcas Island at 6:15 Thursday morning. Upon arrival, crews witnessed an approximate 60-foot by 70-foot patch of smoldering grass involving one large
OIFF to host upcoming 5-film series at the drive-in
||| from Orcas Island Film Festival ||| For the past six years, the Orcas Island Film Festival has been providing a world-class film experience on Orcas Island. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sadly, we have to postpone our annual in-person film festival until next year, October 9-13, 2021. In lieu
School District readies for Child Find screenings to identify learning challenges
||| from Orcas Island School District ||| Leer en español Are you worried about your child’s development? • Does the child seem to have hearing or vision issues? • Does your child have difficulty communicating with people outside the family? • Does your child have difficulty keeping up with other
Letter to Editor | Open letter to WSF asks for explanations
||| from Bob Distler ||| Mr. Sterling, It is now 7:10 p.m. [Wednesday, September 9, 2020] The m/v Samish is not shown on Vessel Watch information, but the map shows the boat in Anacortes. The m/v Yakima apparently has no schedule, although the map display indicates it is off Lopez. The WSF schedule for
Burn ban extended indefinitely in San Juan County
It's dangerous out there right now ||| from the San Juan County Fire Marshal's office ||| Due to rising fire danger and stretched resources, San Juan County is extending the current burn ban to prohibit all outdoor fires, effective immediately and until further notice. This change is prompted by several
Census: How it helps you and your neighbors when you participate
||| from Economic Development Council ||| Did you know that completing the US Census brings $3000 per person per year back to the community from the federal government? Over a 10-year period, that's $30,000 per person, and in San Juan County with a 2018 population of 17,128 people, that's $51,384,000
Guest Opinion | Keeping score: Trump’s broken promises
||| from Hedrick Smith, ReclaimTheAmericanDream.org ||| Maybe you’ve forgotten, as I had, how sharply candidate Donald Trump declared war on Wall Street back in 2016, savaging Hillary Clinton as ”the puppet” of Wall Street – “they pull the strings” – and personally vowing to generate an economic renaissance that would
Let’s talk seniors and cannabis at Senior Center ZOOM meet
MEETING OF THE MINDS – SENIORS & CANNABIS: LET’S TALK ON ZOOM @ ORCAS SENIOR CENTER BY ZOOM (Wednesday, September 16, 1:00-2:00pm) ||| from Lena Kassa for Orcas Senior Center ||| While our physical doors at Orcas Senior Center remain closed due to the coronavirus, our virtual doors are opening
Guest Opinion | We dodged a big bullet
||| from Michael Riordan ||| Just over three months ago, San Juan County entered Phase 2 of the governor’s Safe Start program during Memorial Day weekend, and we have so far experienced only 32 confirmed coronavirus cases in all — and no deaths — despite the summer surge of tourists
EDC higlights business funding opportunities that are closing soon
||| from Economic Development Council ||| Funding Opportunities Closing Soon Reminder of funding opportunities that are closing soon: Open to employers who pay unemployment taxes: Offset benefit charges from the ESD (deadline 9/30/20) Open to for profit businesses (SJC only): Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant - 2 program (deadline THURSDAY
