Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Have a gardening question? WSU Master Gardeners available to help
-- from Caitlin Blethen, Master Gardener Program Coordinator -- Dear San Juan County community, San Juan County has over 70 WSU Master Gardener volunteers who are trained as horticulture educators. Due to COVID-19 and related Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, we will not be in the community this spring as usual, but are available
Alchemy Art Center creates opportunities for creativity at home
Just because we can’t gather in person, doesn’t mean we can’t connect through art! -- from Glenn Hendrick for Alchemy Art Center -- In lieu of the in-person classes and workshops that had been planned for the spring, Alchemy Art Center is now introducing a series of free/donation art opportunities
Orcas Center | Closed but busy serving the community
-- from Bev Polis,Orcas Center Board President -- One of the hardest decisions we had to make was closing down activities at Orcas Center. That included classes, art showings, productions, meetings and gatherings of all kinds. After all, it was just a few weeks ago we were in full swing
HOT TOPIC #10 | Medical surge planning: Hoping for the best, planning for the worst
COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders -- from Brendan Cowan, Department of Emergency Management -- Many in the islands are wondering how San Juan County is preparing in case access to mainland medical care becomes limited. This is known as medical surge, which
Cemetery District meeting moves to Zoom
-- from Pierrette Guimond -- The April General Meeting for the San Juan County Cemetery District #3 (Orcas Island), scheduled for 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1 will be held as a virtual Zoom meeting. The agenda is available online at the Orcas Cemetery website.
County government remains ready to serve
-- from San Juan County Communications -- A list of San Juan County Government Departments, their status during the COVID-19 crisis, and info on how to access services has been posted online. This resource will be updated going forward, and is intended to help citizens utilize vital San Juan County
EDC offering free business counseling, other resources
-- from Victoria Compton for Economic Development Council -- These are challenging times. We know that you are facing extraordinary difficulties right now and we want to help.Local non-profits such as ourselves, and government agencies at all levels, are working to create programs to help businesses, employees, and the community as
Food Bank encourages anyone who needs food to come to Food Bank
The Food Bank thanks a generous community -- from the Orcas Island Food Bank Board and Volunteers -- At a time when there are so many needs, the Orcas Island Food Bank has been there to do its part. But it could not happen without the community. And ours has
Inslee issues additional waivers of state laws and agency requirements
-- from Governor Jay Inslee's Office -- Gov. Jay Inslee today announced new measures that waive certain statutory and regulatory requirements as part of the state's ongoing response to the COVID-19 outbreak: Department of Corrections Community Supervision Violators Waiver: This proclamation waives a statutory provision on violators of community supervision
Pandemic Poetry | Rufus Hummingbird Reflections by Jens Kruse
Rufus Hummingbird Reflections -- by Jens Kruse -- A few days ago a rufus hummingbird arrived at my feeder. He – I have seen no females yet – was an inspiring sight: Selasphorus rufus had come here all the way from Mexico. They come here every year, but this year
County Treasurer: Property taxes and COVID-19
-- from San Juan County Communications -- As many of you are aware, the due date for the first half of the property taxes is April 30 which is about four weeks away. Some property owners have expressed concern over their ability to make the first half payment now that they
Letter to Editor | To mask or not to mask?
-- from Beth Dixon -- Many people in the island community, along with others around the world, are making homemade masks. The original impetus for doing this seems largely to have originated with a desire to provide them to our healthcare workers and other vulnerable citizens. They certainly need them!
Rich Europeans flee virus for island homes, spreading fear and fury
-- from MSN News -- ÎLE DE NOIRMOUTIER, France — On their peaceful island off France’s Atlantic Coast, some of the locals watched, with growing dread and rage, the images from Paris. As rumors began circulating about an imminent nationwide lockdown to stem the coronavirus outbreak, hordes of Parisians jammed into
Auditor: April special election is cancelled
-- from Milene Henley, San Juan County Auditor -- On March 17, Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman formally asked Governor Jay Inslee to cancel the April special election. On March 26, the Governor made the decision not to cancel the election. The only measure on San Juan County’s ballot
What about shopping and delivery exposures? Is it on the bag?
-- from Washington Post -- Joseph G. Allen is an assistant professor of exposure and assessment science and director of the Healthy Buildings Program at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine is making people think twice about how they might
HOT TOPIC #9 | Navigating nature
COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders -- from Brandon Cadwell, Chief of Visitor and Youth Engagement, San Juan Island National Historical Park -- Now is the time to take the road less traveled. Or perhaps, the trail or sidewalk less traveled. As the
