Here’s a thought…
“No one, I mean no one, has the right to sit in judgment of who’s American enough.”
MICHELLE OBAMA
About that killer whale named “Mike”
-- from Katie Jones, Center for Whale Research-- As an educator, I am always looking for ways to relay good stories to people while also delivering facts about this very special, very critically endangered population of killer whales. Stories are one of the best ways to help form an emotional
Preliminary primary results for county positions are in
Preliminary San Juan County primary results, last tabulated at 8 p.m. today, are now posted. There have been 4,270 ballots counted with an estimated 3,500 left to be counted. Currently, Cindy Wolf leads incumbent Rick Hughes by a sliver of 16 votes. The next ballot count is to be 8
Breaking News: Health District will proceed to negotiations with Island Hospital
-- by Susan McBain, Orcas Issues reporter -- At this evening's meeting of the Orcas Island Health Care District, the commissioners voted 5-0 to begin negotiations with Island Hospital (IH) to operate a consolidated medical clinic on Orcas Island. The decision opens the door to continuing discussion of the specific
School Board calls community virtual town hall to address plans for Fall
-- from Orcas Island School Board -- Notice of a Special School Board Meeting and Community Virtual Town Hall Wednesday, AUGUST 5, 2020 ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5474235505 6:00pm - CALL TO ORDER – SPECIAL MEETING – via ZOOM Lisa Byers will be moderating a Town Hall and answering previously
New report highlights COVID-19 outbreak data across the state
-- from Washington State Department of Health -- OLYMPIA -- A new report from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) helps illustrate which types of businesses and facilities experience the most COVID-19 outbreak activity. These data are aggregated from all counties that report data to DOH, and the report contains both healthcare
WA organizations of color condemn census cuts
Local door-to-door census canvassing to begin later this week -- from Ellie Probus for Washington Census Alliance -- SEATTLE—The Washington Census Alliance, a coalition of more than 90 Black and Brown-led community organizations across Washington state, condemned the newly announced Census Bureau decision to cut door-to-door census outreach and self-response short by
Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) and the Deficit Myth
Adopting this framework could enable us to spend money on solving all the problems we have in this country. It really sounds too good to be true, but it is real. -- from David Turnoy -- The current pandemic and resulting economic crisis have produced a situation calling for trillions
Today’s recap of COVID-19 news and updates
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Newest numbers. The state of Washington reported 633 new COVID-19 cases. This brings the total number of cases to 58,173 as of August 1, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. The total number of deaths are at 1,596. For the most recent tally of cases
Summary of recent cases in San Juan County
-- from Brendan Cowan, Department of Emergency Management -- San Juan County is shifting to a weekly roll-up of new cases. This is the first of those reports. Going forward, the report will be issued on Thursday of each week. In addition to providing for additional time to review results
Letter to Editor | Fund network of alternative medicine providers
-- from Domenic Verbano -- I urge you to fund an Island Network of island physicians, chiropractors, acupuncturists, nutritionists, and movement therapists, as well as others, to work at and in conjunction with a locally owned and operated Orcas Island Clinic. We can do this together. Bring in people to
Letter to Editor | Choosing Island Hospital will be a mistake
-- from Spirit Eagle -- I feel that if the board chooses Island Hospital to run our clinic again, it will be a mistake. We have talent here. Seeking professionals off island, when we have perfectly capable island physicians and auxiliary personnel here who care about our community because it
County Council to receive testimony on 2020 annual docket
-- from San Juan County Communications -- NOTICE OF A SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE TESTIMONY ON THE 2020 ANNUAL DOCKET OF PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE SAN JUAN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE The San Juan County Council will hold a public hearing to
Clarification to restaurant guidance, new summer camp guidance
-- from Governor Jay Inslee's Office -- Gov. Jay Inslee today announced updates to the July 24 guidance for restaurants, taverns, breweries, wineries and distilleries as part of Washington's Safe Start phased reopening plan. Changes include clarification about which establishments can offer indoor seating, temporary outdoor seating guidance and counter-style seating clarifications. Read the full
Current board vacancies in need of filling
-- from San Juan County Communications -- The County Council is searching for San Juan County citizens to fill current and upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions. Additional information about each committee is available on the County's website at: http://sanjuanco.com/641/Board-Committee-Vacancies. Persons interested in serving on a board or advisory committee
Poem for today: I saw Emmett Till this week at the grocery store
I saw Emmett Till this week at the grocery store By Eve L. Ewing looking over the plums, one by onelifting each to his eyes andturning it slowly, a little earth,checking the smooth skin for pockmarksand rot, or signs of unkind days or people,then sliding them gently into the plastic.whistling
Island Hospital makes its case to Health District
-- from Susan McBain, Orcas Issues reporter -- Three senior executives from Island Hospital—Charles Hall, CEO; Elise Cutter, COO; and Patty Codd, Director of Clinic Operations—attended the July 30 special meeting of the Orcas Island Health Care District. They were there to present details of their proposal to operate a
