Here’s a thought…
“The only Zen you find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.”
ROBERT M. PIRSIG
State Health Department releases statement on data delays
-- from State Health Department -- We want to make you aware that DOH experienced an outage with our reporting system today (7/31), which means today’s report will be posted late. The outage caused interruptions in several functions, which means the data we report will be preliminary. Today’s data will
Inslee issues contact tracing proclamation, protects personal information
-- from Governor Inslee's Office -- Gov. Jay Inslee issued a proclamation today related to the state's contact tracing efforts and personal information protection. Proclamation 20-64 exempts personally identifiable information collected by COVID-19 case investigators from public disclosure. The proclamation does not provide additional exemptions for employees or volunteers who are
Record $5.2 million gift expands Turtleback Preserve
Precedent-setting donation also returns land to the Lummi Nation -- from Tanja Williamson for San Juan County Land Bank -- The San Juan County Land Bank and San Juan Preservation Trust today announced the acquisition and permanent conservation of a 36-acreaddition to the Turtleback Mountain Preserve on Orcas Island. Concurrently,
Today’s recap of COVID-19 news, updates, and stuff
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Newest numbers. The state of Washington reported 825 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of cases to 55,803 as of July 29 at 11:59 p.m. The total number of deaths are at 1,564. For the most
Senior Center continues helping, even with doors closed
-- from Lena Kassa for Orcas Senior Center -- What do you miss most about the Senior Center being closed during these days of the pandemic? The coffee and community that comes together inside the front door? The opportunity to visit with friends and share stories? Exercise classes? Access to
WSF shares crew updates, including Life Ring award winners
-- from Washington State Ferries -- Life ring awards Our staff and crew regularly provide emergency aid and assistance. The WSF Life Ring Award, the ferry system’s highest honor, is given to either individuals or an entire ship’s crew when the action by either was clearly the difference in saving a person’s
Dr. Frank James gives a peek into how virus decisions are made in San Juan County
-- by Minor Lile, Orcas Issues reporter -- As Public Health Officer for San Juan County, Dr. Frank James has played a prominent role in the community response to the Coronavirus pandemic. This past Tuesday we talked for about an hour in a conversation that touched on a wide range
Cemetery District meeting scheduled for next week
--- from Scott Miller for SJC Cemetery District #3 -- The August General Meeting for the San Juan County Cemetery District #3 (Orcas Island), scheduled for 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, will be held as a virtual Zoom meeting. The agenda is available online at the District website.
Recap of COVID-19 news and updates for this day
-- from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray -- Newest numbers. The state of Washington reported 793 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of cases to 54,985 as of July 28 at 11:59 p.m. The total number of deaths are at 1,555. For the most
Public input requested for Coffelt Farm Preserve survey
-- from San Juan County Land Bank -- Coffelt Farm Preserve Public Input Survey : The Conservation Agriculture Resource Team (CART-Coffelt) was formed at the request of the San Juan County Land Bank Commission to assess and develop recommendations for future farm operations at Coffelt Farm Preserve. The team consists
Letter to Editor | OPALCO manager’s salary keeps rising
-- from Alex MacLeod -- A year or so ago I reported that we OPALCO ratepayers had forked over nearly $400,000 in total compensation in 2017 to our general manager, Foster Hildreth. I wrote at the time that if his pay increased in 2018 at the same rate it had
Art dancing with wind, sky is new Orcas Center exhibit
-- from Kathy Youngren -- The art of 21 local artists will be dancing in the wind in front of Orcas Center for the next few months in the ORCAS STRONG banner exhibit starting August 8. Each artist was provided a 3’x 5’ nylon banner and asked to create an
Larsen secures key win with Water Resources Development Act
-- from Rep. Rick Larsen's Office -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, helped secure passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020, bipartisan legislation that invests in U.S. ports, channels, waterways, flood control and ecosystem restoration. The
Health Care District community conversation with Island Hospital Thursday
-- from Anne Presson for Orcas Island Health Care District -- The next phase of the Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD) Medical Clinic Operator Request for Proposal (RFP) is a Special Board Meeting/Community Conversation with the leadership of Island Hospital. This is the chance for the new CEO and
High-risk employee proclamation extended
-- from Governor Inslee's Office -- Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the extension of proclamation 20-46.1, first issued in April, which relates to protections for high-risk employees and workers' rights. As a result of new CDC guidance regarding people at increased risk for severe illness, the extension will provide a clarifying guidance memo. The guidance memo
Inslee releases updated reopening guidance
-- from Governor Jay Inslee's Office -- Gov. Jay Inslee today released an additional guidance document following last week's announcement of guidance updates in Washington's Safe Start phased reopening plan following the extension of the proclamation. The memo outlines the updates to gatherings, live entertainment, restaurants and taverns, entertainment and recreational centers, card rooms, movie theaters,
