Charter Review Commission to be elected in 2020
-- from Milene Henley, San Juan County Auditor -- Over the first eight months of 2005, a group of 21 County residents, representing a range of ages and politics, from all of the county’s geo-political districts, met sixteen times for the sole purpose of proposing a home rule charter for
Help OIEF raise $10,000 to feed Orcas kids
-- from Janet Brownell for Orcas Island Education Foundation -- During this unprecedented time of school closure, the OISD will be providing ALL children in our community with free breakfast and lunch during the school closure (with the exception of spring break). Staff will prepare bagged meals daily that will
SBA offers disaster assistance to Washington small businesses economically impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19)
-- from San Juan Development Council -- The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Washington small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA acted under its own authority, as provided
Letter to Editor | Nettles: Find ’em, cultivate ’em, enjoy ’em
-- from Susan Shannon -- Nettles! Now is good time to love the Island-and let it love you! A great antidote to the anxiety, fear and stress caused by the threat of COVID-19 and the run-away media coverage, is to go out and pick nettles! Not motivated by of fear, or scarcity,
Coming Thursday: Video update on COVID-19 response from County
-- from Brendan Cowan for SJC Department of Emergency Management -- In order to help directly answer community concerns, San Juan County will release its next COVID-19 video community update to the public on Thursday, March 19th at 5:00 p.m. Our latest question and answer session will be recorded rather
No food service on the ferries until further notice
-- from Washington State Ferries -- In response to Gov. Inslee’s directive to help stop the spread of COVID 19, and to protect the health and safety of employees and customers, all galleys on Washington State Ferries will be closed starting Tuesday, March 17. Food vendors at the Anacortes terminal
Orcas Physical Therapy shutters doors for safety
-- from Andrew Stephens and Scott Heisinger, Orcas Physical Therapy -- In light of the current Coronavirus pandemic, starting today, we feel it prudent for your safety, our staff’s safety and the safety of our community, to close our doors for the time being pending further information from the public
COVID cancellation | Chamber Music events with Monique Mead
-- from Linda Sloan for Chamber Music Festival -- The COVID-19 crisis has quickly turned the world upside down. Unfortunately, it has impacted the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival as well, and they are choosing to follow CDC guidelines regarding social distancing, causing them to postpone the OICMF March 16 -
Library Board calls special meeting on Tuesday
Tuesday, March 17, 3:30 p.m., Library Community Room --- from Philip Heikkinen -- Agenda Welcome & IntroductionsReview Proposals for NanaWall Preparation and InstallationOtherAdjournment A NanoWall
Inslee statement: We all need to do more
Inslee officially announces statewide shutdown of restaurants, bars and expanded social gathering limits -- from Governor Jay Inslee's Office -- Gov. Jay Inslee announced today an emergency proclamation that mandates the immediate two-week closure of all restaurants, bars, and entertainment and recreational facilities, as well as additional limits on large
Community Foundation releases visual social-distancing tutorial
-- from Hilary Canty for Orcas Island Community Foundation -- Just to get the point across..... OICF Flat People demonstrating appropriate Social Distancing: TOO CLOSE! MUCH BETTER!
COVID Cancellation | March Turtleback March
-- from Tanya Williamson for San Juan County Land Bank -- Peter and I have decided it would be best to cancel the March Turtleback March scheduled for Saturday. If you could please share with your readers, I would greatly appreciate it.
Orcas Island Film Festival to reschedule spring events
-- from Donna Laslo for Orcas Island Film Festival -- By now we are all too aware of the novel coronavirus and how it’s impacting our world health and economy. In order to contain or slow down the rate of infection, state and local officials are discouraging large gatherings. Orcas Island
New vlog launches: ‘Quarantined Together on Orcas Island’
Share your thoughts with Suzanne -- from Suzanne Olson -- Please write me a letter and tell me about what you are doing during this period of social distancing. I promise to write back to you and will publish your letters in my new vlog: Quarantined Together on Orcas Island.
Guest Opinion | Now is the time to support one another
-- from John Evans -- The COVID-19 event will have a major effect to life on Orcas island this spring and summer as services, restaurants, retail and tourist related businesses are closed for an unknown length of time. A shorter duration it is hoped. Most likely it will take some
HOT TOPIC #2 | School is closed, now what?
COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders. | from Brendan Cowan | Director, San Juan County Department of Emergency Management How isolated to we have to keep our kids now that schools are closed? For this Hot Topic, we reach out to Dr. Frank James, San
