Here’s a thought…
“When is the time we all get to eat cake? I don’t want to miss it!”
ANONYMOUS
OISD spells out continuous learning status
-- from Eric Webb, Orcas Schools Superintendent -- Dear Students, Parents, Staff, & Community, On April 6, Governor Inslee extended his initial proclamation by declaring that all school buildings are to remain closed throughout the remainder of the 2019–20 school year. He also made it clear that learning is not to
Tuning out the pandemic | What a Wonderful World by Ron Myers
— from your community — Our musical community reaches out during an unscheduled pandemic to share their tunes. Because music soothes, centers, distracts us. WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD | Ron Myers (music available for purchase) If you have music you wish to share, send us an MP3 file to editor@theorcasonian.com.
Lions Club to award scholarships; apply now
-- from Martin Arnold for Orcas Island Lions Club -- The Orcas Island Lions Club and Foundation is responsible for administering the funds for five academic awards: Abrahamsen Family Vocational Scholarship, Joseph Bond Vocational Scholarship, Jim Golithon Vocational Scholarship, the Leonard Wellman Academic Scholarship, and Vic Hughes Academic Scholarship. The
Inslee provides additional guidance on school closures, impact on available services
-- from the Office of Governor Jay Inslee -- On Monday, Gov. Jay Inslee and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal announced the extension of K-12 school closures through the remainder of the academic year. The order provides a direction for schools as they plan for the remainder of the
Pandemic Poetry | You Can’t Have it All by Barbara Ras
You Can't Have it All by Barbara Ras But you can have the fig tree and its fat leaves like clown handsgloved with green. You can have the touch of a single eleven-year-old fingeron your cheek, waking you at one a.m. to say the hamster is back.You can have the
Great Islands Clean Up becomes month-long individual effort
-- from Pete Moe for Orcas Island Recycling Services -- In honor of Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary this April, Islanders areencouraged to use the whole month to help clean up roads and beaches during wellness walks. Due to health concerns, the Spring Great Islands Clean-Up has been cancelled as a
Inslee statement on Century Link field hospital redeployment
-- from the Office of Governor Jay Inslee -- Gov. Jay Inslee today announced that after consultation with local, state and federal leaders, the Department of Defense field hospital currently stationed at the Century Link Field Event Center will be returned to the Federal Emergency Management Agency so it can
Reprinted without permission | How to tell this story
Author: Rabbi Steve Cohen, Congregation B’nai B’rith, Santa Barbara CA Friday night, March 27 2020 Shabbat Shalom everyone. Passover is coming. In less than two weeks, Jews all over the world will retell our ancient story of one endless night over three thousand years ago, during which the Angel of
Tuning out the pandemic | Living the Good Life by Carl Burger
— from your community — Our musical community reaches out during an unscheduled pandemic to share their tunes. Because music soothes, centers, distracts us. LIVING THE GOOD LIFE | Carl Burger If you have music you wish to share, send us an MP3 file to editor@theorcasonian.com.
Letter to Editor | ‘Shout out’ to Island Market staff
-- from David Kobrin -- Among those many folks who are working assiduously to care for our island’s residents during these frightening times, I want to give a special “shout out” to those people working in Island Market. Despite the extra work burdens required to make shopping at the market
Meaningful films for uncertain times
-- by Matthew Gilbert, Orcas Issues reporter -- “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” -- Anais Nin For the last several years, I’ve been writing/curating a film review newsletter of entertaining, provocative, and
HOT TOPIC #13 | Checking in on our current situation
COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders -- from Brendan Cowan for Department of Emergency Management -- We want to check in with the islands, share thoughts, and help with general expectation setting. Obviously this has been an incredibly challenging time, and clearly there’s
Inslee, Department of Commerce announce support for small businesses
-- from Governor Jay Inslee's Office -- Gov. Jay Inslee today announced additional steps to help mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19. “We know this isn’t everything we need to recover. We know we have a long economic recovery ahead of us," Inslee said. "The work ahead remains intense, and
Eastsound Water announces financial assistance programs
-- from Paul Kamin for Eastsound Water -- In response to the COVID 19 virus and its impact on ourcommunity, Eastsound Water has developed several initiativesto help support our members and customers, while anticipating the financial impacts on the water system. Eastsound Water has created a Service Fee Deferral Program
Pandemic Poetry | from the Victorious Ones by Chris Nealon
from The Victorious Ones Chris Nealon Then came fire It wasn’t yet a new world, or the end of the old one But water, money, feeling overspilled their banks There was finally something real to be afraid of There was finally no reason to fear Even animals approached us as
County Health Officer updates Council
-- by Minor Lile, Orcas Issues reporter -- At Tuesday’s County Council meeting, County Health Officer Dr. Frank James said that in his view it is likely that economic activity in the County will be able to return to some level of normalcy by early July. He also cautioned that
