Register or join an event or class by going to the Calendar of Events, finding the class or event, and following the instructions listed.
New to Zoom? Go to our Zoom Like a Pro page to find out how to use Zoom.
COVID-19 Booster Clinics in October
San Juan County Health and Community Services is bringing back Bird’s Eye Medical the week of Oct. 17 to provide bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccinations on San Juan, Lopez, and Orcas Islands. For more information, go here.
Senior Council Districts: Separation Update
Earlier this spring, the Board of Directors of the Senior Services Council of San Juan County (SSCSJC) voted to transfer the operational functions of its three District Committees to three stand-alone nonprofit organizations. The Orcas, Lopez, and San Juan District Committees have been working toward a seamless transition since April. At its meeting August 18, the Board amended its bylaws to move District elections from October to January to help the SSCSJC remain consistent as it transitions.
All three District Committees are currently working with San Juan County and Whatcom Council on Aging (WCOA) to transfer business agreements for transportation and nutrition programs to the three new nonprofits. With separate nonprofits, patrons of Senior Centers should notice little if any changes other than improved services.
The transition is expected to be completed over the next several months. District Committees will continue to operate their senior centers just as they do now until the new nonprofit organizations are ready to assume their new roles. Donations earmarked for a specific center will continue to go to that island’s senior center. Centers do not anticipate any decrease in services, classes, activities or offerings. Instead, the transition period is an opportunity to prepare for improved responsiveness and engagement as each location prepares to move forward independently.
Additional information about the transition is posted on the websites of the senior centers on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands.
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On April 21, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Senior Services Council of San Juan County (SSCSJC) voted to transfer the operational functions of its three District Committees to three stand-alone nonprofit organizations. The purpose of this decision is to better and more efficiently serve seniors and people living with disabilities on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands. We expect the transition to occur with minimal disruption to client services and business partners. Read the rest of this message here and here. Read the resolutions of the SSCSJC Board of Directors, go here. Read the press release here. For Frequently Asked Questions, go here.
COVID-19: Be in the Know
To see the latest information about San Juan County’s COVID vaccination effort, including eligibility and announcements of vaccination dates, and to schedule a vaccine appointment, go here.
Could you use a QR code to quickly scan or a link for a digital copy of your COVID verification record? Go to WAverify here.
Do you know a community member who needs extra assistance with signing up for the COVID-19 vaccine? If so, help is available through a collaboration between San Juan County Health and Community Services, Orcas Senior Center, and Orcas Community Resource Center.
Please contact San Juan County Senior Services Specialist Jami Mitchell at (360) 376-7926 or Jana Webb from Orcas Community Resource Center at (360) 376-3184 for details regarding this assistance.
Keep up to date with the latest information about COVID-19 locally, statewide, and globally:
San Juan County
Washington State Department of Health
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
World Health Organization
Real Time Air Quality Measurements @ OSC
As part of its Air Quality Monitoring Project, San Juan County has installed a PM2.5 monitor on the Orcas Senior Center building.
What are PM2.5? PM2.5, which stands for “Particulate Matter 2.5, are microscopic particles that are only a tiny percentage of the diameter of a human hair in size (2.5 micrometers or smaller, to be exact). Their microscopic size allows them to bypass the protective areas of the nose and throat and penetrate deep into the lungs, potentially causing health problems. On Orcas Island, the most common sources of PM2.5 are motor vehicles, residential wood burning, and seasonal forest fires.
The box below shows up-to-date readings from the PM2.5 air quality monitor installed at the Orcas Senior Center. Any number less than 50 is considered to be generally safe. Click on the “Purple Air Map” text at the bottom to get even more information from the sensor and to see readings in other locations.
For public health guidance from San Juan County Health & Human Services for PM2.5 concentrations, go here.