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.
Mammogram Van is Back, September 19, 20, and 21!
Assured Imaging will be at Orcas Senior Center again this year with their Mammogram Van on September 19, 20, and 21. This service is open to anyone of any age. Although one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, nearly all breast cancer is treated successfully if detected early. Assured Imaging offers a relaxed atmosphere with a friendly, professional, all-female clinical staff.
All major insurance is accepted, and no referral is necessary. To schedule an appointment, contact Assured Imaging directly at 888-233-6121 or go here for online scheduling.
Senior Council Districts: Separation Update
At its April 21, 2022 meeting, 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. This change is designed to simplify and enhance operation of the senior centers in all three geographic areas.
Since April, the Orcas, Lopez, and San Juan District Committees have worked to establish the infrastructure and instruments necessary for a seamless transition. Three nonprofit organizations have been identified to undertake the functions of the three senior centers in San Juan County. They are Friends of Orcas Senior Center, Lopez Island Senior Center, and Mullis Community Senior Center.
Current District Committees have begun work with partners to transfer business agreements to the three separate nonprofits. Directors of the SSCSJC corporation have met with San Juan County and Whatcom Council on Aging staff to revise agreements for providing nutrition and transportation services to ensure a successful transition.
With separate nonprofits, patrons of the senior centers should notice few if any changes other than improved services. The goal is to transition functions from one overarching nonprofit to three separate nonprofits, with minimum disruption to client services and business partners so that services are enhanced for seniors and adults with disabilities in San Juan County. The three organizations can still collaborate on selected projects and grants, as desired.
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 senior center will continue to go to that senior center. Centers do not anticipate any decrease in services, classes, activities, or offerings. Instead, this transition period is an opportunity for planning great improvement, 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.
————–
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.
Moderna Boosters Available Now
Moderna boosters are available at Ray’s Pharmacy and San Juan County for persons aged 50 and older or significantly immunocompromised, and who received their previous COVID-19 shot at least four months ago.
To register for an appointment at Ray’s Pharmacy, go here. For San Juan County, go here.
Questions? Call Elsie Pamuk at (360) 298-4344.
Free COVID-19 At-Home Tests
The federal government announced that every home in the United States is eligible to receive four free at-home COVID-19 tests.
Order your four free at-home tests 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
Buddy Check-In
Are you a senior? Would you appreciate a regular phone check-in by an Orcas Senior Center volunteer during your self-isolation?
Are you interested in volunteering as a buddy?
Contact Jim Glozier at Jim@orcasseniors.org or (360) 919-9318 or click the button below.
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.