Community Leaders Urge Islanders to Stay Home for the HolidaysOver recent months, we’ve been able to enjoy a slow reopening of our islands. Restaurants, gatherings, shops, gyms, and most recently schools have all made slow progress towards returning to a limited version of normal. Those gains are now at risk, and the prospect of upcoming holiday travel is looming as an even greater threat to the health and livelihood of our community. We urge all islanders to stay local and keep your holiday gatherings small. Now is not the time to host family from across the state or beyond. Now is not the time to gather indoors with those from outside your household. Now is not the time to leave the islands to visit others. And now is certainly not the time to get on an airplane. Now is the time to keep it simple and local, mask up, and protect our community and those most at risk. Stay healthy, stay home. Regards, Eric Webb, Superintendent, Orcas Island Schools Fred Woods, Superintendent, San Juan Island Schools Mark Tompkins, Director, San Juan County Health Jennifer Swanson, Superintendent, Shaw Island School Dr. Dale Heisinger, Chair, San Juan County Board of Health Travis Ayers, President, Luxel Corporation Sandy Bishop, Executive Director, Lopez Comm.Land Trust Brian Auckland, Superintendent, Lopez Island Schools Jamie Stephens, San Juan County Council Adam Eltinge, Owner, Island Petroleum Services Jack Estrada, Interim Chief Admin. Officer, Peace Island Med. Ctr. Kai Sanburn, Lopez Island Mike Thomas, Manager, San Juan County Duncan Wilson, Administrator, Town of Friday Harbor Victoria Compton, Executive Direct., SJC Economic Dev. Council Christa Campbell, Lopez Island Recovery Network Brent Snow, General Manager, Roche Harbor Resort Laurie Orton, Director, San Juan Island Library Dr. Frank James, Health Officer, San Juan County Todd Nicholson, Director, Port of Friday Harbor Deborah Hopkins, Executive Director, SJI Visitors’ Bureau Rick Hughes, Chair, San Juan County Council Brendan CowanSan, Juan County Emergency Management Jacob Linnes, Manager, Orcas Island Market Phil Heikkinen, Director, Orcas Island Library Bill Watson, San Juan County Council Iris Graville, President, Lopez Island Hospital District Anne Presson, Superintendent, Orcas and Lopez Public Hosp. Districts