by STEVE WERHLY Journal reporter The county council voted unanimously in favor of the underdogs for management of the Orcas Island and San Juan Island solid waste transfer stations. Orcas Recycling Services, the nonprofit company that now operates The Exchange at the Orcas Transfer Station, was given the go- ahead on Nov. 20 to negotiate an operating agreement for full operations at the county- owned transfer station, including the garbage truck tipping floor and recycling, reuse, and waste reduction programs included in the Request for Proposals issued by the county in May 2012. “It’s been a long road for us to reach this point,” said Mark De Tray of Orcas Recycling after the council meeting. “But at each step, our confidence increased as we improved our proposal.” For drop-box and related operations at the Sutton Road transfer station on San Juan Island, the council instructed the county Public Works Department to negotiate a five-year operating contract with a consortium of Ken-Tec Energy USA of Lynnwood and Lautenbach Industries of Mt. Vernon. Ken-Tec and Lautenbach were responding to a Request for Proposals issued in August. For both locations, the county spurned pro- posals from Cimarron Enterprises, an affiliate of Cimarron Trucking, which hauls garbage and recycling from Orcas Island to Waste Management Inc. facilities in Seattle and Woodinville, Wash. In July, the initial report of the Orcas Vendor Selection Committee recommended that the council select Cimarron Enterprises to oper- ate the transfer station. However, the coun- cil wanted more information from both bid- ders, resulting in both Cimarron and Orcas Recycling responding to a series of questions about their proposals. The council then instructed the Public Works Department to negotiate two agreements – one for operation by Cimarron of the tipping floor and for removal of waste, the other for provi- sion by ORS of recycling, re-use and waste reduction services. At that time, Councilman Howie Rosenfeld expressed his preference for local operators for the Orcas transfer station SEE ORS, PAGE 6 Coach Dahl to run Boston Marathon ORS awarded transfer station contract After a long back and forth with the county, Orcas Recycling Services is given the reigns How to reach us Sounder deadlines Office: 376-4500 Fax: 376-4501 Advertising: advertising@ islandssounder.com Classified: 1-800-388-2527, classifieds@ soundpublishing.com Editor: editor@ islandssounder.com Display advertising: Friday at noon Classified advertising: Monday at noon Legal advertising: Thursday at noon Press releases, Letters: Friday at 3 p.m. Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County WEDNESDAY, November 28, 2012 n VOL. 45, NO. 48 n 75¢ www.islandssounder.com More holiday events Check out December happenings – Page 11 & 12 contributed photo Dennis Dahl during the Coeur d’Alene marathon in Idaho this past May. by CALI BAGBY Staff reporter The race was 100 kilometers up 17,000 feet into the French Alps. Runners endured rain and snow and raced throughout the night. Dennis Dahl was among those brave and, maybe a little insane, athletes facing extreme conditions. Dahl describes himself during the race as “mostly happy,” but at one checkpoint, where he stopped for a hot drink, he felt his temperature start to drop. He pulled his hat around his freezing ears and walked out into the rain and blowing wind. In front of him a few young people were laughing and singing. He told himself, “Come on old man.” “Their spirits lifted me up,” he said. “That was a magical moment.” After 23 hours and 11 minutes, Dahl finished the race, which is called the Ultra- Trail du Mont-Blanc. It was to be one of two great physical accomplishments for the year. Several months earlier, in May, he completed the Coeur d’Alene marathon in just about four hours, making him eligible, in his age bracket, for the Boston Marathon, a much sought after 26.2-mile race. But he had to wait until the end of September to find out that he had officially qualified to participate in the Boston Marathon. When he got the message, he immediately printed out the email and put it on the fridge. “Really, it’s a big deal,” he said. “I’ve always been excited to have a chance to do it.” Dahl estimates that he has finished four or five marathons. Last year he ran the Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon with his son and daughter. At age 65, Dahl’s philosophy is “if you keep moving they can’t get you” and he doesn’t plan to slow down – life is too fragile. “You get to be my age and you don’t know what could go wrong and you might not get to run anymore,” he said. In 2009, Dahl retired after 20 years of leading the Vikings football team. At the end of 2011 he also retired from his posi- SEE DAHL, PAGE 6 S OUNDER THE I SLANDS ’
Transcript
by STEVE WERHLYJournal reporter
The county council voted unanimously in favor of the underdogs for management of the Orcas Island and San Juan Island solid waste transfer stations.
Orcas Recycling Services, the nonprofit company that now operates The Exchange at the Orcas Transfer Station, was given the go-ahead on Nov. 20 to negotiate an operating agreement for full operations at the county-owned transfer station, including the garbage truck tipping floor and recycling, reuse, and waste reduction programs included in the Request for Proposals issued by the county in May 2012.
“It’s been a long road for us to reach this point,” said Mark De Tray of Orcas Recycling
after the council meeting. “But at each step, our confidence increased as we improved our proposal.”
For drop-box and related operations at the Sutton Road transfer station on San Juan Island, the council instructed the county Public Works Department to negotiate a five-year operating contract with a consortium of Ken-Tec Energy USA of Lynnwood and Lautenbach Industries of Mt. Vernon. Ken-Tec and Lautenbach were responding to a Request for Proposals issued in August.
For both locations, the county spurned pro-posals from Cimarron Enterprises, an affiliate of Cimarron Trucking, which hauls garbage and recycling from Orcas Island to Waste Management Inc. facilities in Seattle and Woodinville, Wash.
In July, the initial report of the Orcas Vendor Selection Committee recommended that the council select Cimarron Enterprises to oper-ate the transfer station. However, the coun-cil wanted more information from both bid-ders, resulting in both Cimarron and Orcas Recycling responding to a series of questions about their proposals.
The council then instructed the Public Works Department to negotiate two agreements – one for operation by Cimarron of the tipping floor and for removal of waste, the other for provi-sion by ORS of recycling, re-use and waste reduction services. At that time, Councilman Howie Rosenfeld expressed his preference for local operators for the Orcas transfer station
See ORS, Page 6
Coach Dahl to run Boston Marathon
ORS awarded transfer station contractAfter a long back and forth with the county, Orcas Recycling Services is given the reigns
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WEDNESDAY, November 28, 2012 n VOL. 45, NO. 48 n 75¢
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More holiday eventsCheck out December happenings – Page 11 & 12
contributed photoDennis Dahl during the Coeur d’Alene marathon in Idaho this past May.
by CALI BAGBYStaff reporter
The race was 100 kilometers up 17,000 feet into the French Alps. Runners endured rain and snow and raced throughout the night.
Dennis Dahl was among those brave and, maybe a little insane, athletes facing extreme conditions.
Dahl describes himself during the race as “mostly happy,” but at one checkpoint, where he stopped for a hot drink, he felt his temperature start to drop. He pulled his hat around his freezing ears and walked out into the rain and blowing wind. In front of him a few young people were laughing and singing. He told himself, “Come on old man.”
“Their spirits lifted me up,” he said. “That was a magical moment.”
After 23 hours and 11 minutes, Dahl finished the race, which is called the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. It was to be one of two great physical accomplishments for the year. Several months earlier, in May, he completed the Coeur d’Alene marathon in
just about four hours, making him eligible, in his age bracket, for the Boston Marathon, a much sought after 26.2-mile race. But he had to wait until the end of September to find out that he had officially qualified to participate in the Boston Marathon. When he got the message, he immediately printed out the email and put it on the fridge.
“Really, it’s a big deal,” he said. “I’ve always been excited to have a chance to do it.”
Dahl estimates that he has finished four or five marathons. Last year he ran the Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon with his son and daughter.
At age 65, Dahl’s philosophy is “if you keep moving they can’t get you” and he doesn’t plan to slow down – life is too fragile.
“You get to be my age and you don’t know what could go wrong and you might not get to run anymore,” he said.
In 2009, Dahl retired after 20 years of leading the Vikings football team. At the end of 2011 he also retired from his posi-
See DAHL, Page 6
SounderThe ISlandS’
People Share your ‘people’ news: Call us at 376-4500, or email [email protected] to submit news items about weddings, engagements, graduations, awards and more.
This year marked the 25th Anniversary of the “Round The County” sail-boat race.
A total of 81 boats signed up for the two days of sailing around San Juan County. From the amazing speedster “Dragonfly” to the family sailed Islander
30 “Emoyeni” from the mighty 80-foot “Martha” to the crazy Santa Cruz 27’s, boats came from all over the Puget Sound Region to participate in the race.
Orcas Islanders, San Juan Islanders, and this year the Lopezians even got in on the preparation and running of
this popular regatta. Bob and Barb Brunius’
“Time Bandit” finished second in Division 0. “Ptolemy” won Division 1 with skipper Eric Moulton and four young men who grew up sailing on Orcas: Angus Brackett, Taylor Smith, Sam Parish and Alex Waldron. The remainder of the crew were Sarah Drues, Michele Rogalin, Stefan Bittner, and another local, Betsy Wareham.
The race was started in 25 knots at Lydia Shoal in Rosario Strait. Hardy mem-bers of Orcas Island Yacht Club manned the start-ing line aboard “Northern Light,” Vice commodore Wes Heinmiller’s motor yacht.
The wind lightened as boats moved down the Strait under colorful spinnakers, then went quite light on the douth side of San Juan.
A tough beat against a changing tide concluded at Mosquito Pass, with the team from Friday Harbor Sailing Club manning the
finish. After the first day, “Dragonfly,” “Braveheart,” “Nafarious,” “Ptolemy,” “Here and Now,” and “Martha” were leading their divisions.
Sunday’s start went off flawlessly, aboard Dennis Pratt’s “Strongbow” This time with a light southeast
wind. That breeze died out, and then built from the northeast. (It was a long beat all the way up Boundary Pass to Patos Island.
Boats stayed hard on the wind until Clark Island, then close reached almost to the finish line where a few boats were finally able
to fly spinnakers.Other local boats were:
“Adalgisa,” “Alcyone,” Terry Jones, Lynn Adkins, “Sabra,” John Miller, “Madam Pele,” Tom and Ian Andrewes, “Chinook,” Jimmy Roser and Robin Hirsch, “Dolce Domum,” Bruce Coffey and Ian Wareham.
Orcas boat wins in ‘Round the County’ race
contributed photo“Ptolemy,” Express 37 crew that raced Round The County. Eric Moulton (owner), Betsy Wareham, Taylor Smith, Angus Brackett, Sam Parish, Alex Waldron, Sarah Drues, Michele Rogalin and Stefan Bittner.
Orcas property is finally getting reevaluated. “We got nailed at the top of the valuation curve,” said
County Councilman Richard Fralick, Orcas East, during a town hall meeting on Nov. 19. “Assessed valuation should be 31 percent down now.”
Property tax is based on parcels’ assessed value as well as any levies approved by voters. Orcas Island was last reap-praised in 2008, near the top of the real estate market, while other parts of the county were reappraised before or after the peak in market values.
Going forward, valuations will be annual and based on current market values. Properties will be physically assessed once every six years. The Washington Department of Revenue approved that change last November.
This will lead to greater equity and uniformity among properties on different islands, according to County Assessor Charles Zalmanek’s website.
Converting to an annual revaluation system does not necessarily mean a new assessment every year. If, after a review of the property sales and economic neighborhood, it appears that assessments are in line with recent sales, then no adjustment would be necessary.
“Since this will be done annually, adjustments will be more gradual than what we have seen in the past. This will lead to better predictability in changes of our property tax bills,” Zalmanek wrote.
Future of county budget Fralick and County Councilwoman Patty Miller, Orcas
West, advised the group that a county-wide discussion about the budget will be critical in the next few years.
“County government is growing faster than revenue,”
Fralick said. “We need a planned, community conversation on where will the county will be in five to 10 years.”
In 2009, voters approved a property tax levy lid-lift, much of which was earmarked for specific county programs. In 2015, the levy would need to be renewed or county revenue would drop by $1 million per year.
Critical Areas Ordinance in home stretchThe county council is in the final phase of approving the
long-awaited Critical Areas Ordinance. Deliberations are planned for Dec. 3. If passed the CAO will become a law three months later.
The update of the regulations governing activities that affect areas and ecosystems considered “essential” to the safety, quality of life and environmental integrity of the county is mandated by state law. The updating process began in 2003 with an original deadline for completion in 2005.
Critical areas, as defined by state law, include wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, frequently flooded areas, geologically hazardous areas, and critical aquifer recharge areas.
Miller says the proposed CAO regulations are “scaled back” to address the public’s concern about property regula-tions that are potentially too constraining.
“What you see here is the result of that compromise,” Miller said. “This has been one of the most polarizing, con-troversial issues we have faced.”
Friends of the San Juans Attorney Kyle Loring wrote in a guest column in the Islands’ Sounder last week that “San Juan County is on the verge of adopting one of the weakest critical areas ordinances in the Puget Sound region.”
To see the latest drafts of the CAO, visit: http://www.co.san-juan.wa.us/cao/documents.aspx.
Property tax, CAO and more at town hall
Investigation continues into the death of Orcas womanby CALI BAGBY
Staff reporter
The body of an Orcas Island woman was discov-ered on Nov. 22 after she was reported missing the day before.
Orcas Island Fire and Rescue worked with the San Juan County Sheriff ’s Department to find Maria Massey, 26, of Deer Harbor, who went missing in the early morning hours of Nov. 21 after her vehicle, a 2010 Hyundai Accent, was found crashed into a tree in the 2600 block of Crow Valley
Road. She was not found at the site of the accident.
Massey, according to the Sheriff ’s Department, had reportedly left her house sometime around midnight and had not been seen or heard from since.
The Fire Department organized a search party on Nov. 21 and 22 with more than 40 volunteers along with trackers and two dog teams from Kitsap and Snohomish Counties. Her body was found at 9:05 a.m. close to a pump house in a wooded area near the 2300
block of Crow Valley Road.“Investigation into her
disappearance and cause of death continues,” said Sheriff Rob Nou in a press release.
A completed autopsy showed she did not sustain injuries from the car acci-dent, according to County Coroner Randy Gaylord. A pending toxicology report could reveal more informa-tion.
Massey was active in the theater community on Orcas Island and was known for her beautiful voice.
An outpouring of lov-ing messages have flooded Massey’s Facebook page with words like, “We will always remember you Maria!” and “I’ll miss you and your headstrong smile.”
She was described by many as sweet, beautiful,
dynamic, passionate, unique and creative. Flowers and a sign adorned with a draw-ing of the “tragedy and com-edy” masks of theater and the words “Maria J. Massey – rest in peace” have been placed at the site of the accident.
contributed photoMaria Massey
Samuel Carter, 30, appar-ently drowned after falling off “E” dock at the Port of Friday Harbor about 12 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 23, accord-ing to San Juan County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord.
Gaylord said Brian Fox, described as a friend of Carter’s walking some dis-tance behind, saw Carter tumble into the water and rushed to help, but Carter surfaced only briefly, imme-diately disappeared under the water and did not resurface. Possible alcohol involvement was noted in
reports from the scene, but autopsy results will not be available until sometime next week, Gaylord said.
EMS Chief Jim Cole said that an emergency call was received at 12:13 p.m. Fire, sheriff ’s and EMS units responded “immediately,” arriving “within minutes,” but could find no sign of Carter.
A sheriff ’s dive team was summoned, locat-ing Carter’s drowned body in about twelve feet of 45 degree water at 2:30 a.m.
Carter grew up in Friday
Harbor and is believed to be a 2001 graduate of Friday Harbor High School.
According to a long-time friend, local arborist Casey Baisch, Carter fished com-mercially in Alaska in the summer, lived in Friday Harbor in the fall, and snowboarded and worked at Lake Tahoe in the winter.
Baisch described Carter as “one of the best and nic-est people I’ve ever known, a wonderful young man who I counted as one of my best friends.”
Port of Friday Harbor
Director Marilyn O’Connor, who knows Carter and his family, said, “This is just heartbreaking for the family and the whole community, and for me personally.”
Apparent drowning in FH
Facebook photoSamuel Carter
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The recent election saw the recommendations of the Charter Review Committee affirmed by the voters, substantially changing the operations of our government in San Juan County.
No longer will there be an absolute separation of powers, as Proposition 2 grants administrative authority to the council. Therefore our new council will play an active role in the operations of the county. Council members will need to be more efficient, logical and deliber-ate in setting policy and also in working directly with county staff in implementing policy. The new positions will require individuals who are able to set and carry out well-defined goals and objectives, else the council will become hope-lessly ineffective in providing qual-ity county services. More impor-tantly, the new council members will need to be in even closer con-tact with their constituents, ALL the residents of San Juan County.
You may be asking yourself “Why is this important to me?” Over the next five months, the county will hold special elections and you will be asked to select candidates who
you feel have the skills and experi-ence that will allow them to serve you in this new role.
As an island resident, I live here because I enjoy our unique way of life, living in a tight knit commu-nity that works together for com-mon goals. I want to make sure that council members have the capacity, time and experience, to protect our island culture. I am excited by the prospect of helping our commu-nity as a member of the new, three-member council. However, before making my decision whether to seek election, I want to learn what you want of county government and what aspects of our commu-nity you want improved.
I want to meet with as many fel-low residents as are willing to share their thoughts with me. Please contact me ([email protected] or 206-390-6714), or you can contact Kate Hansen ([email protected]) who is working with me on this important project. I look forward to discussing how we might work together to capital-ize on these recent changes. Please help me in protecting our island culture while improving our island life.
Greg AyersOrcas Island
CRC changes will be positive – have faith
I would like to thank everyone who supported the work of the Charter Review Commission. The result of the vote brings significant changes and challenges. I hope we can all join in the effort of making our county government an example of good management and respon-siveness to the will of the people.
Change is never easy but with good leadership the transition can be smooth. This requires our elected council members to keep a steady hand on the tiller.
The voter-approved amend-ments will bring positive change to our county council and administra-tion, and that will be good for our community. As voters we will have more control over the actions of local government. This is the core principle of Home Rule.
The Charter Amendments are not complicated, but they do require some patience and care to implement. According to state law they must be implemented within 6 months. The amendments become effective when the election is certi-fied on Nov. 27. The transition to
Reporter’s notebook
Hitchhiking is the subject of many tales of terror around the campground. It’s also the focus of one of my favorite authors David Sedaris, who tells of awkward, hilarious and downright
frightening tales of being a young man on the road with his thumb stuck out.
On Orcas, tales of hitchhiking have a different flavor. But before I learned that, I cut my “hitching” teeth during a 1,200-mile bike trip from Colorado to Oregon in 2010. My tires got so worn out that even the smallest piece of tin would pierce the tube, so I often stuck out my thumb.
The families of four, the demographic that picked me up the most, had loads of questions and seemed to get a kick out of the “adven-ture” of picking up a forlorn cyclist. One family emailed me after giving me a lift in Yellowstone National Park and said, “Our 10-year-old daughter’s favorite part of the trip was picking up a real live hitchhiker.”
On another occasion my bike broke down and 30 cars passed without even slowing down. So I picked up my 40-pound bike, loaded with 40 pounds of gear, and started walking down the road. Thankfully someone took pity on what was a ridiculous scene and gave me a ride into town.
After “relying on the kindness of strangers” during that trip, I vowed to never deny a fellow hitchhiker. I felt I had been selected for an exclusive club of wayward travelers.
When I moved to Orcas in February, I found that this promise would easily come to fruition.
The first hitchhiker I picked up was a chatty older gentleman, who imparted some knowledge on the consequences of living in a small town.
“You make one mistake and they won’t ever let you forget it,” he said. “And don’t even get me started on the women.”
Over the summer I had several pleasant hitchhikers climb aboard my 2007 Toyota Camry.
Once a group of three young girls crammed into the backseat and whispered nervously to each other. But mostly people like to talk about their travels, their business or their passion about how to deal with solid waste on the island.
One island resident, Sandra Mursu, summed up her time hitchhik-ing over the span of 20 years in a few choice words.
“Those excursions of necessity and preference were always interest-ing and part of my enjoyment of people and feeling free,” she said. “Just my feet and me.”
Hitchhiking is one thing that makes the island special. It’s an op-portunity to spend a few minutes with a stranger, maybe learn something new or help someone out. It can also simply give you a funny story to tell over dinner.
During the holiday months, it’s always a good time to lend a hand, give a lift or just share a few kind words. You never know where it will lead and what adventures you will have.
– Cali Bagby, staff reporter
OPINIONIslands’ Sounder Write�to�us:�The Islands’ Sounder welcomes letters from its readers. Letters should be
typewritten and not exceed 350 words. Preference is given to local writers and topics. They must be signed and include a daytime phone. Send to [email protected] or PO Box 758, Eastsound, WA 98245. Letters may be edited.
Mailing/Street�Address P.O. Box 758, 217 Main Street, Eastsound, WA 98245Office�� � (360) 376-4500 Classifieds� � (800) 388-2527 Fax (360) 376-4501 The Islands’ Sounder (USPS #764-230) is published weekly for $35 a year to San Juan County addresses; $58 per year to Washington state addresses; and $58 per year to out-of-state addresses by the Islands’ Sounder at 217 Main
Washington State Ferries periodically hosts community meetings to discuss current ferry system issues.
In December, meeting topics include upcoming legisla-tive session, proposed service reductions on some routes, new ferry construction, liquefied natural gas as a potential fuel for the fleet, and route-specific issues.
A session for the San Juan Islands will be held on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the San Juan County Council Chambers. The meeting will be streamed live from the Orcas and Lopez libraries and on the San Juan County website.
The following was submit-ted by the Orcas Island Park and Recreation District
It has been a busy startup for the Park and Recreation District and we want to let everyone know how thank-ful we are for all the sup-port and assistance we have received as we get the dis-trict up and running.
It is hard to believe that it has just been two months since we got a phone (376-7275), lights, and a door. Many thanks go out to our local contractors for making the office ready for busi-ness. We are located in the northwest corner of the Funhouse Commons – just look for the sign above the door and drop by anytime. In addition to the moun-tain of paperwork needed to setup operations, some of our major activities have been:
• Successful completion of the fall soccer season and running club with the col-laboration of the Funhouse Commons staff and the dedicated work of the vol-unteer coaching staff.
• Completion of the facil-ities lease with Orcas School District. Park and Rec can now offer facility scheduling for activities in the gyms, on
the lower fields, and in sev-eral of the specialty rooms at the school.
• Completion of mainte-nance and safety upgrades at Buck Park, including new playground surfacing /edg-ing, drainage improvement, irrigation repairs, and park-ing lot repair. A big thanks to Ron Griffin and his crew at Griffin Yard Works.
• We have inventoried the state of the skate park and with the help of both the junior and senior skate park volunteers we have identi-fied the major work needed to keep the park in a safe and sustainable condition. We are working on the next steps for repairing the park this spring.
• Progress has been made on the transfer of Buck Park from the school district to the park and rec district. Needed reports, records, and files have been com-pleted and we are moving closer to completing the transfer, which is necessary before parks can begin the capital improvements to the skatepark, the well system, the fields and fencing.
• Many thanks go to Team Ian (Ian Harlow and Ian Lister) for the highly suc-cessful start to Open Gym on Friday nights. Basketball
is drawing an energetic crowd of over 30 players from 9 to 11 p.m.
• Another wonderful vol-unteer is Hank Date who is leading the Wednesday night open volleyball games at the middle school gym. These evenings are open to all who want to play.
• We are working with Michele Keyes on the Winter Ride Program offer-ing a charter bus ride to Mt. Baker for Saturday ski-ing. The program is open to the full community and it is possible to sign up for all or just a few of the six Saturday trips. Call or come in for more information and ski forms.
With the help of a com-mitted community, Orcas Park and Rec is now ready to help make your recre-ational activities happen. Stop by the office or send an email to [email protected] if you have ideas for new programs. Have a won-derful holiday and thank you for your support.
OIPRD commission-
ers are Bob Eagan, Martha Farish, Jim Bredouw, Vicki Vandermay, Ian Lister and the director is Marcia West.
Guest column Park and Rec is up and running the new council/manager
system will happen right away followed by a prompt transition to a three mem-ber council elected by all voters county wide.
I am hopeful that the county council will rec-ognize the concerns that were raised by the Charter Review Commission. As soon as possible they will need to adjust their work-ing relationship with the position of county manager by revising the duties and job description and imple-menting those changes. The council will want to ask themselves when will the county manager consult with the council members on administrative matters, and when will the Manager have the authority to make decisions on his own?
The quick action recently by the salary commission is to be commended, and I remain optimistic that we will have many good can-didates from around the county to choose from in the upcoming election.
The CRC drafted a care-ful transition plan for the elected council members that assures good continu-ity of governance. We must have faith that our leaders will keep a steady hand on the tiller and guide us as we sail through these changes.
Gordy PetersenSan Juan Island
Christmas for the troops
Because of places like the American Legion and people like Jake and Dana Jacobus, Paul Garwood, Toni Hermansen, super sales ladies Velma Doty and Toni, and many other peo-ple known and unknown our Christmas project is alive and well.
Seventy-seven packages have headed for Afghanistan troops so far and it looks like we will make 90 this year. Orcas is incredible and we can’t being anywhere else !
Ron and Judy WallaceOrcas Island
LETTERS FROM 4WSF to host public meeting
The San Juan County Economic Development Council will present a free half-day workshop for small businesses and entrepreneurs on Orcas Island, on Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Station.
The business and financing workshop course material will be presented by James McCafferty, of the Economic Development Association of Skagit County, a management consultant for over a decade.
As part of the workshop, McCafferty will cover busi-ness financing, discuss a variety of financing options and will provide a reality check for those considering a new or expanded business venture. He will be available for one-on-one consultation after the workshop.
Participants in the workshop will leave with the resourc-es and support they need to create a business plan includ-ing a realistic financial plan. In addition, McCafferty will cover current federal and Washington State tax incentive programs for small businesses.
Advance registration is required. Call 378-2906 to reserve your space or email: [email protected].
The EDC thanks the Orcas Island Fire Hall and the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce for co-hosting this event. They also thank San Juan County, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor and the Port of Lopez for supporting their Business Education Series.
The San Juan County Economic Development Council’s Business Education Series was created by the EDC in response to concerns from local business owners and over-all increased demand from new businesses.
This series will present a variety of business topics designed for both those opening a new business or those wanting to take their business to the next level.
RAY’S PHARMACYTemplin Center, Eastsound 9:30 am – 6 pm Mon – Sat
10:30 am – 4 pm Sunday(Saturday Pharmacy 10:00 am – 4 pm
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376-2230
Free workshop on business planning
by Steve WehrlyJournal reporter
County Administrator Bob Jean will become interim county manager on Nov. 27, the effective date for Proposition 2 that eliminates the county administrator position, according to County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord’s Nov. 20 presentation to the council.
Gaylord briefed the council on each of the three propositions approved by voters at the Nov. 6 election, but told the council that “no action” was needed on Proposition 1.
Proposition 1 creates the new three-member council elected countywide from a slate of candidates representing districts roughly corresponding to San Juan, Orcas and Lopez/Shaw islands. (Waldron Island is included with Orcas Island.)
“Continuity of government” is the key to implementation of the charter amend-ments, Gaylord said, suggesting that the current council should designate Bob Jean as interim county manager.
To that end, the Council by motion directed that a resolution be prepared stating “the interim county manager role
will be identical to the role of the county administrator pro-tem where not inconsis-tent with the charter.”
Because the 2013 budget is in the final stages of preparation, the new budget authority of County Auditor Milene Henley won’t have much effect on the current bud-get cycle, but questions relating to the 2013 interactions with the auditor, delegations of authority and “who reports to whom” can be addressed by the six-member council until the three-member council is sworn in on May 13, 2013.
Addressing the “open government” pro-visions of Proposition 3, Gaylord empha-sized that “formally created” subcommit-tees created by council action are covered by Proposition 3, requiring that subcom-mittee meetings be given public notice and be open to the public.
Discussions between two council mem-bers are therefore usually not covered, but discussions among three members would be.
For a story on the candidate filing period for the new council, see page 7.
Prosecutor addresses next steps for charter changes
WEdnESday, nov. 28 • Sustainable Orcas Island, 5:30 p.m., public library.
reached an impasse during late summer as ORS insist-ed that recycling and reuse services were unsustainable unless ORS operated all aspects of the Orcas facil-ity. Drawing on the experi-ence and expertise of the Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District, Orcas Recycling kept refining its proposals.
The final result was a con-tract-update memorandum by the Solid Waste Division asking the council to revisit its earlier decisions, which resulted on Tuesday with the council unanimously opting for a single contract with ORS for Orcas Island.
Similarly, the Vendor Selection Committee report for the San Juan Island sta-tion was expected to rec-ommend that the county negotiate a contract with Cimarron for San Juan Island, but strong presenta-tions by Kentec Energy USA and Lautenbach Industries convinced the San Juan Island Vendor Selection Committee to recommend exploring a contract with Kentec and Lautenbach.
“Kentec is offering an innovative approach that may be a long-term solution to the county's solid waste problems,” said County Councilman Rich Peterson, who is also a selection com-mittee member review-ing proposals advanced
by Kentec and Anacortes-based Cimarron Trucking.
Kentec USA is the American affiliate of Ken-Tec Energy Korea, which builds and operates waste gasification plants in South Korea and Europe. Kentec USA proposes to build and operate a 10 to 20 ton-per-day gasification plant on San Juan Island.
Lautenbach would con-tinue to operate the present transfer station, and is pro-posing a variety of changes to the present facility, includ-ing possibly rebuilding the tipping floor to permit the Town of Friday Harbor to dispose of trash and recy-cling now being trucked to Skagit County.
Kentec claims their plant
will operate with zero emissions and will incin-erate all garbage, including processed or unprocessed human waste, from the entire county. According to Kentec, the reclaimed gases can be used to gener-ate electricity on the island or sold a kind of synthetic propane for use as fuel for a variety of applications. The carbon-ash residue can be used in road-building or other applications.
The $8 million cost of the plant and the extensive environmental and regu-latory hurdles that Kentec USA must overcome was recognized as a potential problem by the selection committee, but the draft Selection Committee report
notes that the county will incur little or no financial risk from the gasification plant part of the project and that Lautenbach promises uninterrupted future servic-es whether or not the gasifi-cation plant is built.
On Orcas Island, Orcas Recycling Services was excited to be designated to operate the transfer station.
“Now islanders can have the full waste disposal and waste diversion/resourcing services AND lower rates they have mandated for so many years becoming a reality over the next five years of the contract,” read a post on the ORS Facebook page.
ORS says the first year will be spent getting programs
transferred over to their management and doing educational outreach and putting new waste diversion systems in place. Beyond that, the organization hopes to promote zero waste, local jobs and re-sourcing back to the community.
De Tray gave credit to “the people on Orcas who supported us tirelessly and people from Lopez who helped us put together our final proposal and budget.”
Hammering out a defini-tive contract will start next week, according to De Tray.
“I want to thank the county council for giving us this opportunity,” he added. “We won’t let them or the people of Orcas down.”
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ORS FROM 1
tion as the fourth through 12th grade physical educa-
tion teacher.But that hasn’t stopped
his zest for physical activity. Prior to the ultra-trail race in August, Dahl spent nine
months training with his friend and San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Gaylord.
A typical weekend for the two friends consisted of running four hours on Saturday, three hours on Sunday and shorter runs on the weekdays.
Sometimes they trav-eled to San Juan Island, the North Cascades National Park or right up to Mount Constitution.
But Dahl also spends time alone on the trail, run-ning up to five hours.
“It’s a long time to be with yourself,” he said. “You really have to like yourself.”
It also presents a time to get a different perspec-tive on life. During long runs, Dahl has found him-self stopping to look at scenes like the light filtering through the trees.
“You kind of come along and see something and say,
‘holy smokes,’ that is really cool or beautiful,” he said.
He added that during these training sessions is when you find out about yourself and what kind of challenge you are able to face.
“The secret is to get out every day, get back soaked and say, ‘I’m in charge. I’m not going to let the weather get me down,’” he said.
All that work paid off when he completed the 100 kilometer race in France and decided that if he was going to have a chance to get a spot in the Boston Marathon he needed to act fast. So he did.
The Boston Marathon is April 15. For the next few months, Dahl will con-tinue training and run a few shorter local races in between.
“It is a kind of a once in a lifetime thing,” he said.
The Mobile Dental Clinic from Medical Teams International will be returning to Orcas on Dec. 7 and 8. There will be an oral surgeon available on Saturday. All patients who have complicated extractions or wisdom teeth extractions pending should have applications for appoint-ments as soon as possible. Call Rita Bailey at 376-6264.
The clinic will provide free care to qualifying commu-nity members. Applications are available on line at www.oicf.us, or can be picked up at the food bank, Orcas Family Connections or the county health office at the senior cen-ter.
Applications will be reviewed and prioritized based on severity of dental needs and pain. Completed applications can be dropped off in the dental box outside the public library. If you have questions regarding the application, contact Barbara Ehrmantraut at 376-3395.
This is the fourth clinic of 2012 funded through the Orcas Island Community Foundation. So far, more than 95 community members have received dental care.
All three island dentists and staffs volunteer to provide care and the Orcas Lions, Orcas Angels and Odd Fellows provide check in support. The Orcas Community Church is hosting the van and housing for the van drivers and off island volunteers has been contributed by the Gudgell fam-ily and Camp Orkila. Senator Kevin Ranker is helping to cover the ferry costs for this trip.
Breakfast snacks and lunch for the volunteers are needed on both days; to contribute, contact the Orcas Island Community Foundation, 376-6423.
A special filing period for candidates for three new council positions will be held Dec. 12 to 14.
The three positions are: Council Residency District 1 (San Juan Island and sur-rounding smaller islands); Council Residency District 2 (Orcas Island, Waldron Island, Blakely Island, and surrounding small-er islands); and Council Residency District 3 (Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Decatur Island, and surrounding smaller islands).
Positions for which more than two candidates file will be narrowed to two candi-dates in a county-wide “pri-mary” election held Feb. 12.
The winners of that elec-tion, plus the candidates for any positions for which two or fewer candidates file, will be elected in a county-wide “general” election held April 23.
The unusual, off-cycle elections are called for by San Juan County Proposition 1, adopted by voters in the November election. The amendments contained within the propo-sition reduce the number of county council members from six to three. The three council members elected in November will take their seats in January along with the three continuing mem-bers, but will serve only brief terms. Their terms will end in May when three new council members, elected in April, take office.
The terms of the council members elected in April will also be shorter than usual. Council members from Residency Districts 1 and 2 will serve through December 2016. In order
to achieve staggered terms, the council member from Residency District 3 will serve only through December 2014.
To file for any of the three new Council positions, can-didates must be registered voters and must live within the Council residency dis-trict for which they file. Candidates may submit their filing paperwork by mail, fax, email, or in per-son at the San Juan County Elections Office, located at 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor. Mailed forms may be received no earlier than Nov. 28 and no later than Dec. 14. Faxed, emailed, or in-person forms must be received on Dec. 12, 13, or 14. Filing forms and fees must reach the Elections Office by 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 14.
Filing forms are not considered complete until
the $749.30 filing fee is received.
For information about the upcoming elections and filing period, please con-tact the San Juan County Elections Office. Filing forms can be obtained on the elections webpage at www.sanjuanco.com/elec-tions or by contacting the Elections staff at 378-3357.
Three-day filing period for for new council candidates
Celebrates what it means to be an islander. This ace of a read by novelist Sara Williams was chosen for: Four of a Kind – four tales of mystery and suspense.
San Juan County Sheriff 's office is seeking additional information from a woman who brought what appear to be Native American human remains to the department in late September.
According to Undersheriff Jon Zerby, the human remains – described as “partial, very old and probably Native American” – were uncovered along the waterfront on the north end of San Juan Island, at Afterglow Beach, by the woman's son and then delivered to the department on Sept. 25. At the time, the woman was asked to provide more information, such as an exact location where the partial remains were found, but has failed to do so, Zerby said.
“I am asking this woman to contact the Sheriff 's Office, at 378-4145, to provide needed information,” he said in an email distributed Nov. 19 to local media.
Native American artifacts, and cultural and human remains, are periodically unearthed in the San Juan Islands, a historic home of various indigenous peoples.
Authorities seek information on human remains
San Juan County, at 5.1 percent, has the lowest unemployment rate in the state for the month of October, according to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wahkiakum County has the highest unemployment rate of 11.7 percent.
County unemployment rates are published each month from BLS.According to the Employment Security Department, San Juan County’s preliminary
civilian labor force, as of July 2012 was 2.7 percent lower than the July 2011 levels. Over the year, the number of employed decreased by 180 persons while the number of unemployed decreased by 50 persons. This resulted in the unemployment rate falling by 11.3 percent over the year.
From July 2011 to July 2012, the overall total non-farm positions dropped by approxi-mately 200 jobs or down 3.2 percent. The private sector saw the bulk of these losses and in contrast to most other Washington state counties, government positions were up slightly by about ten positions.
Trade, transportation and utilities recorded a large decrease of 80 positions or 7.8 percent of total jobs from July 2011 to July 2012.
San Juan County has lowest unemployment for October
After passage of prop. 1, the council will soon have three members
Last week, the county council, on behalf of the San Juan County Land Bank, unani-mously accepted a warranty deed to five acres of forested property adjoining the land bank’s Diamond Hill Preserve.
The property is presently in the Lane Family Revocable Trust, which lists John William Lane and Rebecca Jurta Lane as Trustees.
Diamond Hill rises to more than 600 feet and can be viewed from Dolphin Bay Road and the waters of Eastsound and Harney Channel.
Land Bank Executive Director Lincoln Bormann termed the acquisition “an exceptional opportunity to expand the Diamond Hill Preserve and protect one of the more prominent landmarks in the islands.”
The Land Bank Commission “has enthusiastically supported this donation as an impor-tant addition to the Diamond Hill Preserve,” said Bormann in his memorandum request-ing council approval of the gift.
An additional 7.35 acres is slated to be added to the donation in 2013.“Both properties feature high quality mature Douglas-fir forest with small open areas
similar to the Diamond Hill Preserve,” Bormann said.
Acreage added to Diamond Hill on Orcas
Gwendolyn YansenGwendolyn Ellen Jones
Yansen, 97, passed away Nov. 18, 2012 at her home on Shaw Island where she had lived for 53 years.
She was born March 4, 1915 in Yakima to Catherine and Alfred Jones and raised in Walla Walla. She attended Whitman College and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Home Economics. She married Don Yansen in 1938. They moved to Burien, Wash. and Don started the Yansen Electric Company.
She was very active in St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, the building of the first permanent library building in Burien, and Camp Fire Girls.
They moved to Shaw Island full time in 1959 where they owned the Shaw Store for four years, and where she continued her strong commitment to community. She was a
founding board member of the Shaw Island Library and Historical Society, the Shaw Island Sunday School, and she was the Camp Fire leader for two groups.
A devout Christian all of her life, she was a mem-ber of Emmanuel Episcopal Church at Eastsound and the Shaw Island Fellowship.
She joined Dr. Richard Fadem’s literature class right from the beginning and it was an immensely important part of her life, even after she became bed-ridden.
Making the world more beautiful was a guiding principle of her life. She loved creating beauty, gar-dening, flowers and sharing them with others. She was a booster for any project doc-umenting Shaw Island his-tory. Gwen was known for her remarkable memory for people and their lives, her generosity, and her positive attitude and optimism.
She is survived by her three children, Diana Wisen, Donald Yansen (Lynne) David Yansen (Debra), her grandchildren Kristina (Eric), David (Linnea), Tia
(Frazier), Shana (Shoji) and Jakob, and her great-grand-children, Andy, Carson, Everett, Shaw, Kai, Ell, and Avaline.
Her husband Don died in 1990.
The memorial service will be Sunday, Dec. 2 at the Shaw Community Center at 2 p.m.
Memorials in her name may be given to The Shaw Island Library and Historical Society endow-ment fund: P.O. Box 844 or Shaw Islanders, Inc- Playfield Endowment Fund P.O. Box 443 Shaw Island, WA 98286.
Submitted by Gwendolyn Yansen’s family
Obituary
w w w . I s l a n d s S o u n d e r . c o m
Five acres has been added to the county land bank’s preserveThe following was submit-
ted by Orcas Open Arts.
Orcas Open Arts, a non-profit educational organiza-tion on Orcas since 1991, is excited to partner with the middle school to bring Art Exploratories to the curric-ulum. Programs and artists are already in place. All that is lacking now are the final matching funds!
A strong arts program in our schools is essential to a well-rounded k-12 curricu-lum. Exposure to art educa-tion promotes self-directed learning, improves school attendance and sharpens critical and creative skills.
And nowhere is that
more relevant than on Orcas, where art is strongly enmeshed in the fabric of our community. Since 1997 Orcas Open Arts has recog-nized both the needs of our students, and the richness of our artistic community. It is the mission of Orcas Open
Arts to sponsor artists' resi-dencies in the schools, and other arts education activi-ties in our community.
As with so many visual art programs throughout the country, lack of state and federal funding to our schools has necessitated cuts in our public school budget.
Through Orcas Open Arts, the Artists-In-The-Schools program will bring artists into the elementary school classrooms and the Orcas Island Education Foundation has funded the programs in the high school taught by Cory Wiscomb.
It is the middle school that desperately needs arts programs. Last year, Orcas Open Arts recognized a lack of art courses in the middle school. It reached out to the Education Foundation for funding to create a quarter-long exploratory for sev-enth and eighth graders. This year, Orcas Open Arts hopes to expand that pro-gram to three quarters.
The cost of running the three quarter program is $3,000. The Orcas Island Education Foundation has pledged a $1500 match if Orcas Open Arts can find donors to help with the additional $1,500. You can send tax deductible dona-tions to Orcas Open Arts, P.O. Box 1843, Eastsound, Wa. 98245.
• Free Dinner Kitchen will feature roast turkey and more. Something for every-one, including vegetarians, 5 to 7 p.m. at Emmanuel Church.
Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and Dec. 2Islands a Cappella holiday concerts
• The Islands a Cappella singing group, with members from Orcas, Lopez and San Juan Islands and directed by Angel Michaels, will sing of Christmas cheer and reverence at three concerts:
Nov. 30 on Orcas Island at the Rosario Resort Music Room at 6 p.m. The Orcas Boys Choir will join Islands a Cappella in perfor-mance. Tickets are $10 at Darvill’s Bookstore. Seating is limited.
Dec. 1 on Lopez Island at the Lopez Center at 6 p.m.
Dec. 2 on San Juan Island at St. David’s Episcopal Church at 6 p.m.
• Celtic Christmas and Orcas musicians at Orcas Island Community Church. Windham Hill artist Jeff Johnson, flutist Brian Dunning, violinist Wendy Goodwin plus additional local music both nights. Register at www.oicc-es2.eventbrite.com.
Fri., Nov. 30 to end of DecemberRosario’s Festival of the Trees
• The Moran Mansion at Rosario Resort & Spa will be lit up with Christmas trees dur-ing the month of December, decorated by 10 local nonprofit organizations: Friends of Moran State Park, the Funhouse Commons, Kaleidoscope, Orcas Choral Society, Orcas Island Fire and Rescue, Farm to Cafeteria, Children’s House, Orcas Animal Protection Society, Orcas Montessori and Orcas Center.
The public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite tree by purchasing a vote at $1 per ticket throughout the entire month of December. Each organization will receive the voting dollars, with the top three
most voted trees winning additional cash prizes from Rosario Resort. All voter tick-ets will also be entered into a raffle to win prizes, including two roundtrip tickets from Orcas Island to Seattle on Kenmore Air with a two-night hotel stay, dinner for two at The Mansion Restaurant, and a two-month Rosario Spa pass.
The Moran Mansion is open daily from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the front desk of Rosario before touring the tree display.
To kick off the month-long fundraiser, a special open house will be held on Friday, Nov. 30 through Sunday, Dec. 2 with com-plimentary hot apple cider and cookies avail-able.
Friday, Nov. 30 Orcas Family Health dinner and dance
• Orcas Family Health Center’s Dinner Dance at Orcas Center, 7 p.m. Tickets: OFHC at Airport Center, Ray’s Pharmacy, Office Cupboard, Cherie L. Lindholm Real Estate.
Nov. 30 to Dec. 8 Shop the Rock and win cash
• Shop the Rock, Eastsound. Many stores are having sales. Four $50 prizes available to shoppers. To have names entered in the contest, stop by the Chamber of Commerce office and fill out a card explaining “Why they Shop Orcas Island.”
“Our small businesses are the backbone of our economy,” said Chamber Executive Director Lance Evans.
Saturday, Dec. 1 Holiday tea at the Orcas Library
• Friends of the Library Holiday Tea, 1 to 4 p.m., enjoy cookies, chocolates and other sweets while sipping tea at the Orcas Library. Listen to holiday favorites, decorate orna-ments and visit with Santa.
American Legion Holiday Bazaar• American Legion Auxiliary annual
Holiday Bazaar at the legion, located at 793 Crescent Beach Drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will be local vendors and the auxiliary bake sale and soup bistro. Winners of a basket raffle will be announced at 3 p.m.
The Magic Flute streaming• Mozart’s masterpiece
“The Magic Flute,” stream-ing at Orcas Center, 6:30 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 1 & Sunday Dec. 2 Artisans Faire
• Artisans Faire at Odd Fellows Hall, Saturday, 10
a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 40 island artisans. Free raffle tickets for gift baskets with every purchase made at the fair. Food will be served downstairs. Info: 376-4219, [email protected].
Sunday, Dec. 2 Local artist showcase
• OffCenter Local Artist Showcase, OffCenter Stage, 7:30 p.m., $15, $11. Singer/songwriters Corey Wiscomb and Robb Eagle’s music is an acoustic blend of blues, country, bluegrass and folk incorporating various guitar techniques. Bridget O’Toole is a singer-songwriter who has been performing solo and with backup on Orcas Island. Fourteen-year-old singer/songwriter Madi Jane West plays acoustic guitar to accompany her songs. Rock on the Rock adult choir,
led by Grace McCune, will present eclectic rock and pop holiday music.
Thursday, Dec. 6 and Friday, Dec. 7 Miro Quartet performance
• Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival presents Miro Quartet, 6 p.m. at Rosario’s music room.
Friday, Dec. 7 Tree Lighting ceremony
• Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in the Eastsound Village Green. Seasonal music by Orcas Island Community Band, 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. Cider and cookies, visit from Santa. Tree lighting is 5 p.m.
Carols, cider and more• Following the light-
ing ceremony, Orcas Island
Community Church invites people to see the nativity scene, sing some Christmas Carols, enjoy hot cider and eat homemade donuts from 5:30 to 7 p.m. They will also be collecting donations for the food bank.
Saturday, Dec. 8 Great Santa Saturday
• During Great Santa Saturday, meet Mr. Claus and enjoy holiday activities
in Eastsound throughout the day.
Choral Society concert• Orcas Choral Society,
7:30 p.m., Orcas Center. Tickets are $15, $5 students, www.orcascenter.org. There are many holidays at this time of year, and all have their own musical tradi-tions. Under the direction of Roger Sherman, the Orcas Choral Society will pres-ent a program of music for each of the holidays. Joining the Choral Society will be the Turtleback Brass, a five-piece brass ensemble led by Steve Alboucq.
Spiral Walk • 21st Annual Spiral Walk,
Odd Fellows Hall, 3-5 p.m.
Santa is coming to town• Santa is coming to Deer
Harbor Marina, 9:45 a.m. to noon. He will arrive by boat and kids can go to the Deer Harbor Community Club to receive a toy and enjoy treats. Sponsored by the women’s auxiliary of Deer Harbor; donations are accepted. The event is for ages baby to 12.
Ship at Orcas Landing, 11:20 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.; Shaw, ferry Landing 1-1:45 p.m.; Blakely, Blakely store, 2:15-3 p.m.; Lopez, Odlin Park, 3:15-4:15 p.m.; Decatur, library 4:45-5:15 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 15Community Band concert
• Orcas Community Band. Orcas Center, 2 p.m., songs of the season plus traditional band music. By donation.
Sunday, Dec. 16Christmas musical
• Christmas Musical, 9 a.m and 10:30 a.m., Orcas Is. Community Church.
Orcas Brass concert• Orcas Brass, 2 p.m.
Music of the season at Orcas Island Community Church.
HOLIDAYS FROM 11
Experience one of Mozart’s final masterpiec-es, “La Clemenza di Tito,” streamed Live in HD from the Metropolitan Opera to Orcas Center’s big screen on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m.
In “La Clemenza di Tito,” 10 to 12 high-definition cameras, including a robot-ic camera that tracks the action along the edge of the stage, are used to relay the live performance at the Met.
Additional handheld cameras and a steadicam are backstage to provide a fishbowl view of the behind-the-scene action, from divas in their dress-ing rooms to stagehands maneuvering tons of scen-ery between acts.
“La Clemenza di Tito” is set in Rome, A.D. 79 when the beneficent Roman emperor Titus uncovers an assassination plot against him planned by his close friend and fiancée, and he pardons them both in a grand final show of forgive-ness and reconciliation.
The virtuosic Elīna Garanča sings Sesto in Mozart’s drama set in ancient Rome. Giuseppe Filianoti is the noble Tito and Barbara Frittoli is
Vitellia, in this handsome revival of one of the com-poser’s final masterpieces. Harry Bicket conducts.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $13 students, ($2 off for Orcas Center Members) and
may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by call-ing 376-2281 ext. 1 or visit-ing the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon to 4 p.m.
contributed photosLeft: Islands A Cappella in Rosario. The group is performing on Orcas, San Juan and Lopez Island this holiday season. Right: Kaleidoscope’s 2011 Festival of Trees entry at Rosario Resort. The event benefits non-profits.
One of Mozart’s finest
Celtic Christmaswith Local Orcas Musicians
Friday Nov. 30& Sat. Dec. 1; 7 PM
For info & ticketswww.orcaschurch.org/#/events
Annual Kids Christmas Musical
Sunday Dec. 169 & 10:30 AM
The Fabulous Orcas Brass
Sunday Dec. 162:00 PM
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
December 24 6 PM
Advent Worship Services
Sunday Dec. 2, 9,16, & 23
9 & 10:30 AMFor more info call Orcas
Island Community Church at 360-376-6422
M-F, 10-3PM
Christmas Eventsat your
Orcas IslandCommunity Church
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contributed photoExperience one of Mozart’s final masterpieces, “La Clemenza di Tito,” streamed Live in HD from the Metropolitan Opera to Orcas Center’s big screen on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m.
ThURS., NOv. 29blood drive: Eastsound Fire Station, noon to 6 p.m. Door prize: one hour of labor from RJ Plumbing.
SUNDAy, DEc. 2Free bee WorKSHoP: The new Orcas Bee Club is hosting Mike Radford of Alaska Bee Products. He will talk about bees and bee packages from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Orcas Library.
WEDS. – ONgOINgParKS and rec adult volleyball: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the “old gym” at the Orcas Public School. $2 to drop-in or register at www.oiprd.org. Everyone 16 and older is welcome. Call Orcas Parks and Rec at 376-7275 for more information.tHeoSoPHical Study GrouP: Indralaya Library, 7:30 to 9 p.m. For further informa-tion call Rosalyn at 376-6765. Library is open to the public on Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m.alcoHolicS anonymouS: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
ThURS. – ONgOINgcooKinG claSS: Free Vegetarians of Washington Cooking Class, 1- 4 p.m., Orcas Christian School Kitchen. For more info, visit orcas@vibrantvegetarian.
com. Group gathers on the second Thursday of every month and learn to add more veggies, fruit, legumes and grains into our life-styles.al-anon: 5:30 p.m., 197 Main Street, next door to Pawki’s. library Story timeS: 11 a.m. in the Orcas Island Library children’s room. The half-hour storytimes are geared for children between the ages of three and six, but all children are welcome.
FRI., ONgOINgalcoHolicS anonymouS: Community Church family center, noon. Also 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., 197 Main Street, next door to Pawki’s.
SAT. – ONgOINgtHe PeoPle’S caFe: 4 to 6 p.m., Eastsound fire hall. alcoHolicS anonymouS: 8 to 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., 197 Main Street, next door to Pawki’s. Last Saturday of each month, AA potluck
meeting, Emmanuel Parish Hall, 6 p.m. lionS club: Weekly lunch, 11:45 a.m., Legion. iSleSHare timebanK: For orientations, call Morgan Meadows at 376-9213.library Story timeS: 11 a.m., Orcas Library children’s room, half-hour storytimes are for children between 3 and six, but all kids are welcome.
SUN. – ONgOINgalcoHolicS anonymouS: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., 197 Main Street, next door to Pawki’s.
mON., ONgOINgalcoHolicS anonymouS: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., 197 Main Street, next door to Pawki’s. al-anon: 7 p.m., 197 Main Street, next door to Pawki’s.
TUES.., ONgOINgalcoHolicS anonymouS For Women: 5:30 to 6:30.alcoHolicS anonymouS For men: 7 to 8 p.m.
CALENDAR
Jingle bell pups
Damien Stark PhotosThe Orcas Animal Shelter and the Orcas Off-Leash Area offered holiday pet photos on Nov. 25. Orcas photographer Damien Stark donated his time. At left: Judy Dorman and Virginia Erhardt with their dog Mick. Above: Nic Vierthaler and Heather Bell with their pooch Nasty.
The Giving Tree at Island Market is up and ready with all its tags. Cashier Judy Lindgren, Erin O’Dell of Orcas Family Connections and Amber Paulsen of Kaleidoscope work together on the project. Each year forms are sent out to local schools for families that are in need. They can request any items, but donors are asked to not exceed $100 when making purchases. The forms are turned into anonymous tags or wish lists that adorn the Giving Tree at the market. Monetary items and very gently used items are also accepted.
Orcas Montessori School has launched its third annu-al appeal for donations to the Appleseed Fund. The fund provides scholarship support, so that no fam-ily seeking a Montessori preschool or kindergarten experience for their child is turned away.
This fall marks the 25th Silver Anniversary for Orcas Montessori School.
“It's our mission to make quality preschool program-ming available to as many island children as pos-sible,” says Director Teresa Chocano.
She says tuition at the
Orcas Montessori is about half of what families on the mainland would pay. Still, island families struggle to pay for their children’s pre-school education. This year more than 60 percent of the children attending Orcas Montessori receive finan-cial assistance in order to attend.
Donations of any size are gratefully accepted. In addi-tion Orcas Montessori is looking for “Silent Partners” to donate $1,000 to fully fund one scholarship stu-dent through the Appleseed Fund. The Silent Partner will receive two updates on
their child’s progress dur-ing the school year and will have an opportunity to visit the school, observe the classroom and enjoy lunch with the children.
In return Orcas Montessori School pledges to match each $1,000 dona-tion with another $1,000 raised through efforts such as the school's annual Spring Auction event and our Apple Crisp and Holiday Wreath sales. All scholar-ship families pay a portion of their child's tuition.
Three generous partners already have committed to the 2012 scholarship pro-gram.
“We welcome team funding too, and are look-ing for partners to match a $500 scholarship we just received,” said Moriah Armstrong, a current board member and founder of the school. “Perhaps a group of friends or co-workers would like to partner up to help keep one of our island children in preschool.”
The school is a 501c3 non profit organization founded in 1987.
The fund was named in honor of the heirloom apple orchard gracing the school’s play yard.
contributed photoA four-year-old at Orcas Montessori School concentrates on cutting paper for an artistic activity.
In response to concerns about having to drive on a dark winter’s night, the Orcas Museum will be hosting its annual meeting as a daytime venue this year instead their traditional first Monday night in December.
To accommodate church-goers, the event will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2 at Camp Orkila. There will be shuttle bus service from the upper parking lot to the dining hall, and disabled access right to the door. The $18 per plate menu includes roast turkey, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, salad bar, cinnamon cake and assorted pies for dessert, and BYOB.
The museum board welcomes all members of the public to this gathering which will include door prizes, awards, the big quilt raffle drawing and other special presentations. Call the Orcas Museum office to RSVP at 376-4849. Payments may be made in advance or at the door.
Appleseed fund helps kids attend Montessori
Historical society to host meeting and luncheon
by SCOTT RASMUSSEN Journal of the San Juans Editor
Not even its exceedingly spacious lobby, nor the bal-cony above, proved large enough to contain the hun-dreds of people who turned out Nov. 17 for the cer-emonial ribbon-cutting and open house of the newly constructed hospital on San Juan Island.
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder in rows 10-deep or more, the crowd that had come to tour Peace Island Medical Center spilled out of the lobby, huddled in the entrance of two double-door entrances, and queued up beneath the breezeway outside each.
“We stand in awe today of what they accomplished,” PIMC CEO Jim Barnhart said of those who turned the dream of a modern healthcare facility into a movement, and of those who were then swept up by that movement and con-tributed to the cause, and of those who would later translate that dream into a blueprint and turn it into a reality.
“This medical center stands as a testament to the spirit, determination, care and compassion that
islanders have for island-ers,” he said.
If it were a relay race, San Juan Island Community Foundation Chairman Charles Anderson, perhaps the biggest “dreamer” of all, described the day’s events as something akin to the passing of a baton, wherein those for whom the criti-cal access rural hospital was built would now be entrust-ed with completing the next leg of the journey.
“This is very much a handing off of this project to the caregivers, but more importantly, this is a han-dling off to you,” Anderson said, imploring islanders to let their thoughts and opin-ions be known to the gov-erning board that together with PeaceHealth officials will help to establish the medical center’s policies and procedures.
“It’s so important for you to give us your feedback. Your feedback will keep us on the right track,” he said. “Here it is, it’s yours and we really welcome the com-munity.”
On a scorching day in late July, the first shovel broke ground 18 months ago on the 22 acres, adjacent to Friday Harbor Airport, where a medical center
now sits. The foundation’s hospital steering committee raised $10 million for con-struction of the medical cen-ter and Washington state-based PeaceHealth, which operates St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, as well as medical centers and rural-care hospitals in Alaska, Washington and Oregon, financed the remaining two-thirds, $20 million.
The facilities were designed by Mahlum Architects, a Seattle-based firm specializing in health-care facilities, and Howard S. Wright Constructors of Seattle was the proj-ect's general contractor. Construction involved numerous San Juan Island-based companies, hired as subcontractors, and the medical center will have 75 full and part-time employ-ees.
A fully integrated medi-cal center, PIMC features a expanded primary care and specialty clinic, expanded diagnostic services center, a 24-hour emergency room, and a 10-bed critical access hospital.
It will replace San Juan Island’s 38-year-old medical clinic, Inter Island Medical Center, as the island’s pub-licly funded healthcare provider when it opens for business by the end of November.
Under terms of a 50-year contract with the San Juan Island Hospital District, PeaceHealth will receive $1.2 million a year of hos-pital district property tax revenue to subsidize health care at the new medical center.
The hospital district is also leasing a newly con-structed building on hospi-tal grounds for headquar-ters of San Juan Emergency Medical Services.
Hundreds pack hospital open house and ribbon-cutting
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VOTE ONIslandsSounder.com
Have you ever run a
marathon?Sallie Bell is back in town
A long-time islander is back in business. Artist Sallie Bell has reopen Monkey Puzzle with a new focus: beads. They are from
her collection that she’s been adding to since 1980.
“It's a reflection of the times: I need to reinvent myself and have something that is more compatible for our economy,” Bell said.
Bell creates jewelry and clothing for her one-woman
business, Sallie Bell Designs. Her new store, located across from Mia’s in Eastsound, features her work as well as a wide variety of beads. She is holding her annual Christmas show on Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.contributed photo
Just like the Knights who say Ni of Monty Pythons’ “The Holy Grail,” you will be chanting, “We want shrubbery” when you hear these helpful hints on how to get your garden awash in colorful bushes all winter long.
According to Marlyn Myers, former Orcas Island Gardening Club president and avid gardener, “Fall is always good time to plant because all of this incred-ible rain allow roots to get established.”
At her house near Rosario, Myers has been tracking the amount of rainfall and since Oct. 13 the number has reached ten inches.
So this is the perfect time to get hearty peren-nials with woodsy stems into the soil. Myers adds that every shrub should be in the ground by the end of November. Beware of any plants left in pots this season as low temperature could crack the pottery.
Here are a few of Myers’ suggestions of what to plant:
Best all-around plants Rhododendrons (picturd
above), Pieris japonica or “Japanese andromeda” and small Japanese maples.
Prettiest flowering plants
Camellias, the Christmas rose and the Linton rose, which flower at this time of year.
“It’s beautiful in the mid-dle of winter to have flow-ering shrubs,” said Myers.
Best fernsAutumn ferns are a kind
of green and rust color now and then green most of the year.
“We also have a lot of
native sword fern,” said Myers. “This is the perfect time to transfer them.”
Best plants with berriesThe beauty bush has –
you guessed it – beautiful metallic-blue berries in the fall and winter.
The cotoneaster plant has bright green leaves and is ornamented with bunches of bright, red berries
Best clothing optionsMyers loves to be out-
doors whether it be rainy, windy or cold. Her secret to gardening in winter tem-peratures? Wear two layers of long underwear.
Shrubbery brightens winterThis year’s Christmas
Bird Count in the San Juan Islands is on Saturday, Dec. 15. More than 60,000 vol-unteers across the country will be counting birds from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 to partici-pate in the world’s longest running wildlife census that begun in 1900.
Each count area is a 15-mile diameter circle – about 177 square miles with the San Juan circle centered at the Friday Harbor Labs. Areas are assigned to teams but you don’t necessarily have to go out with a group – you could count birds on your road with your neigh-bors or by yourself or with your family in your own yard or on your property. They also want people to send in their feeder reports.
Even if you don’t count, organizers ask to look out for: small hawks, mourn-ing doves, owls, humming-birds, sapsuckers, shrikes, jays, western bluebirds or any out of place or out of season bird.
“If you live on the shore-line we need your help with shorebirds and marine birds,” say organizers.
This CBC will be larg-er than ever, expanding
its geographical cover-age. Volunteers from all 50 states, every Canadian prov-ince, parts of Central and South America, Bermuda, the West Indies, and Pacific Islands, count and record every individual bird and bird species seen in a speci-fied area.
Several changes have been made to entice bird-watchers to participate. The $5 fee will be dropped, the annual published report, “American Birds,” will go digital in 2013, and the online information will be available in Spanish for the
first time.“This is not just about
counting birds,” says Gary Langham, Audubon’s chief scientist. “Data from the Audubon Christmas Bird Count are at the heart of hundreds peer-reviewed scientific studies and inform decisions by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of the Interior, and the EPA.”
Many routes need better coverage so call today to see what we have for you. For more information and to join call: Barbara Jensen, 378-3068.
contributed photoHappy Lopez birders during a previous count.
