$10,000.00 Reward For Conviction Of Vandal(s)

The Island Guardian is pleased to announced that the final award amount for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the desecration of veteran’s graves on Orcas Island has now been set, and reached. The reward is $10.000.00.

John Erly , who has spearheading a drive for donations on Orcas Island -and has been instrumental in obtaining funds- has agreed with Sheriff Bill Cumming and The Island Guardian, that as of Thursday afternoon the donation drive has been successfully completed with the total of $10,000.00 being agreed to as the final reward amount. The money that has been collected will now be turned over to Sheriff Bill Cumming for safe keeping; and hopefully will aid the ongoing investigation.

The crime has deeply offended and angered not only the public in San Juan County, but in other states and countries as well, and the response to the call for donations has been quite overwhelming. Both Mr. Erly and The Island Guardian have received messages and calls from people in other areas expressing their outrage, and their wiliness to help find the perpetrators.

As a result of the successful drive, no additional donations are necessary, and Mr. Erly, Sheriff Cumming and all of us at The Island Guardian thank everyone who have called, written, or stopped us on the street to offer financial assistance. Now all we have to do is solve the crime.


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Ground Breaking In Friday Harbor

(Brian Brown throws the first dirt as Seanene Kennedy & Gordon Steele -center- dig in, while Mayor Jones assists)

From an idea in 2004, to paper in 2005, to symbolic earth moving in 2007, the Village at the Harbour (Village) will now enter the bricks-and-mortar stage of becoming a reality. On Wednesday in Friday Harbor, as approximately fifty guests and supporters watched, a ceremonial ground breaking took place next to the Mullis Center, to begin a project that will provide the community with thirty-six “assisted-living” apartments.

Assisted-living complexes have become increasingly popular across the country for our aging populace, as they provide 24 hour security, emergency response programs, as well as the mundane necessities of housekeeping and meal preparation.

The Village will consist of 13 one bedroom units, 19 “deluxe” studios, and 4 “regular” studios. Each unit will have a kitchenette (refrigerator, sink and microwave), and range in price from $3,800 to $4,500 per month. The rent includes all services, such as “restaurant-style meals”, all the utilities -except the telephone, and of course the 24 hour on-site staff.

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Shirley Bonita Nielsen

December 19, 1934 - May 27, 2007
Friday Harbor resident Shirley Bonita Nielsen, 72, died May 27, 2007, after a long-battle with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. A service is planned for 2 pm on Saturday, June 2, at Roche Harbor Resort.

Shirley was born December 19, 1934, in Victoria, British Columbia, and adopted by Elsie and George McDonald. She graduated from St Anne's Academy in 1952. Though her father wished her to go into the family business, Shirley was determined to go to college and convinced her parents to allow her to attend Gonzaga University along with her lifelong friend, Margaret Levis. She received a bachelor's degree in business from Gonzaga in 1956. She married Charles Cannon Schmidt on December 31, 1955, in Seattle, Washington. Charles obtained a position as the prosecutor for San Juan County, and the young couple moved to the then small town of Friday Harbor.

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SJ Assisted Living Breaks Ground May 30

San Juan Assisted Living will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the “Village at the Harbour” (sic), a new 5.6 million dollar complex located on 1.5 acres next to the Mullis Center in Friday Harbor, Washington at 2:30 p.m.

The groundbreaking will be held on the construction site immediately to the west of the Mullis Center and attendees may park in the Mullis Center parking lot. Light refreshments will be served and entertainment provided by the 8th Grade Band from Friday Harbor Middle School directed by Janet Olsen.

Speakers at the event will include project developers Seanene Kennedy and Brian Brown, Gordon Steele, and Mayor David Jones.

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Guest Editorial: Bags!!!!

By Francie Hansen

Bags under your eyes, getting bagged, plastic bags…all of these make us sad sacks! Join other San Juan Islanders who have decided to stop using paper or plastic bags and instead are using cloth bags or baskets -- like people do all over the world, I might add -- to contain their purchases and transport them home.

In the U.S., about 12 million barrels of oil and 14 million trees go to producing plastic and paper bags each year. Just imagine…we can save these valuable resources by simply NOT using throw-away bags! I think it’s time to amend our ways and take along our own cloth bags when we head out to do our daily errands. If you don’t have any appropriate bags, you can buy them at King’s, the Market Place, or the Farmers’ Market. And I’m sure the Thrift Store probably has something that would work. I’ll even make you one!

Store your bags in your car so they are always accessible and visible, and you’ll have them handy when you arrive at your shopping destination. Baskets work well too. Anything you can re-use, even if it has to be rinsed, will be great as long as it has a good, sturdy handle.

At a recent steering committee meeting of the Anti-Litter Initiative, I was appalled to hear about the substantial amount of money our local markets are spending to purchase plastic and paper bags that we end up using for only a few minutes and then just throwing out. I like simple fixes, within everyone’s reach, and this is indeed a simple fix. Both the Market Place and King’s even give you 5 cents back per bag if you bring your own!


Francie Hansen is a member of the San Juan Island Anti-Litter Initiative




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United Way Receives $2,000 Wells Fargo Foundation Grant

United Way of San Juan County has announced the receipt of a $2,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation. The grant will be used entirely for program support and will assist in funding programs which provide services to thousands of county residents.

According to a Wells Fargo spokesperson, “Wells Fargo is proud to partner with United Way of San Juan County and we commend your organization for making a positive difference in the community”. United Way of San Juan County exists to build a stronger, healthier community by raising resources and developing partnerships that make a measurable difference in people’s lives.

“Having a positive and lasting impact on the lives of those in need is at the very core of United Way’s mission” said Bonnie Gilmore, Executive Director. “We are extraordinarily grateful for the generous contribution from the Wells Fargo Foundation.

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Update Award Fund Pledges Reach $6,000.00.

Flags Burned, Swastikas Placed At Graves
An account is being established to deposit donations in, and then the accounting and money will turned over to Bill Cumming to present as a reward, if, and when, there is an arrest, prosecution and conviction.

Checks can be made out to The Island Guardian with a notation of “Award Fund” on the Memo line. John Erly is spearheading the drive on Orcas Island, and he can be reached at 376-4155. The Island Guardian address is 405 Blair Avenue, F.H. WA 98250, email is: editor@islandguadian.com



While the rest of America was preparing to honor those who gave their lives to protect American’s freedoms, someone made the decision to desecrate the graves of veterans on Orcas Island. Sheriff Bill Cumming (a Vet-Nam veteran) reported that sometime after midnight on Sunday morning, 33 American flags at the Woodlawn Cemetery that decorated veteran graves were burned, and the flags at 46 other graves were replaced with Nazi swastikas.

The damage was quickly discovered, and by 2:00 p.m. the Orcas American Legion and friends of the Legion had replaced the flags with new. The vandals then returned and replaced 38 of the flags with swastikas.



Sheriff Cumming in an email told The Island Guardian that “This crime is an absolute outrage to veterans, their families, friends of their families and the community as a whole. The desecration of a burial site is not free speech, it is a crime.”

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with any information to contact a deputy. The Island Guardian is offering a cash reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons guilty of committing these crimes. As of Monday the reward amount is growing as more people learn of the crime. Those that wish to add to the amount may contact The Island Guardian at editor@islandguardian.com


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MEMORIAL DAY 2007

TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR PROCLAMATION
In December of 1915, Canadian Major John McCrae, perhaps remembering the suggestion first made during the Napoleonic wars, connected the red poppy with the sacrifices of the men and women who died in World War I, and wrote the poem “In Flanders Fields”. Since then, the Red Poppy has been the symbol of remembrance for veterans throughout the world, and is the official flower of the American Legion Auxiliary and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary; and

These poppies are made by disabled veterans and all the funds raised by the Auxiliaries from their distribution are returned to support these veterans, their widows, and their orphans; and

Wearing a poppy demonstrates our honor, support, and respect for our veterans and the duty they have performed for our Country; and

Now at a time when new veterans and their families are evermore needful of aid and support, the importance of the Red Poppy is greater than ever, I, David F. Jones, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of Friday Harbor do hereby proclaim May 19th through May 28th, Two Thousand and Seven, as POPPY DAYS in the Town of Friday Harbor, and urge our citizens to support their Veterans and American Legion Auxiliary, and allow poppies to bloom throughout the Town on every coat, jacket, shirt, and blouse.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the Town of Friday Harbor to be affixed this 17th day of May Two Thousand and Seven.

David F. Jones, Mayor

(Learn more about American Legion Auxiliary national and local programs, and the history of the Legion’s Poppy Program )
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Annexation Of Buck Property Still A Question

Approximately sixty people showed up Thursday night for a joint Friday Harbor City Council (Council) and Planning Commission (Commission) public hearing (background story below). The hearing was held to receive public comment on a number of requested redesignations of property (Staff Report) , within Friday Harbor, and a proposed plans to expand the UGA (Urban Growth Area) Boundaries of Friday Harbor.

After a staff presentation the floor was opened up to public comment, and it quickly became a one-sided forum for affordable housing in general, and in particular for the inclusion of the “Buck Property” into the UGA Boundaries of Friday Harbor. As Larry Soll of the San Juan Community Home Trust (SJCLT) correctly noted, that of the nineteen people who spoke in favorer of expanding the boundaries to include the Buck property, “no one spoke against it”.

As one participant noted after the meeting, perhaps someone may have introduced at least a counter point to the testimony, if they had felt comfortable enough to speak, but in a departure from normal protocol, neither the Mayor, or the Chair of the Planning Commission, make any effort to stop the audience applause that filled the room after each speaker spoke on the need for affordable housing, and the need to include the Buck property as a site for a proposed affordable housing development by the San Juan Community Home Trust.

At the end of the hearing the Town Council excused themselves so that the Town Planning Commission -and advisory group only to the Council- could begin deliberations on the proposed land use reclassifications and UGA expansion. Once the Commission voted and approved their recommendations, the Council would then review them, deliberate, and then take final action.

All of the reclassifications were quickly approved without further discussion, but the Commissioners quickly became bogged down when it came to how, and to what extent, they should make recommendations to the Town Council on expanding the UGA boundaries.

Because of the demands of the GMA (Growth Management Act), the Town must address the question of where and how future growth may occur, but there are a number of ways it can be accomplished other than simply expanding the Town limits.

Commissioner Laura Arnold -who was once the County Planning Department Director) said that she would like to have some time to review the pros and cons of how the Town can best address the proposals, and suggested the Commission not make a decision then, but come back in a week for deliberations. It was decided the Commission would continue the meeting until next Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be open to the public, but not open to public comment.


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Public Hearing On FH Expansion

Changes may be coming to the Town of Friday Harbor, and if the public has an opinion, now is the time to voice it. The Town needs to accommodate future growth, and the Town Council has to decide how that is to be done. Want to share your thoughts on the matter? The Town will hold a public hearing Thursday, May 24, at 5:30 (at the Grange next to the American Legion Building) to present, and receive, information on proposed changes to the Town Comprehensive Plan and the official maps.

The charges result from GMA (Growth Management Act) requirements that require local governments plan for future growth; and do so within the framework of the guidelines and regulations of the GMA. Based on studies conducted by the Town, the Town must provide for at least an additional 211 residential units. There are more than one way to do that. The Town can expand the town boarders, or it could allow increased density within the existing town limits, or a combination of the two, or it could…Well, this is where the public comes in: The public is invited to read the Staff Report the Town has come up with, and make comments and suggestions.

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Forum On Incentives To Preserve Historic Blds

A community forum sponsored by the Town of Friday Harbor is planed for Friday, June 1, 2007, 8:30 am-noon, Historic Grange Hall, 152 N First Street, Friday Harbor, to discuss incentive-based strategies being used by property owners, local governments and community organizations throughout Washington to preserve and adaptively re-use historic buildings and landmarks—incentives that are being considered for implementation locally in Friday Harbor.

A partial list of potential historic preservation incentives to be discussed includes: property tax reductions (special valuation); historic preservation easements; revolving fund loans; zoning, density and building code flexibility; preservation grants.

Community representatives who will be attending include: (partial list)

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Dr. Osborne To Be Honored By Whale Museum

On Thursday night the Whale Museum will honor Rich Osborne, Ph.D., for over thirty years of work in the San Juan Islands that has benefited The Whale Museum and the Southern Resident Killer Whales.

Rich began his work with orcas in the San Juans in August of1976 as a research associate with the original Orca Survey and the Moclips Cetological Society. He focused his field research on orca behavior and communication, and by August of 1981, Rich was curator of research at The Whale Museum as well as the senior administrator of scientific research and collections.


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Dinner & Auction for SJ Community Home Trust

The San Juan Community Home Trust is hosting an elegant dinner to raise funds for its next new neighborhood of permanently affordable homes on San Juan Island. “The Buck Starts Here” event will kick off the challenge of matching a land donation valued at $750,000. The parcel of land is currently owned by the Buck family, who are collaborating with an anonymous Home Trust donor.

The event will be held at the SJ Island Yacht Club, May 31, 2007 and will begin at 6:00 PM.

Guests will be treated to musical entertainment, dinner and an auction. David Bayley will perform tunes from his new CD entitled, “Island Time”, which features classical piano rags. Guests will dine on a choice of savory prime rib or herb-crusted halibut prepared by Yacht Club manager and chef-extraordinaire, Gayle Rollins. The lovely songstress Roberta Leed will entertain accompanied by Bayley. And, the effervescent Boo Boo Keane will be the evening’s auctioneer.

Tickets are $75, (this includes a tax-deductible donation of $45) and available through the Home Trust.

For more information call, 378-5541, or e-mail at info@hometrust.org to reserve your place.
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Film Makers Contest - Cash Awards

The San Juan County/Town of Friday Harbor Department of Emergency Management announced its sponsorship of the 2007 Disaster Preparedness Short Film Contest. There are over $1500 of prizes available, and the contest is open to filmmakers of all ages. This exciting opportunity will also offer aspiring filmmakers the opportunity for regional exposure and appearance in a film festival. The deadline for contest entry is June 30, 2007, and all interested parties are invited to visit the contest website at http://www.sanjuandem.net/filmfest/, for details.
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2 Day Presentation By Nantucket Planner Scheduled

Councilman Alan Lichter announced on Tuesday that John Pagini (former director of the Nantucket Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission), will be coming to San Juan Island for two full days of meetings, panel discussions and dinners. Lichter had informed the council members in April that an Orcas resident was willing to bring Mr. Pagini to the islands for a day of meetings, if the Council felt it might be worthwhile to hear about his experiences as a planner in Nantucket.

The one day trip for an informal presentation and discussion has expanded a bit, with a formal full two day draft agenda that starts in the morning, and ends with invited guests to evening dinners. Both meetings will be held in Friday Harbor, with the first day meeting taking place at the Mullis Center, and the second day meeting to be held at the SJI High School Commons room.

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Chip Seal Success Says PW

Public Works Director Jon Shannon has presented the County Council with an update on the ongoing chip seal repair of roads in the county, and the news is good. Shannon said the new rock, emulsion and training has been highly successful, and has “turned out better than expected”. Shannon said that the previous chip seal had rock (“chips”) that had only embedded 20 to 30%, whereas the new procedure has resulted in embedment rates of 75 to 80%.

The chip-seal program is a full day ahead of schedule, and the trucks, crews and equipment will have completed the first stage of work on San Juan today, and then will be headed to Lopez. The final stage will be a “fog seal” to the road surface, and this is scheduled to be completed by June 10th -weather permitting.

Shannon said that the response from the public has been “overwhelmingly good”, and said that his department wants public comment, preferable in writing, but cautions that it will be a full 30 days until the emulsion has “set”, so asks that the public withhold full judgment until that time.

And speaking of chips, due to the loose rock -and drivers not slowing down on the new surfaces- the number of chipped windshields has increased. Some cars have received multiple strikes, resulting in chips, and with some strikes leading to windshield cracks. Novas glass repair will be on San Juan Island June 13th; and in the meantime it is important to cover the chip to keep out dirt.

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Dinner & Auction for SJ Community Home Trust

The San Juan Community Home Trust is hosting an elegant dinner to raise funds for its next new neighborhood of permanently affordable homes on San Juan Island. “The Buck Starts Here” event will kick off the challenge of matching a land donation valued at $750,000. The parcel of land is currently owned by the Buck family, who are collaborating with an anonymous Home Trust donor.

The event will be held at the SJ Island Yacht Club, May 31, 2007 and will begin at 6:00 PM.

Guests will be treated to musical entertainment, dinner and an auction. David Bayley will perform tunes from his new CD entitled, “Island Time”, which features classical piano rags. Guests will dine on a choice of savory prime rib or herb-crusted halibut prepared by Yacht Club manager and chef-extraordinaire, Gayle Rollins. The lovely songstress Roberta Leed will entertain accompanied by Bayley. And, the effervescent Boo Boo Keane will be the evening’s auctioneer.

Tickets are $75, (this includes a tax-deductible donation of $45) and available through the Home Trust.

For more information call, 378-5541, or e-mail us at info@hometrust.org to reserve your place.


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Governor To Select Our Judge

The County Council decided yesterday to let the Governor appoint San Juan County’s first Judge . Whoever she appoints will then stand for election in 2008. After hearing arguments for and against asking the Governor to wave her right under the constitution -as she has done in the past- to appoint a judge, the Councilmen expressed their opinions in a general discussion, asked additional questions, and then were polled by Chairman Bob Myhr as to their thoughts.

The fundamental question was succinctly expressed early on in the discussion when Councilman Rich Peterson stated that “the only thing that will disappoint the public is being denied the right to vote”.

Only Councilmen Peterson and Lichter were in favor of allowing the voters to be the first to decide who should be the judge; even thought Councilman Kevin Ranker said that “whoever is elected will have a 2 to 1 advantage” when they run for office in the 2008 election.
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CC Cancels Public Hearing On Road To Beach

If Public Works had hoped the County Council would hold a public hearing today (May 22), and adopt an ordinance that would establishing “Lafarge County Road” to the man-made beach at the former LaFarge gravel pit, they have been disappointed.

The stated intent of the ordinance was to build a road to County standards from the existing County road down to the edge of the fill material that is left over from the sand and gravel operation when LaFarge owned the property. According to the ordinance, “The County Road will provide public access forever from Pear Point County Road Number 6 to the waters of Griffin Bay.

But once again, the plans by Public Works may have run up against the Comprehensive Plan and the land use regulations of the County and the State (Past permit issues). The land use designation does not allow development without permits -even if the applicant is the County. The Island Guardian could not find an application for the proposed road construction, and no reason was stated in the official cancellation of the public hearing, but unofficial reports indicate that the County became aware of the lack of permit applications, and canceled the hearing until it could be reviewed for compliance issues.

The property was purchased by the County, and then given to SJI Parks and Recreation (( link to past stories), but so far a firm decision has yet to be made as to what use the land will be put to. It is clear however that Public Works has some ideas on the subject, and has been using the beach as a barge landing and storage area.

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New SJI Transfer Station Or Fix Existing?

Having reviewed a possible list of criteria to be used in selecting a new site for a transfer station on San Juan Island, the SWAC (Solid Waste Advisory Committee) will meet Monday, May 21, (Mullis Fire Station, 11:45 to 1:45) to determine the final list of criterion for the selection process.

Once this “check list” has been established, and with the start of a “scoping” process by the County, the rating and -perhaps- selection of the best site for a transfer station will begin. This is the next step in what may be a long, and perhaps legally contested, attempt by the County to build a new transfer station in a new location.

The contested part may result not from building a new dump, but from any proposal to move it to some location other than where it is, and has been, for decades. Needless to say, property owners are unlikely to have purchased property in a neighborhood if they had known the County would decide to place a garbage and recycling center next to them; hence the forecast of possible legal action from those who live near sites that have already been looked at as potential locations for development into a transfer station.

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Group From Turkey Tour SJC

(LtoR: Erdogan Utku, farmer and restauranteur; Leyla Osan, computers and governmental business; Solmaz Karabag, university researcher in business administration; Yonca Ozatkan, medical services administration and Ufuk Verdum, language school owner; and SJC Rotary President Tom Barrett)

By Mary Kalbert

Rotary International’s Group Study Exchange Team from Turkey was hosted this past week by local SJI Rotary families.

As a part of a month long exchange, the four member team and a Rotarian team leader spend time in a vocational and cultural tour of various communities within the Rotary district that extends from just south of Vancouver, B.C. to Everett.
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EMS Week: Extraordinary People & Service

May 20-26, 2007 is the 34th annual Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week. The event honors the dedication of those who provide day-to-day lifesaving services on the medical "front line."

The 2007 EMS Week theme, "Extraordinary People, Extraordinary Service," salutes the excellent services provided every day, under often challenging circumstances, by the 38 EMTs and paramedics of San Juan Island EMS and their 750,000 colleagues nationwide.

"As this year's theme emphasizes, EMS providers are dedicated to saving lives, even putting their own lives on hold as they respond to medical emergencies," said Dr. Brian Keaton, president of ACEP. "They do this every day without special recognition, which is why we are recognizing EMS providers this year as extraordinary."

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SJCT New Resource Center Opens

(Executive Director Merritt Olsen in the general purpose room and where sets can be made and assembled)

The theatre hosted a celebration on Sunday for the new Performing Arts Resource Center, and also held their annual meeting. The tours and entertainment began at 2:00 pm, (Sunday, May 20), and free hotdogs served by Kiwanis, lemonade, with popcorn, and cotton candy served by the Boy Scouts There was music from the One More Time band, and other entertainers The public opening was billed as "a good time for the whole family".

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TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR PROCLAMATION

(L to R: FH Mayor Jones reads the Proclamation to “Miss Poppy” Emily Reynolds, & American Legion Auxiliary Member Alex Gavora)

POPPY DAYSMay 19th through May 28th, 2007
In December of 1915, Canadian Major John McCrae, perhaps remembering the suggestion first made during the Napoleonic wars, connected the red poppy with the sacrifices of the men and women who died in World War I, and wrote the poem “In Flanders Fields”. Since then, the Red Poppy has been the symbol of remembrance for veterans throughout the world, and is the official flower of the American Legion Auxiliary and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary; and

These poppies are made by disabled veterans and all the funds raised by the Auxiliaries from their distribution are returned to support these veterans, their widows, and their orphans; and

Wearing a poppy demonstrates our honor, support, and respect for our veterans and the duty they have performed for our Country; and

Now at a time when new veterans and their families are evermore needful of aid and support, the importance of the Red Poppy is greater than ever, I, David F. Jones, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of Friday Harbor do hereby proclaim May 19th through May 28th, Two Thousand and Seven, as POPPY DAYS in the Town of Friday Harbor, and urge our citizens to support their Veterans and American Legion Auxiliary, and allow poppies to bloom throughout the Town on every coat, jacket, shirt, and blouse.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the Town of Friday Harbor to be affixed this 17th day of May Two Thousand and Seven.

David F. Jones, Mayor

(Learn more about American Legion Auxiliary national and local programs, and the history of the Legion’s Poppy Program )
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Leadership SJ Islands Class III Graduates Today

(Back Row: Alisa Schoultz (SJI), Cynthia Stark-Wickman (SJI), Michael Greenberg (Orcas), Steve Hussey (Orcas), Gay Wilmerding (SJI)
Center Row: Michelle McDarmont (Lopez), Jennell Kvistad (Lopez), Martha Sharon (Lopez), Carla MacDiarmid (SJI), Carrie Lacher (SJI)
Front Row: Dani McCutcheon (SJI), Shannon Davis (SJI), Bill Watson (SJI), Dana Kinsey (Orcas), Bill Evans (Lopez))

Leadership San Juan Islands Class III will meet for the last of six sessions today, May18th at Skagit Valley College San Juan Center, and then from 5:30 to 7:30 there will be a graduation ceremony; again at Skagit Valley College San Juan Center. Fourteen islanders from Lopez, Orcas and San Juan will graduate. Keynote speaker will be Paul J. King, I.T. Director for U.S. programs with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. LSJI alumni and the public are welcome and incouraged to attend.

Leadership San Juan Islands is now a certificate series offered in conjunction with Skagit Valley College San Juan Center. This year a total of six, day-long seminars explored leadership and San Juan County’s “systems” of governance, education, economics, environment and community/health. Morning “systems” classes were open to the general public for a fee. For more information see www.leadershipsanjuanislands.org


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Storm Water Petition & Appeal Surges Forward

( Pauli Gavora, a petition volunteer, explains the referendum petition to voter)
Some property owners are asking why is there a new $46.20 charge called “Storm Water Utility” added to the stack of 19 other levys and assessments that has shown up on their 2007 property tax bill. One question that is being asked is this really a “fee”, or is it really a new tax. Some property owners said that If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and swims like a duck, then maybe it is a duck?

When County Council members Alan Lichter, Bob Myhr, and Kevin Ranker made the decision to fund a storm water ordinance (which was done by assessing a fee of $46.20) on all developed properties in San Juan County, they did so by agreeing among themselves to start charging a fee that would be collected by the tax Assessor.
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Guest Editorial

Please, Let’s Control Ourselves
By Steve Ludwig

Recently, while standing in front of the Lopez Village Market, collecting signatures for the Storm Water Referendum, I was again impressed, as at many similar situations, by the knowledge, understanding and concern of the average person about the application of political power both locally and globally. Equally impressive, however, is their flat refusal to become involved in any way with our existing ruling institutions. Clearly, something new is needed to allow people put their knowledge to work.

People are not apathetic or ignorant, as the conventional wisdom would have it. Their disgust with the existing power structure is well founded. It’s an ineffective system to begin with, but it’s also biased against the interests of the vast majority of people.

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Charges Filed In Fatal Accident On SJI

( Updated Information) (file photo of March accident)

Charges have been filed against the alleged driver of a car involved in the fatal car accident on SJI last March.

Based on evidence at the scene, the car left the road at "over 70 mph in a 45 mph zone” near a scenic pull out at the south end of San Juan Island, and then apparently rolled, or flipped over, resulting in the death of one of the occupants of the car, Jarvis Teasdale, age 22, of San Juan Island,

Robert Benedict has been charged with vehicular homicide, a Class A felony. The owner of the car, Amber Beeston, age 20, is alleged to have been a passenger in the car, and to have let Mr. Benedict, age 25, drive the car. The third occupant in the car, Teasdale, was thrown from the car, and pronounce dead at the scene.

According to an affidavit by Detective Brent Johnson of the SJC Sheriff’s office, shortly before the accident Beeston had told a cashier at the Little Sore in Friday Harbor that “Benedict was driving because she was too intoxicated to drive.

The affidavit also states that “a neighbor found an apparently confused and disoriented Robert Benedict walking in a nearby field”.

The Sheriff’s office reported that when first responders had shown up at the scene, both Beeston and Benedict were interviewed at the scene. Statements made at the accident scene indicated that Beeston was the driver of the car at the time of the accident. Prosecuting attorney Randy Gaylord said that his office does not believe reports that have been made which assert Beeston and Benedict have no memory of the accident. Gaylord stated that comments made at the scene by Beeston indicated who was driving the car at the time of the accident..

Accident victims do not always recall the details of an accident, or even the accident event, and it is also possible they may not recall events immediately following an event. But while it is well established in the academic world that memory loss can result from traumatic events, there can be methods and techniques used to obtain evidence at an accident scene that may be used to attempt to prove what led up to an accident, and who was driving, and who was sitting where.

A hearing in the SJC Superior Count has been scheduled for May 25, at 9:00 a.m, for the purpose of allowing Benedict to “admit or deny the charges… and to set a date for a trial if appropriate”.


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Community Shows Up For Steve Maas

San Juan Islanders showed up in large numbers Saturday night at the SJC Fair building to help raise money for fellow islander Steve Maas. It has been estimated that 500 came to help raise money, and at last count, over $80,000.00 has been donated/raised.

Steve is recovering from treatments for Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (a cancer that affects the lymphatic system), and while his health insurance took care of some of the bills, there are expenses that his insurance does not cover. Good time to have friends.

Friends, associates, and folks that just wanted to help an island neighbor, filled the fair building to donate to a fund raising for Steve, and take part in a show of community support for one of their own.

Because Steve is recovering from the latest treatments, he was unable to attend; but one of his supporters wore a small sign that said “Say Hi To Steve”, as she slowly walked up to people while holding a video camera at eye level. So Steve may not have been in attendance at the time, but as he watches the video pan the crowd, and then see and hear all of the comments from the close-ups, he will be know how much people care for and support him

In many ways it was a celebration of life: friendship, community, social and financial support for each other. There was food, drink, bands, donated items for an auction; children at play, groups in conversation; and overall a general positive atmosphere that reminded folks of one of the reasons we live here.

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State Salary Commission Wants Your Comments

Do you think state officials are paid too much, or not enough? There is an opportunity to share your views on the subject directly with those who decide such things; and you can do it right now with an email or a phone call.

Most of us know the SJC Charter provided for a local Salary Commission to set county salaries, but the idea of a group of citizens determining salary levels for elected officials started at the state level, and today the Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials (Commission) will hold a public hearing to take testimony on the Proposed 2007-08 Salary Schedule for the state's elected officials.

The Commission, a 16-member citizen commission, sets the salaries of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of Public Lands, and Insurance Commissioner; members of the Legislature; and Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the Court of Appeals and Superior Courts and District Courts.

While the meeting will be held today (May 15th 9:00 a.m) in Seattle, public comment, and involvement in the salary setting process, is welcome and encouraged, and can be accomplished in any of the following ways:

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Master Gardener’s Fundraiser A Success

(Master Gardeners Susan Rosenberg, Marilyn Kline and Catherine J Clowers assist buyers)

The spring plant sale at the Master Gardener’s demonstration garden in Friday Harbor was, once again, a success as a steady stream of buyers carried away the tomato, basil, perennials and other plants that were offered for sale.

The annual spring sale is both a fundraising event and an opportunity for contact between the Master Gardeners and the general public, that may not be aware of the Washington State University program “that provides university training to volunteers for the purpose of enabling them to serve their communities through horticulture, gardening and pest management.”

Find out more about becoming a Master Gardener, and becoming a volunteer, by clicking HERE.

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$1,500 State Award To Lopez School For Recycling Program

Lopez Island School District has been awarded $1,500 by the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) The award is based on a school program that involves recycling, water conservation efforts, and food composting.

Seventeen King County and North Puget Sound area K-12 public schools received cash awards at the state capital last week for their outstanding environmental programs.

The Terry Husseman School Awards, presented by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), are an annual program that recognizes schools for developing and implementing innovative curricula, sustaining ongoing waste reduction efforts, or starting new environmental programs.

Award amounts range from $375 to $5,000. A total of nearly $40,000 was given away. This year, the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction contributed $10,000 toward the cash awards.

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"Firewise": Help & Learn How In FH

Saturday, May 12th The public may attend and participate in preparing a Friday Harbor home in accordance with Firewise guidelines.

From 10 a.m., volunteers will gather at 103 Hillview Lane to remove fire fuels in the form of brush and dead branches. To see the Firewise program in action, and join in, bring gloves, ear and eye protection and any tools, such as rakes, loppers, weed wackers or hedge trimmers. Those unable to participate but interested in the transformation are invited from 10-1.
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Ferry Unloading Problem

The final meeting by the Intermodel Transportation Committee was held in FH on Thursday, (related story) to discuss the Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal Master Plan, and as one might expect, one of the issues dealt with in the plan is the unloading of cars, trucks and people at the dock at Friday Harbor.

Although the driver of the above car was not at the meeting, the problem of small cars and large trucks -with large turning radius- on blind corners was underscored for the driver of the car above, when she failed to stop far enough back to be missed by the back of a 40’ tractor-trailer rig.
According to a witness, as the driver of the truck began his turn up Spring street, the driver of the car continued to move slowly forward to a stopping point, even as the truck was continuing to make the turn. The driver stopped too late, and too far forward, and the back of the truck’s trailer came into contact with the car.

Result: one car from Canada wrecked and towed away, one truck momentarily stopped, one truck stuck in front of the scene, and a whole lot of cars had to make a detour up a one way street when the ferry workers quickly solved the problem of a blocked road. Summer is almost here.

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Whale Museum Marine Naturalist Training

(Whale Museum photo)

The 2007 Marine Naturalist Training course offered by The Whale Museum on San Juan Island was a great success. The course curriculum provided an overview of the natural history of The Salish Sea, the inland marine waters between Vancouver Island and the mainlands of Washington State and Southern British Columbia.

The ecology and conservation of local marine species was a main focus of the training. Interpretive field techniques were developed in the areas of marine mammals, salmon, seabirds, intertidal ecology, geology, and the human history of the islands.

The class was filled to capacity with 30 students plus a few key staff members and existing volunteers and was in session April 7, 14, 21, 28 and May 5 & 6.

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SJ Pilots Association To FH Port: No Air Show Planned

The ongoing planning for the “Aerofest San Juan” event was on the agenda for the Friday Harbor Port Commission’s Wednesday (5-10-07) meeting, and the President of the SJPA (San Juan Pilots Association), Tom Schramm, gave the Port Commissioners the history, and a current update, on the planning for the event. The Commissioners in turn said that they would need a formal proposal from the SJPA before they would have a formal discussion of the topic.

Both the Commissioners and Port Director Steve Simpson said there was uncertainty as to what, exactly, the Pilots were proposing, but the preliminary planning that had been made available “raised the question if an “Aerofest” would include appropriate uses of the airport”. Simpson said there could be insurance and liability issues the Port would need to review, but that the Port had not received an official request for an event.

Schramm told the Commissioners that an air show and a fly-in would not be part of the proposal, and suggested the Port should “think of it (the Aerofest) as an extension of what we have been doing, and not as an air show”.

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United Way SJC Campaign Boasts Record Amount

United Way of San Juan County ended its 2006/07 campaign on April 30th with a record $161,386; more than $15,000 raised during the previous year’s fundraising effort.

A wholly local effort, United Way of San Juan County supports more than thirty human services agencies and programs. Over its ten year history, over $1million has been raised to help islanders who need it the most.

Through its “Community Safety Net” approach, United Way support ensures that resources are available and that no member of the community falls through the cracks. United Way thanks our community for your caring support.

If you would like to help, United Way is looking for a Volunteer Coordinator
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CC To Decide On Judgeship Question

The County Council has set May 21 (a Monday) as the date to -hopefully- make a decision on the SJC judgeship question

The question is one they have asked of themselves, and is the result of SJC now being a new judgeship, and that means we need a new judge. A new judge that lives in SJC .

By state law the governor is to appoint the first judge for the County, but in the past the governor has waived that right, and allowed a judgeship to elect their judge. So the question the Council has posed is: Should the County ask the governor to wave her mandated requirement to appoint, so that the first selection of a county judge can be made by an election?

Based on a recommendation by fellow Councilman Gene Knapp (a retired attorney, and former SJC Prosecutor), the Council has decided that on May 21, starting at 10:00 a.m., they will hear arguments for, and against, the question of which is better for San Juan County, to have the new judge elected, or appointed. At the end of the discussion, the goal of the Council is to decide which direction they desire the Governor to go, and then forward that decision to her as a request.

We asked Current County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord, and retired District Court Judge John Linde, what their thoughts were on the question of appointment vs. an election. Gaylord said that he saw no reason to change the existing system that is in place. John Linde, who still has an active law practice, said that San Juan County has never had their own judgeship, and that he felt it would be best if the citizens of the county could select their first judge. Both Linde and Gaylord are actively seeking to be that first judge -no matter how the selection is to be made.

One of the concerns already expressed by some in the local legal community is, if the judge is appointed, does that then give an unfair advantage in future elections? The discussion on the 21st should be wide ranging and interesting. The bottom line of course, is that the Governor makes the final decsion; but she may be influenced by the wishes of the Council.


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Final Meeting On FH Transportation Plan Thursday

The Friday Harbor Intermodal Transportation Committee will meet on Thursday, May 10 in the Key Bank Garden Room (95 Second Street) in Friday Harbor from 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. The committee includes representatives from the Town of Friday Harbor, San Juan County and the Port of Friday Harbor who have advised Washington State Ferries as it develops a master plan for the area around the Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal. This will be the group’s final meeting.


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United Way SJC Campaign Boasts Record Amount

United Way of San Juan County ended its 2006/07 campaign on April 30th with a record $161,386; more than $15,000 raised during the previous year’s fundraising effort.

A wholly local effort, United Way of San Juan County supports more than thirty human services agencies and programs. Over its ten year history, over $1million has been raised to help islanders who need it the most.

Through its “Community Safety Net” approach, United Way support ensures that resources are available and that no member of the community falls through the cracks. United Way thanks our community for your caring support.

United Way seeks a Volunteer Coordinator

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Local Man In Jail For Sex Crime

A local man has pleaded guilty to a charge of having a sexually relationship with a 14 year old girl, and now faces prolonged jail time.

According to court records, when the was first interviewed by a SJC Detective on 26th of February 2006, she stated that she and defendant had “been involved in a relationship for almost nine months” and “that they are engaged to be married”.

Not so, said the boyfriend, who denied he was the girls boyfriend, or that they were engaged, and “they had not had sexual relations”. He also told the Detective “he knew it would be illegal for him to engage in such actions because of their respective ages”. The man was 21 years old at the time of the interview.

The investigation began in January, 2006, when the mother of the child found evidence of a sexual relationship in her daughter’s bedroom; and the following night had “found the defendant crouched below her daughter’s bedroom window”. Prior to this incident, the mother had received a restraining order in November of 2006 against the defendant, restricting him from having any contact with her daughter.

The investigation led to a charge of Rape of a Child in the Third Degree, to which the defendant pleaded guilty to on May 4, 2007. The maximum sentence and fine for the charge is 5 years and a $10,000.00 fine, while the “Standard Range of Actual Confinement” is 12 plus to 14 months.

Following a pre-sentence investigation by the SJC District Court Adult Probation Office, the sentencing hearing will be on June 29, 2007. In the meantime, because the defendant admitted to the crime and pleaded guilty, he has been confined pending his sentence hearing.

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Rosario Master Plan Approval...Almost, Soon…

There will be one More Public Hearing On the Rosario Master Plan: the County Council (CC) has approved, in principle, a final draft Rosario Master Plan. On Tuesday, the CC made minor changes suggested by County Prosecuting Attorney (PA) and the Community Development and Planning department (CD&PD), with Councilman Lichter opposed, but in the end all agreed to forward the document to the offices of the CP & CD&PD, so that the those changes can be incorporated into a final draft ordinance.

The draft ordinance will then be made available to the public for review, and yet another public hearing. After the public hearing, the CC will once again enter into deliberations, and assuming that no substantial changes are made as a result of public input or arguments by the council members, the CC will vote to approve, or deny, the proposed ordinance that will approve the Plan.

Given the amount of discussion and review of the Plan (Previous Story) , it is almost certain that the next public hearing will lead to approval of the ordinance; and after seven years of work and review, there will be an approved Rosario Master Plan.

Of course, as always in land used decisions, there will be an appeal period, but once again, given the exhaustive review of the plan by attorneys and professional planners, both for the County and for Rosario, it is unlikely that an appeal would uncover some fundamental error that could send the Plan back to the County for further review. But then again….

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Ausilio Pleads Guilty To Vehicular Homicide

(File photo of 2006 accident on SJ Island)

James Russell Ausilio has pleaded guilty to Vehicular Homicide, and to Vehicular Assault in the single car accident that occurred September second, 2006, in which Ausilio was the driver of a car that crashed on San Juan Island, killing one passenger, and causing serious injuries to the three other occupants of the auto.

According to court records, Ausilio was driving in a “reckless manner”, that resulted in the death of San Juan Island resident Miguel Huerta, and resulted in “substantial bodily harm to Israel Aguayo, Mario Salas, and Gerardo Salas-Valente.

Shortly after the accident occurred, Sheriff Bill Cumming told The Island Guardian that based on the evidence at the scene, it was estimated the vehicle, a 1995 GMC Yukon, was traveling "in access of 70 mph”, and he believed the vehicle may have “rolled at least 2 times, possibly 3 times" .

The potential maximum sentence for the Vehicular Homicide (VH) could be as much as life + 10 years and a $70.000 dollar fine, however the Standard Range for VH is 31 to 41 months, plus 12 to 14 months for the Vehicular Assault charge, with the sentences to run concurrently.

The likely sentence of the lesser standard range could be increased if Ausilio turns out to have prior convictions of a “serious offense’. But in any case the current charges are defined as a serious offense, and as defined by Washington law, if there are a total of three serious offenses -in any state- then under the three-strike provision in Washington, the mandatory sentence is life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Since the accident, Ausilio has been living with relatives in Casa Grande Arizona. Ausilio will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. on June 29th, in San Juan County Superior Court.

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SJ Initiative Second Public Meeting Monday on Orcas

(First meeting of the Policy Leadership Group took place on San Juan Island)

The second meeting of the Leadership Sub-Committee .of the San Juan Initiative will take place Monday, (5-7) at the Orcas Island Fire Station

Amy Windrope, the Project manager stated “the public and the community is encouraged to attend”, and pointed out there will be an opportunity for some public comment and questions at the meetings.

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New Orca Calf Sighted In SJ Waters

( The Center for Whale Research photo by Dave Ellifrit)

Following several reports of a possible new calf in J-pod Wednesday, May 2, 2007, Dave Ellifrit, Katie Jones and Courtney Smith of the Center for Whale Research responded to the reports and encountered J-pod off the west side of San Juan Island traveling slowly northbound.

Upon closer inspection, Dave Ellifrit confirmed that J16 (born ~1972) did in fact have a new calf beside her. The new calf is officially designated J42, though the sex of the young whale is yet to be determined. The new calf is the fourth calf born to J16. Her other offspring include: J26 (male, 1991); J33 (male, 1996); and J36 (unk., 1999).

J-pod was last encountered by the Center for Whale Research April 28, 2007. J16 did not have the calf with her at that time, which leads Center staff to believe the newborn calf is less than 4 days-old at the time of this encounter.


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SJ Conservation Dist. & PW Improve Lagoon & Beach

(Juan Islands Conservation District Photo by Danna Nicole Kinsey)

San Juan Islands Conservation District (SJICD), in conjunction with San Juan County Public Works (PW), has completed a three-year effort to improve water quality in the Port Stanley Lagoon on Lopez Island. Installation of a new, hydraulically-operated tide gate at the lagoon outlet in June 2006 restored daily tidal flow into the lagoon for the first time since the early 1960s. With the completion of the project, SJICD and PW expect to see not only improvement in the lagoon water quality, but also improved wildlife habitat and a reduction in flooding during severe winter storms.

The project replaced an existing tide gate and replanting of vegetation on the disturbed beach. The original flood gate to the lagoon was installed in the 1960s to block tidal flow into the lagoon, but as a result, the lagoon gradually filled with sediment so that it became so shallow that by late summer only a stagnant puddle remained.

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Low Income Seniors Free Produce Program

OLYMPIA -- The seasonal opening of farmers markets across the state brings an opportunity for fresh fruits and vegetables for low income seniors. In its sixth year, the popular Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program , co-sponsored by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make farmers market checks available to more than 14,000 eligible low income seniors 60 years or older. American Indian and Alaska Native elders are age eligible at 55.
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Gladiator Tug Aids Tanker Headed Our Way

(DOE photo)
The 136-foot Gladiator tug was released at 5:30 a.m. Thurseday to escort a tanker experiencing a partial failure of its primary steering system.

The 795-foot Sanko Dynasty is filled with crude oil and was headed from Singapore to Anacortes.

After this assist, the tug will stop providing service until next fall.

The purpose of the tug is to rescue at-risk ocean-going vessels. The tug, Gladiator, under contract from Crowley Maritime from Jan.1 through May 3, 2007, and the Barbara Foss, under contract from Foss Maritime from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2006, has now responded to five incidents to help prevent disabled ships traveling through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the outer coast from drifting onto rocks and spilling oil.
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“Aerofest San Juan” In Planning Stage

Planning is well under way by the San Juan Pilots Association (SJPA) to hold what is intended to be an annual fund raising event at the Friday Harbor Airport for the John Volk Memorial Scholarship Fund.

John Geyman, of the SJPA, said the “First Annual Aerofest San Juan” (AASJ) is scheduled for August 11th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and said that while it will be pattered after other annual fly-ins common to other airports, it will also serve an education purpose on the importance, and the role, that aviation plays in the county, and in particular on San Juan Island.

While Aerofest San Juan will be aviation oriented, with a display of airplanes, such as Island Air’s med evac, Roy Franklin’s Stinson gull wing, and will offer biplane and helicopter rides, the event will also be used to raise money for the Volk Scholarship fund.

The San Juan Island Community Foundation (SJICF), a local private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, will accept donations on behalf of the John Volk Scholarship Fund, while admission tickets will sell for $5.00 (kids under 12 for free), with meal tickets going for $10 ($5 for kids). It is planned to seat up to 80 people at a time, and provide chairs for 120.

Some of the events that may be available range from a National Geographic film on local residents Ken and Suzanne Franklins falcon, to table displays by Island Air, Westwind Aviation, the San Juan Eagles, Airlift Northwest, and local authors of aviation books. There are also programs designed with the kids (and perhaps an adult or two), such as a paper airplane contest; and there will be professional built models, and radio-controlled models on display. And of course one will be able to buy a t-shirt.

The planned event still has to receive the official blessing of the Friday Harbor Port Commission, and a presentation and discussion is scheduled for the next regularly scheduled meeting.

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Did PW Set Example Of How Not To Set Examples?

(DOE Photo -of site on mainland- from “The Ugly” presentation of examples of how-not-to manage stormwater)

The Friends of the San Juans recently put on a stormwater workshop for contractors and builders, and asked PW (SJC Public Works), DOE (Wa State Dept. of Ecology), and others, to present a program that would address stormwater regulations, and Best Management Practices, as required by federal, state, and county regulations. PW was invited, because they are the local contact for stormwater regulations and are in charge of the county stormwater program

During the DOE PowerPoint presentations, the above photo was shown by DOE as an “ugly” example of a site that contained stored material that was not covered to protect it from possible erosion in case of rain; had no barriers to intercept and retain any erosion that might occur; and was lacking any form of protection of the disturbed ground around the area.

The photo below was taken a few days after the presentation, and is of a PW project on San Juan Island, on PW property.
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Feral Cat or Household Pet?

Amazingly enough, one female cat, intact, can ultimately result in 420,000 offspring within seven years. Sadly, this is not “fuzzy math”, and the animal shelter on San Juan Island, (operated by the Animal Protection Society (APS)), believes “there is no choice” to the question of “to spay/neuter or not to spay/neuter?, and so has decided to continue to focus their efforts for 2007 on the issue of feline population control.

The policy of the shelter has always advocated a policy of spay/neuter for any animal that was adopted from the shelter. But, they say, in spite of this program, they continue to receive large numbers of kittens each year.

Feral cats are essentially a problem that has, for the most part, “flown under the radar”. Attempts were made periodically to assist these felines, but only in 2002, with the creation of CatsPaw, was there an organized effort put in place for a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program. During the 3 ½ years of CatsPaw’s efforts a significant dent was made in the reproduction rates of the feral cat colonies in the county and here on San Juan Island. All in all, over 300 cats were spayed or neutered by CatsPaw during that time. Regrettably, during 2005, CatsPaw disbanded.

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Guest Editorial- Part Two

In the Guest Editorial section, we are presenting the second part of a two part article by Charlie Bodenstab on climate change. Part one, entitled "Another View on Global Warming" defined the problem, and part two, offers a solution to the need to "continue and expand our efforts to reduce the negative impact of human beings on the natural world".

In Part One, Bodenstab cautioned us on "the consequences of plunging headlong into a frenzy of misdirected, and in the end blundering government micromanagement" that can have negative impacts.

His solution to the problem is the subject of Part Two: An Effective Solution To A Highly Complex Problem .




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