Island Guardian

Saturday, January 28th

Letters on Orcas School Levy

Dear Editor:

Please join me and vote "YES" to renew the Orcas School levy. Our teachers and principals have shown that Orcas Island students do great on the WASL and the graduates perform well in college.

We have a wonderful small rural school that responds to the needs of our community. The school does many things well including teaching fundamentals of English, math, hard science and social science, vocational education, and alternative programs like OASIS.

Way to go to the football team and other sports! Your continued support today will assure the Orcas students develop into strong leaders tomorrow.

Randy Gaylord
Eastsound, WA

[more..]

Friday, January 27th

Letters on SJI School Levy

Coach Will Vote For Levy

Dear Editor,

It has been our privilege to be part of the Wolverine football team and the Friday Harbor High School learning community. The support that this community shows to our sports teams and to our schools is wonderful!

We are so proud of the performance of our athletic teams on the fields and courts. We also know that the victories that live over a lifetime are the ones that occur in our classrooms.

This past fall our Boys and Girls soccer teams were each Class A Academic State Champions, and our tennis and volleyball and football teams achieved Distinguished Scholarship awards. It is a tremendous achievement to succeed in both the classroom and in athletics.

Funding from our maintenance and operations levy is crucial to providing these life changing experiences in our classrooms, through our music, drama and arts programs, and through athletics. We urge you to vote "YES" for the renewal of our maintenance and operations levy. Your continuing support makes a difference for each student in our community.

Thank you for your continued support of our school team!

Richard and Jenny Ledford

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Grateful For Their Education

Dear Editor:

As recent graduates of Friday Harbor High School we would like to ad our voices to those in support of the renewal of the San Juan Island School District Maintenance and Operations Levy. We are grateful for the education we received from the public schools and hope that current students will also be prepared to take their next steps towards becoming successful community members.

Go Wolverines!

Anna Gordon, Danny Cumming, Shay Hopkins, Fletcher Vynne, Erica Percich, Brady Ryan, Alex Altman, Julie Tate, and Kimberly Kennedy

---------------------------------------------------------------------

We Support Renewal Of Levy

To the Editor:

It is time to renew the Maintenance and Operations Levy for the San Juan Island School District. M&O funds provide approximately 20% of the public schools' annual budget, and they are critical for the continued excellence of our schools.

Our family will reach a milestone this coming June when our youngest son graduates from Friday Harbor High School! Our boys have received a great education in our public schools, and have especially benefited from programs that might not have existed without M&O funds, such as sports, AP classes, and reasonable class sizes.

We are happy to continue our support of the M&O Levy renewals beyond the benefits to our own kids, as we want future generations of Friday Harbor kids to have the same opportunities for a great start in life that our kids have had.

Please join us in voting YES for the upcoming Maintenance & Operations Levy!

Maude and Bill Cumming

[more..]

Wednesday, January 25th

ADU-Guest House Issue Is A Non-Issue

To the Editor:

When will we all wake up and realize that the ADU-guest house issue is truly a non-issue? Anyone with a lick of sense knows that if you want to build a guest house you build a "studio" or a "workshop", wire it for the 220 volt oven that is not installed until after the final inspection. Instead of closets, you buy a couple of armoires.

You are then careful in who you rent your "studio" to, making sure they don¹t play their music too loud, don't drive recklessly on any shared roads leading to the guest house, er, I mean, "studio." It is a plus if whoever is in the studio is available to take care of your neighbor's cats while they are in Fiji or California or wherever. It helps if your renter is handy--you know, willing to get out a chainsaw and clear the common road of a downed tree, jump a car, bake really good bread, stuff like that.

The island has historically been a community of live and let live. You ignore the ten junk cars your neighbor has hidden amongst the woods of his five acres knowing that when you need the odd part for your Honda he probably has it or can fashion one that will work from something he has lying around. You ignore your neighbor¹s fence that is a foot higher than the neighborhood guidelines because it hides your illegal clothesline.

I think we run into trouble when we get so obsessed with the ecological web of life that we forget about the socio-economic community web of island life. Let us remember the widow who can pay her property taxes and stay in her family home because of the income generated from renting her guest house to the kind woman who checks in on her. Let us remember that some housing needs on the island are best met by a humble guest house and not a super McMansion. Let us remember that all the money spent on litigation over the ADU-guest house issue could have been spent in other ways that would have benefited the environment and the island community.

Sincerely,

Amy Wynn
San Juan Island

[more..]

County Commissioners....County Council ???

Letter to The Editor,

Board of County Commissioners.... County Council ??? Seems that the mentality has remained the same. Raise taxes to the limit allowed by law and increase all the fees for permits and services as much as you can.

This is really going to help the affordable housing problem, and most certainly will help working families that want to continue to live here, or those that wish to move here. I voted for the M & O School Levy, but with our leadership doing everything they can to drive out families in favor of the most affluent (they tend to be empty nesters, those couples without children or whose children have grown and left home) I am wondering why.

Maybe at the next election there will be enough voting families and people on fixed incomes to make a difference. If not, then perhaps the last one forced to move can turn the lights out at the school and the senior center. BE PREPARED, IT MAY BE YOU !

Ray Bigler
San Juan Island

[more..]

Sunday, January 15th

Piet Visser's Cheap Shots Don't Cut It:

To the Editor:

I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Piet Visser, but he seems like a good guy who's been working hard to make our community a better place. That's why his recent column, with the incomprehensible title of "War on Bad Hair or Bad Ties," is so very disappointing.

For one thing, Mr. Visser trivializes the terrorist threat by stating that the statistical risk of being killed by terrorists is lower than the risk of being hit by lightning. That may be technically correct – just as it may be technically correct that for anyone living in Friday Harbor, the statistical risk of being killed by terrorists is lower than the risk of, say, crossing Spring Street and being struck down by Mr. Visser's spiffy new electric car. But Mr. Visser's point wouldn't be much comfort to the families of those who showed up for work at the World Trade Center on September 11, or who boarded that train in Madrid in March 2004, or who were riding on London's trains or buses last July. There really are terrorists out there, and they really do want to kill as many of us as they can. Debating the solution is healthy; denying the problem isn't.

Mr. Visser then goes on to make a direct comparison between President Bush and the Nazis. He does this by including a quote purportedly from – of all people – Herman Goering: "Of course the people don't want war….But it's a simple matter to drag them along…All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for their lack of patriotism." And Mr. Visser follows up this quote by writing: "Sound familiar? It does to me."

This is not only offensive, it's stupid. Back in 1939 the Nazis faked an attack on German citizens by Poland, and used that as a pretext to launch World War II. The 9-11 attacks were real. Moreover, while the Nazis arrested and killed those German citizens who opposed them – such as the great theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose writings on the need to confront evil should be required reading for our high-school students – President Bush and members of his administration have repeatedly made clear that it isn't the patriotism of their political opponents they question, but their judgment. Not one American who opposes the President has been arrested. Indeed, several of his more prominent opponents are making fortunes on the lecture circuit.

I fully support Mr. Visser's right to oppose the Bush Administration's policies. (And on some issues, Mr. Visser and I might be on the same side.) But we all have an obligation to express our views with fact and logic, rather than with emotion and cheap shots. As a School Board Director, Mr. Visser should set a better example for our students than he does in his column.

Herb Meyer
San Juan Island

[more..]

Facts Explain the Guest House Ordinance

I was disappointed to see that there continues to be misunderstanding about our County Commissioners' efforts to end the long-running guest house controversy.

A few facts may help resolve some of the confusion.

1. There has never been any expectation or intent that the proposed guest house ordinance would somehow evade public scrutiny. At the preliminary meeting between representatives of the County and Friends of the San Juans, the County Prosecutor made clear that any proposal would be subject to the same open public process as any other change to County regulations, a process that has now started with a series of Planning Commission hearings.

2. Reaching a tentative agreement allowed Friends and the County to ask the Appeals Court for a stay of the County's appeal of the Superior Court decision upholding the earlier Growth Management Board ruling. That ruling limited new detached guest houses to lots of 10 acres or larger in rural areas. Since the Appeals Court upholds Superior Court decisions in most cases, and since ninety percent of Growth Board decisions have been supported by the courts, the stay means that the County has avoided—for the moment—the considerable risk of a decision that would essentially make permanent the current moratorium.

3. The proposed ordinance allows construction of new guest houses at approximately the pre-moratorium rate. Because it is highly unlikely that the Growth Board would approve any regulation that simply allows more guest houses in rural areas, the ordinance encourages affordable housing and includes restrictions on the siting and use of new guest houses.

It's understandable that some would prefer to see much more liberal regulations for new guest house construction, but attempts to undermine the proposed ordinance create serious risks for anyone who wants to see an end to the current moratorium. Failure to pass a new ordinance could trigger an Appeals Court decision that simply upholds the original Growth Board ruling. Passing an ordinance more liberal than that proposed would likely result in its rejection by the Growth Board and the continuation of the moratorium.

Sincerely

Roger Collier
Eastsound

[more..]

Thursday, January 5th

BOCC Keeps Full Pay for Part-Time Work?

Dear Editor"

I find it terribly unfortunate that in the same month our former County Commissioners agreed to accept fulltime pay for their now part time responsibilities ( RE: Evans Column ) they chose to pass on overtime pay for county staff overseeing the EDEN Project transfer. Now comes the revelation that more money will be spent bringing in an off island entity to complete this project.

Since our former government was over thrown on election day, why are we even allowing these three individuals to retain positions on the new council? Since when do we allow deposed leaders to retain seats of authority? And since when do we PAY deposed leaders for work they wont be performing?

Brian Carlson
Friday Harbor

[more..]

Electric Cars Kill Salmon!! Sort of...

Dear Editor:

It is with only slight sarcasm that I comment on the spate of electric speed abatement vehicles that are propagating throughout the island. One of the principle justifications for these mobile speed bumps is that they are "non-polluting". This is, of course, nonsense. The amount of asbestos generated from grinding brake linings as we all swerve around the wee things is incalculable. As is the gas wasted when we return our fossil fueled conveyances to the legal speed limit.

Where does the electricity originate that goes to re-charge the batteries? "Non-polluting" hydro plants, coal fired generators, or nuke plants? Probably around here, mostly hydro. Those who would wish to seem wiser in the ways of the world than I am, have told us that the rivers dammed to create hydro-electricity are responsible for the destruction of wild fish, and ultimately impact our beloved Orcas. I marvel at their support for electric vehicles.

So please, drive (really) green, and remember, Electric Cars Kill Salmon!!

Kind Regards,

Bill Bailey
San Juan Island

[more..]

When Did Democracy Begin To Unravel?

Dear Editor"

Exactly when did democracy begin to unravel? I can remember a time when I was proud to be an American. I knew I was part of a society that placed the collective good above the profit of a few. "We the People", spoke to us all and for us all. The majority ruled and in that we could all take comfort---even if the majority didn't agree with us.

These past 6 years we have seen attempts made to undermine the Constitution and our Rights as a free People. Why then should anyone be surprised when they read about the outrageous special interest agenda regarding the guesthouse issue in San Juan County? When a supermajority step forward as they did in the November 2004 ballot in favor of guest houses, isn't that (In Bush terms) a mandate?

Did the People not collectively give "voice" to their choice? So why didn't that put an end to this issue? Could it be that a few people who hadn't gotten their way decided that they would redefine democracy to suit themselves? Is anyone else getting tired of this?!

The Hanleys
Orcas Island

[more..]

Tuesday, January 3rd

An Open Letter Of Thanks To Gary Boothman

Dear Gary,

I want to thank you for all the years that you have put in first on the town council and then as mayor of Friday Harbor. Like so many on San Juan Island, I do not live in town, but all of us here, and even most residents of the other islands, rely on the town of Friday Harbor for many aspects of our lives. Friday Harbor takes much of the brunt of the ever-increasing tourism in the county, is the seat of county government of course, hosts probably more than half of the restaurants in the county, and provides diversions, shopping and commercial opportunities of many kinds.

We need Friday Harbor to be healthy and vibrant, and as a long-time resident who in general wouldn't mind turning back the clock in San Juan County, I believe that the town has, for the most part, improved over the past decade and a half while you have been in some way at the helm. Again, thanks for putting in countless hours in additional to all of those city council meetings over the last 14 years.

Claudia Mills
San Juan Island

[more..]

Monday, January 2nd

Dialogue is essential

An Open Letter:

Your darn right I give money to ImpeachBush.org! A lot of people are imprisoned for doing what he's done and continues to do. Why should he be exempt from the rules just because he's in a high position? As our leader he should be especially diligent and accountable to the laws. Just a week ago another unlawful scheme of surveillance was revealed. In 2003, George Bush took it upon himself, to authorize, without any knowledge or discourse from our legislators the ability to spy on anyone in OUR country. No warrant or justification is needed. Add this to the fabrication of evidence and general fear mongering to justify starting a war as well as stealing at least one election. This seems like enough, but there is lots more!

Those who challenge my ideas will use the polar language and label me 'Liberal' or even 'Radical Liberal' but I prefer to be labeled Mother, or Empath who cant help but fathom what it feels like to be a child in Iraq, or New Orleans. Don't call me a liberal, call me a Caterer protecting my right to serve uncontaminated foods. Perhaps the label of Swimmer and pure water Drinker is a little more descriptive of my motivation for wanting George W Bush and his greedy crew removed from power.

I do care about financial stability, I do care about our troops and our veterans, that's why I am writing this. I am outing my humanitarian leanings. Fine. Done. That being said, who are you? Are you happy with what is being done by our leadership in your name? If not, talk about it. Even talk about it, with deep-breaths, with people who disagree with you. Dialogue is essential. Isolation is the enemy. I am thinking its time to examine our values. What is really important? Do we as individuals need so many things? Is having the right brand name, address or vehicle really going to satisfy us if our health and security are compromised? Lets think this through. Lets talk about it. Lets act. Even a small action makes the next action possible

.Kate Stone
Friday Harbor

[more..]