Essential public facilities, solid waste funding and scenic byways on council agenda
A public hearing on the Essential Public Facility ordinance takes place at 10:45 a.m. in the legislative building at 55 Second Street. More information is available HERE
The council will again discuss solid waste funding. This week at 2:30 p.m. The complete agenda is available HERE
Feds propose reviving Salmon Recovery Fund
by Chris Thomas
posted 02/09/2010
SEATTLE - In its new budget request to Congress this week, the Obama administration has included some money for Washington and four other Western states to restore salmon habitat. The $65 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund is a lot more than zero, which is what the Bush administration had offered for 2009, but it's only half of what was originally budgeted when the fund was created in 2000. FULL STORY
Co-mingled recycling begins on Lopez Feb. 24
posted 02/09/2010
An estimated $30,000 a year will be saved by switching to co-mingled recycling at Lopez Island transfer station. Currently Lopez Island residents separate their recycling and it is sold. It cost the county $83,000 and brought in $11,000 in revenue. It'll cost the county $42,000 a year to process recycling with the co-mingled process.
Besides the cost savings, more types of plastics can be recycled. The recyclables will be hauled to Orcas loaded into long haul trailers along with the commingled material collected on Orcas. All this material is transported to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Woodinville. The MRF then does the separation, baling and brokers the material.
Co-mingled recycling began May 9, 2002 on Orcas and San Juan Islands.
Tracker Dogs: Saving Killer Whales
Marine Science lecture Feb. 9 at Camp Orkila
We all can picture tracker dogs saving earthquake victims in Haiti, but saving killer whales? Get real! Katherine Ayres, a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology will explain how and why she is using tracker dogs to save endangered southern resident killer whales. More information on the THINGS TO DO PAGE (Feb. 9)
Welcome to Lala, Daffy D
posted 02/08/2010
A couple of weeks ago, when I was fooling around trying to find a link to that Mannheim Steamroller song Chocolate Coffee, I ended up on lala.com, a site that allowed me to listen for free to all my favorite songs… once. Now, I don't like to sign up on this kind of website. They always ask for your email address, and shortly after signing up, all kinds of junk email shows up. But I did want to listen to that Mannheim Steamroller song, so I bit the bullet and signed up. COLUMN
Feel Good, Feel Bad
posted 02/09/2010
There are certain actors I like so much that I'll go see their films even when I don't know much about the movie. This past month I've seen several movies. One was an FX thriller, two were feel-good films; one was a feel-very-bad movie. COLUMN
Friday Harbor wins fourth Orca Bowl
posted 02/08/2010
Friday Harbor High School won its fourth Washington State Ocean
Sciences Bowl -- a.k.a. the Orca Bowl -- Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 in
Seattle. Senior Hannah Snow, junior Nick Roberts, sophomore Audrey and
Audrey Olshefsky, Stewart Bell (sophomore) and Matthew Skeels (junior) advance to the National Ocean Sciences Bowl in St.
Petersburg, Fla. April 23-25. FULL STORY
OBITUARY: Jennifer Anne Travers Lehn
April 20, 1951 ~ February 4, 2010
Jennifer Travers was born in North Carolina on April 20th 1951. Her parents, William J. Travers Jr. and Barbara Cleary Travers were Bostonians living at Camp Lejeune during his Marine Corps Service. The family returned to Boston and Jennifer was educated by the Ursuline Sisters at Mount Alverna Academy in Newton. She later attended Boston State College. OBITUARY
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Country Corner LAMIRD public hearing Monday in Eastsound
Should the Country Corner area become a limited area of more intense rural development (LAMIRD)? If so how should it be configured, what uses should be allowed, what design standards should exist? Or should the area just remain in the Eastsound subarea plan? Seven public meetings have been held about the future of this are in the past year. A public hearing before the San Juan County Council is set for 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8 in Eastsound Fire Hall at 45 Lavendar Lane. FULL STORY
Mount Vernon man's 16-pound king holds on to win Roche Harbor Classic
Story and photos by Matt Pranger
posted 02/08/2010
Raymond Francois of Mount Vernon won the Seventh Annual Roche
Harbor Salmon Classic Invitational with a 16-pound, 4-ounce king that
proved lunker-enough to beat 345 other anglers in the derby marked by
warm temperatures, sunny skies and calm water Friday-Saturday, Feb.
5-6. FULL STORY and TWO PAGES OF PHOTOS
Changing Positions Again
February 8 - 14, 2010
posted 02/08/2010
This week we have Mercury (Thinking, communication, travel) moving into the sign of Aquarius, galvanizing thoughts and bringing forth opinions that may spark new ways of dealing with old stuff. The people feeling this the most will be Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.
HOROSCOPES
Spring Street School Fish Taco fundraiser Tuesday
Buy a Fish Taco Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 12:20 p.m. on the front porch of the Spring Street International School and help the middle school students raise money to go to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
There are two more fundraisers planned. On February 19, the school will hold a bake sale from 12:20 to 3 p.m. on the front porch of the school and at at Market Place.
Twelfth Night and Dinner Theater is the fundraiser on Feb. 26. Middle School Students will be serving and performing at 6:15 pm. in the Conference Room at Earthbox. Menu to be announced.
AND THAT WAS THAT!
posted 02/07/2010
The annual debates about the severity or mildness of the winter season
have begun. I don’t mark my calendar daily year after year for
comparisons. However I’d swear we’ve had more sunshine and warm weather
this winter than normal, whatever normal is. I know we’ve also had plenty
of rain. I can tell that whenever I hear the ground beneath me squish. Yet
I can’t help but be amazed at the signs of spring everywhere. Is my memory
failing me again, or has spring come early to the Pacific Northwest? COLUMN
Court rules state must define and fund basic public education
posted 02/04/2010
"State funding is not ample, it is not stable, and it is not dependable". So says King County Superior Court Judge John Erlick in his Feb. 4 ruling directing the state to comply with the "Constitutional mandate to provide stable and dependable funding" for basic education. FULL STORY
Plenty of sunshine and fish make for a
huge, successful 7th Annual Roche Harbor Derby
posted 02/07/2010
346 anglers aboard 100 boats took to the calm and sunny waters in the San Juans Friday and Saturday, vying for their chance at $25,000 in prizes from the seventh Annual Salmon Classic Invitational. FULL STORY
U.S., Canada will share coastal law enforcement operations at Vancouver Olympics
posted 02/04/2010
The Coast Guard, in partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Federal Border Integrity Program, will launch the Olympic Shiprider pilot program in waters off the Pacific Northwest coast to enhance security operations during the 2010 Winter Games. MORE INFORMATION
Free Training to be an Oil Spill Responder
For All Islanders
posted 02/04/2010
Islands' Oil Spill Association is offering another free class for islanders who would like to be trained to help in the event of an oil spill in the San Juan Islands. IOSA is a non-profit, community-based oil spill response organization and the only spill response group in the San Juan Islands. More information THINGS TO DO PAGE (Feb. 13)
Gadget Time: Logitech Harmony One Remote
posted 02/04/2010
Before I start in on the Logitech Harmony One Remote, I would like to present shortcuts that I just plain forgot last week: Copy, Cut and Paste, three of our most useful shortcuts: Copy (CTRL+C) Cut (CTRL+X) and Paste (CTRL+V). Now start surfing the net and you can paste great things into your documents. (Like the pictures used in this column.) COLUMN
ENGAGEMENT: Sears/Berg
posted 02/04/2010
Bud and Jan Sears of Friday Harbor announce the engagement of their son, Jason Wheeler Sears, to Shaena Ann Berg. She is the daughter of Tim and Ann Berg of Yakima, Washington. ANNOUNCEMENT
Swan Song for I'm Looking for a Bailout
One year later...
Hello,
posted 02/04/2010
First off I have to offer up HUGE THANK YOU to EVERYONE, for supporting the
idea, concept and GRANDE success of I'm looking for a bailout. We touched
people from around the world, started a movement in Australia to help those who
had lost their homes in the big fires of the outback last year. MORE INFORMATION
The fish are biting for Frank Wilson Derby
RH derby fish can qualify if...
Early Tuesday morning, Jerry Greene (pictured right with Travis from King's) turned in a beauty he caught in the Rocky Bay area to be weighed at King's Market. The Frank Wilson Memorial Fishing Derby runs from Feb. 1 to April 15.
posted 02/03/2010
Jerry Greene of San Juan Island used a white "hoochie" (squid) following a green flasher to catch the first fish in the 6th Annual Frank Wilson Memorial Blackmouth Winter Derby. The fish was caught in the Rocky Bay area.MORE INFORMATION
OBITUARY: Kurt Daniel Johnson
April 16, 1959 - January 20, 2010
Kurt Daniel Johnson was born and raised in the community of Ballard in Seattle Washington. His love for the outdoors began with time spent at the family cabin on Lake Whatcom, Camp Orkila, cub scouting and family camping trips. He climbed Mount Rainier and hiked all over the Cascades and the Olympic Mountains.OBITUARY
Pilots need to abide by TFRs during Olympics
posted 02/03/2010
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the 2010 Olympics are in effect from January 29 through March 24 2010. MORE INFORMATION
Are Stormwater Rules Down the Drain in Clark County?
Vancouver lawsuit has statewide implications
by Chris Thomas
posted 02/02/2010
VANCOUVER' Wash. - Developers are supposed to deal with stormwater runoff in their construction plans but a lawsuit filed on Monday alleges that Clark County allows local builders to put off these plans for up to three years after a project is built. Attorney Jan Hasselman of Earthjustice says last month' the Washington Department of Ecology agreed that the county could keep its weaker stormwater standards for new construction' as long as it promised to fund and implement runoff control as needed. STORY
San Juan County switching to office paper with recycled content
Brian Rader
SJC Pollution Prevention Specialist
I want it all. That's right I want it all.
I want San Juan County to be responsible to the citizens that pay for our salaries and expenses by:
- obtaining office supplies at competitive prices
- supporting local businesses and
- making environmentally responsible purchasing decisions.
MORE INFORMATION
OBITUARY: Richard Lee Lawson
Service at 1 p.m. Feb. 6
Richard Lee Lawson was born September 30, 1943 in Friday Harbor, WA to Gilbert and Geraldine Lawson. He lost his fight with cancer on January 26, 2010 at The University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. OBITUARY
OBITUARY: Charles Lewis Buck
Service 1 p.m. Sat, Feb. 6
FH Presbyterian Church
Long time Alaskan and radio broadcast pioneer, Charles Lewis "Chuck" Buck passed away on January 14, 2010 in Oregon at the age of 93. Born in Aberdeen, WA, he moved to Alaska as a young boy to fish with his parents in the mid-1920's. He subsequently spent most of his life in Alaska until retiring to Friday Harbor in the early 1970s. OBITUARY
OBITUARY: Clifford Sanctuary
Clifford (Cliff) Sanctuary, beloved husband of Gill and father of Bryan and Catherine passed away peacefully at his home in La Conner on Thursday, January 14, 2010.
He was born in Beverley, Yorkshire on January 2, 1920 and served in the RAF throughout the Second World War. He joined the research team of Sir Watson Watt that successfully developed RADAR. Clifford Sanctuary
TOUGH TASKS
posted 01/31/2010
Take a pile of dirt, add some young boys with toy cars or trucks, and a
world of communities and super highways suddenly appears. Give them a
little time, and rocks become land mines making vehicles explode. Take a
pine tree with brown needles under it, add some young girls with baby
dolls, and the pine straw gets formed into the floor plan of a house. Soon
each playmate is assigned a family or pet role. It's fascinating to watch
what various mixtures of imagination, socialization, observation and
knowledge can create. COLUMN
State approves Certificate of need for new PeaceHealth San Juan Island Hospital
posted 01/30/2010
Design planning for the hospital in Friday Harbor can begin. The state Department of Health has approved a Certificate of Need for a new critical access hospital on San Juan Island. The new facility will be owned and operated by PeaceHealth, a regional health system that serves communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. MORE INFORMATION
Farmers testify in favor of farm internship legislation
posted 01/30/2010
Dylan Johnson said he has learned more about farming during his short time as an intern at Synergy Farm in Friday Harbor than he could during a lifetime in the classroom.
State Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, is sponsoring Senate Bill 6349, legislation that would provide aspiring farmers with firsthand experience in their future line of work. Farmers offering such opportunities ran into difficulties with the state Labor and Industries Department. This legislation allows the interns to perform work for subminimum wage. MORE INFORMATION
Donate Shelter Boxes for Haiti
posted 01/30/2010
San Juan Island Rotary has purchased two Shelter Boxes for disaster relief that will be sent to Haiti, and will accept donations for additional ones.
For those concerned that money donated for Haiti may not get there, or if it does, will go to the wrong place, then the Shelter Box program is the how one may help the relief effort in Haiti with confidence the money will go where intended, as the program is tightly controlled, and each box is tracked as to when and where it goes, with the information reported back to the donor. MORE INFORMATION
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White seeking re-election
posted 01/29/2010
Joan P. White plans to seek re-election to the County Clerk position. She was elected in 2006. In a press release she said, "It has been a tremendous honor to serve the people of San Juan County as Clerk since 2007. I am devoted to my work, and if re-elected, am committed to ensuring that the clerk’s office continues to meet the needs of our citizens and the challenges of the future with competence, efficiency and enthusiasm."
Desi Whalen finalist in state Oratorial Contest
posted 01/29/2010
Desi Whalen of Friday Harbor is one of four finalists in the Washington State American Legion Oratorical Contest. Whalen, daughter of Carol Whalen and Ron Whalen of Friday Harbor is a junior at Friday Harbor High School. She will represent Friday Harbor Post 163 of the American Legion. MORE INFORMATION
Online Voters Guide Available for February 9 Special Election
posted 01/28/2010
All San Juan County Voters except those living on Shaw Island will be voting in the February 9, 2010 special election. An online voters guide contains information about the maintenance and operations levies for the San Juan Island, Orcas Island and Lopez Island School Districts as well as a general obligation bond for Orcas Island School District and an EMS levy for San Juan Island Public Hospital District.
San Juan County is an all vote-by-mail county. Ballots returned by mail must have first class postage and be postmarked no later than February 9, 2010.
Ballots may also be deposited in ballot drop boxes postage free by 8 p.m. on February 9.
Ballot drop boxes are located at the San Juan County Courthouse, Orcas Island Senior Center, and Lopez Island Fire District Office.
Friday closure at SJ and OI transfer stations set to begin Feb. 19
End of co-mingled recycling at Lopez on horizon
posted 01/28/2010
Closing the San Juan and Orcas Island Transfer Stations on Fridays will reduce operating costs by $80,000 per year according to San Juan County Utilities Manager Ed Hale. Switching service at Lopez Transfer Station from source separated recycling to com-mingled could save an additional $30,000.
Man jumps to safety, child rescued from roof in Orcas house fire
Photo by Max Jones
Firefighter's work quickly to pull down sheet rock to access fire deep
within the wall
posted 01/26/2010
Orcas Fire & Rescue received a call for a house fire at 166 Hemlock, just
before 10 am on Monday morning. The first call to 911 was made from inside
the home. More calls quickly followed, made by neighbors seeing the massive
cloud of black smoke billowing into the sky.
Two of the residents were able to get out from the ground floor and one man
had to jump from the second story window. They then raised a nearby ladder
to rescue a child trapped on the front porch roof. MORE INFORMATION
Richard Lawson has died
posted 01/26/2010
Richard Lawson, 66, of San Juan Island died this morning, Tuesday, January 26, 2010. The owner of Lawson Construction was well known for his generous contributions to the community. An obituary will be posted when available.
Orcas and SJI transfer Stations closing on Fridays
Family dog dies
posted 01/26/2010
The Solid Waste Transfer stations on Orcas and San Juan Islands will be closed on Fridays. The reduction in hours is being made to reduce costs. Two Public Works employees will be laid off as a result. No date has been set for the beginning of the reduction in service.
All Things within All Things delivered
posted 01/26/2010
Matthew Gray Palmer's sculpture All Things within All Things was safely delivered, installed and dedicated in Norfolk, Virginia last weekend. MORE INFORMATION
Council holds off on tipping fee increases
San Juan County Council will hold off on increasing tipping fees for solid waste. Public Works Director Jon Shannon cautioned them that the rates in the council's draft ordinance likely would push people to take their trash elsewhere. "I wouldn't be surprised if the Town wouldn't go somewhere else," he said.
He reiterated the need for a solid source of funding for the enterprise fund and said without one the county would have to close one of the three facilities.
The council will hold another worksession to discuss funding for capital needs. PREVIOUS STORY
SJC Council will schedule public hearing for redesignation of Sutton Road property
Planning Commission voted against it
posted 01/26/2010
The county Planning Commission decided on October 16, 2009 an application by the county to have a 6-acre parcel redesignated rural industrial did not meet any of the nine criteria necessary. Since then a new staff report has been written. Today, San Juan County Council decided they will hold a public hearing to consider redesignation on the grounds cited in the staff report and an error in the map.
The land use designation would change from Agricultural Resource to Rural Industrial if approved by the council after the public hearing. The council decided not to remand the matter back to the planning commission even though the staff report was different from the one they received and used for their decision making process. If the property is redesignated rural industrial, the county can build part of the new San Juan Island Transfer Station on it as planned.
Town council won't discuss Housing Authority this year
posted 01/25/2010
Because of the current economic circumstances, Friday Harbor Town Council won't discuss creation of a joint housing authority with the county.
County Affordable Housing Coordinator Angela Lausch obtained more than $40,000 in grant funding for creation of an Affordable Housing Action Plan, a joint planning effort between the town and county.
People representing various sectors of the community have been meeting to put together a multi-faceted approach to solve the continuing problem. A housing authority is one solution strongly encouraged by experts in the field. FULL STORY
56% effective rate increase
on self haul single can
By Alan Rosenberg
posted 01/25/2010
The solid waste rate proposal now in front of the Council raises the rate on a single self hauled can 56% (from $8 to $10.50 plus $2 gate fee). MORE INFORMATION
GUEST COLUMN:
County leaders need to listen to staff
I'm going to get to the point simple and short about this in light of the recent turn of events, with the election of an unknown in Massachusetts to replace a politico icon who reigned the Senate seat for almost ever. Its a time when the public is not voting Republican or Democrat, it is voting for the end to the "good old boy network" and "politics as usual" that have cost us trillions in wasted tax dollars of bad management.
NOW, locally? Who is in charge of this fiasco of managing solid waste on this beautiful Island? Is it the staff of the County who for more years than you can research the minutes of meetings for the past many years kept warning the "elected" Council of the coming deficit. COLUMN
Leveling Off (Trying to)
January 25-31, 2010
posted 01/25/2010
Well, as predicted, this year has begun in such a state that many just aren't sure what to do, where to go, or what station to tune into. Mercury's retrograde ended with a real (literal) shakeup, leaving many in its wake.
This week we will see a glorious Full Moon in the sign of noble Leo, and it will not be eclipsed or doing anything weird. It will be a normal and friendly Full Moon, one to light the inner fires and engage in what is tried and true.
HOROSCOPES
Town's unstable landfill added to state's Confirmed and Suspected Contaminated Sites List
More information has been added to this story since it was first posted.
posted 01/21/2010
The state Dept. of Ecology informed the county Health & Community Services Dept. in October that the Friday Harbor landfill "cannot be considered stable" and because of continual groundwater contamination is "out of compliance with the solid waste regulations." FULL STORY
Sign up to be a FROG
Washington State Transportation Commission Survey
posted 01/10/2010
Washington State Transportation Commission Commission is establishing the Ferry Riders' Opinion Group (F.R.O.G) to engage with ferry riders on an ongoing basis. Participants of the F.R.O.G. will have the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns on key ferry system topics.
Starting on Jan. 12, there will be survey crews on board the ferries throughout the system and will be signing up riders to join the F.R.O.G. To learn more and join the F.R.O.G, visit www.ferryridersopiniongroup.com.
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Gavin Mason, George Miller, Gene Geyman, Rick Smith,
Kristopher Mason, Conner Smith, Judy Bossert, Tony Fyrqvist, Mitzi Stack, Connar Smith
TODAY: Be kind to