The

WeeklyIslands’

The

WeeklyIslands’TheIslands’Weekly

VOLUME 35, NUMBER 47 • DECEMBER 8, 2015

INSIDE Climate change solutions? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3Ugly sweaters combat waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4County pays 22K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6

www.islandsweekly.com360-376-4500

Geor

ge W

illis

/ Con

tribu

ted p

hoto

By Leslie KellySpecial to the Weekly

Get ready to pay more for electricity if you are a mem-ber of the Orcas Power and Light Cooperative.

But the increase is pro-jected to be minimal – about $6 a month for the average customer.

The board of directors of OPALCO approved its 2016

budget Nov. 20, opting for an increase in electric rates of about 5 percent.

“We want to keep mea-sures in place that keep our co-op financially healthy, fol-lowing two years of declining energy sales,” said General Manager Foster Hildreth. “Member’s bills will go up about 5 percent beginning in January.”

Currently, the average

monthly bill is $116. It’s expected to increase to $122 beginning in January.

The decline in energy sales for the co-op is related to the weather, Hildreth said. But the 5 percent increase includes the co-ops costs of doing business, includ-ing energy costs and capital outlay costs, said Suzanne Olson, OPALCO spokes-woman. She said rates the co-op pays to Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) which supplies energy, have gone up about 6 percent annually.

According to the budget document, the total budget for the energy co-op will increase from the current year at $23.3 million to $24.8 million. The budget is based on a 3 percent inflation pro-jection for 2016. Budget fore-casts for 2017 to 2020 were also approved and the rate of

inflation is expected to jump to 4 percent in years 2019 and 2020.

The co-op doesn’t plan any new hires through 2020 and will remain operational with 51 full time employ-ees. Wages are forecast to increase 2 percent in 2016, 3 percent in 2017 and 2018, and 4 percent in 2019 and 2020, as allowed by the current col-lective bargaining agreement with union employees.

The budget also reflects a projection that power costs from BPA are expected to drop in November and December 2016 by about 2 percent.

Olson said that is expected to happen because forecast-ers say the current El Nino weather pattern will end and temperatures will become colder; thus meaning more energy sales and a drop in price.

As for capital projects, OPALCO has budgeted $3 million for the submarine cable replacement project. About $4.4 million was spent in 2015 and $7.4 million is planned for 2017. The project will finish up in 2018 with $200,000 allotted.

Other projects are outlined in the construction work plan which has a goal of achieving voltage stability, and a greater system reliability and overall system efficiency. In 2016, there is $2.28 million for replacement based on age, cable type, neutral degrada-tion and outage frequency. Another $2.4 million is allot-ted for grid control communi-cations infrastructure.

One of the programs that the co-op is initiating in 2016 is the energy assis-tance program. The 2016 budget includes $90,000 for the program, which is just half of what was requested. Although specifics of the pro-gram are still being worked out, those who qualify will get a $10 credit each month to their $39 facilities charge. Additionally each consumer will pay .0005 cents per kilo-watt hour, or for the average customer, 45 cents per month to help fund the program. Awards will be based on income and household size.

The program stems from a survey in which mem-bers voiced concerns about their neighbors who are low income or on fixed incomes and cannot afford their ener-gy bills. The survey showed that 1,500 of the co-ops mem-

bers fall below 150 percent of the federal poverty guide-lines.

“OPALCO is doing its part and setting an example for other county agencies by creating an energy assis-tance program in 2016,” said Hildreth.

Olson said the board did not fully fund the program at the level requested by staff because it was “trying to keep expenses down” for the utility and for its members.

“Even 45 cents a month will feel like a lot to some of our members,” she said.

The 2016 budget also includes staff time for devel-opment and preparation for future community solar projects. Activities in 2016 will include exploring sites, design and loan funding pos-sibilities.

OPALCO is a nonprofit member-owned electric utili-ty co-op providing services to San Juan County since 1937. Most of its energy is generat-ed from hydro power by BPA and is delivered to about 20 islands by way of submarine cables. It has 11,198 mem-bers, 1,339 miles of power lines and 11 substations. Its subsidiary, Rock Island Communications, deploys fiber optic communications throughout the area.

“The marriage of energy and communications lays a compelling foundation that enables co-op members to make a better living through internet-enabled businesses that lifts the area beyond a tourism economy,” the bud-get narrative stated.

To see the entire budget document go to www.opalco.com.

Stanley Greenthal & SeaMuse Winter Solstice Concert

Tickets: Adult $15, Youth $6 at PSR, Blossoms, LOPEZ CENTER SUN, DEC. 20, 7:30 PM

Lopez Bookshop & lopezcenter.org

A lyrical blend of poetry

A lyrical blend of poetryand a variety of dance styles

Suggested Donation: Adult $10, Youth $5

Saturday, December 12th

Lopez CenterMatinee 2 pm

Evening Performance

7:30 pm

Poetry in MotionPoetry in Motion

Presented as Readers � eatre Lopez Center for Community and the Arts

Available at Paper Scissors on the Rock and the Lopez Bookshop and at the door before the performances.

Saturday, 12/19 at 7:30 pm & Sunday, 12/20 at 1:30 pm

Tickets are Adults $10.00 / Students $8.00

Concerned about Growler jet noise?

Concerned about their emissions of 12.5 metric

tons of CO2/hour?

www.quietskies.info

A FestivAl oFlessons & CArols

GrACe episCopAl ChurChsundAy, deCember 13th

Donations will be gratefully accepted to the Lopez Food Bank and the Grace Church Organ Fund.

4:00 PM

What you need to know about OPALCO’s rate increase

Holiday Art SalePolly Ham Ceramics

and Sculpture

Steve’s studio

Stop by and visit!

Steve Horn

Sat, Dec 12 10 am -3 pm

Lopez Village

Photography

MONDAYSON-GOING: Learn a foreign language with the digital tool Pronunciator. www.pronunciator.com. Free tutorials, 4-5 p.m., in the library’s community room.

TUESDAYSON-GOING: Learn how to download eBooks! Free

tutorials every Tuesday in the library’s community room, 4-5 p.m. Bring your device and log-in informa-tion (for Kindles your Amazon log-in info).

WEDNESDAYSSTORYTIME: Wednesday Morning Story Time at the Lopez Island Library, 10-10:30 a.m. Baby and Toddler Story Time; 11 -11:30 a.m. Preschoolers Story Time. Join us each Wednesday morning for rhymes, songs and books. You’re never too young to become a fan of stories. In the Helen Anderson Children’s Room at the Lopez Island Library.

WEDS, DEC. 9EVENT: Historic Barns of the San Juan Islands with NPS Architectural Historian Boyd Pratt, the final program in the Lopez Island Library’s series “Shelter,” 7 p.m., Woodmen Hall.

FRI, DEC. 11MEETING: Lopez Village Planning Review Committee regular meet-ing, 10:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Library - meeting room.

SAT, DEC. 12EVENT: Book Sale, Friends of Lopez Library. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Lopez Library Community - meeting room. Stock up for the holidays with gift quality pre-loved books in a wide selection of holiday themes, children’s books, hobbies and crafts, cookbooks and CDs. All priced 25 cents to $2, or fill a free Red Book

Bag for $20. Proceeds from these donated books sup-port programs, events, new equipment and furnishings for our Star-rated Lopez Island Library.

EVENT: Rural Arts Clay Co-op Holiday Sale, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Local potters and sculptors will show their work. The sale will feature vessels for home and gar-den, stocking stuffers, deli-cious cakes by Joyce and plenty of holiday cheer!

EVENT: Community Square Dance, 7:00 p.m., Woodman Hall. A night of live music and danc-ing. Local caller, Kelsey Nelsen, will join local musi-cians Matt Hummel, Carol Noyes and Dave Marshall for an evening of foot-stompin’ old-time tunes. No partner or experience necessary. Sliding scale $10, kids free.

ART: Chimera Gallery invites you to our Holiday

Party and the drawing of winning tickets for the annual art raffle, 5-7 p.m. Enjoy refreshments, good cheer, and the last chance to buy raffle tickets to benefit the school art program. Raffle drawing at 6 p.m. Hours: Gallery open Dec. 10 - 27 (closed Christmas); Mon.- Sat. 10-5 & Sun. 10-3.

COOKIES: Cookie Sale to benefit the Lopez Senior Center. Come and buy cookies by the pound and other treats.

SUN, DEC. 13EVENT: Lions Club Christmas Ship at Odlin Park Dock, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Odlin County Park. Santa and Elves are coming. It’s a 50+years Lopez tradi-tion. Share hot chocolate, cookies, bonfire and fun.

EVENT: Festival of Lessons and Carols at Grace Episcopal Church, 4 p.m.

This traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols is a candlelight service held annually during Advent and tells the Christmas Story in readings, familiar hymns and carols. A choir of 50, led by Kim Foley, will be singing several carols.

MON, DEC. 14MEETING: Lopez 4H General Club Meeting, 7 p.m., Fellowship Hall. Monthly 4H Club Meeting for students K-12. Accepting new members.

WED, DEC. 16EVENT: Candlelight and Song for the Healing of the Nations. 5 p.m., Center Church. Prayer for peoples, lands and nations, led by Sharon Abreu, with Ginni Keith and Patty Johnson, piano. Co-sponsored by the Lutheran Church and Grace Episcopal Church. Free.

The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • december 8 2015 – Page 2

CommunityCalendar

Publisher 360.376.4500 Colleen Smith Armstrong publisher@islandsweekly.comEditor 360.376.4500 Cali Bagby cbagby@islandsweekly.comCirculation Manager 360.376.4500 Bridget Wright bsmith@soundpublishing.comDisplay Advertising 360.376.4500 Cali Bagby cbagby@islandsweekly.com

Graphic Designers 360.378.5696 Scott Herning, ext. 4054 sherning@soundpublishing.com Kathryn Sherman, ext. 4050 ksherman@soundpublishing.comClassified Advertising 800-388-2527 classifieds@soundpublishing.com Mailing/Street Address PO Box 758, Eastsound, WA 98245Phone: (360) 378-5696Fax: (888) 562-8818Classifieds: (800) 388-2527

Copyright 2012. Owned and published by Sound Publishing Co.

Periodicals postage paid at Friday Harbor, Wash. and at additional mailing offices.

Annual subscription rates: In County: $30/year, $20/6 months. Out of County: $54/year. For convenient mail delivery, call 360-376-4500.

The Islands’ Weekly was founded in 1982 and is based on Lopez Island. The Islands’ Weekly is published every Tuesday and is

mailed to homes and businesses in the San Juan Islands.

Postmaster: Send address changes to The Islands’ Weekly, PO Box 758 Eastsound, WA 98245-0758.

Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, National Newspaper Association.

Your online source…www.islandsweekly.com

Notice of Intent to Adopt an Election ResolutionThe San Juan Islands Conserva-tion District intends to have a meeting on Thursday, December 10th, 2015, 8:30-11:00am, at 530 Guard Street, Friday Harbor, WA, at which the date, time, place and manner of the 2016 annual election will be set.

by Robert O’ConnellSpecial to the Weekly

Theatre is the story of us. It is how we remind each other who we are and what matters most in our lives. As we watch Willie Loman’s downward spiral, we rec-ognize him and Death of A Salesman becomes about us. Shakespeare, in his tales of greed, passion, corrup-tion and the lust for power, might as well have been writ-ing for Sixty Minutes or the Washington Post. We know,

too, who Romeo and Juliet are and understand the love they have for each other and we may even see our long-ago selves in them.

Live theatre audiences are transported in a way they can never be by television or the movies, even when those diversions are at their best. Not even good litera-ture can equal the connec-tion between the stage actor and the engaged audience member.

The first theatre produc-tions were “morality plays”.

Down through the centu-ries, we have looked for the moral of the story in plays and the lessons to be learned. Nobody attending a produc-tion of Les Miserables can watch the priest forgive the thieving Jean ValJean and not be moved by that act of charity.

Theatre helps us to under-stand the human condition. It helps us to see not only who we are, but who we can be, who we ought to be.

Live theatre also means the world to the people who make it happen. The actors and other artists who create the performance learn that they can be braver than they thought they could be. For make no mistake about it, this is a thing that takes cour-age.

Live theatre also gives the artists an outlet for personal expression like no other. Although it may seem that the accomplishment of pro-ducing a successful play may be fleeting, as compared, say, to a film, which may be seen to have a more permanent life, a community theatre director once told his actors on closing night, “This show may be closing. You may

never play these parts again. But what you have created will live forever in your own hearts and in the hearts of those few who were lucky enough to be there to share it with you.”

A few days ago, on the ferry crossing from our island to the mainland, five or six young girls sat at a table. A few tables away, an old theatre director sat at another table and listened to the girls sing the songs from a musical play they had all recently seen. They were laughing and horsing around at first, but eventually, they became more serious, obvi-ously being transported back to the live production and to those moments that meant something different to each

of them.The old director just

smiled. He hadn’t been involved in the production that the girls had shared, and yet he felt that he had been there.

“The Road to Bethlehem”, also written by Robert OConnell, is to be performed as a Readers Theatre ben-efit for the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts and the San Juan County Arts Council, presented at the LCCA on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 7:30pm and Sunday, December 20th at 1:30pm. Tickets are adults, $10/stu-dents $8. Tickets available at Paper Scissors on the Rock, the Lopez Bookshop and at the door before each perfor-mance.

Lopez Business HoursLopez Islander

BREAKFAST10 a.m. Sat/SunLUNCH DAILY

11:30-4:30 p.m.DINNER DAILY

4:30-8 p.m. Sun-Thurs4:30-9 p.m. Fri/Sat

Come in and enjoy our renowned special

RR Prime Rib Thurs.-Sat.www.lopezfun.com

468-2233

Just Heavenly Fudge Factory

Southend RestaurantThursday-Saturday 11:30-8

Sunday 11:30-3:00Beer-Wine-Great FoodDelicious Baked Goods

Weekend Specials, Deli To Go Items

Southend General Store

Full Service Grocery Store

Winter Hours 7:30 to 7:30 everyday

southendgeneralstoreandrestaurant.com

468-2315

OPEN DAILY11:00 - 5:00PM

Closed Tues.

Gift packaged fudge ready to shipFind the perfect Gift for your 12th Fan!

GIFTS UNDER $20

468-2439justheavenlyfudge.com

Musing on life and theater

Contributed photo

“Christmas on the Pecos” written and directed by Robert O’Connell produced in Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 2009.

The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • december 3, 2015 – Page 3

By Jan ScilipotiSpecial to the Weekly

I just got home from the Lopez Community Center, where I went to celebrate the first day of COP21 – the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

I sat in a room full of people concerned about the challenges fac-ing our planet, and together we watched Naomi Klein’s film “This Changes Everything.”

I am saddened. I am disappointed. I sat through a film that reviewed,

yet again, the problems that human-kind has created for ourselves since the Industrial Revolution. At this

point let’s agree that the problems are immense, and that it is time to act.

I want to be shown solutions. I want to be shown solutions so that I can sift through them, learn from them, and with this knowledge have direction in my personal life.

I want solutions to direct the com-munity where I live. I want solutions for my local, state, and federal gov-ernments. This is about the planet, and we need planetary-scale solu-tions.

I came home tonight fussing that “This Changes Everything” did not provide solutions. Then I realized that many of them already exist

here on Lopez.To calm myself, to help me feel

that I am not powerless, I started a list of the things I see around me. I list them as encouragement, as acknowledgement, and most of all as a call to each of us: to choose a thing that you are already doing, and do it more. Or choose a thing that you have always wanted to do, and get involved.Renewable energy

We have a rash of solar panels on public buildings, at LCLT, on indi-vidual homes. Lopez is producing and selling power to our own local power co-op.

Redistribution of goods (S.W.A.P.,

the Lopez Thrift Store, Deja Vous, LopezRocks, Buy Nothing Lopez, the library book sales, community yard sales) Face it, we’re into this and we’re doing it!!Political Action

Tonight’s program began by reading a letter from a Lopez resi-dent who is in Paris at COP21. We saw footage of the kayactivists in Portland, protesting the Alaskan drilling by Shell Oil.Zero Waste (S.W.A.P.)

Reducing garbage, increasing recycling, moving toward zero wasteFood Sustainability

Growing veggies and grain, milk-

ing cows and goats, raising livestock for meat, making and baking bread and beer and cheese – the list is endless, Lopez is on it!GMO’s

We said ‘no’ in San Juan County.Alternative transportation

Bikes, scooters, electric vehicles, hybrid cars, even an island-wide Trails Network – we share the road with alternatives.

These things are already hap-pening on Lopez, these and many more I have not mentioned. I feel gratitude for them. I ask them to continue. I ask that we all please do them more!

Rock Island Communications has been busy installing fiber optic broadband to homes and businesses around the county. This historic undertaking will provide fast, reliable Internet up to 2 00M bps+ to those who want it.

We’re currently managing over 250 simultaneous construction projects countywide. Here are some of the groups we’ve been working with to date:

Current Group Projects: Matia View on Orcas Island Morning Light on Orcas Island Suncrest on Orcas Island Whiskey Hill on Lopez Island Cape San Juan on San Juan Island Mineral Point on San Juan Island Spring Point on Orcas Island Mineral Heights on San Juan Island The Highlands on San Juan Island

Upcoming Group Projects: Cayou Valley on Orcas Island Gary Oak on San Juan Island Portland Fair Area on San Juan Island Panorama Place on San Juan Island Brown Island on Brown Island Salmon Point on Lopez Island

You Can Get Connected Too! Learn more about organizing at rockisland.com, or attend one of our monthly meetings.

Monthly Open Fiber Meeting:Join us this month for one general information session. All are welcome!

This meeting will be held on Lopez this December (meetings will rotate islands every month).

This month’s meeting: December 9thLopez Island Library from 5:30 – 7:00 pm2225 Fisherman Bay Rd, Lopez Island, WA 98261(360) 468-2265 rockisland.com

FIBER UPDATE

MONTHLY FIBER MEETUPS

We have solution, let’s find out how to use themGuest column

By Emily MetcalfSpecial to the Weekly

We have an epidemic in our country. This epidemic is preventable. We must rise in awareness and compassion to confront it. We must see ourselves and our friends, loved ones and community members through different eyes. Mental Health is the term we currently use, and I wish to change awareness of the nature within; the essence of what is being dis-cussed.

We have had many deaths in our community on Lopez. My friend’s son was sent to prison and did not receive the mental health assistance nec-essary. He died of dehydra-tion at the age of 25. He was a gifted writer and a young philosopher. A friend was suffering from alcoholism to treat her Post Traumatic Stress. It killed her and her body and spirit gave up. She was a nurse and a healer, again, a sensitive. A highly penetrating man in his mid-forties, who loved nature, committed suicide by shoot-ing himself in the head into a diving tank, which resulted in a great explosion and the burning of his home and body. It was discovered that this was suicide. My friend’s husband died in a terrible car crash, seeking thrill and escape, leaving behind his baby and wife who are miss-ing him greatly, and a chasm in their hearts unimaginable. A young lad in his early twen-ties suffering with mental ill-ness drowned himself into a coma by drinking too much water. Later he passed away. Another young man died of hypothermia in a vehicle.

I speak of all of these folks in familiarity, and they were gifted sufferers. I suffer from

Schizoaffective Disorder, aka Bipolar Disorder with Psychosis, and I have a personal relationship with chemical imbalance and the life journey one must embark upon to fit into a world that seems to refuse to under-stand.

Hope lies in our children; children grow up to be adults. All of our addicts, homeless, and schizophrenics are the children of somebody. When one is suffering from men-tal illness and/or addiction, what they need first and fore-most is hope. The synchron-icity of this truth is that they are our hope as well. Seen as a burden on society, some are unable to work and some are on disability. Many are homeless, and most are in prisons. We refuse to accept and look at the truth of what is happening to us, to our children. All of these folks have a gift.

There are countless moments throughout our day when we can make a difference. We may be down, but there is always someone more down and out than we are. We are so focused on looking up, on stepping to the next rung, on reaching the person ahead of us. We are going the wrong direction. What if we started looking down? What if we made it our one very largest desire to step down a rung and help the person underneath us?

There is a post, covered

in caterpillars. All of the little green wormish creatures crawl on and over each other, centered on reaching the top of the post. The caterpillar on the top of the post has nowhere to crawl, but that doesn’t matter, he defends his position. One day, a single caterpillar becomes tired. He thinks ‘what if I just walked away?’ He climbs down the post and finds a bush, curls up into a cocoon and becomes a butterfly.

If every person on the planet, stopped and changed their direction, made it their sole purpose to help out the person below them, or sim-ply walked away from the rat race, where do you think we would be? It could take a matter of days to see a major

global turn around.I am that caterpillar. I was

forced to walk away from my life and deal with my mental illness. What I would have given to be climbing on that post once again. Little did I know, my change in course would result in complete transformation. Our autistic children, our schizophrenic adults, our homeless and our addicts are just examples of little caterpillars that have walked away. All are simply are awaiting transformation. Fed the right ingredients, God only knows what is pos-sible.

Visit Emily’s blog for more info at www.welcome-tothegrit.com.

Holiday Reminder: Finding Hope

You make a differencewhen you round up your monthly OPALCO bill to help a needy islander!

Or when you• make a one-time donation to Project PAL• become a Business PAL supporter

All donations to PAL go directly to grant recipients.

Visit www.opalco.com/PAL and click Contribute

Project PAL A HAND UP NOT A HAND OUT

Before you reach for the shovel or �ire up the backhoe, dial 811 to locate buried utility lines. Be Safe!

Before you Dig

CallKeep up to date on

Co-op happenings and other events like winter outage help.

It’s all in our e-newsletter.Orcas Power & Light Cooperative

Subscribe today atwww.opalco.com/about/email-signup/

Connect to OPALCOread your

Co-opConnector

$5.00 OFF

Expires 4/30/15

Includes 2 gallons anti-freezeAnti-Freeze Flush & Fill

Full Service Oil ChangeService Highlights •Check transmission fluid•Change oil •Check differential fluid•Change oil filter •Lube chassis•Check air filter •Check wiper blades•Check brake fluid •Check tires•Check power steering fluid •Vacuum interior•Fill windshield washer reservoir •Wash windows•Check and fill battery • 5 qts. included

$3OFF

With this coupon. Expires 4/30/15Ask about our fleet program

Fidalgo Bay XpressLube • 299-12701319 “O” Avenue • Mon.-Sat. 8am-5pm

Just in Anacortes: Fidalgo Bay XpressLube1319 “O” Avenue • Mon-Sat 8am-5pm • 299-1270

Expires 12/31/15 Expires 12/31/15Coupon applicable at AnacortesFidalgo Bay Xpress Lube only

The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • December 8, 2015 – Page 4

SudokuFill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column, and 3x3 block. Use logic and process of elimination to solve the puzzle. The dif� culty ranges from 1-5 (easy) 6-10 (moderate) and 11-15 (hard). Today’s puzzle is level 6.Sudoku and Crossword answers on page 8

The Lopez Dump might be forgiven for feeling hum-buggy this season. According to Education and Outreach Coordinator and Take It Or Leave It Goddess Nikyta Palmisani, garbage increases by 25 percent nationally over the holidays – that’s an extra 25 million tons. Most wrap-ping paper is not recyclable, due to metal or plastic con-tent or tape. Then there are those 2.65 billion annually discarded Christmas cards, not to mention 38,000 miles of discarded ribbon, enough to tie a bow around the whole earth.

Wishing to be part of the solution rather than the prob-lem, the Dump has some rec-ommendations for gift buying and wrapping. And to keep

trash down and spirits up, it’s putting those recommenda-tions into action, 5 p.m. next Monday, Dec.14, at TIOLI’s Second Annual Ugly Sweater Holiday Party.

Demonstrate your zero waste ethics by bringing your own mug to TIOLI, to be filled compliments of Lopez Island Coffee Roasters (who uses completely recyclable bags). Prizes will be awarded for ugliest sweater, most cre-ative, best re-use of materials, and a few other categories, as well as “the best white ele-phant gift exchange you’ve ever seen,” Palmisani prom-ises. The Nada Basura (“Zero Waste”) Band will play their selection of zero waste songs, and other musical guests will play “up-cycled” and locally

created instruments.Can’t make the party on

the 14th? You can still pro-mote Lopez’s zero waste life-style by following these tips from Palmisani:

1. When wrapping, look for recyclable paper – avoid foil – or better yet, make your own out of recyclable materi-als like paper bags, maga-zines, or fabrics. Try creat-ing drawstring fabric bags that can be reused year after year. “It only takes a one-time effort to create really gorgeous ones, and you can easily up-cycle fabrics you have at home, like festive flannels,” says Palmisani, and she recommends these web-sites to show you how: www.suburble.com/2014/12/make-reusable-christmas-

wrap.htmlhttp://www.positively-

splendid.com/2012/11/drawstring-fabric-gift-bag-tutorial.html

Need more waste-reduc-ing wrapping ideas?

• Replace ribbons and bows with reusable, creative things like hair scrunchies, shoelaces, scarves and neck-ties

• Use natural items for decorating gifts (grasses, thistle pods, seeds, pine-cones, leaves)

• Try alternative wrap-ping, like newspaper com-ics or old posters, maps and sheet music.

Need to see these ideas for yourself? Palmisani and dump volunteer Shirley Wilbur have creative exam-

ples on display at the TIOLI. Or come to the party on Dec. 14, where many of these ideas will show up as prizes.

2. When shopping, if pos-sible, buy local think before you buy online; online sales increase both packaging materials and emissions. With so many local holiday bazaars, it’s easy to support local artists and artisans while helping the planet. If you do shop online, consider gift certificates, and if shop-ping off-island, remember to bring your own cloth bags.

3. Decorating a tree? Consider these options:

Decorate a potted tree or house plant, or purchase a live tree to transplant later

Use glass icicles instead of disposable tinsel

Use smaller lights, or LEDs, which use less energy and burn cooler

Recycle your cut tree, or

compost it for garden mulch4. Have a Zero Waste party

of your own!• Use reusable plates and

utensils and glasses• Set up a recycling station

for guests• Ask guests to bring reus-

able containers so they can take home leftovers

“This event is a great time to remember that Lopez does zero waste so well,” says Palmisani. “Our TIOLI has taken in over 109 tons of dona-tions this year alone – along with all the ugly sweaters! – and smart holiday shopping and wrapping is just another way that Lopezians are doing their part to Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle.” The Dump hopes to see everyone on Dec. 14…and hopes NOT to see as much non-recyclable gift paper in the trash.

Dump promotes ugly sweaters to combat holiday waste

Across1. Italian resort island 6. Particular, for short10. Supergarb14. Hurt15. "___ Breckinridge"16. Shakespeare, the

Bard of ___17. Strict rule

observers19. Trattoria order20. Pulverized

bituminous coal (2 wds)

21. Contract23. Pertaining to simple

organisms like kelp 25. Bleat26. Green29. Graft where the

donor and recipient are different species

34. Magnet alloy36. Eighty-six37. Altdorf is its capital38. Carbonium, e.g.39. Scuffles 42. Deity43. ___ v. Wade44. Child's stomach,

shortened45. Win over47. Relating to

Africa and Asia or their peoples (hyphenated)

51. Lies in wait 52. Matterhorn, e.g.53. Chivalrous55. Some bargains59. Traffic lane for

public transportation only (2 wds)

63. Doctor Who villainess, with "the"

64. A U.S. dollar on deposit with a bank abroad

66. "Hamlet" has five67. During68. Brine-cured

cheeses69. "Fiddlesticks!"70. Doltish (alt.

spelling) 71. Attack locale

Down1. Beanies2. "God's Little ___"3. Perlman of "Cheers"4. Confession of guilt 5. Person's individual

speech habits 6. Greenbrier, e.g. 7. 1/100 kyat in

Myanmar 8. Coastal raptors9. Till (pl.) 10. Cracker topper

11. Tel ___, Israel12. Corn ___13. Carbon compound18. Decline22. Dust remover24. Professional

photographer26. Basic unit of money

in Nigeria 27. Cool28. ___ tube30. Bubkes31. Foreshadow32. Robe worn by

monks 33. Ocean level

variations 35. Fully extended in

width40. ___ generis41. Gets rid of at

reduced prices (2

wds) 46. Person who takes

40 paces, turns and fires

48. Clumsy 49. A pint, maybe50. Insignificant person 54. Sir, less formally55. Mouth, in slang56. 1993 Taxes

standoff site57. "I'm ___ you!"58. Clash of

heavyweights60. A chorus line61. Indian bread62. At one time, at one

time65. Cheat, slangily

Crossword Puzzle

Answers to today's puzzle on page 8

Hours Thu. - Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-3www.ChimeraGallery.com; (360) 468-3265

Lopez Artists’ Cooperative

Chimera GalleryOpening Reception:

December 12th, 5-7 pmRaffle tickets on sale now!

HOLIDAYPARTY

& RAFFLE!

RafflebenefitsLopez Schoolarts!

Lots of lovely

gifts for the

Holidays!

Open Every Day Dec. 10-27

Join Jacksons and our community in making a difference for victims of domestic violence.

Purchase a Peace Dove at any Jacksons store now until December 25th.

Jacksons will match customer donations dollar for dollar.*Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a 501(c)(3) organization.

jacksons.com

DONATE NOW TO HELP STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

To learn more about the campaign, go to wscadv.org or call the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Where to call for help: National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline 1-866-331-9474 TTY 1-866-331-8453

*Jacksons will match up to $75,000. To find out more go to wscadv.org

The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • December 8, 2012 – Page 6

In January, the Lopez Island Family Resource Center (LIFRC) will kick off a series of educational programs addressing some of the most widely discussed issues of our day.

LIFRC Board member Kim Pasciuto describes the impetus for Community Conversations: “The idea came to me dur-ing the past year or so, as I became more aware that my lens for community action in areas like civil rights, police/community rela-tions, LGBTQ issues, immigration and mental

health systems was dated. Additionally, as I began to participate more I learned that my notions of how to participate were also out-dated. I suspect that I am not alone and that other community members would welcome a chance to become more knowledgeable about these subjects and their impact on our island community. People want to participate in a meaningful, effective, and welcomed way.”

The inaugural event on January 23, 2016 will be a presentation by Jorge Baron, Executive

Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. It will be held at Grace Church Hall at 7 p.m. The events are open to the public and free of charge. Childcare and refreshments will be provided.

Island residents are invited to learn about Social Justice with Karen Toering of the Social Justice Fund at the second event on Wednesday, February 10th. In March, a panel will address the Health of our Mental Health Services in San Juan County.

Each event will include a question and answer session or other interactive piece and a list of resources that will be available at the Lopez Bookstore, Library or online.

Community Conversations is a collective project of several community partners, includ-ing LIFRC, the Lopez Community Land Trust, Leadership San Juan Islands, and Transition Lopez Island. The Lopez Bookstore and Lopez Library Books will make available books and resource materials related to each forum topic. LIFRC is the convener of Community Conversations and is the sponsor of the first three events, but any community organization can propose, sponsor and lead a Community Conversation on a current topic of broad inter-est among island residents. For info contact, Kim Pasciuto, LIFRC board member, kimpas-ciuto@gmail.com.LOPEZ ISLAND BUSINESS

COMMUNITY

DUNN SERVICES (360) 468-3215dunn-llc.com

Lawn Mowing / Fencing / Property Mgmt.LIC.# DUNNSSL922RA & BONDED

✓Excavator WorkSPRING CLEAN-UP

FLAIL MOWINGTRENCHING & SITE PREPSTUMP & LOG REMOVAL

✓Tractor WorkWOOD CHIPPERFIELD MOWINGROTO TILLER

POST HOLE DRILLING

• SITE SERVICES •

A ClAssiCR&M ROOFING

"Never a Problem, oNly a solutioN"

468-4357• Metal• Composition• TorchDown

• LocalReferences• LocalCrews• SeniorDiscounts

Lic#CLASSRM92104 FREEESTIMATES

• ROOFING •

Ads Available for Just $18.75/WeekCall Cali at the Weekly 376-4500

• CONTRACTOR •

MOORE WOODWORKSMOORE WOODWORKS

ERIC MOORE

468-2743

DECKS • REPAIRS • REMODELS

NEW CONSTRUCTION • ALL CARPENTRY

15 YEARS SERVINGLOPEZ ISLAND

GENERAL CONTRACTORMOOREW*994DH

MOORE WOODWORKS

ERIC MOORE

468-2743

DECKS • REPAIRS • REMODELS

NEW CONSTRUCTION • ALL CARPENTRY

15 YEARS SERVINGLOPEZ ISLAND

GENERAL CONTRACTORMOOREW*994DH

MOORE WOODWORKS

ERIC MOORE

468-2743

DECKS • REPAIRS • REMODELS

NEW CONSTRUCTION • ALL CARPENTRY

15 YEARS SERVINGLOPEZ ISLAND

GENERAL CONTRACTORMOOREW*994DH

MOORE WOODWORKS

ERIC MOORE

468-2743

DECKS • REPAIRS • REMODELS

NEW CONSTRUCTION • ALL CARPENTRY

15 YEARS SERVINGLOPEZ ISLAND

GENERAL CONTRACTORMOOREW*994DHGENERAL CONTRACTORGENERAL CONTRACTORGENERAL CONTRACTOR

MOOREW*994DHMOOREW*994DH

• COMPUTER SERVICES •

Bernardo Landscape Services

• Will remove, trim & cut trees• Roof & gutter cleaning• Full excavation services• House painting• Deck building services• Brush Removal

• Wood Splitting• Pressure Washing• Installation of trees, shrubs• Fence installation• Design, mowing• Lawn & Garden Care• Remodeling - Decks

360-468-3144 Cell: 360-622-6644LIC# BERNALS926L3 BOND# LSMO042789

BernardoServices.com

• LANDSCAPE, LAWN & GARDEN •• HOME SERVICES •• HOME SERVICES •

A DIVISION OF BUFFUM BROTHER FARMS, INC.•  LOGGING•  ROADS•  GRADING•  PONDS  

•  BACKHOE•  SITE PREP•  FILL SAND•  SCREENED SAND  

•  DRAIN ROCK•  LAND CLEARING•  CRUSHED ROCK•  PIT RUN GRAVEL•  BULKHEADS

(360) 468-2320  fax 468-3450 Cont. Lic #BUFFUBE155MB

• EXCAVATION & LOGGING •

• FLOORING •• FLOORING

Local Doug Fir Flooring$5.50 Square Foot

From Blakely to Lopez183 Lopez Rd., Suite E | (360) 982-7429

greengablesinteriors.com

• CONTRACTORS •

Donald R. Burt, Sr. Carpenter/Contractor

Since 1971 No Job Too Small

All Construction and Home Improvement

360-468-2835Dbo: Burt Enterprises532 School RoadLopez Island, Wa 98261

General ContractorBURTE**984C8

• ARBORIST •

LIFRC presents community conversations

A Public Records Act lawsuit against San Juan County has been resolved, with the county paying $22,501 plus legal costs and attorney’s fees to plaintiff Sheryl Albritton, accord-ing to press releases from the offices of the attorneys working on the case.

The complaint, filed Oct. 9 in Skagit County Superior Court said the case “is about elected officials and pub-lic employees conspiring to conceal improper gov-ernmental conduct from the public,” and alleged a number of documents were

withheld from a public records request.

San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Gaylord was origi-nally listed along with San Juan County as a defendant, and was dismissed from the case as requested by the defending attorney.

“The maximum penalty we could get if we continued to litigate Ms. Albritton’s claim was about $18,000 dollars — that the coun-ty offered Ms. Albritton significantly more than the case was worth indi-cates how badly the county wanted this case to be over,” said plaintiff attorney Nick Power in a press release.

According to defense attorney Jeffrey Myers, the county arrived at the $22,501 amount after cal-culating the days from Albritton’s request of the documents until when the county handed them over.

In the press release from Myers’ office, it states the lawsuit is based on a “mis-understanding,” and that it was unclear in the initial request which documents Albritton was requesting. “When we reviewed the lawsuit, it became clear that Ms. Albritton wanted more than just code enforcement records,” Myers said in the press release. “Our first step was to provide her with all the additional documents, including records about the Improper Governmental Action complaint which did not properly belong in the code enforcement file.”

The county press release states that they “identified mistakes,” which according to Myers was the issue of timeliness in the response to the public records request as well as omitted documents, including those with hand-written notations.

Since the lawsuit, the county has made addi-tions to the county’s public records response. San Juan County Councilman Jamie Stephens is now the interim public records officer, and the county has issued a pro-viso to county departments stating that non-compliance with public records requests will impact their budgets. According to the county’s press release, they have invested in new software and training to “improve its responsiveness” and to track requests.

“Unfortunately there are still huge transparen-cy issues with our county government,” said plaintiff attorney Nick Powers in a press release about the Albritton lawsuit. “This is

LOPEZ ISLANDCHRIST THE KING COMMUNITY CHURCH, There’s

Always a Place for You! CTK gathers at 10:00 a.m. in the

school multi-purpose room at 86 School Road. Come as

you are! More info at www.ctkonline.com/lopez. Email:

lopez@ctkonline.com Phone: 888-421-4CTK ext. 819.

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, welcomes

you to worship with us on Sundays at 10:00

a.m. Fisherman Bay Road at Sunset Lane.

468-3477. Everyone welcome!

COMMUNITY CHURCH, Please join us Sun. mornings.

Adult Bible study, 9:30. Worship Service, 10:30. Nursery (birth-

3 yrs) and Jr. Church (4-12 yrs) provided during worship service.

Small groups meet throughout the week. 91 Lopez Rd., in the

village. Pastor Jeff Smith 468-3877. www.ourlicc.org.

LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE SAN JUANS (ELCA)

Please join us for worship and children’s Sunday School at

9:00 a.m. in Center Church on Davis Bay Road. Also in

Friday Harbor at 11:00 a.m. in St. David’s and in Eastsound at

1:15 p.m. in Emmanuel. Pastor Anne Hall, 468-3025.

ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH Come worship

with us at Center Church on Davis Bay Rd. We welcome

you to join us for Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday starting

April 12. Call 378-2910 for Mass times on San Juan and

Orcas Islands.

By Anna V. SmithJournal reporter

County pays 22K in lawsuit

The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • December 8, 2015 – Page 8

LOPEZ ISLANDLOPEZ ISLAND

(360) 468-3344 • Toll free 866-468-3344Friendly Isle Building in the Village

Website: www.wrelopez.com E-mail - wrehome@wrelopez.com • Member NWMLS

$425,000 VILLAGE CONVENIENCESecluded 2 BR duplex condo has superb western views over wetlands, Fish Bay & the Olympics. Warm southern sunshine & fenced for privacy. #863252

$699,000 HUMPHREY HEAD ABOVE SPRING COVE3 BR/ 2 BA home perched on a dramatic rocky shoreline w/ Cherry wood � oors, beaded cabinets & Corian countertops, Master BR +hot tub. #603426

$234,000 READY TO BUILDPartially wooded 10 AC w/ pastoral views has a gravel drive-way to the bldg. site, drilled well, 3 BR septic system & power. Shark Reef Park nearby. #756569

Submitted by the libraryOn Wednesday, Dec. 9, 7

p.m. at Woodmen Hall, the Lopez Island Library con-cludes its series SHELTER with architectural histo-rian Boyd Pratt presenting “Historic Barns of the San Juan Islands”. Through dis-cussion and gorgeous images these cherished landmarks of our islands landscape will be showcased. Many local barns can be seen as we walk, bike or drive various roads in the San Juan Islands but the sto-ries of these barns & the people who built them are often unknown, an islands mystery. This is your chance to learn their origins as Boyd takes us on a tour of our San Juan Islands barns, many of which are still working build-ings, sharing their unique architectures and histories. The program will also pres-ent the architecture of newer, more contemporary barns located in the islands. Boyd

Pratt, a lively and knowledge-able speaker, is a historical preservationist and has done consulting work on a variety of subjects throughout the San Juan Archipelago. His discussion will include the efforts being made to pre-serve the San Juan Islands barns including the William Gallanger Barn (Horse Drawn Farm) recently awarded a Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, Washington Heritage Barn grant. This very special final evening of our SHELTER series is dedicated to cele-brating, with suitable magic, these beloved monuments of our island heritage. The Shark Reef Rounders will greet you as you arrive at the event with traditional Americana fiddle-guitar duets and a mantle of colorful local quilts will grace Woodmen Hall. Following Boyd’s pre-sentation you can linger a

wee bit longer, enjoy more good music and mingle with your friends.

This very special, very festive program & the SHELTER series are funded by a generous gift from the Ramsey Shirk Fund and the library’s much appreciated Friends of the Lopez Island Library.

Islands’ W

eeklyP

O B

ox 758E

astsoun

d, WA

98245EC

RW

SS

PO

ST

AL

CU

ST

OM

ER PR

SRT

STD

U

S POSTA

GE

PAID

SOU

ND

PUB

LISHIN

G98204

Historic Barns of the San Juan Islands

Contributed photo

An historic barn.

Lopez is an island of book lovers, and what better way to show your love for books than to support the Lopez Library at its Holiday Book Sale.

On Saturday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Friends of Lopez Library will fill the library community meet-ing room with books for the holidays, including children’s books, cookbooks, hobby and craft books, and CDs.

All are priced from 25 cents to $2, and all are in giftable pre-owned condition. Once again, the book sale Red Bag Special will allow you to fill a free red book bag to the top for a flat $20, regardless of how many books you can fit into it.

Lopez Library has the dis-tinction of being awarded Star Library status in Washington State for the sixth year in a row. The professional award recognizes the intensity of public use of library resourc-es per capita and accessible programs offered among libraries of the same budget class.

This year, only Lopez Library achieved recognition in its budget class through-out the state, sharing the red carpet with Seattle Public Library and the King County Library System whose bud-gets surpass that of Lopez by nearly $30 million.

“The outstanding popu-lar programs we offer are substantially funded by the Friends,” commented Library Director and Librarian Lou Pray. “We would not have received this recognition, in part, without the support of the Friends fundraising work that allows us to offer quality programs and technology to the community.”

The Book Sales offered throughout the year by Friends of the Lopez Library provide funding for these exceptional library pro-grams, and for events, books and equipment that are not included in the Library’s annual budget.

Book sales fund summer library interns, prizes for summer reading clubs, tech-nical equipment, furnishings, the cherished annual Teddy Bear Picnic, and speakers for

the very popular series of lectures at Woodmen Hall, the Library and Lopez Center including the recent Shelter series featuring the imagi-native Jersey Devils, Tiny Houses, and Treehouses.

“The Friends of the Library are grateful for the very generous donations of books from the commu-nity, and we’ve worked to

put together a selection of high quality donated books in great condition for this sale,” said Friends President Taya Higgins. “Please come to the library December 12, stock up for gift-giving, meet your book-loving friends and sup-port your Star Library!”

Contributed photo

Book lovers Sandy Elliott and Cliff Deems stock up at the Library’s recent Halloween Book Sale.

Holiday Book Sale at the library

Answers