Islands' Weekly, December 31, 2013

The

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The

WeeklyIslands’TheIslands’Weekly

VOLUME 36, NUMBER 53 • DECEMBER 31, 2013

INSIDE News briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2Natural History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3GMO guest column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6

www.islandsweekly.com360-468-4242 • 800-654-6142

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1. CenturyLink outageElectronic ties that bind

the San Juan Islands to the rest of America and the world were disrupted for ten days in November when an underwater fiber-optic cable between Lopez Island and San Juan Island was severed just after 3 a.m. on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Telephone and internet services, including most cellphones, were unavail-able to all - except county offices and some busi-nesses utilizing OPALCO’s Island Network broadband facilities.

By Thursday, CenturyLink, owner and operator of the high-capac-ity fiber cable, had located the break in the San Juan Channel and had marshaled divers, technicians, a large repair barge with a crane, two tugboats and assorted other crafts and machines to address the break. CenturyLink informed the

media and local officials that it was working “around the clock” to restore service.

Failure of 9-1-1 emer-gency communications was an immediate concern to county public safety offi-cials, who scrambled to alert islanders to the outage and provide patchwork local emergency telephone com-munications on each island.

Use of 9-1-1 service was restored by Monday, Nov. 11; no missed emergencies were reported by EMS or fire departments.

Less than four weeks later, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, the state agen-cy responsible for regulat-ing the telecom industry, came to Friday Harbor to

hold an internet-streamed hearing that criticized CenturyLink for failure to adequately inform island residents and urged the company to provide redun-dant communications chan-nels, which CenturyLink said was already underway.

The cost: replacing the broken cable, $2 mil-lion; business interruption and dislocation, $200,000 or more; fifteen days of service credits granted by CenturyLink, at least $250,000; loss of trust and goodwill, incalculable.

The “silver lining”: sup-port for OPALCO’s propos-al to extend its own fiber-based broadband system increased markedly. Just days later, the OPALCO’sa Board of Directors directed that the company speed up

fiber deployment through-out the county as an alterna-tive to, or perhaps in cooper-ation with, CenturyLink and Rock Island Technology Solutions.

2. New skate park donated to Lopez

Shawn O’Day not only donated a new skate park to the people of Lopez, but also threw the party of the year for his company’s 70th anniversary of business.

His team called the event “The Retreat” and offered a day of skating, food, music, and entertainment. Several of the world’s top skaters and BMX riders attended the event.

O’Day is the president of Richlite, which is based

Top ten stories of the yearThe Weekly looks at the biggest news stories of 2013

Contributed photos / Noel McKeehan and Zak Everly

Far right: Bucky Lasek takes a turn at the skate ramp at “The Retreat” on Lopez. Right: Crane looks for the break in the CenturyLink cable.

The Book

PublishesFebruary 26, 2014

Ad Space Deadlines:Glossy Ads Jan. 21 • Non-glossy Ads Jan. 28

CALL TODAY! @ 360-376-4500

•2014-15•

The relocation guide of the San Juan Islands

inthe

2014

For more information call Cali Bagby at the Islands’ Weekly 376-4500

Copy & Sales Deadline: Wednesday, February 10, 2014, 2 pm

Publication Dates:Week of March 4, 2014

This special section of The Journal, The Sounder, &

The Weekly will be distributed to over 7500 readers throughout San Juan County and also

online in our Green Editions!

Thank you Lopez community for helping to make the Spirit of Giving Program

such a success this year. We would like to thank the local

businesses, churches and individuals for your support.

~ From the Lopez Island Family Resource Center staff

Lopez Islander ResortNEW YEAR’S EVE

New Year’s Eve Party

at the Tiki LoungeParty Favors!

Live music by

the Isle Zen Band

9 to Close

4 Course Dinner SpecialComplimentary Glass of Champagne

Caesar Salad or Clam ChowderChoice of Seared Salmon or Prime Rib

Homemade DessertALL FOR $24.95 per person

Regular Menu also available

Reservations Recommended, 360-468-2233 SEE TOP TEN, PAGE 4

Rifle-wielding Orcas Island man faces felo-nies for alleged, failed home invasion

A 25-year-old Orcas Island man remains in cus-tody following an alleged home invasion in which he reportedly broke into a home in the Rosario area late Sunday night, demand-ing money and threatening

the people living there with an assault rifle.

Although he wore a mask at the time, the man report-edly was recognized and fled the home when those living there identified him and called him out by name, according to local authori-ties.

No shots were fired or injuries reported. The man allegedly forced his way into the home at about 10:20 p.m.

Sheriff’s deputies were unable to locate the suspect on the night of the break-in, but the alleged would-be armed robber turned him-self in at San Juan County Sherif f ’s headquarters in Eastsound on Monday morning.

He was taken into cus-tody without incident and faces felony charges of first-degree burglary with a fire-

arm, first-degree attempted robbery, first-degree assault with a firearm, and mali-cious mischief, a misde-meanor.

Bail was set at $10,000 fol-lowing a preliminary court hearing Tuesday, and the case remains under inves-tigation, Sheriff Rob Nou said.

DNR cleans up Orcas land

The San Juan County Land Bank partnered with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to remove creo-sote and collect plastic debris from all of the Land Bank’s shoreline property on Orcas Island.

“The DNR creosote clean-up program continues to make a positive and lasting impact throughout San Juan

County,” said Land Bank Steward Ruthie Dougherty. “Removing this toxic debris one piece at a time is a nasty task, which these crews tackle with skill and convic-tion. Their efforts are mak-ing Land Bank shoreline areas safer for people and our unique and vulnerable marine ecosystem.”

This is not the first time the Land Bank has worked with the Department of Natural Resources to remove creosote from pub-lic beaches. They partnered about five years ago to accomplish the same task.

Last week, the DNR’s debris removal program cleaned up all of the Land Bank’s public shorelines, including Deer Harbor Water front Preser ve, Crescent Beach Preserve, Judd Cove Preserve and Eastsound Waterfront Park.

OPALCO turns dial up on energy

As uncertainty in pricing and power supply domi-nate the energy landscape,

OPALCO is building on its strong foundation of energy efficiency and conservation programs to activate the co-op community towards greater action and reward.

The 2014 budget has allocated $100,000 in match-ing grant funds which will be awarded to local non-profit organizations that can expand education and out-reach efforts – and funding potential – in the areas of energy efficiency and conser-vation and to incentivize ener-gy saving building retrofits.

Energy efficiency and conservation activities and gains are the key to man-aging the energy load and mitigating the rising cost of power. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council states, “Nearly 60 percent of the region’s new demand for electricity over the next five years, and 85 percent over the next 20 years, could be met with energy efficiency.”

“During the last rate peri-od (FY 2012-13), OPALCO’s energy efficiency and con-servation programs, funded by BPA, achieved more than 2.7 million kWh in energy savings—which far out-paced our growth in energy demand,” reported General Manager Randy J. Cornelius. “Members received a record-setting $685,000 in rebates. That is a significant impact and I’m proud of our staff and members–but we can and should do more.”

This fall, a group of mem-bers already engaged in ener-

The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • December 31, 2013 – Page 2

Publisher 360.378.5696 Roxanne Angel [email protected] 360.376.4500 Cali Bagby [email protected] Manager 360.376.4500 Nicole Matisse Duke [email protected] Advertising 360.376.4500 Cali Bagby [email protected]

Graphic Designers 360.378.5696 Scott Herning, ext. 4054 [email protected] Kathryn Sherman, ext. 4050 [email protected] Advertising 800-388-2527 [email protected] 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: $52/year, $28/6 months. 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

SAT, JAN 4EVENT: Retirement Party and Spirit Award Recipient, 5 p.m., Lopez Center for Community and the Arts. Please call Shawn 468-4389 or Suzanne 468-3074. If you have a story or letter of appreciation, email Liz Malinoff at [email protected].

THURS, JAN 9EVENT: Lopez School Proudly Presents Winter Arts Night, 6:30 - 7 p.m., Lopez Center for Community and the Arts. Art, Music, and Drama presentations by Secondary Students.

JAN 10 - 11CLASSES: Growing a Great Business: “The 2 Day MBA,” Create a Business

Development Plan on Jan. 10, 9 am – noon. Create a Financial Plan on Jan. 10, 1 – 4 pm. Create a Marketing Plan on Jan. 11, 9 am – noon. Create a Business Operations Plan on Jan. 11, 1-4 pm. Each session is $30.00, or the entire class is $75. Instructed by James Dunn at Lopez Library. For info, call 468-4117 or go to www.lifrc.org. Preregistration required.

SUN, JAN 12FILM: Lopez Locavores Film Series presents “In Organic We Trust,” 4:30 p.m., Port Stanley School. A food documentary that looks

beyond organic for practi-cal food solutions such as farmers’ markets, school gardens, and urban farms. Hot cider, tea, popcorn and lively discussion will accompany the film. Free admission, donations to the food bank appreciated.

THURS, JAN 16CLASS: Create a Website or Blog with WordPress. Meets 3 Thursdays, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., at Lopez Library. Instructor Adrienne Adams teaches how to to use this free online service to create a site for business or personal use. $45 fee if paid by 1/9, $55 after 1/9. Pre-registration req’d. Call

LIFRC 468-4117 or regis-ter online at www.lifrc.org.

SAT, JAN 18EVENT: SalmonAtion, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Lopez Center. Lopez’s volunteer salmon researchers bring the fifth annual SalmonAtion celebration and report. Music is organized by Lance Brittain and Chicken Biscuit, treats by Bruce and Peter at Vita’s, wine from Lopez Island Vineyards.

SAT, JAN 25CLASS: iPad classes with Susan Young are back. Two levels. Basic Users 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and Advanced Users who have

taken classes previously 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Each meets at Lopez Library. Fee $30 if paid by 1/13, $40 after 1/13. Pre-registration req’d. Call LIFRC 468-4117 or register online at www.lifrc.org.

CLASS: Social Networking 101 for Personal Use with Susan Young, at Lopez Library, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Learn how to Skype, Twitter, and use Facebook in this hands on class. Security setting and priva-cies will be covered. Fee: $20 if paid by 1/13, $25 after 1/13. Pre-registration req’d. Call LIFRC 468-4117, or register online at www.lifrc.org.

CommunityCalendar

Carol Weiss, MALicensed Marriage and

Family Therapist

Adult and SeniorPsychotherapy

Parent GuidanceJungian Dreamwork

Mindfulness Psychology468-3571

35 years experienceZen meditation and

mindfulness practitionerUW Geriatric Mental Health Certi� cate

Erin Hannaford Come in for your

FREE LUNCH!Galley Restaurant

Lopez Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings:

Mondays - 7:30 p.m. at the Children’s CenterWednesdays - 4 p.m. - Women’s meeting at the fellowship hall at Grace Episcopal ChurchFridays - 7:30 p.m. at the Children’s CenterSaturdays - noon at the Children’s CenterCall 468-2809

Al-Anon:Saturdays - 9:30 a.m. at the Children’s Center, Lopez.Call 468-4703.

GalleyRestaurantOpen at 8 a.m.

Full menu until at least 8 p.m. every night

Short-list menuafter 8 p.m.

Fresh, Local,Fantastic

www.galleylopez.com468-2713

Lopez Business HoursLopez Islander

Breakfast: Saturday and Sunday

8:30 - 11:30 a.m.Lunch:

11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. dailyDinner:

4:30 - 8 p.m. Sunday4:30 - 9 p.m. Monday - Thursday4:30 - 10 p.m. Friday - SaturdayGood Affordable Food / Great Sports

Lounge Specials

www.lopezfun.com468-2233

Just Heavenly Fudge Factory

OPEN: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Wed. Jan. 1 - Sun. Jan. 5 Closed Thurs.

Thanks Lopez for shopping local

CLOSED Jan. 6 - Feb. 6

www.justheavenlyfudge.com468-2439

The Love Dog CafeBREAKFAST/LUNCH

9:00-11:30 / 11:30-2:30DINNER

5 p.m. - LAST RESERVATIONOPEN

THURS - SUNWithout you we are just

an empty room.www.lovedogcafe.com

468-2150

News briefs

SEE OPALCO, PAGE 5

New insights about the islands’ marine food webs and “for-age fish” will be shared at Kwiáht’s fifth annual SalmonAtion celebration, Jan. 18 at Lopez Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.

In addition to the traditional offering of savory snacks from Vita’s and a selection of wines from Lopez Island Vineyards, this year’s event will include Chicken Biscuit’s premiere of a salmon song by Gretchen Wing, and an instal-lation of seashore paintings by the SalmonAtion 2014 poster artist, Mike Rust.

Once again, Kwiáht’s dedicated local volunteers were able to measure and lavage more than 500 juvenile Chinook without government funding and with a survival rate of over 99 percent. This year, special attention was devoted to identifying parasites, such as copepod “sea lice”, isopods that attach to gills, and roundworms that hide under skin, in blood, and inside stomachs. “This will help us better understand how parasites affect the appetite and growth of wild salmon at sea,” says Kwiáht director Russel Barsh.

Salmon were also screened for respiratory distress, a sign of ichthyophoniasis, an emerging fungal disease of fish, and for the bleeding associated with viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), which is a growing concern in herring and may be passed to salmon.

Special attention was also paid to Pacific Sandlance, the skinny silvery gold fish that appear to make up over 80 percent of the diet of juvenile salmon and diving seabirds in our waters. Relatively little is known about their popula-tion dynamics or ecology, and Kwiáht has taken the lead in studying their genetic diversity in the Salish Sea with DNA from sandlance seined in the islands or recovered from salmon stomachs, and specimens donated by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Nisqually Tribe, and other agencies.

“Sandlance in the North Atlantic and western Pacific turned out to be two or more species that look alike but reproduce at different times of year in very different habitats,” Barsh says. “We think that only a small proportion of the sandlance we

see in the islands come from spawning on beaches.” Kwiáht will begin using a specially designed trawl to look for larval sandlance in deep waters between January and April.

“It is difficult to escape the conclusion,” he says, “that we have not yet identified, much less protected, the habitat that produces most of the forage fish used by salmon and sea-birds.” San Juan County regulations and salmon-recovery funding currently focus on beaches where smelt and at least some sandlance spawn.

When Lopez-based conservation laboratory Kwiáht and local volunteers began seining salmon in the islands in 2008, scientists did not know that juvenile Chinook and Coho salmon depend on the San Juan Islands for prey on their way to the sea. Kwiáht has used data from thousands of salmon caught at Watmough Bight to develop a model of how fish visitors adapt to changes in the variety and abundance of local prey, and how they may respond to climate change, shoreline modifications or oil spills in the future.

The Watmough Bight ecosystem is now part of the new San Juan Islands National Monument and it’s the second most popular summer destination, high-lighting the importance of understanding and protect-ing its ecosystem.

To learn more, Kwiáht invites you to meet scientists

and volunteers at this year’s SalmonAtion event on January 18. Visit www.kwiaht.org or write to [email protected] for further information.


By Russel Barsh and Madrona MurphySpecial to the Weekly

Humans are not espe-cially fond of aircraft noise. Litigation and legisla-tion have led to buy-outs of homes beneath airport flight paths and restric-tions on both civilian and military aircraft operations over populated areas. Sleep deprivation, stress disor-ders and hearing loss have been blamed on frequent exposure to aircraft engine noise. What about wildlife, such as the seabird colo-nies in the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge?

Noise impacts of low-flying military jets on wild-life first made headlines in the 1980s when aboriginal peoples launched an inter-national campaign to close the NATO fighter-jet train-ing program in Goose Bay, Labrador, arguing that flights were dispersing cari-bou herds and interfering with calving. Since that time, managing military training in sensitive habi-

tats has become a global concern.

In the United States, air-craft noise gradually found its way into the environ-mental impact assessments that new or enlarged fed-eral facilities, including military bases, have been required to undertake since 1970. Although Congress has subsequently granted the Department of Defense numerous exemptions from federal environmental laws, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, impact assessments must still be undertaken before the President can consider a case-by-case

waiver.The problem is not so

much with legislated exemptions, however, as with the lack of research that can be used to define the size and nature of the acoustic envelope that we should protect around criti-cal habitats such as seabird nests. In a thorough critical review of the literature 18 years ago, the Army Corps of Engineers concluded that arguments for and against noise impacts were based on non-comparable oppor-tunistic field observations rather than controlled experimental studies.

It is disappointing that the state of our knowledge is

little better today, at least in part due to lack of pub-lic funding for the kinds of research the Army Corps recommended in 1996. We were able to find only one satisfactory controlled experiment in print, one where recorded aircraft noise was broadcast at dif-ferent intervals and deci-bels at Crested Terns in Australia. Individual birds responded more or less to each burst of sound, with some dose-dependent response. But the output variable was visible behav-ior, rather than the physi-ological status and down-stream health of the birds and their offspring.

What generally can be agreed on the basis of the existing data is, first, that easily observable behavior such as defensive postures and flushing (leaving the roost or nest) is species-specific and also varies amongst individuals within the same seabird colony. It is also clearly not the whole story. Birds can tol-erate and even habituate to noise (as people do) but with chronic consequences due to physiological stress responses. Most important of all is recognition that the quality, duration, consisten-cy, or repetition of noise can be as determinative of its

impacts as sound pressure (loudness). The loud roll of timpani in the rhythm section of an orchestra can be less disturbing than the barely audible screech of a fingernail on the back of your seat in the audience.

We know somewhat more about birds’ (and some marine mammals’) adapta-tions to living in artificially noisy environments, such as raising their voices so that their alarm and court-ship calls can still be heard. Evidence for relocating nests or foraging areas out of noisy habitats, or expe-riencing less reproduc-tive success, is patchy. It is likely that the long-term effect of increasing noise is a change in the bird com-munity rather than simply a decrease in the number of birds. More tolerant spe-cies stay and may thrive, whilst less tolerant species emigrate and may never find comparable homes. This is certainly true of the mammals and insects that share our towns and cities. Human settlements create their own distinctive ecosys-tems.

It is tempting to suppose that this kind of ecosystem shift has been taking place on the south end of Lopez in the decades since military overflights began. Our sea-

bird team found that very few of the seabird colonies last documented in 1981 are still in use, or else they are used today by species known to be more toler-ant of proximity to humans such as gulls and cormo-rants. There are no doubt other forces at work, such as declining herring popula-tions, and the effect of cli-mate change on the length and storminess of our win-ters. But persistent distur-bance by low-flying aircraft cannot be discounted as one factor, any more than we can say with any certainty that it was a cause.

Since there is no clear scientific basis yet for say-ing how much (and what kind of) jet noise seabirds can bear without significant harm, it would be prudent to ask whether it is neces-sary to route low-altitude training flights over wildlife refuge islands and National Monument seashores. It is difficult to believe that no alternatives exist.

Lopez-based conserva-tion laboratory Kwiáht mon-itors seabird populations in Fisherman Bay (fisherman-bayproject.org) and Iceberg Point (icebergpointproject.org). For more information or to get involved, write to [email protected].

Natural HistoryNoisy nests

Upscale results with down home prices(360) 588-8828 1014 11th Street Anacortes, WA 98221

Sandlance headline at SalmonAtion

Contributed photo

Lopez volunteer salmon team at Watmough Bight.

in Tacoma. Founded in 1943 with the name Rainier Plywood, Richlite manufac-tures Skatelite, one of the world’s most popular skate ramp surfaces used in the X-Games and by the major-ity of professional skaters and BMX athletes on their personal ramps. The new skate park will fill the entire 60-foot by 80-foot pad at the current location. Richlite has commissioned California RampWorks, the designers behind the X-Games half-pipe and mega air ramps, to build the Lopez Island park. Also in the days leading up to the event, Richlite iheld its annual international sales meeting on Lopez with more than 80 distributors, custom-ers, VIPs and their families.

3. Hughes, Jarman, Stephens elected to 3-person council

San Juan County’s legisla-tive and executive branch began a new chapter on April 23.

Voters backed the re-elec-tion bids of three county council incumbents in the first county-wide election in seven years.

Bob Jarman beat Lovel Pratt to represent District 1, Rick Hughes won for District 2 against Lisa Byers and Jamie Stephens beat Brian McClerren for District 3.

The new three-person council was enacted by county charter chang-es approved by voters in November 2012. It reduced the size of the council from six elected officials to three, redrew the council legis-

lative districts from six to three, and instituted county-wide elections for each of those three newly created council positions.

Changes to the charter also turned the three coun-cil positions into full-time jobs, eliminated the position of county administrator, and delivered into the hands of the council the responsibil-ity for both legislative duties and overall management of the county. Council mem-bers are paid an annual sal-ary of $75,000, plus benefits.

4. Sailboat sinks after collision with ferry

A 28-foot sailboat sank after it was struck by the Hyak ferry on Sept. 13. The sailboat’s lone occupant, a man in his mid-60s, did not sustain major injuries. A Fish and Wildlife boat towed the sailboat away, but

it later sank in 250 feet of water.

The accident forced the cancellation of the next boat and was a disturbing sight for many people on board the ferry who watched the accident occur.

Washington State Ferries removed the cap-tain and the 2nd mate from duty onboard the Hyak and placed the two on adminis-trative assignment.

In November, Washington State Ferries convened a board of inquiry to inves-tigate the collision. They concluded that human error was responsible for the acci-dent.

5. OPALCO changes course after plan to ex-pand broadband fails

Orcas Power and Light Cooperative unveiled a pro-

posal in Feb. 2013 to build a hybrid fiber-wireless sys-tem that would serve 90 percent of San Juan County. In June, OPALCO scaled back the plan after only 900 members signed up. It closed the sign-up process and returned deposits to those who pre-subscribed. Its more conservative plan included delivering better broadband, at lower risk, by sharing its infrastructure with all of the other internet service providers.

“This infrastructure pro-vider concept means that we will offer access to our data networking infrastruc-ture through leasing agree-ments,” said OPALCO rep-resentatives at the time.

The need for better county-wide communica-tions became even more apparent after a week-long CenturyLink outage (see page one) this fall.

In late November, in front of a packed room at their regularly scheduled meet-ing in Friday Harbor, the OPALCO Board issued and approved the following motion:

“Our island communi-ties are suffering economic damage and safety issues caused directly by inad-equate phone and Internet infrastructure. Therefore, OPALCO shall acceler-ate expansion of our local member-owned, robust and reliable high-speed data infrastructure to pro-vide Internet, phone and emergency communication services to our members. Deployment will be support-ed and funded by OPALCO

assets, including equity and rates.”

This acceleration does not mean that OPALCO will necessarily provide broadband services direct-ly to members. Other co-op members and ISPs such as CenturyLink and RockIsland can take advan-tage of OPALCO’s infra-structure and accelerated expansion to provide broad-band services directly to members.

6. Lopez School Board re-elected, Solid Waste Levy passes and I-522

In this year’s November race for Lopez School District Directors the cur-rent school board was re-elected. The board includes John Helding, Clive Prout, Del Guenther and Dixie Budke. Other big election news was the passing of the Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District Prop. No. 1, a one-year levy to fund solid waste disposal activities. The levy was passed with 78 percent of the vote. Locally, I-522, the measure concerning the labeling of GMO foods, was approved. But state-wide, it was rejected by 55 percent.

7. Where are the whales?

Curiosity had turned into a growing sense of unease by mid-July.

As a record-low number of sightings of Southern Resident killer whales off


Across1. Door feature5. Christian Science

founder9. New moon, e.g.14. Control freak 15. Achy16. Horse opera17. Aroma18. Checked item19. Contemptuous

look20. Energy converters

(2 wds) 23. Bridge play (pl.) 24. Map line28. "Give it ___!" (2

wds)29. Big ___

Conference31. French Sudan,

today32. Lawn mower's

path35. Sits tight37. End38. Hit by

thunderstorm's electrical discharge (2 wds)

41. "Is that ___?"42. Bulrush, e.g.43. Like some buckets44. Clickable image46. ___ bit47. "Wheel of Fortune"

buy (2 wds)48. Not at all50. Makes right53. January 1 to

December 31 (2 wds)

57. Strikes with beak 60. Cameron ___,

actress 61. Plunge headfirst 62. Fits

63. #1 spot64. Battery contents65. Regretful 66. Bungle, with "up"67. Cravings

Down1. Comprehend2. Low point3. Kind of layer4. Robin's tidying spot 5. Former Portuguese

monetary unit 6. Opportunities, so to

speak7. Blah8. Abominable

Snowman9. Presents, as a

threat 10. Two-wheeled

covered carriage

11. Absorbed, as a cost

12. "Comprende?"13. "To ___ is human

..."21. Acrobat's garb 22. Dressed to the

___ 25. Dye with wax 26. Similar 27. Turn red or yellow,

say29. Bit of color30. Halftime lead, e.g.32. Assassinated33. Ham radio

response 34. Burning35. Dwell36. Habitual drug user 39. Handrail support 40. Time of financial

need (2 wds) 45. Neigh softly47. Blows away49. Flip, in a way50. Monroe's

successor51. Prepare for winter

takeoff52. Small spreading

juniper bush 54. ___ cheese55. "Good going!"56. 1990 World Series

champs57. ___ de deux58. "I" problem59. Blackguard

Crossword Puzzle

Answers to today's puzzle on page 8

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 12.Sudoku and Crossword answers on page 8

TOP TENCONTINUED FROM 1

SEE TOP TEN, PAGE 6

gy efficiency and conserva-tion activities began to meet and discuss what could be accomplished while working together under OPALCO’s Sustainable Energy Grants Program. A roundtable of interested nonprofits met with OPALCO leadership in December to discuss projects and the potential for coopera-tion between the groups to make best use of resourc-es and accelerate progress toward a more sustainable energy future.

The participating groups include Island Stewards, San Juan Islands Conservation District, Solar Gardens and the Opportunity Council. Members of Islands Energy Coalition and Gray Cope, who are considering participa-tion, were also in attendance. Eligible organizations must have a board that includes

representation from all ferry-served islands.

Cornelius welcomed the groups to the table, thanked them for their commit-ment to sustainable energy and made it clear that this work takes a top priority at OPALCO: “This work is criti-cal to our mutual success and a healthy future for our island communities. OPALCO is committed to working side-by-side with you on creative solutions for energy efficien-cy and conservation. This is our core business – providing reliable, affordable power to our members. Anything we can do together to turn the dial up and accelerate our progress in these areas is of great community service and much appreciated.”

“We’re all in this together,” said Adrienne Reed of Island Stewards. “It’s exciting to imagine what we can accom-plish working in collabora-tion – with each other and with OPALCO.”

Stay tuned for more infor-

mation as the work of these cooperating nonprofit organi-zations takes shape.

And, stay tuned for infor-mation on OPALCO’s Community Solar Initiative. Although not included in the matching grants program, OPALCO has committed sites on three islands for community solar projects. Qualified nonprofits will install, operate and maintain solar arrays, and market to OPALCO members who want solar power, but can’t or don’t want to make the invest-ment themselves.

OPALCO Board directives and policies are available online at www.opalco.com – under the About/Board of Directors menu and also Members/Member Service Policies.

Co-op members are wel-come to attend board meet-ings, which are scheduled for the third Thursday of each month. Board agendas and packets are published a week in advance of each meeting.


By Charles Mish, Chickadee FarmSpecial to the Weekly

Although 65% of San Juan County voted in favor of I-522, a slim majority of Washington voters allowed themselves to be persuaded that it was not in their best interest to know what’s in their food.

How could an issue that had a 66% approval rating last summer lose 51-49 by election day? Three rea-sons: big money, lukewarm message, wrong year.

Big Money: Four out-of-state Big Chemical cor-porations and the Food Manufacturers Association donated a whopping $22 million, half of it illegal, to sway voters with a barrage of negative advertising. Day after day, voters heard seemingly trustworthy, reliable speakers--farmers (including an organic farm-er), a dietitian, an obstetri-cian, a former attorney gen-eral--claim the “poorly writ-ten” initiative was bad for farmers, would raise food costs, and had too many exemptions. Most impor-tantly, they said GM food is no different from ordinary food, so why bother label-ing it.

Well-crafted, polished, convincing adver tising, except none of it was true.

Lukewarm Message: With an $8 million war chest, the Yes side tried to counter misleading claims, with limited ef fect. The main problem with the Yes side’s counterattack was a weak “right to know” mes-sage. As Steve Hallstrom, an organic farmer and early leader, says, “Voters need to know WHY they should have a right to know.”

Failing to warn people of GMO dangers lulls them into a dangerous compla-cency.

According to geneticist Mae-Won Ho, the evidence is there for everyone to see that GM monoculture is damaging the ecosystem, creating super bugs and super weeds, yielding less, using more water, becom-ing more susceptible to dis-ease, less resistant to weath-er extremes, and finally that the US GM crop is failing badly.

What’s more, thou-sands of doctors are finding when they take their ailing patients of f GM foods, they improve (Jef frey Smith,“Genetic

Roulette”).A message combining the

right to know reinforced by an educational campaign exposing the dark side of GMOs should stand a bet-ter chance of getting out the vote.

Wrong year: Statewide, only 46% of voters took time to mail their ballot. In this off-off year election, many older voters turned out. In the worst turnout in a generation, younger, more progressive voters essentially skipped the election.

We learned a lesson: vot-ers need to be trusted with the truth. Consultant Dove Seidelman says, “Leaders who trust people with the truth, hard truths, are trust-ed back. Leaders who don’t,

generate anxiety and uncer-tainty in their followers.”

San Juan County, pre-pared by an inspiring educational campaign including visits by Percy Schmeiser, a farmer who successfully sued Monsanto, and by Jeffrey Smith who visited three islands in September 2012, voted 62% in favor of the 2012 seed ban and 64% in favor of I-522, mustering strong turnouts in both contests.

Our next attempt at labeling will likely take place in 2016, a presidential election year. Until then, remember that each pur-chase of a GMO-free prod-uct is a vote to transform the Waste Land into the New Eden.

Guest Column

What sank I-522?

Happy New Year From San Juan Propane!

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OPALCOCONTINUED FROM 2

the west side of San Juan Island, in the waters of Haro Strait, stretched into its fourth month, even those who watch them most couldn’t help but ask: “Where are the whales?”

The spring and early summer of 2013 now stand as the lowest mark in more than 20 years of tracking the Southern residents in Haro Strait -- and dramatically so.

Between April and late July, a member of J, K or L pods had been sighted on only one of 17 days, less than half the average for that period and 12 days fewer than the previous low.

Some blamed a poor return of Chinook salmon to the Fraser River. And while sightings became more frequent in late sum-mer and even more so in the fall, the slow start fore-shadowed dispiriting news to come. Four members of the endangered population remain missing, including

an 80-year-old female, J-8, and are believed dead.

With the loss of eight orcas over the past three years, the population now totals 80 animals, prompt-ing some to call for greater protections in the federally managed recovery plan that’s supposed to help bring the population back from the edge of extinction.

8. San Juans desig-nated National Monu-ment

More than 1,000 acres

on dozens of the San Juan islands were designated as National Conservation Lands by President Barack Obama on March 25.

Second Congressional District Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Everett) and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell previously introduced leg-islation in Congress to des-ignate about a thousand acres of land scattered through the San Juans as a National Conservation Area, but the bill stalled in Congress, leading them to ask President Obama to declare the lands a National Monument by executive order under the Antiquities Act. Both the designation as a National Monument and as a NCA drew the support of former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

Sally and Tom Reeve of Lopez Island and a dozen other islanders formed and led a citizen action group to promote the project, and several of them accom-panied San Juan County Councilman Jamie Stevens to Washington, D.C., to advance the cause.

The designation as National Conservation Lands under the Antiquities Act of 1906 means that the lands join 103 other parcels of public land as National M o n u m e n t s . A l t h o u g h there are millions of acres of National Conservation

Lands, National Monument status is “much more signifi-cant,” according to Meghan Kissell of the Conservation Lands Foundation.

9. I-5 Skagit bridge collapse before Me-morial Day

On May 23, the north-ern section of the I-5 bridge over the Skagit River in Mount Vernon collapsed. The incident was caused when a southbound Mullen Trucking Co. truck hauling a large housing for mining equipment clipped one or more load-bearing support-ing struts as it crossed the bridge. The over-height truck was accompanied by a pilot car with a verti-cal measuring pole which, according to witnesses, also struck the bridge in front of the truck following behind.

Three people were res-cued from two vehicles that plunged into the water along with the bridge. All three were unharmed and released from local hospi-tals after being checked out and warmed up. A tempo-rary bridge was erected June 19 allowing thru traffic on I-5.

Local business owners in the Skagit Valley and surrounding areas, includ-ing the San Juans, were concerned that the bridge collapse would negatively

affect business. In response to this concern, $150,000 was released from the strategic reserve account to support economies in impacted areas. Businesses impacted by the collapse were encouraged to report economic losses to county emergency management officials.

10. Level III sex offender moves to Friday Harbor

In the wake of an outpour-ing of opposition, neighbor-hood protests and a series of tense town hall meetings, San Juan Island got what proved to be a two-year reprieve from being the home of San Juan County’s only Level III sex offender.

That was back in early 2011. But by February 2013, the state Department of Corrections no longer had authority to tell David Franklin Stewart where he could or could not live. Freed from court-ordered residential oversight, the 60-year-old former Snohomish County resident and convicted child rap-ist opted to move into the home that he and his wife purchased six years earlier in San Juan Island’s Bridal Trails neighborhood.

As a registered sex offend-er, Stewart was required to notify the Sheriff ’s Department within three days of moving to his San Juan Island home, which he did. He served 7 1/2 years in prison and two years pro-bation for first-degree child rape. Neighbors reported seeing Stewart at his San Juan Island home Feb. 17.

Currently, San Juan County is home to 20 reg-istered sex offenders, 18 of whom, at Level I, are con-sidered low-risk to reoffend. Stewart, who because of his classification is considered at high-risk to reoffend, remains the only Level III sex offender in San Juan County.


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By Steve WehrlyJournal reporter

An emergency order to “immediately stop all clear-ing and grading activity” was posted Dec. 17 by the San Juan County Code Enforcement Officer at the False Bay property pur-chased earlier this year by Dave and Nancy Honeywell.

The 40-acre property was formerly the Mar Vista Resort, one of the larger contiguous waterfront prop-

erties on Haro Strait on the west side of San Juan Island. The Honeywells, winners of a nine-figure Powerball jack-pot in February of this year, purchased the property in early spring.

According to an April 15 residential pre-application, the Honeywells intend to build a new home and reha-bilitate and remodel some of the former resort cabins and the caretaker house. Some former cabins would

be removed and parcel boundaries would appar-ently have to be changed to conform to current land use code requirements, accord-ing to the application.

The site visit was con-ducted in June by Annie Matsumoto-Grah of Community Development and Planning Department, who prepared a three-page report, dated July 1.

That report discussed two environmentally sen-sitive areas on the three parcels comprising the former resort, laying out for the Honeywells various environmental and develop-ment restrictions that must be met, including required plans and permits. Because “[t]he shoreline and waters offshore of the parcel con-tains protected marine habitat areas,” the report asserts that “a full storm water management plan must be submitted” and “[r]emoval of trees within the shoreline jurisdiction area can be done only with a CD&P-approved tree removal plan.”

Neither the stormwater management plan nor the tree-removal plan were apparently provided to the county and the state, nor could any other permit applications or documents be located in a search of county databases by the Journal.

The emergency order specifies four possible code violations: clearing and grading within the shoreline area without benefit of permits; con-verting land to a non-for-estry use without benefit of an “approved Class IV General Forest Practice Permit that has received SEPA review”; failing to manage shoreline activ-ity to minimize adverse impact to surrounding land and water uses; and “[c]onducting land-dis-turbing activity greater than one acre without

benefit of an NPDES per-mit” issued by the state Department of Ecology.

Local arborist Casey Baisch told the Journal that the Honeywells consulted him this fall and that he agreed to “limb and trim some fir trees” and clean up bushes and other scrub growth, “nothing that would require a permit.”

Baisch said he was shocked to return to the property after a few weeks to find that “more than a few” willows, alders and other trees” had been removed.

Stephanie Buffum, exec-utive director of Friends of the San Juans, was irate when she saw photographs of the area. She believed the photographs showed dozens of trees had been removed and areas of native flowers and other vegeta-tion removed.

“This will take decades to repair,” Buffum said. “It’s a great example of property owner irrespon-sibility.”

Baisch said he had been interviewed by code enforcement and told them that the few fir trees he had trimmed were still standing and that he did not know who had done the tree cut-ting. He said he believed that areas with Golden Paintbrush, which are dor-mant this time of year, had not been disturbed and that the Honeywells were intent on “disturbing native vegetation” as little as pos-sible.

Code Enforcement Officer Chris Laws and Community Development & Planning Acting Director Sam Gibboney declined to discuss events at Mar Vista, citing the “ongoing investi-gation.”

Telephone messages left at the Honeywells’ local phone were not immediately returned. The Honeywells’ local attorney, Mimi Wagner of the Law Offices of William J. Weissinger, and their real estate agent, Bob Elford, also declined to comment.


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Puzzle Answers

Contributed photos / Anne and George Willis

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VOTE ONIslandsWeekly.com

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Lopez Island

AFFORDABLE WATERFRONT180 ft. West facing 2.7 acres of old-growth � r forest, with driveway. Water, power and

phone at lot line. Septic permit. Small cabin and mooring buoy.Price Reduced $159,000

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Waterfront clearcut prompts ‘stop work’ order on Mar Vista remodel

Snow scenes on Lopez

Contributed photo / Chris Teren

From point to elbow, an area along the waterfront at Mar Vista Resort appears blond and bare after trees and veg-etation were removed, report-edly without a permit.

Documents

Islands' Weekly, December 31, 2013