Islands' Weekly, January 31, 2012

This is part two of a two part series about DVSAS, their advo-cates and future plans for the preventionBy Cali Bagby

Suzi Marean’s own experi-ence as a survivor of assault and childhood abuse has

helped her to become an advocate. She recalls one point in her own therapy when she decided she was no longer going to be a victim. After working as a chemical dependency counselor she eventually came to Lopez in

the 1980s and later started working at DVSAS as the sole advocate for the island. Six years later she is finally stepping down and handing the job over to Kim Bryan.

Bryan worked as a pediat-ric nurse for 16 years and was

the director of a domes-tic violence shelter in Spokane for 10 years. She moved to San Juan Island about a year ago to work for DVSAS. She and her husband plan on moving to Lopez this month.

Bryan is also a sur-vivor.

And during her time as a pediatrics nurse she often saw victims come through the door who had been abused.

“I felt like I was patching up injuries and thought I had to get to the other side to prevention,” Bryan said. “It just breaks your heart.”

A dark underbellyMost of the phone

calls Marean has received are domestic violence issues, and over time she has watched transformations from women who have gained self confi-

dence and self worth.On the down side, Marean

has been exposed to the dark underbelly of Lopez Island.

When she first moved here, Marean thought of it

as an idyllic place with peace-ful and pastoral scenery -— away from the crime, drugs, rape and violence of big cities

INSIDE Guest Column, Dr. Michael Wingren . . . . . . . . . . Page 3

Miró Quartet . . . . . . Page 4

Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5

www.islandsweekly.com800-654-6142

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Changing of the guard for Lopez DVSASA new advocate, the truth about domestic violence

and the future of DVSAS

Weekly photo/ Cali Bagby

Suzi Marean, left, and Kim Bryan, right, stand outside the DVSAS office on Lopez.

The Port of Lopez

is holding a Public Hearing on February 13th at 7:00pm at the LCCA to present to the public a plan for operations, financial projections and a tax funding request for the Lopez Solid Waste Facility. There will be time for public testimony and a question and answer session. All Lopez residents are encouraged to attend. Check the Port of Lopez website for more information

www.portoflopez.com

And Leap Year gives it 29. . .

29% Offany purchase inthe gallery throughFebruary 29th only. Includes framed original pastels, oils, drawings &all giclée printsin stock. Come see new works by Steve, from recent painting trips to the northeast U.S., Italy and the San Juan Islands.

Windswept Fine Art Gallery

www.windsweptstudios.comOpen most days, 11 – 5 p.m., 783 Port Stanley Rd.360-468-2557 or [email protected]

"La Casa Aperta" original pastel by Steve Hill

The Lopez Farmer’s Market is holding their sixth annual Poster Contest. The contest is open to Lopez residents and 2011 Farmer’s Market Members.

Finished poster size should be 11 x 17, be in full color, with a minimum 1/2 inch white on all sided for printing.

The following information needs to be incorporated into the design: Lopez Island Farmer’s Market 2012

May 19 - September 8, 2012 Saturdays 10 - 2 in the Village

The winning poster will be used to promote the 2012 market season and also will be available for sale at the market. The Lopez Island Farmer’s Market will have exclusive rights to use the original art work for one year after which the art work and the rights to the art work will return to the artist.

Deadline: Finished posters, camera ready, must be submitted no later than February 29, 2012 to: Martha Garcia, 49 Woodhaven Ln., Lopez Island, WA, 98261 (468-2411). This submission may be your original art or a printout of a digital file. Each submission should be accompanied by artist contact information (name, address, phone #, e-mail)

JuryingThe submitted posters will be hung in the Lopez Post Office for the month of March. Community members are encouraged to submit a vote into the available box at the Post Office. The Farmer’s Market Board will submit the posters with the most votes to the Farmer’s Market members for a final vote at their Annual Meeting in April, 2012.

Prize: The winning artist will receive a $400 cash prize and recognition as the 2012 Lopez Farmer’s Market Poster Artist. The winning Artist will be asked to attend a poster signing event at a scheduled Saturday Market in 2012.

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SEE DVSAS, PAGE 6

Annual count of homeless; Jan. 26

San Juan County’s annual Point in Time Count of home-lessness is Jan. 26.

The public health depart-ment is enlisting local agen-

cies and organizations that come in contact with home-less to help in the count.

Mandated by a state law passed in 2005, the annual count seeks to reduce home-lessness by 50 percent by 2015.

The number of homeless in the county increased 39 percent last year, from 79 in 2010, to 110 in 2011. Included in last year’s count were 42 people living in tents, cars, boats (unequipped with livi-ing facilities) or staying in

motels (with money from churches, etc.). The remain-ing 68 people, were in tempo-rary, unstable living arrange-ments, often with friends or family members. Many of the homeless were children or people with disabilities.

San Juan County adopted a Ten Year Homelessness Prevention Plan to combat the problem, and in 2009 the County Council approved a Senior Rent Subsidy Program to help qualifying seniors who have an extremely low income.

An archive of the state-wide PIT count results since 2006, including San Juan County’s, is available on the Department of Commerce website at: http://www.com-

merce.wa.gov/site/1064/default.aspx.

Apply for low-income housing grants, loans by Feb. 15

San Juan County will award grants and loans totaling up to $23,197 in 2012 for projects that help make housing avail-able to local residents of very low income.

The Low Income Housing Fund, created by the state legislature in 2002, is funded by a surcharge on each docu-ment recorded by the county auditor’s office. Funds may be used for construction, operation or maintenance projects that serve families or individuals earning less than 50 percent of the area

median income.For a family of four, 50 per-

cent of median income in San Juan County is $32,900.

Funding is available to non-profits and developers, either as grants or loans, for eligible projects in San Juan County. Funding is not available for individual home purchases, or home remodel or reha-bilitation.

The county allocates 5 percent of its low-income housing funds directly to the Town of Friday Harbor and 5 percent into a reserve account as well. The fund is administered by the county Housing Bank Commission.

The deadline to apply for funding in 2012 is Feb. 15. Application forms are avail-able at the county website: http://sanjuanco.com/docs/Or contact Melanie Rollins, affordable housing coordi-nator, for application forms or more information; (360) 370-7526 or email [email protected]

Health dept. launches new video

Flu activity has been low in Washington in the early part of this season, accord-ing to the Department of Health, which is why they are urging people to get vac-cinated before illnesses start to mount in January through

March. Be aware that it takes two weeks for vaccine to be effective.

If you have questions check out the Department of Health’s new public service video at www.doh.wa.gov. The video features local fami-lies along with Secretary of Health Mary Selecky talking about why they get the flu shot every year and encour-aging others to do the same.

“Influenza is a serious dis-ease that hits some people harder than others and can be fatal,” says Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. “The flu vaccine is one of the best ways to protect against the flu and has a long safety record. It protects you, your loved ones, and your community.

January 31, 2012 – Page 2

P.O. Box 39, Lopez Island, WA 98261Phone: 360.468-4242

Fax: [email protected]

Published Every Tuesday

Publisher: Marcia Van Dyke [email protected]: Cali Bagby [email protected]: Rebecca Cook [email protected] Design: Scott Herning [email protected] Sales: Cathi Brewer [email protected]

Galley Restaurant Open at 8 am

Full menu until at least 8 pm every nightShort-list menu

after 8 p.m.Fresh, Local,

Fantasticwww.galleylopez.com

468-2713

Lopez IslanderFriday 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

Saturday 8:30 am - 10:00 pmSunday 8:30 am - 9:00 pm

Monday thru Thursday11:30 am - 9:00 pm

468-2233www.lopezfun.com

LOPEZ BUSINESS HOURS

Love Dog CafeOpen 9am-3pm &

5pm-8pmThursday-Sunday

Winter Wallet Prices! See our Facebook for

Specials!

www.lovedogcafe.com468-2150

TUES, JAN 31

MOVIE: SJC Council Meeting, Video Conference, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., library.

CLASSES: Jan Phillips Evolutionary Free Creativity Workshop, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m., library, free. Call the library at 468-2265 to reserve a seat.

WEDS, FEB 1

READING: Storytime, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Helen Anderson Children’s Room at the library.

THURS, FEB 2

MEETINGS: Garden Club, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., library. Call contact Linda Zerbst 468-4544.

MEETINGS: Support Group, 1:30 p.m., library. Contact: Bob Gerfy

468-4992.

MEETINGS: Procession of the Species Celebration 2012 planning meeting, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Lopez Library. All welcome! Bring your soup bowl. Contact Charlie and Amanda at 468-2951.

FRI, FEB 3

MEETINGS: Trails Network, 8:30 - 10:30 a.m., library. Trails Network meets. Video confer-ence.

CLASSES: Computer Training, 10 - 11 a.m., library. Walk- ins welcome to learn free basic computer skills.

SAT, FEB 4

EVENT: 70th Birthday Celebration for Carol Steckler,

1-3 p.m., Lopez Center for Community and the Arts.

MOVIE: Free Saturday Movie, 2- 4 p.m., library.

PARTY: Carol Steckler’s 70th Birthday Celebration, Lopez Community Center, 1-4 p.m., sweet and savory fin-ger food potluck, photo col-lages of Lopez Theater pro-ductions 1977 to present.

TUES, FEB 7

FORUM: Coal Hard Truth Forum, 6 -9 p.m., Lopez Center for Community and the Arts.

THURS, FEB 9MEETINGS: Port of Lopez Monthly Meeting, 7 - 9 p.m., library meeting room. For more info, contact www.portoflopez.com.

MEETINGS: “Got dirt? - Soil Development” will be the topic for the Lopez Island Garden Club meeting. Ian Lange, professor of geol-ogy at the University of Montana, will be the fea-tured speaker. The meeting will be held at Woodmen Hall, 4102 Fisherman Bay

Road. Coffee and goodies at 9:30 a.m. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. Please come - everyone is welcome!

MEETINGS: Sheila Tallmon, The Director Of Camp Nor’wester, will be at the Lopez Island Middle School Commons to show the 2011 summer video and answer questions about the program, refreshments at 7 p.m., movie starts at 7:15 p.m. RSVP to 468-2225 or [email protected]. Past Directors Paul Henriksen and Christa Campbell will also be in attendance

SAT, FEB 11

OUTDOORS: Intro to Birding, 10 a..m. - 1 p.m., library. This 6-week course in $75. Space is limited. Learn the fundamentals of orni-thology and how to create the first impression of a bird’s iden-tity. Contact Kim at 376-4795 to register. Feb. 11- March 17.

MOVIE: Free Saturday Movie, 2- 4 p.m., library.

MUSIC: Benefit Concert for LIRFC with Lang Langford,

7- 9 p.m., Lopez Center for Community and the Arts.

GARAGE SALE: Huge garage sale to benefit Mexico orphanage,10 a.m.to 2 p.m., Lopez Community Church.

MON, FEB 13

MEETING: LCCA Board Meeting, 5 p.m., Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, free.

MEETING: Public Hearing on Lopez Transfer Station, 7 p.m., Lopez Center for Community and the Arts.

TUES, FEB. 14: MEETING: Enchanted Quilters Monthly Meeting, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Woodmen Hall, monthly meeting featuring artist and quilt maker Penny Torkington. She brings her story and a fabulous trunk show.

SAT, FEB 18

DANCE: Contra Dance, 7:30 p.m., Lopez Center for Community and the Arts.

TUES, FEB 21

READING: Literary Salon, 7 p.m., library.

WEDS, FEB 22

READING: Storytime, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Helen Anderson Children’s Room at the library.

SUN, FEB 26

READING: Author/ Poet Reading, 7 - 9 p.m., library. Join author Elizabeth Austen reading from her new book, Every Dress a Decision, and poet Dorothy Trogden reading from her debut collection, Tall Woman Looking. This event is co-sponsored by: Friends of Lopez Island Library

TUES, FEB 28

MOVIE: SJC Council Meeting, Video Conference, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., library.

NOTICE: Lopez Island Hospice and Home Support sponsors a Caregivers’ Support Group every other Thursday, 1p.m., at the LIHHS office in the Gathering Place. All caregivers on the island are welcome. Call Mary O’Bryant for more information – 468-2421.

CommunityCalendar

News Briefs

“When seeking fails,spiritual life begins.”

Adi Da Samrajfor more info 360-468-3023

Alice Campbell, M.S

468-4094 Lopez Island

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Children & AdultCouples & Families

Honoring most insurance plans Accepting new clients

Moira Goode Come in for your

FREE LUNCH!Galley Restaurant

Lopez Acupuncture& Integrated Health

Julienne Battalia LAc, LMPMost Insurance Accepted

(360)468-3239lopezislandacupuncture.com

Kristin Fernald, MALicensed Mental Health CounselorCounseling for Individuals,

Couples & Groups468-3785 • Lopez &Orcaswww.kristinfernald.com

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 CenterContact phone number 468-2809

Al-Anon:Fridays - 9:00 a.m. at the Grace Church Hall, LopezSaturdays - 9:30 a.m. at the Children’s Center, Lopez.Contact phone number 468-2510.

SEE NEWS BRIEFS, PAGE 4

By Dr. Michael WingrenWashington State has

issued a new set of guide-lines for prescribing opioid (narcotic) drugs for non-can-cerous chronic pain.

These guidelines went into effect Jan. 1 of this year, and they change many aspects of medical practice around chronic pain management.

This will, in turn, affect how patients receive care for their chronic pain conditions in local clinics and hospitals. This article will attempt to clarify some of the issues involved.

The main impetus for the new state guidelines has been an increase in prescrip-tion opioid drug overdoses and deaths in the state over the last 15 years.

Over this time, statistics showed a decrease in abuse and overdose from non-pre-scription opioids (heroin), but an increase in deaths from abuse of prescription opioids.

Deaths have occurred at nearly one per day in the state, and half of these deaths occur in Medicaid patients,

for whom the state pays for the drug of abuse, overuse and death.

This period has coincided with increasing use of long-acting opioids such as oxy-contin, to manage non-cancer pain.

Improper use of these medications, for example, chewing or smoking it, has been especially dangerous.

The new guidelines require a series of evaluations of patient characteristics before and during treatment. Before starting treatment with opi-oids, it is important to assess depression and other mood disorders, prior and concur-rent substance abuse disor-ders, such as alcoholism, and prior treatment successes and side effects for the patient.

Regular clinical assessment of a patient’s improvement in function and pain control is required, as is regular urine toxicology screening for the drug used and others taken concurrently.

The guidelines also require specific action for those patients whose use of opioids exceeds the equivalent of 120

mg of morphine per day. This means that patients

taking more than the follow-ing daily doses of common medications will require con-sultation with pain specialists: 120 mg of MS Contin; 80 mg oxycodone or oxycontin; 120 mg of hydrocodone; or 50 mcg of fentanyl (duragesic) patches.

Though these are reason-ably high doses, they are not uncommon, particularly in patients who take more than one medication concurrently for pain control.

The guidelines make an important shift in emphasis, from providing pain relief to improving — function. Use of written agreements or “con-tracts” with all chronic opioid users is now required.

Patients who overuse the medications beyond their contracted amounts will have to “go without” until their agreed-upon refill date. Patients who try to get addi-tional medications from other doctors and pharmacies in the state will be easily tracked by an online data base. Long-acting pain medications will

no longer be prescribed for acute pain, and will not be prescribed by emergency room physicians.

The goal of the new guide-lines is to rationalize opioid use towards improving func-tion and pain control while

limiting overdose-related deaths. Both the Inter Island Medical Center and San Juan Health Care Associates have

adopted the new state guide-lines.

Check with your primary care provider if you have more questions.

— Dr. Michael Wingren is a physician at Inter Island Medical Center.

State raises bar on chronic pain


Guest Column

Contributed photo

Dr. Michael Wingren, above, will conduct a follow up discus-sion about chronic pain management at the San Juan Island Library.

TO LEARN MORE:

Join in a follow up discussion about “Chronic Pain Man-agement” at the San Juan Island Library conference room, Saturday, Jan. 21, from 3:30-5:00 p.m.The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Michael Wingren. Guest speakers will include Dr. Burk Gossom of SJ Health Care Associates, a pharmacist with Friday Harbor Drug, and a chemical depen-dency counselor with Compass Mental Health.

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HEARING NOTICE • SAN JUAN COUNTYNOXIOUS WEED CONTROL BOARD

ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING ANNOUNCEMENTPURPOSE: To review and adopt the San Juan County Nox-ious Weed List for 2012 and to discuss noxious weed control priorities and weed law enforcement guidelines for 2012.WHEN: Monday, February 13, 2012 at 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.WHERE: Community Room, Skagit Valley College, 221 Weber Way, Lower Level, Friday Harbor.The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board has added three new species for the 2012 Noxious Weed List. These include Oriental clematis (Clematis orienatalis) (Class A), Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) and Japa-nese eelgrass (Zostera japonica) (Class C, in commercial shellfish beds only). Of these, only Japanese eelgrass is recorded from San Juan County.In addition to those species contained in the State Weed List, the following species are listed as weeds of concern to San Juan County: teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), English hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), English holly (Ilex aqui-folium), Non-native lupine (Lupinus spp.), bur chervil (An-thriscus caucalis), pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana, and C. jubata), English (cherry) laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), Italian arum (Arum italicum), Mole spurge (Euphorbia lathy-ris), and periwinkle (Vinca minor and V. major). In order for this list to become accepted for San Juan Coun-ty it must be approved by the County Noxious Weed Con-trol Board based on public input received at this meeting. New guidelines for enforcement of state weed law within San Juan County will be discussed. There will also be a review of the County Noxious Weed Program Status Re-port for 2011.The Noxious Weed Control Board is requesting public participa-tion so that more information about local weed distributions can be gathered as well as suggestions for the 2013 weed list. For further information, contact the County Noxious Weed Control Program (Richard Lee or Judy Jackson) at 376-3499 or bye-mail at [email protected] or [email protected])

he Weekly is preparing to publish a special Valentine’s Day section, complete with heart warming stories about islanders! We are offering low-cost opportunities to highlight your business or send amessage to your sweetie.

Cost: $58 for a 2” x 2” ad $30 for a 2 column x 1” adColor: Includes 1 color, Red or BlueAd Deadline: February 1st, 2pmPublication Date: February 7th

Call 376-4500 for details!

T ❤

In April of 2011 Lopez Islands experienced its 1st Annual Procession of the Species Celebration (POSC). The event was Organized by the Lopez Island Conservation Corps (LICC) with sponsor-ship from the Lopez Island Prevention Coalition (LIPC) and Earthbound Productions (Olympia). The Procession of the Species is a widespread event throughout the world to celebrate Earth Day and the great diversity of life on the planet. Participants choose a species to repre-sent and create a costume or display for a lively procession through the village streets. Over 100 Lopezians, youths and elders, attended repre-senting life forms from sea anemones to sea turtles.

Lopez Island Conservation Corps (LICC) is seeking help.

Contributed photo

The 1st annual Procession of the Species Celebration (POSC) was a great success last year.

Conservation Corps seeking help

SEE CONSERVATION , PAGE 8

It’s also important to use good health habits—washing your hands, covering your cough, and staying home when you’re sick.”To make an appointment for a flu vaccine, contact SJC Health and Community Services at 378-4474, or go to www.doh.wa.gov/LHJMap/LHJMap.htm, or your doctor, local pharmacy, or call the

Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588. For more info, visit www.doh.wa.gov/flunews.

Wildland fire risk assessment

The Bureau of Land Management and San Juan County are developing a county-level wildland fire risk assessment. County agencies and organizations have start-

ed a risk assessment plan-ning committee as the first step in the ultimate develop-ment of a San Juan County Wildfire Protection Plan. The committee includes rep-resentatives from local fire districts, San Juan County, Washington Department of Natural Resources, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, private land-owners, and others.

Northwest Management, Inc. will facilitate meetings, conduct field inspections and interviews, develop vulner-

ability assessments, and col-laborate with the committee to delineate mitigation proj-ects.

The plan will be part of the National Fire Plan and Healthy Forests Restoration Act.

The assessment will include risk analyses with predictive models indicating where fires are likely to ignite and how they may impact communities and the envi-ronment.

The project aims to pre-vent wildfire ignitions, create a more fire-resistant county and provide public wildfire education.

The planning committee meetings to discuss prelimi-nary findings and to seek public involvement - dates and locations will be posted in local news outlets. For more info, contact Tera King at 208-883-4488 ext 133 or Richard Parrish at 509-536-1226.

Music supporters are gathering sponsors, donors and volunteers for the famed Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival opening this August on Lopez in celebration of their Crystal Anniversary.

Funds will ensure that artist fees, transportation, venue, administration and reception costs are covered for this exceptional Lopez concert. While sponsorship levels for OICMF normally start at the $500 level, for the Lopez concert only sponsors will be acknowledged at giv-ing levels from $50 and up.

The “make or break” date for confirmed sponsorships is Feb. 11.

This year’s festival features an opening performance at Grace Church with the inter-nationally acclaimed Miró Quartet. A reception to meet the artists will follow the late

afternoon concert. Exact times of the concert and reception will be announced with the opening of ticket sales in May.

The two-week Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival presents an astonishing vari-ety of classical music each August to sold-out audiences. Under the artistic direction of Aloysia Friedmann and artistic advisor Jon Kimura Parker, the festival brings to the islands artists such as violinists Chee-Yun, Martin Chalifour, Andrés Cárdenes and many others, classical guitarists Eliot Fisk and Zaira Meneses, contemporary composer Jake Heggie, clari-netist Owen Kotler, cellists Toby Saks, Anne Martindale Williams and Desmond Hoebig, pianists Jeffrey Kahane, Jamie Parker and of course dynamic Jon Kimura

Parker. Along with the Orcas performances are pre-concert lectures, post-concert recep-tions to meet the artists, and dozens of outreach activities to students and community musicians.

In the past the inter-island ferry schedule has made it difficult for other islanders to attend these exquisitely pro-fessional concerts—so this year for the first time the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival will travel to Lopez.

As Quartet-in-Residence, the members of the Miró Quartet will perform throughout the two-week fes-tival, in addition to opening the festival August 10 on Lopez Island. Described as possessing “explosive vigor and technical finesse”, the quartet is now in its second decade of captivating audi-ences and critics around the

world with its startling inten-sity, fresh perspective and mature approach.

Join others to bring this international chamber music group to Lopez. To confirm your sponsorship, call 376-6636 and identify your dona-tion or pledge as sponsor support for the Lopez Island concert. Sponsors may also

contribute securely on-line at www.oicmf.org, where you may direct your support to the Lopez Island concert. OICMF is a 501c3 non-profit organization and all gifts are tax deductible.

Music CDs and DVDs from previous OICMF con-certs are available in the Lopez Library CD collec-

tions, or contact Micki Ryan and Bill Clemens at 468-4442 to arrange to borrow per-sonal copies and previous programs, or to ask about OICMF concert experiences. For more info, visit www.oicmf.org. For more informa-tion about the Miró Quartet, visit www.miroquartet.com.

LOPEZ ISLANDCHRIST THE KING COMMUNITY CHURCH, Now

meeting at 10:00 AM at the Lopez Elementary School

in the multi-purpose room. Find us on the web: www.

CTKonline.com/lopez or email [email protected]

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, welcomes

you to worship with us on Sundays at 10:30

am. Fisherman Bay Road at Sunset Lane.

468-3477. Everyone welcome!

LOPEZ ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH, 91 Lopez

Road. Sunday School: pre-school through adult 9:30 am;

Worship at 10:30 am. Pastor Jeff Smith 468-3877.

LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE SAN JUANS, Sundays

at 11:00 a.m. in Center Church on Davis Bay Road. Also in

Friday Harbor at 9:15 a.m. in St. David’s and in Eastsound at

2:00 p.m. in Emmanual. Pastor Anne Hall, 378-6310.

QUAKER WORSHIP GROUP Meetings will be Sundays

at 10 am at the home of Ron Metcalf, 6363 Fisherman

Bay Road. Children’s program. Everyone welcome. Phone

468-2129. Email: [email protected]

ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH Come worship

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

you to join us for Mass at 10:45 am on Saturday. Call 378-

2910 for Mass times on San Juan and Orcas Islands.

Worship Services in the Islands

Be a sponsor and help bring Miró Quartet to Lopez

photo/www.miroquartet.com, press kit

The Miró Quartet 2012: Daniel Ching, William Fedkenheuer, John Largess, Joshua Gindele.

OPALCO CELEBRATES75 YEARS!

May 5: Annual Meeting on the ferry June 4: Open House on San Juan Island June 29: Open House on Orcas Island July 18: Open House on Lopez Island

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www.islandsweekly.com

By Scott RasmussenTalk isn’t cheap, at least

not when the County Council gets involved.

In fact, San Juan County Administrator Pete Rose contends that the prolifera-tion of council subcommit-tees, a byproduct of the county’s Home Rule charter, has taken a toll on the effec-tiveness and the efficiency of local government.

Rose said the amount of time and resources required of county staff to fulfill the various requests of those subcommittees is “off the charts”.

And the administrator is not immune.

“It’s taken me off my A-game,” Rose said of the additional demands.

On Saturday, in a pre-sentation to the Charter Review Commission, Rose unveiled a pack-age of mixed reviews regarding the benefits and drawbacks ushered in six years ago by the charter, including that no-holds-barred critique of the council’s involvement in day-to-day operations.

The Review Commission meets this Saturday on Orcas Island, tentatively at the Orcas Hotel, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

On the plus side, Rose said the budget process is improved, computer and electronic capabilites have been enhanced, and

quality of the workforce is increasing.

Still, he notes e f f i c i e n c i e s might be gained by merging the financial depart-ments, all of three which are managed by independently elected officials.

“Don’t be afraid to consoli-date financial offices,” he said.

A u d i t o r Milene Henley, who oversees the Elections depart-ment as well, followed Rose in offering the commission a presentation of her own.

Elected in November, the 21-person charter review panel is tasked with recom-

mending possible changes to the charter that voters

Proposed regulations perplexing

As I read the 51 pages of the Community Development and Planning staff report and proposed CAO ordinance general regulations the other night I broke out in a cold sweat trying to wrap my mind around the complex-ity of these regulations and restrictions. I am no slouch when it comes to critical analysis and unraveling com-plex issues, but I have trouble finding the time to keep up with these proposed regula-tions, much less predicting the impact they will have on our community.

San Juan County already has extensive development regulations to protect critical areas and my greatest fear if these additional restrictions are enacted is the Law of Unintended Consequences. For example, our county has done a fine job of supporting and encouraging the develop-ment of local farms so that we all have access to fresh, safe foods grown in a sustain-able manner that preserves the integrity of our land. I know something about this because my husband and I own and operate a small farm

on San Juan Island.Yet, if these onerous regu-

lations are adopted by our County Council, farmers may not be able to clear dead trees and debris so that crops can be planted. Orchards may not be allowed. Local farm-ers may not be able to stay in business. I doubt that is the intent, but that could be the outcome.

The Voluntary Stewardship program is a nod toward addressing the particular issue of agricultural land, but if you read the background documents they are vague, undefined and strike me as an additional layer of over-sight at a cost to taxpayers (us) and farmers. In any case, farm land is just one example of what could go wrong with these good intentions.

I don’t think the County Council has considered or can predict the impact these added restrictions will have on the viability of our com-munity. So beware the Law of Unintended Consequences, and if you think these chang-es won’t affect you because you don’t have a waterfront home… think again. Pay attention to what is being proposed and let your voice be heard. Call or write your County Councilperson today!

PEG GERLOCKSAN JUAN ISLAND


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Charter: Too many chiefs? Demand of subcommittees a drain on resources

Scott Rasmussen photo

Administrator Pete Rose explains the ups and downs of life under the county charter in a presentation to the Charter Review Commission.

SEE CHARTER, PAGE 6

would then decide upon in November.

Ratified by voters in 2005, the charter ushered in changes in the way local government is structured, how it operates and in the amount of influence island-ers have over decisions made by local lawmakers, primarily through the pro-cess of initiative and refer-endum.

The charter stripped the former county commission of its executive powers — management of personnel and day-to-day business — in favor of an appointed administrator that serves at the pleasure of the council.

It divided the county’s previous three legislative districts into six, with a mostly equal number of residents in each, allowed

for each to elect its own council representative, did away with countywide elec-tions for the legislative body — the council.

The charter also turned the three former commis-sioners into six non-parti-san, part-time posts, and created a citizens’ salary commission to determine how much county elected officials should be paid.

Council members earn roughly $35,000 a year, plus benefits.

The Charter Review Commission meets Saturdays (see schedule above), and will have dedi-cated space for meeting minutes, reports and sched-ules on the county website in the near future; www.co.san-juan.wa.us/

Pete Rose, in brief: Partisan elected posi-

tions: “Personally, I feel it’s a

mistake. I like to think small local governments don’t have to operate like the U.S. Congress.”

Six-person council: “It’s been cumbersome

at times. Especially when a council member is absent.”

Working with eight inde-pendently elected officials:

“It’s a matter of persua-sion and negotiation to get to where we need to be.”


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on the mainland. But she said all those things can happen here as well.

She said she wishes she would have reached out to the community to raise awareness about these issues, because she still encounters people who don’t believe sexual and domestic violence occurs on the islands.

“It happens in unexpected ways, in people you wouldn’t think,” Marean said. “There is no personality profile for victims and perpetrators, it crosses economic, social,

educational and professional barriers.”

And as the economy con-tinues to deteriorate, Marean said people’s use of drugs and alcohol will increase — and with that comes violence.

The futureDVSAS will continue its

outreach to youth, teaching the fundamentals that protect and educate children and pre-pare them for situations off and on the island.

Bryan will be working with each community and hosting forums to talk about violence on the islands.

“These types of issues are like mold that grow in the dark, we want to shatter the silence,” Bryan said. “It really

takes a village to keep our own kids safe.”

She hopes to get DVSAS into the schools to discuss health boundaries and age-appropriate tools to deal with possible dangerous situa-tions.

Marean officially retired at the end of the year, but says she’s never been busier. She has already taken on the task of chairman of the board for the Lopez Island Prevention Coalition.

And she’ll go on with the optimism that is fundamental at her core.

“I had a challenging start as a kid, but I don’t look at that as a defect,” Marean said. “I look at what has happened

to me as building blocks that have shaped the person I am today.”

And if people in crisis call her at home, she will still be there for support before passing the call to DVSAS. She will continue to speak these words:

“Yes, I know it hurts and it’s real and what has hap-pened to you has given you the right to go through grief. Honor those feelings, and then you can move through to the other side.”

To get more information or become a volunteer call 468-3788. If you need to talk to an advocate call the 24-crisis line at 468-4567.

DVSASCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

On Feb. 4, 2 to 5 p.m., the American Cancer Society Relay For Life® of Friday Harbor will officially get underway as event volun-teers and participants gather at the Mullis Center for a kickoff rally to launch their fundraising efforts and cel-ebrate eight years of Relay For Life in Friday Harbor. With this year’s theme – The Magic of Relay – kickoff will be a Magical Fun Fest with food available by Kiwanis for a fee and activities for all ages- games, prizes and more! This will also be the first opportu-nity to register a team for the overnight event to be held on July 28 to 29 at the Friday Harbor High School football/ track field.

The world’s largest grass-roots fundraising movement, Relay For Life mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and provide participants with an opportunity to fight back against the disease. Relay brings together friends, fami-lies, businesses, hospitals, schools, faith-based groups – people from all walks of life, all aimed at furthering the American Cancer Society’s

vision of creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Relay For Life began in 1985 with one man who walked and ran around a track for 24 hours and raised $27,000 for the American Cancer Society. This year, Relay For Life will take place in nearly 5,100 communi-ties in the United States and 20 other countries and will raise funds to support the Society’s mission of saving lives by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and fighting back.

To join Relay For Life, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.relayforlifeoffridayharbor.org

American Cancer Society Relay for Life kick-off on SJ

CHARTERCONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

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Lopez Artist, Steve Hill, has been selected to be Fine Art Juror for the 43rd National Ocean Shores Juried Fine Art Show. This expanded show will be held at the new Convention Center, April 20-22, 2012, at Ocean Shores, WA. Nearly $10,000 in awards will be given to artists from all over the U.S.

Hill was awarded “Best of Show” for his pastel painting “Winding Down” in the 2011 exhibit, which was painted en plein air in the Skagit Valley, shortly before the old farm build-ing fell down. Juror, Arthur Egeli, noted oil painter and juror, selected Hill’s piece from several hundred entries nationwide.

Hill will also be leading a 3 day workshop in beginning and intermediate level pas-

tel at the convention center, in April. He teaches pastel and plein air landscape paint-ing workshops at Dakota Art Center in Mt. Vernon, and in the San Juan Islands, where he has a workshop

scheduled next September at Canoe Island French Camp, on Canoe Island, among oth-ers.

He and his wife, Judy, have just returned home from a 7 week painting trip and 2 major

art exhibits: his opening in New York City at Agora Gallery (November) and the prestigious 2011 Florence Biennale (December) in Florence, Italy, where he was one of eleven artists invited to represent the U.S., show-ing with over 600 artists from 60 countries. www.windsweptstudios.com to view Hill’s latest works and blogs from his recent painting trip.

Hill’s work shows locally at Crow Valley Gallery on Orcas Island and Windswept Fine Art Gallery on Lopez Island. www.associatedarts.org

for details about the 2012 Ocean Shores Exhibit.


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Audrey Bordvick photo

Audrey Bordvick took this photo of her dog Karina, a one-year-old Hungarian Vizsla.

This is Karina’s first time playing in the snow, she was hesitant as first, because it was cold,” said Bord-vick. “Then she just kept jumping off of hills, running through bushes and running by me with fallen branch-es. Even dogs have fun in the snow.”

WINTER JOY

Contributed photo

Steve Hill’s pastel “Winding Down”, above, won Best of Show in the 2011 National Ocean Shores Juried Fine Art Show.

Hill selected for national fine art show

They are looking for more individuals and organizations to collaborate with to make this community event grow.

They will be holding a plan-ning session to discuss art making and workshops, sup-plies, and other creative ideas to support the 2nd annual celebration. Bring your thoughts and ideas, what you liked last year and what can

be improved, and a bowl for soup. The meeting is sched-uled for Thursday, Feb. 2nd from 6-7:30 pm at the Library. For more information, con-tact Charlie Behnke and Amanda Wedow at 468-2951 or [email protected]

CONSERVATIONCONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Documents

Islands' Weekly, January 31, 2012