The
INSIDE
Climate change solutions?
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George Willis / Contributed photo
Ugly sweaters combat waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4
County pays 22K
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www.islandsweekly.com 360-376-4500
Islands’ eekly W
VOLUME 35, NUMBER 47 • DECEMBER 8, 2015
What you need to know about OPALCO’s rate increase By Leslie Kelly
Special to the Weekly
Get ready to pay more for electricity if you are a member of the Orcas Power and Light Cooperative. But the increase is projected 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 measures in place that keep our co-op financially healthy, following 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
Stanley Greenthal & SeaMuse Winter Solstice Concert
LOPEZ CENTER SUN, DEC. 20, 7:30 PM Tickets: Adult $15, Youth $6 at PSR, Blossoms, Lopez Bookshop & lopezcenter.org
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, including energy costs and capital outlay costs, said Suzanne Olson, OPALCO spokeswoman. 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 projection for 2016. Budget forecasts 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 employees. 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 collective 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 forecasters say the current El Nino weather pattern will end and temperatures will become colder; thus meaning more energy sales and a drop in price.
Poetry in Motion Saturday, December 12th
A lyrical blend of poetry and a variety of dance styles Lopez Center Matinee 2 pm
Evening Performance 7:30 pm Suggested Donation: Adult $10, Youth $5
Concerned about Growler jet noise? Concerned about their emissions of 12.5 metric tons of CO2/hour?
www.quietskies.info
Presented as Readers Theatre Lopez Center for Community and the Arts
yrical blen A lSaturday, 12/19 atd7:30 o pm & poetry Sunday, 12/20 at 1:30fpm
Tickets are Adults $10.00 / Students $8.00
Available at Paper Scissors on the Rock and the Lopez Bookshop and at the door before the performances.
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 degradation and outage frequency. Another $2.4 million is allotted for grid control communications infrastructure. One of the programs that the co-op is initiating in 2016 is the energy assistance program. The 2016 budget includes $90,000 for the program, which is just half of what was requested. Although specifics of the program 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 kilowatt 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 members voiced concerns about their neighbors who are low income or on fixed incomes and cannot afford their energy bills. The survey showed that 1,500 of the co-ops mem-
A FestivAl oF lessons & CArols
bers fall below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. “OPALCO is doing its part and setting an example for other county agencies by creating an energy assistance 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 development and preparation for future community solar projects. Activities in 2016 will include exploring sites, design and loan funding possibilities. OPALCO is a nonprofit member-owned electric utility co-op providing services to San Juan County since 1937. Most of its energy is generated from hydro power by BPA and is delivered to about 20 islands by way of submarine cables. It has 11,198 members, 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 budget narrative stated. To see the entire budget document go to www.opalco. com.
Holiday Art Sale Polly Ham Ceramics and Sculpture
GrACe episCopAl ChurCh sundAy, deCember 13th
4:00 PM
Donations will be gratefully accepted to the Lopez Food Bank and the Grace Church Organ Fund.
Steve Horn Photography Sat, Dec 12 10 am -3 pm
Steve’s studio Lopez Village
Stop by and visit!
Community Calendar
MONDAYS ON-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. TUESDAYS ON-GOING: Learn how to download eBooks! Free
Notice of Intent to Adopt an Election Resolution
The San Juan Islands Conservation 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.
tutorials every Tuesday in the library’s community room, 4-5 p.m. Bring your device and log-in information (for Kindles your Amazon log-in info).
WEDNESDAYS STORYTIME: 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. 9 EVENT: 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. 11 MEETING: Lopez Village Planning Review Committee regular meeting, 10:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Library - meeting room. SAT, DEC. 12 EVENT: 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
by Robert O’Connell Special 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 recognize him and Death of A Salesman becomes about us. Shakespeare, in his tales of greed, passion, corruption and the lust for power, might as well have been writing for Sixty Minutes or the Washington Post. We know,
Lopez Islander
Southend Restaurant
BREAKFAST 10 a.m. Sat/Sun LUNCH DAILY 11:30-4:30 p.m. DINNER DAILY 4:30-8 p.m. Sun-Thurs 4:30-9 p.m. Fri/Sat
Thursday-Saturday 11:30-8 Sunday 11:30-3:00 Beer-Wine-Great Food Delicious Baked Goods Weekend Specials, Deli To Go Items
www.lopezfun.com 468-2233
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. 13 EVENT: 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 tradition. 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. 14 MEETING: Lopez 4H General Club Meeting, 7 p.m., Fellowship Hall. Monthly 4H Club Meeting for students K-12. Accepting new members. WED, DEC. 16 EVENT: 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.
Musing on life and theater too, who Romeo and Juliet are and understand the love they have for each other and we may even see our longago 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 literature can equal the connection between the stage actor and the engaged audience member. The first theatre productions were “morality plays”.
Lopez Business Hours
Come in and enjoy our renowned special RR Prime Rib Thurs.-Sat.
Bag for $20. Proceeds from these donated books support 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 garden, stocking stuffers, delicious cakes by Joyce and plenty of holiday cheer! EVENT: Community Square Dance, 7:00 p.m., Woodman Hall. A night of live music and dancing. Local caller, Kelsey Nelsen, will join local musicians Matt Hummel, Carol Noyes and Dave Marshall for an evening of footstompin’ old-time tunes. No partner or experience necessary. Sliding scale $10, kids free. ART: Chimera Gallery invites you to our Holiday
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Publisher
360.376.4500 Colleen Smith Armstrong publisher@islandsweekly.com Editor 360.376.4500 Cali Bagby cbagby@islandsweekly.com Circulation Manager 360.376.4500 Bridget Wright bsmith@soundpublishing.com Display Advertising 360.376.4500 Cali Bagby cbagby@islandsweekly.com
Your online source…www.islandsweekly.com
The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • december 8 2015 – Page 2
Down through the centuries, we have looked for the moral of the story in plays and the lessons to be learned. Nobody attending a production 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 understand 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 courage. Live theatre also gives the artists an outlet for personal expression like no other. Although it may seem that the accomplishment of producing 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
Graphic Designers 360.378.5696 Scott Herning, ext. 4054 sherning@soundpublishing.com Kathryn Sherman, ext. 4050 ksherman@soundpublishing.com Classified Advertising 800-388-2527 classifieds@soundpublishing.com Mailing/Street Address PO Box 758, Eastsound, WA 98245 Phone: (360) 378-5696 Fax: (888) 562-8818 Classifieds: (800) 388-2527
Contributed photo
“Christmas on the Pecos” written and directed by Robert O’Connell produced in Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 2009. 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, obviously 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 benefit 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/students $8. Tickets available at Paper Scissors on the Rock, the Lopez Bookshop and at the door before each performance.
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The Islands’ Weekly was founded in 1982 and is based on Lopez Island. The Islands’ Weekly is published every Tuesday and is
Guest column
We have solution, let’s find out how to use them By Jan Scilipoti Special 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 facing 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 humankind 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 community where I live. I want solutions for my local, state, and federal governments. This is about the planet, and we need planetary-scale solutions. 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 individual 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 resident 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 waste
Food Sustainability
Growing veggies and grain, milk-
Holiday Reminder: Finding Hope Schizoaffective Disorder, in caterpillars. All of the little global turn around. aka Bipolar Disorder with green wormish creatures I am that caterpillar. I was crawl on and over each other, Psychosis, and I have a forced to walk away from my We have an epidemic in our country. This epidemic is personal relationship with centered on reaching the top life and deal with my mental preventable. We must rise in chemical imbalance and the of the post. The caterpillar illness. What I would have awareness and compassion life journey one must embark on the top of the post has given to be climbing on that to confront it. We must see upon to fit into a world that nowhere to crawl, but that post once again. Little did I ourselves and our friends, seems to refuse to under- doesn’t matter, he defends know, my change in course his position. One day, a single would result in complete loved ones and community stand. caterpillar becomes tired. He transformation. Our autistic Hope lies in our children; members through different thinks ‘what if I just walked children, our schizophrenic children grow up to be adults. eyes. Mental Health is the term we currently use, and All of our addicts, homeless, away?’ He climbs down adults, our homeless and our I wish to change awareness and schizophrenics are the the post and finds a bush, addicts are just examples of of the nature within; the children of somebody. When curls up into a cocoon and little caterpillars that have walked away. All are simply essence of what is being dis- one is suffering from men- becomes a butterfly. If every person on the are awaiting transformation. tal illness and/or addiction, cussed. We have had many deaths what they need first and fore- planet, stopped and changed Fed the right ingredients, in our community on Lopez. most is hope. The synchron- their direction, made it their God only knows what is posMy friend’s son was sent to icity of this truth is that they sole purpose to help out the sible. Visit Emily’s blog for prison and did not receive the are our hope as well. Seen as person below them, or sima burden on society, some more info at www.welcomeply walked away from the mental health assistance necare unable to work and some rat race, where do you think tothegrit.com. essary. He died of dehydration at the age of 25. He was are on disability. Many are we would be? It could take a a gifted writer and a young homeless, and most are in matter of days to see a major philosopher. A friend was prisons. We refuse to accept suffering from alcoholism and look at the truth of what to treat her Post Traumatic is happening to us, to our Stress. It killed her and her children. All of these folks have a gift. body spirit gave A and HAND UP up. She There are countless was a nurse and NOT a healer, A HAND OUT B e f o re again, a sensitive. A highly moments throughout our day when we can make a penetrating man his midYouinmake a difference yo u difference. We may be down, forties, nature, whenwho youloved round up your monthly Dig committed suicide by shoot- but there is always someone OPALCO bill to help a needy islander! more down and out than we ing himself in the head into a diving tank, you which resulted are. We are so focused on Or when looking up, on stepping to the in a great explosion and the donation • make a one-time burning of his home and next rung, on reaching the PAL body. It to wasProject discovered that person ahead of us. We are • become a Business PAL the wrong direction. this was suicide. My friend’s going husbandsupporter died in a terrible What if we started looking Before you reach for the shovel down? What if we made it car crash, seekingtothrill All donations PAL and go directly to grant recipients. or �ire up the backhoe, dial 811 to escape, leaving behind his our one very largest desire to step down a rung and help baby Visit and wife who are misslocate buried utility lines. Be Safe! www.opalco.com/PAL and click Contribute ing him greatly, and a chasm the person underneath us? There is a post, covered in their hearts unimaginable. A young lad in his early twenJust in Anacortes: Fidalgo Bay XpressLube Fidalgo Bay XpressLube • 299-1270 ties suffering with mental ill1319Avenue “O” Avenue • Mon.-Sat. 8am-5pm 1319 “O” • Mon-Sat 8am-5pm • 299-1270 ness drowned himself into a coma by drinking too much water. Later he passed away. $ Another young man died of Service Highlights •Check transmission fluid •Change oil •Check differential fluid hypothermia in a vehicle. •Change oil filter •Lube chassis •Check air filter •Check wiper blades I speak of all of these folks •Check brake fluid •Check tires Includes 2 gallons anti-freeze •Check power steering fluid •Vacuum interior in familiarity, and they were Ask about our fleet program •Fill windshield washer reservoir •Wash windows Coupon applicable at Anacortes gifted sufferers. I suffer from •Check and fill battery • 5 qts. included Expires 4/30/15 12/31/15 Expires4/30/15 12/31/15 this Lube coupon. Expires FidalgoWith Bay Xpress only Expires By Emily Metcalf Special to the Weekly
Project PAL
Call
Full Service Oil Change
3 OFF $
5.00 OFF
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 happening 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!
FIBER UPDATE 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 200Mbps+ 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
Connect to OPALCO read your You Can Get Connected Too! Learn more about organizing at rockisland.com, or Co-op attend one of our monthly meetings. Connector MONTHLY KeepFIBER up to MEETUPS date on
Co-op happenings and other
Monthly Open Fiber events likeMeeting: winter outage help. Join us this month for one general information session. It’s all in our e-newsletter. All are welcome!
Orcas Power & Light Cooperative
This meeting will be held on Lopez this December today at (meetings will rotate islands everySubscribe month).
www.opalco.com/about/email-signup/
This month’s meeting: December 9th Lopez Island Library from 5:30 – 7:00 pm 2225 Fisherman Bay Rd, Lopez Island, WA 98261 (360) 468-2265 rockisland.com
Anti-Freeze Flush & Fill
The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • december 3, 2015 – Page 3
Dump promotes ugly sweaters to combat holiday waste The Lopez Dump might be forgiven for feeling humbuggy 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 wrapping paper is not recyclable, due to metal or plastic content 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 problem, the Dump has some recommendations for gift buying and wrapping. And to keep
trash down and spirits up, it’s putting those recommendations 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 creative, best re-use of materials, and a few other categories, as well as “the best white elephant gift exchange you’ve ever seen,” Palmisani promises. 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 promote Lopez’s zero waste lifestyle by following these tips from Palmisani: 1. When wrapping, look for recyclable paper – avoid foil – or better yet, make your own out of recyclable materials like paper bags, magazines, or fabrics. Try creating drawstring fabric bags that can be reused year after year. “It only takes a onetime 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 websites to show you how: www. suburble.com/2014/12/ make-reusable-christmas-
wrap.html http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2012/11/ drawstring-fabric-gift-bagtutorial.html Need more waste-reducing wrapping ideas? • Replace ribbons and bows with reusable, creative things like hair scrunchies, shoelaces, scarves and neckties • Use natural items for decorating gifts (grasses, thistle pods, seeds, pinecones, leaves) • Try alternative wrapping, like newspaper comics or old posters, maps and sheet music. Need to see these ideas for yourself? Palmisani and dump volunteer Shirley Wilbur have creative exam-
Crossword Puzzle Across 1. Italian resort island 6. Particular, for short 10. Supergarb 14. Hurt 15. "___ Breckinridge" 16. Shakespeare, the Bard of ___ 17. Strict rule observers 19. Trattoria order 20. Pulverized bituminous coal (2 wds) 21. Contract 23. Pertaining to simple organisms like kelp 25. Bleat 26. Green 29. Graft where the donor and recipient are different species 34. Magnet alloy 36. Eighty-six 37. Altdorf is its capital 38. Carbonium, e.g. 39. Scuffles 42. Deity 43. ___ v. Wade 44. Child's stomach, shortened 45. Win over 47. Relating to Africa and Asia or their peoples (hyphenated) 51. Lies in wait 52. Matterhorn, e.g. 53. Chivalrous 55. Some bargains 59. 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
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 possible, 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 shopping 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 mulch 4. 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 reusable 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 donations 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.
Chimera Gallery Opening Reception: Lopez Artists’ Cooperative
Raffle benefits Lopez School arts!
December 12th, 5-7 pm Raffle tickets on sale now!
HOLIDAY PARTY & RAFFLE!
Lots of lovely gifts for the Holidays!
Open Every Day Dec. 10-27
Hours Thu. - Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-3 www.ChimeraGallery.com; (360) 468-3265
Sudoku
11. Tel ___, Israel 12. Corn ___ 13. Carbon compound 18. Decline 22. Dust remover 24. Professional photographer 26. Basic unit of money in Nigeria 27. Cool Down 28. ___ tube 1. Beanies 30. Bubkes 2. "God's Little ___" 3. Perlman of "Cheers" 31. Foreshadow 4. Confession of guilt 32. Robe worn by monks 5. Person's individual 33. Ocean level speech habits variations 6. Greenbrier, e.g. 35. Fully extended in 7. 1/100 kyat in width Myanmar 40. ___ generis 8. Coastal raptors 41. Gets rid of at 9. Till (pl.) reduced prices (2 10. Cracker topper 66. "Hamlet" has five 67. During 68. Brine-cured cheeses 69. "Fiddlesticks!" 70. Doltish (alt. spelling) 71. Attack locale
The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • December 8, 2015 – Page 4
wds) 46. Person who takes 40 paces, turns and fires 48. Clumsy 49. A pint, maybe 50. Insignificant person 54. Sir, less formally 55. Mouth, in slang 56. 1993 Taxes standoff site 57. "I'm ___ you!" 58. Clash of heavyweights 60. A chorus line 61. Indian bread 62. At one time, at one time 65. Cheat, slangily Answers to today's puzzle on page 8
Fill 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 difficulty 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
DONATE NOW TO HELP STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 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 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
LIFRC presents community conversations 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 during the past year or so, as I became more aware that my lens for community action in areas like civil rights, police/community relations, LGBTQ issues, immigration and mental
L OPEZ ISLAND A RBORIST
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health systems was dated. Additionally, as I began to participate more I learned that my notions of how to participate were also outdated. 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
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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, including 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 interest among island residents. For info contact, Kim Pasciuto, LIFRC board member, kimpasciuto@gmail.com.
County pays 22K in lawsuit By Anna V. Smith Journal reporter
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, according 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 public employees conspiring to conceal improper governmental 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 originally 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 county offered Ms. Albritton significantly more than the case was worth indicates how badly the county wanted this case to be over,” said plaintiff attorney Nick Power in a press release.
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Call Cali at the Weekly 376-4500 The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • December 8, 2012 – Page 6
you are! More info at www.ctkonline.com/lopez. Email: lopez@ctkonline.com Phone: 888-421-4CTK ext. 819. GRACE
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468-3477. Everyone welcome! COMMUNITY CHURCH, Please join us Sun. mornings. Adult Bible study, 9:30. Worship Service, 10:30. Nursery (birth3 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.
According to defense attorney Jeffrey Myers, the county arrived at the $22,501 amount after calculating 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 “misunderstanding,” 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 handwritten notations. Since the lawsuit, the county has made additions 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 proviso 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 transparency issues with our county government,” said plaintiff attorney Nick Powers in a press release about the Albritton lawsuit. “This is
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An historic barn.
Pratt, a lively and knowledgeable 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 preserve 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 celebrating, 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 presentation you can linger a
ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER
Contributed photo
On Wednesday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m. at Woodmen Hall, the Lopez Island Library concludes its series SHELTER with architectural historian Boyd Pratt presenting “Historic Barns of the San Juan Islands”. Through discussion 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 stories 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 buildings, sharing their unique architectures and histories. The program will also present the architecture of newer, more contemporary barns located in the islands. Boyd
Islands’ Weekly PO Box 758 Eastsound, WA 98245
Historic Barns of the San Juan Islands
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.
Holiday Book Sale at the library 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 meeting 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.
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The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • December 8, 2015 – Page 8
Lopez Library has the distinction 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 resources per capita and accessible programs offered among libraries of the same budget class. This year, only Lopez Library achieved recognition in its budget class throughout the state, sharing the red carpet with Seattle Public Library and the King County Library System whose budgets surpass that of Lopez by nearly $30 million. “The outstanding popular 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 programs, 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, technical equipment, furnishings, the cherished annual Teddy Bear Picnic, and speakers for
Contributed photo
Book lovers Sandy Elliott and Cliff Deems stock up at the Library’s recent Halloween Book Sale. the very popular series of lectures at Woodmen Hall, the Library and Lopez Center including the recent Shelter series featuring the imaginative Jersey Devils, Tiny Houses, and Treehouses. “The Friends of the Library are grateful for the very generous donations of books from the community, 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 support your Star Library!”