Viking Voice inside this edition
Sounder The ISlandS’
Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County
WEDNESDAY, December 16, 2015 • VOL. 48, NO. 50 • 75¢ • islandssounder.com
Viking sports – page 8
Bringing cheer Family of Keaton Farris
reaches a settlement by DIANA HEFLEY
Everett Herald reporter
Each year, the Orcas Christian School sends student carolers out to senior citizens who have difficulty traveling and those who are housebound. They bring home-baked cookies colorfully wrapped in Christmas colors, and sing carols to the seniors. Long-time islander Harry Patton, pictured above, says it’s something they all greatly appreciate. “This is the third year that they have made their way clear out to Doe Bay to bring the Christmas spirit to me and to this household. And it really means a lot to this old Dad. Makes life worth living,” he said.
The family of Keaton Farris, who died of dehydration and malnutrition in the Island County Jail has reached a $4 million settlement with three counties. As part of the settlement, Island County has agreed that a corrections expert hired to evaluate the lockup’s operations will monitor the jail for the next 18 months. Phil Stanley made a series of recommendations in October to improve medical care for inmates, including more attention to those with mental illness and serious health conditions. Island County Sheriff Mark Brown said several improvements have been made and more are under way, based on Stanley’s recommendations. “The family acknowledges that Island County has taken measures and has promised more. We hope now that the civil part is over that we can even work together with them to ensure that it becomes a model jail and there is appropriate care for the humans housed there,” Fred Farris said Thursday. His son, Farris, 25, was shuffled among three jails before
Keaton Farris.
Contributed photo
being booked into the Coupeville lockup. He was in the throes of mental health crisis when he was taken into custody March 20 in Lynnwood. He missed court that day, and a San Juan County judge issued a $10,000 warrant. Farris was charged with identity theft for forging a $355 check in San Juan County.He was housed in the jails in Snohomish and Skagit counties before being moved to Coupeville in Island County, which provides jail services under contract with San Juan County. The settlement was reached Monday with Island, San Juan and Skagit counties. Fred Farris and
SEE KEATON, PAGE 6
Solid waste tax decreases by 1.5 percent Decrease to affect Orcas and San Juan Island only; Lopez will not be impacted by HEATHER SPAULDING Journal reporter
During their Dec. 9 meeting, the San Juan County Council voted to decrease the solid waste tax by 1.5 percent on Orcas and San Juan. A slow tax decrease was part of the original 2012 solid waste financing plan, as the county worked its way out of debt. Three years ago, some might recall, solid waste hit crises mode after tests showed the transfer station on San Juan Island was in need of work. After years of multiple studies and highly controversial proposals to move the transfer station from Sutton Road, the county came to a realization that the trash situation was seriously in the red, by approximately $100,000.
Solid waste was forced to reevaluate their strategy. After countless meetings and input from the public two choices emerged before the voters. One option kept things mostly the same, the other included creating essentially three different solid waste entities; one for San Juan Island, another for Orcas, and a third for Lopez. San Juan and Orcas Islands became privatized, while the Lopez station became a nonprofit. To assist paying off the debt, the solid waste tax was raised, with the idea that it would decrease as the debt was paid off. Voters approved the more complex plan. As of today, roughly three quarters of the debt, $74,000, has been paid off. “It was important to us that the public started to see some relief,” Councilman Rick
Tiffany Ferrians filed a claim in August, alleging corrections officers neglected their son and withheld basic needs. They were represented by Seattle attorneys Becky Roe and Kathy Goater.Farris was found dead in his cell around 12:40 a.m. April 8. Corrections officers hadn’t checked on him for hours, and the water to his cell had been turned off. The coroner estimated that Farris died around 7:30 p.m. on April 7. The police investigation revealed that during the course of the 12 days in the Island County Jail, Farris’ fluid intake was at best 185 ounces of water — less than a quarter of the amount considered minimum for survival. He’d also lost about 20 pounds.Under terms of the settlement, Island County also agreed that the family’s own expert will review the recommendations and work provided by Stanley, and the county will make a good faith effort to incorporate any suggestions. The jail monitoring was a critical piece of the settlement, Fred Farris said. Family members didn’t want those efforts delayed by taking the case to trial. They also
Hughes said, and so the first reduction of 1.5 percent begins. He also wanted to make sure people understood that Lopez Island residents will not be impacted, however, as their nonprofit facility was not part of the original tax increase. The debt payoff is about on schedule, although some of the county bonds have been paid off sooner than expected. “Going forward, I would like to see us focus on hazardous waste,” Hughes added. Hazardous items includes paints, aerosols, adhesives, chemical products, antifreeze and contaminated motor oil, just to name a few items. Currently San Juan County has very
SEE WASTE, PAGE 6
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015• The Islands’ Sounder
Mentors are needed for Orcas Island kids Mail Schemes and Dreams Part 1
By: TOM WELCH
Early pioneer days on Orcas Island were hard in many ways, not least in the neartotal absence of coin and currency. There simply was NO money available — many mainland banks had failed, and there were few, if any, thriving businesses in the area. One of our early settlers, “Colonel” Enoch May, was, as indicated by his (selfbestowed) title, more creative than most. Getting wind of prices paid by white men seeking “Klootchmen”, or native wives, May began acting as Middleman and Arranger with the native headmen, and made a fair amount of money. A pretty young indigenous maiden matched with a much older white settler netted the good “Colonel” several hundred dollars. May appeared to excel at this occupation, and spent much of his time with his native ‘brethren’. Enoch May also got a Marriage License dated February 2nd, 1874 to marry Elizabeth Kahane (or Kaham). It was signed by Edward Warbass, Auditor of San Juan County. Elizabeth was either his first or second wife as Enoch appears in the NW in Cariboo, British Columbia in 1860. He married again in the 1880s. May was also reputed to operate, or work on, one of the ’liquor boats’ that operated a mile from the northern shore of Orcas. The more white-oriented pioneer settlers,
Map of Puget Sound Country 1891
including James Tulloch, were opposed to miscegenation and mingling of the races, and railed against May for his involvement in selling liquor to the Natives, and in brokering native women to white men. Discovering new opportunities available from the federal government, “Colonel” May somehow convinced twelve men in Port Townsend to attest to the postal authorities that they lived on Waldron Island, were U.S. citizens, and deserved mail service. The Postal Service did a cursory inspection, and soon mail began arriving on Waldron Island. Interestingly, the mail was taken from Orcas to Waldron in a rowboat operated by none other than “Colonel” Enoch May, Mail Contractor. He soon hired another man to make the often-dangerous row through windy President’s Channel between Orcas and Waldron Island. End of Part 1.
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The following was submitted by the Funhouse Commons in Eastsound. The Funhouse Commons is actively seeking caring people – teens or adults – for traditional one-on-one mentoring. The Funhouse also welcomes “skill” mentors for children or teens, “group” mentors for small class skill-building, and project-based mentors. Tutors for one-on-one tutoring or to help during our after-school homework club are also needed. The Funhouse mentor program has been successful for over a decade. The Funhouse Commons is committed to following quality best practices and has been recognized as a top mentoring program in Washington state by a Mentoring Works Washington. The program offers training, host mentor meetings, and takes great care in setting up potential matches. Mentors can play a key role in a child’s life. Self-esteem, emotional wellbeing, grades, and social confidence can all be positively affected by having another loving adult around to learn from, play with, and confide in. The Funhouse has children waiting for mentors. If you are interested in being a mentor, feel free to contact the Funhouse for more information or to set up an interview. Call Rebecca at 376-7177 or email rebecca@thefunhouse.org
Orcas Christian School takes a special history trip
by EMILY TOOMBS Special to the Sounder
The history trip that the Orcas Christian School took was a very fun and exciting experience. First we went to the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle. It was very interesting to see all the exhibits. My favorite thing was probably this touch table that I found because I got to choose what profession I had, and I had to see if I could do things in the proper order to make it into the big time. I learned a lot by using the touch table. The other museum we
went to was the Museum of Flight. My favorite exhibit was the World War I and World War II exhibit. I like to go back in history and look at how far we have come. Planes have only been around for about 100 years. The next day (it was a two-day trip) we went to the Capital of Washington State: Olympia. I have to say, I had never been there before and it was amazing! The details were incredible! We also had a tour where we were able to see where the representatives discuss and vote on laws for
Washington state (Not D.C), as well as the Senate. We also visited the Washington Supreme Court. Something that I didn’t know was that we are the only state that has cameras inside the court rooms, and we are the only state that has a live stream to the internet or to news stations. Not even the capital in Washington D.C. has cameras inside the court rooms. Overall, the trip was something that I would repeat, and I’m glad that I was able to learn a lot.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Islands’ Sounder
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Help save a life: give blood OPALCO member capital
The following was submitted by the Orcas Island Lions Club. The Lions Club will hold a blood drive on Dec. 17 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Eastsound Firehouse. Orcas Island will help provide about 16 percent of the 800 Units of blood needed just on one day by patients in the Pacific Northwest. Come help your Lions Club partnered with Bloodworks Northwest provide this life-giving service. In a friendly competition with Friday Harbor (that we may win this month), Orcas Islanders, some with a lifetime total of six or eight or even ten gallons, will donate about 130 Units of blood between noon and 6 p.m. at the Firehouse just North of Eastsound by the airport. If your schedule is tight, you may book a time by email or by phone at losleben@rockisland.com or 376-6804. There is plenty of parking in back and we will be in the main garage this time. Follow the signs. In the future we plan to improve both our hours of donation and scheduling capabilities to provide better flexibility to hardworking islanders. In March the six hour window for donations will move to 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., extending the “lunch hour,” our busiest time. In March we will also offer enhanced pre-scheduling of appointments through Bloodworks Northwest, both online and by phone, so that you may be sure of getting in and returning to work on time. You may begin using this feature at the “Canteen” after you donate this month. We will provide a computer and instruction in using this new feature. Finally, are you scared of needles and can’t stand blood? We may joke about the vampires that help collect donations, but these folks are really good. We see them every few months. There is no “blood” visible anywhere, and we like them, they are very friendly and professional all at once. If you would like to look at the benefits donating your blood will provide to others, navigate to bloodworksnw.org. Check us out, have a snack, take a look. It may change your mind. And we have new touchscreen tablets!
County drops contract that listed manager’s wife by ANNA V. SMITH Journal reporter
A contract proposed by Cascadia Consulting Group, Inc. that included San Juan County Manager Mike Thomas’ wife Jennifer Thomas, did not move forward on its scheduled date Dec. 7 in front of San Juan County Council. The county contracted Cascadia Consulting to update the county’s Parks Trails and Natural Areas Plan. According to Cascadia Consulting Principal Ruth Bell, Cascadia chose Jennifer Thomas to work as a sub consultant, and the county council and county manager were in no way involved in the selection process. As required by state code, county manager Mike Thomas disclosed to the council and prosecuting
attorney’s office that he had a “remote interest in the contract due to inclusion of a family member as a sub-consultant,” according to a press release from the county. According to Cascadia Consulting and confirmed by Dona Wuthnow, director at parks and recreation, Jennifer Thomas is no longer on the contract. Thomas was listed as an island liaison to San Juan Island at $115 an hour, as much as some of the key staff members on the project and significantly higher than liaisons on Shaw, Orcas and Lopez who were listed at hourly rates of $40, $65 and $40 respectively. According to Bell, consultant rates are determined and submitted by the individual selected and are based on their professional qualifications.
“Jennifer Thomas is a highly experienced environmental professional with a great reputation throughout the Puget Sound region,” said senior associate Gretchen Muller to the Journal in an email. “We identified highly qualified residents for each of the ferry served islands to serve in the community liaison capacity.” Muller said the liaison position for Jennifer Thomas was a “minor role” in the overall project, and would have worked approximately 10 hours over the duration of the contract. A new contract will be presented to the council by Wuthnow at a meeting on Dec. 15, the revised contract is available on the county’s website. The contract lists the new San Juan Island liaison is “to be decided.”
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credit checks are in the mail Submitted by OPALCO Were you a member of OPALCO in 1990? If so, you may be among the 4,343 people who will get a check from OPALCO later this month as capital credits are distributed. This is something that make an electric co‐op unique: it is truly member owned and operated and we each have a “stake” in the utility. Because of budgetary constraints, the capital credits checks distributed this year will represent 50% of the total margin allocated in 1990. The balance of that margin will be distributed to members in future years, as finances permit. The total amount being distributed this year is $433,016 with check amounts ranging from $5 to thousands of dollars (large users like schools and grocery stores). The majority of the checks are in the range of $100 ‐ $250. What are capital credits? Because OPALCO is a not‐for‐profit cooperative, it does not retain profits. Instead, any revenues above the cost of doing business are considered “margins.” These margins are allocated to members as capital credits at the end of the year. We all receive a statement in our
bill each summer showing the amount of capital credits allocated for the previous year. This member capital
The total amount being distributed this year is $433,016 with check amounts ranging from $5 to thousands of dollars (large users like schools and grocery stores). allows our co‐op to finance operations and some construction projects, with the intent that this capital will be repaid to us in later years. The amount of capital credits members earn in a given year is based upon the amount of capital each of us contribute to the cooperative through payment of our monthly bills in a formula that compares each member’s ratio of usage to the rest of the co‐op. The more electric service a member buys, the greater their capital credits allocation. The decision to distribute capital credits is made annually by the Board after a thorough examination of the Co‐op’s financial position.
This year, the Board chose to pay out 50% of the 1990 margins in order to prepare for the financially intensive submarine cable replacement project, from Lopez to San Juan Island. “It’s not uncommon for Co‐ ops to postpone or spread out the distribution of capital credits during periods of major capital projects,” said Jim Lett, Board President. “We expect to catch up on this year’s partial distribution and return to our regular pattern of returning capital credits on a 25‐year cycle within a year or two of completing our submarine cable replacement project.” Because OPALCO distributes capital credits on a 25‐year cycle, it’s important to keep OPALCO updated with your current address— even if you’ve left the area and are no longer a member. The capital credits of a deceased member may be paid, on a discounted basis, upon approval of the Board. For more information on capital credits and OPALCO’s policy (Member Service Policy #11), please see the documents online in our Resource Library (Find Documents / Membership Info…). If you have specific questions about your capital credits, please call member services at 376‐3500.
Early Holiday Deadlines 12/23 ads and editorial due:
Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. 12/30 ads and editorial due:
Dec. 22 at 4 p.m. 1/6 ads and editorial due:
Dec. 29 at 4 p.m.
OPINION Islands’ Sounder
Write to us: The Islands’ Sounder welcomes letters from its readers. Letters should be
typewritten and not exceed 350 words. Preference is given to local writers and topics. They must be signed and include a daytime phone. Send to editor@islandssounder.com or PO Box 758, Eastsound, WA 98245. Letters may be edited.
Page 4
Editorial
Note: A power outage is not “magical” for many people. Not being able to stay warm or cook food – especially for seniors – is a scary situation. I am deeply thankful for the linemen at Orcas Power and Light Cooperative for their long hours in freezing weather and dedication to getting the power back on for island residents.
W
hen the power went out last week, I had just settled onto the couch and was five minutes into a movie I’d been attempting to watch for days. I cursed a little but out came the candles and my book, and so began the long wait of when power would flicker back to life. But in the meantime, something profound occurred. I didn’t touch my cell phone for hours. Prior to this, if you had asked me if I was one of those “out of touch with real life, iPhone-addicted people,” I would have said a definite no. But it wasn’t until I didn’t have the ability to text my friends, answer e-mails or go on Facebook that I realized in horror: I was a tech zombie. When had this happened? I think it crept up on me. And then it became a habit. So what did I do for those amazing, precious hours of disconnection from my device? I had long conversations with loved ones by candlelight. I made tea on our propane stove. I went to bed early and read my book. I woke up refreshed. It was pretty magical. This all sounds great, but how can we realistically change our modern lives back to the days of oil lamps and eating a hearty breakfast at 5 a.m. before the harvest? Life used to be much more simple, and if my brief foray into that time was any indication, very rewarding. Yes, we live in communities that value family time, local gatherings and a relationship with the outside world, but society is changing, and it seeps into our lives, bit by bit. So I’ve decided to make minor changes. I won’t be looking at my work e-mail right before I fall asleep and first thing when I wake up. Whatever messages are in there can wait. I am going to talk more with those I love. My family would rather hear my voice than receive a text message from me. I am shoving my phone out of sight when I can. I don’t need it next to my hand all the time. And I am going to light more candles. Everything seems more peaceful when there are amber flames dancing against the walls. Maybe, over time, it won’t take a major power outage for me to see things clearly. – Coileen Smith Armstrong, editor and publisher
Sounder The Islands’ Sounder (USPS #764-230) is published weekly for $40 a year to San Juan County addresses; $60 per year to Washington state addresses; and $60 per year to out-of-state addresses by the Islands’ Sounder at 217 Main Street, Eastsound, WA.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015 • The Islands’ Sounder
To the Editor:
What I learned from the power outage
The Islands’
WWW.ISLANDSSOUNDER.COM
Publisher, Editor, Advertising Colleen Smith Armstrong editor@islandssounder.com Sounder Reporter Mandi Johnson mjohnson@islandssounder.com County Reporter Anna Smith asmith@soundpublishing.com
A letter to the council about the planning commission I am writing to ask that you finally take action to appoint a citizen from Lopez to fill the Planning Commission seat that has been empty for two years. Rob Thesman, an eminently qualified Lopezian, with particular experience in affordable housing issues, applied for the empty position almost two years ago, in February 2014. No other applicant has filed. Yet Council has failed to appoint anyone to that seat, despite the important topics that have come before the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission itself has asked Council to fill that seat. Under the charter, each of you now represents the entire County, and failure to act to fill the seat
could suggest partisan or personal animus, neither of which is appropriate. Peg Manning Orcas
CenturyLink is not keeping landlines open During the several recent Opalco power outages caused by falling trees and errant drivers, our and
Almanac ORCAS Dec. 7 Dec. 8 Dec. 9 Dec. 10 Dec. 11 Dec. 12 Dec. 13
TEMPERATURES, RAINFALL High Low Precip 51 47 .12 52 48 .37 48 45 .68 49 45 .37 48 43 45 42 .24 45 42 1.05 Precipitation in December: 3.76” Precipitation in 2015: 29.08” Reported by John Willis, Olga
SAN JUAN High Low Dec. 7 50 46 Dec. 8 55 45 Dec. 9 51 43 Dec. 10 48 45 Dec. 11 50 36
Precip .02 .43 .07 .2 —
Dec. 12 Dec. 13
46 36 .15 46 41 .29 Precipitation in December: 1.27” Precipitation in 2015: 18.29” Reported by Weather Underground Roche Harbor Water Systems
Dec. 16 Dec. 17 Dec. 18 Dec. 19 Dec. 20 Dec. 21 Dec. 22
SUNRISE, SUNSET Sunrise Sunset 7:58 a.m. 4:17 p.m. 7:59 a.m. 4:17 p.m. 7:59 a.m. 4:18 p.m. 8:00 a.m. 4:18 p.m. 8:01 a.m. 4:18 p.m. 8:01 a.m. 4:19 p.m. 8:02 a.m. 4:19 p.m.
Public meetings Thurs., Dec. 17
Weds., Jan. 6
• OPALCO Board of Directors regular monthly meeting at the Eastsound OPALCO office, 8:30 a.m.
• San Juan County Cemetery District #3, 5 p.m., meets at the Orcas Island Public Library.
Circulation and Bridget Wright Administrative Coordinator bsmith@soundpublishing.com Marketing Artist Shane Watson swatson@soundpublishing.com
Mailing/Street Address P.O. Box 758, 217 Main Street, Eastsound, WA 98245 Office (360) 376-4500 Classifieds (800) 388-2527 Fax (888) 562-8818 Copyright © 2015 by Sound Publishing, Inc.
other Orcas residents’ CenturyLink landlines have lost dial tone for all or the majority of the electrical outage. This should not occur, as all telephone companies nationwide are required to have sufficient backup (battery and/or generator-powered) UPS -Uninterruptible Power Supplies- to power their Central Office switches and the phone lines themselves, during electrical power outages. All phone company customers pay for that capability via the service and taxes amounts we pay monthly. However, CenturyLink is not providing the dial tone during electrical outages that we are paying them for. Our Public Officials and other community members who are landline/internet customers of CenturyLink need to join me in asking CenturyLink WHY this is happening, WHAT they are doing to correct the situation, and, most importantly, WHEN they will have this problem fixed. It is especially important in our community, since the cell service is so spotty, that during power outages the CenturyLink landline service has reliable dial tone. It is a severe public safety hazard when that is not the case, as has happened way too often recently. Terry O’Sullivan Orcas Island
Clarification Last week’s story “From the fire chief: what’s next for OIFR” was submitted by mistake to the Islands’ Sounder. It was a piece written by Orcas Issues and it was emailed in error to Sounder staff for publication.
Periodicals postage paid at Eastsound, Wash., and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send address changes to The Islands’ Sounder, P.O. Box 758, Eastsound, WA 98245-0758.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Islands’ Sounder
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Page 5
Local magician to perform at Seaview by MANDI JOHNSON Sounder reporter
Most kids carry around a teddy bear. Matthew Laslo carried around a microphone. “He was somewhat shy – despite his ability to entertain effortlessly,” said Laslo’s mom Donna, his manager. A 15-year-old professional magician on Orcas Island, Laslo is preparing to launch the first of what he hopes to be many fulllength magic shows. Laslo says his previous local performances, were not at the level he wanted to take beyond the islands. Laslo will be performing his new show, “Matthew Laslo’s Magic Now,” on Saturday, Dec. 26 and Sunday, Dec. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at Seaview Theatre. Tickets are $10, and are available now at Darvill’s Bookstore and Smith & Speed in
Eastsound. “Magic happens all around us, it’s happening now,” Lalso said, explaining how the name of his act came to be. Since touring the islands this past summer, Laslo has been practicing and creating this new event. He says he believes this show to be more entertaining than previous offerings. Laslo combines his passion for magic and music in the show, performing everything from up-close card tricks to grand illusions. Laslo’s interest in magic began at a young age. He was around seven when his grandfather showed him YouTube videos of magic tricks. From there, they started clicking links to videos revealing the trick behind the magic. A young Laslo began learning card tricks himself, and started showing off his skills to
family and friends. One time he and his family were out to dinner in Spokane, Wash. and he began to perform tricks for restaurant patrons. His audience was so entertained, he was asked by the restaurant’s owner if he could stick around and continue performing. That’s when the Laslos realized they needed to start sharing this talent beyond friends and family. At just nine years old, Laslo got his first paying gig, performing at Lake Chelan. He was also asked to fill in for the regular magician who had called in sick. The moment Laslo considers his biggest “epic failure” occurred when he was 13. He was performing a trick, where it is revealed he is wearing an outfit the same as what a participant from the audience had just
drawn. Laslo was to pull down his pants to reveal the shorts that had been illustrated. The shorts were meant to stay up. They did not. He did not know this immediately, however, and stepped forward with exuberance, presenting his partial wardrobe failure. Thankfully, the mistake wasn’t too revealing, nor did it tarnish Laslo’s passion for performance. In fact, it was suggested by some audience members that he keep that part in the show because it was hilarious. While audience members aren’t likely to see any wardrobe failures during his upcoming show, Laslo says it is expected to be unlike any of the shows the community has seen from him previously. “This is the first time it’s getting on its feet,” said Laslo.
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Councilman Rick Hughes to speak at Sunrise meeting
The Orcas Island Sunrise Volunteers will hold their annual monthly breakfast meeting at the Island Skillet on Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 a.m. This month, Rick Hughes will give an update
on the Prune Alley project, and The Family Resource Center. The meeting will end at 7:40 a.m. Every month, the Orcas Island Lions Club sponsors these meetings with free
RAY’S PHARMACY
Templin Center, Eastsound 9:30 am – 6 pm Mon – Sat • 10:30 am – 4 pm Sunday (Saturday Pharmacy 10:00 am – 4 pm No Sunday Pharmacy Service)
376-2230
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 hundreds of construction projects countywide. Here are some of the groups we’ve been working with to date: Current Group Projects: Matia View on Orcas Island Morning Light on Orcas Island Suncrest on Orcas Island Whiskey Hill on Lopez Island Cape San Juan on San Juan Island Mineral Point on San Juan Island Spring Point on Orcas Island Mineral Heights on San Juan Island The Highlands on San Juan Island Upcoming Group Projects: Cayou Valley on Orcas Island Gary Oak on San Juan Island Portland Fair Area on San Juan Island Panorama Place on San Juan Island Brown Island on Brown Island Salmon Point on Lopez Island You Can Get Connected Too! Learn more about organizing at rockisland.com, or attend one of our monthly meetings.
MONTHLY FIBER MEETUPS Monthly Open Fiber Meeting: Join us this month our general information session. All are welcome! Next Meeting: January 6, 2016 – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monthly Group Organizer Meeting: Learn more about organizing your group at this session. Next Meeting: January 13, 2016 – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Both meetings held on Orcas Island this October (meetings will rotate islands every month). Join us at: rockisland.com
coffee. This month the group would like to welcome newcomers for an introduction to the Orcas Island Sunrise Volunteers. The volunteers are a group of enthusiastic people, who strive to carry out worthwhile projects that can benefit the community. Volunteers will receive email notifications from the organization, about needs or projects. Anyone who is interested in helping can reply so that a team can be coordinated. Volunteers are not obligated to respond to every need or project. Orcas Island Sunrise Volunteers requests volunteers to alert the organization of any needs or projects that to be addressed. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the Orcas Island Sunrise
Volunteers, send an email to sunrisevolunteers@ orcaslions.com. Email addresses are not shared with any other volunteers. At the monthly meetings, held every third Friday at the Island Skillet, you can order breakfast, listen to that month’s speaker, learn about the Orcas Island Lion’s Club and more.
WASTE FROM 1 infrequent hazardous waste collection, approximately once a year. The San Juan County Council has kept their promise. Whether you still bring your trash to transfer station, or have your trash picked up, you should be able to feel the impacts of this tax decrease beginning Jan. 1.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Islands’ Sounder
KEATON FROM 1 were concerned that a jury wouldn’t impose monitoring. “We really feel like the review touched on how far behind the times and inadequate procedures there are at the jail,” Fred Farris said. “We’re concerned about the people who are in jail now and didn’t want to wait two years.” Island C ounty Commissioner Helen Price Johnson said the county is investing $700,000 into the jail, including more corrections officers and medical staff. It also is looking into the national Stepping Up Initiative, aimed at preventing people living with mental illness from ending up in jail. “I was heartbroken and outraged by what happened,” Price Johnson said. “I think we’ve worked very quickly with the sheriff to make improvements.”Brown, who oversees the jail, said significant steps have been taken to remedy some of the problems that led to Farris’ death. The county has hired a nurse practitioner and a new jail chief. There is now a mental health professional who works 20 hours a week in the jail. Corrections officers have received additional crisis intervention training aimed at helping them work with mentally ill inmates. Brown said there is more coordination between corrections staff, human services and the jail’s new nurse. They are meeting weekly to discuss inmates. “Obviously we will continue to monitor the recommendations, and certainly the ones that were relevant in Keaton’s death are being
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addressed,” Brown said. Sheriff ’s detective Ed Wallace investigated the death. His 700-page report said that corrections officers didn’t regularly check on Farris or offer him water. They also failed to take any action when Farris repeatedly refused water. The family spoke with corrections staff and explained that Farris had bipolar disorder and likely needed his medication. When he was arrested in Lynnwood, he had a prescription in his pocket for an anti-anxiety medication. Farris never received any medication at the Island County Jail. His parents were assured that Farris was being seen by a nurse. Corrections officers didn’t ask the jail nurse to evaluate Farris until the day before he died. The nurse, Nancy Barker, admitted that she didn’t go into Farris’ cell or do an adequate medical screening. She said she had been told that Farris was dangerous. Barker resigned from her job in the middle of an investigation by her employer, Island County Public Health. The state Department of Health launched an investigation in July, about a week after it was contacted by The Herald about the status of Barker’s license. A department spokeswoman declined to say anything more about that investigation. Wallace’s report documented that two corrections officers allegedly falsified records after Farris’ death. They resigned after being put on leave. Brown fired the jail lieutenant, and the jail chief retired. The case remains under investigation by the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office for possible criminal charges against those involved. “The family is holding on to hope that the criminal justice system will hold those individuals accountable for their role in Keaton’s death,” Fred Farris said. He and his family will focus efforts now on the criminal case. They also will focus on remembering their son, brother, grandson and nephew. Farris grew up on Lopez Island, where he helped bring home state championships in high school basketball and track. He’d been a storyteller since childhood and aspired to be a writer. “Keaton’s great love lives through us in our hearts and through his writings and in the loving memories of his family, friends and community,” his parents said.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Islands’ Sounder
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Orcas Christian School is ready for basketball season by MERRICK PARNELL Special to the Sounder
on working hard, playing team ball and seeing how far we can go.” The Orcas Christian School Lady Saints return to the WIAA’s Northwest 1B after a successful inaugural season, where the team saw a 14-8 record and a playoff appearance. This season, the Saints will have Roger Worley as the Head Coach after last year’s Coach, Ryan Davis, moved over to the boy’s program. Worley brings many years experience to the floor. Worley has Coached at Auburn Adventist Academy, Olympic Junior High School in Auburn and at Orcas Christian during their non-league years. “Live life, or play the game with everything you have… desire, energy and commitment,” is the mantra Worley preaches to his players. Joining Worley on the sidlines are assistant coaches, Michelle Bechtel, Robin Stillmaker and Troy O’Neal. Maelle Comrie returns to the Lady Saints, bringing her veteran leadership to the floor. Joining Comrie are returning juniors, Caitlin Fowler, Emily Toombs, and Alaena Comrie. All of the Saints’ returning players had major roles on last year’s playoffs. The Saints opened their season on Dec. 8.
ence after a 23-7, fourth quarter run, to beat Tulalip Heritage 61-52. The Saints played behind most of the game, until the 4th quarter when their offense, led by Michael Harris, went on an offensive tirade. Cameron and Corey Aragon had several huge 3-pointers, and Cyrus Amour took control at the lower block with his stout post play and key baskets from close range. “We turned our defense up to another level and got steals, and fast break opportunities, and made the best of them,” said Cameron Aragon. “This game proves how hard our team is willing to go.” Amour finished the game with 26 points to lead all Saints’ scorers, while Harris netted 14. In the Saints’ season opener, Orcas Christian beat Grace Academy 55-17, in Marysville. The Saints’ next game is against Lopez Island, at Lopez High. The next home game is Friday, Dec. 18 at 2:30 p.m. against The Lummi Nation. The Lady Saints fell to the Tulalip Hawks, 58-29, in their home opener; but show promise and poise
with only five players on the Lady Saints’ roster. Despite the tough task of playing a strong Tulalip team, the Lady Saints had to do it with no subs. Due to an influenza outbreak, Coach Worley found himself with no bench players available against the Hawks. However, the Saints answered the call and gave it everything they had in a performance that showed great promise for the future. Adia Dolan (pictured at right) once again established the Saints’ outside shooting threat with a huge 3-pointer and several key shots from the floor. The Guard duo of Emily Toombs and Alaena Comrie possessed the ball well in their offensive end, while making skilled passes that set up good scoring opportunities. Coach Worley hopes to have a full bench and a squad of rested players for their inter-island match up against Lopez on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Lopez High School. The next home game is against Lummi on Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. In their season opener, the Lady Saints lost to Grace Academy 48-20.
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Opening game coverage The Orcas Christian School Saints boy’s team improved to 2-0 in confer-
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The Orcas Christian School Boys’ Basketball team returns to the WIAA’s Northwest 1B league for a second season; In hopes of building on last year’s campaign that garnered a 5-15 record. This year, the Saints will have Ryan Davis at the helm, as the head coach. Davis coached the Girl’s team last year to a 14-8 record and a playoff appearance. Davis has coached basketball for nine seasons, and before coming to Orcas Christian, he coached Horizon Science Academy in Dayton, Ohio to five state championships. Orcas Christian returns to the floor with the core of last year’s starters. Senior, Michael Harris, is poised to once again be a game managerinthe guard position. Harris is joined on the court this year by juniors, Cameron Aragon and Chase Kantrud. Aragon contributed greatly to the Saints’ offense last season and was a top 3-point threat. Nick Hodges brings his experience back to the court as the other returning senior. Hodges is battle tested and can play in a variety of roles. The Saints’ potent guard combo will be joined by a dynamic force underneath the basket. Juniors, Ryan Flint and Cyrus Amour, had a break out season last year and emerged as one of the league’s top “big men.” Look for them to take control of the game with their solid rebounding and fierce post play that will add another layer to the Saints’ offense. Joining the Saints for the upcoming season is a promising group of new players. Joey Fowler is an athletic and speedy senior who joins the Saints after transferring to Orcas Christian last year. Nico Pritchard is also new to the Saints’ squad and will look to make an impact. Joining Fowler and Pritchard are a promising pair of 8th graders, Lucien Anderson and Corey Aragon. “Our team is looking determined. We have seen tremendous growth in the last two weeks and are working hard every day,” said Davis. “We plan
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Islands’ Sounder
Orcas fans pack gym for games against MVC
Colleen Smith Armstrong/staff photo
Vikings Lilly Miller and Bethany Hansen try to get the ball from a Mt. Vernon Christian Hurricane player.
Melanie Flint photo
Vikings Emma Minnis (left) and Katelyn Minnis celebrating. by COLLEEN SMITH ARMSTRONG Editor/Publisher
Orcas Viking fans left the gym grinning on Friday, Dec. 11 after two major wins against the Mt. Vernon Christian Hurricanes. The girls’ varsity basketball team played an intense, foul-ridden game that tied and went into overtime. Halle Thompson, Katelyn Minnis, Emma Minnis and Joie Zier scored during overtime, bringing the final
score to 48-44. It’s the first time in years that the girls’ team has beat MVC. “Our strong defense was the key to winning that game,” said Assistant Coach Amber Paulsen. “But when overtime hit, we were able to turn on our offensive game and make every possession count. The girls played great team ball.” Orcas scoring was
Bethany Hansen 13, Katy Minnis 12, Lilly Miller, Halle Thompson and Joie Zier each had 5 and Jess Nichols and Emma Minnis both had 4. The boys’ varsity team hit the court equally hard, in a game that was neck and neck until the fourth quarter, when the Orcas players pushed the lead farther ahead. Coach Corey Wiscomb said, “Orcas chipped away and slowly outscored the Hurricanes each quarter.” Fouls were called repeatedly on both teams, and at one point, the Orcas crowd was instructed to settle down or a technical foul would be called against the Vikings. The final score was
64-53. The Vikings saw the first return of Aidan Kruse back into the rotation after resting up from a bad flu. Scoring was spread fairly evenly with Kruse dropping 14, Jordan Randolph, 12, Brother Murphy 11, Miles Harlow 8, Pasha Bullock 8, Vanya Bullock 8 and Michael Chesher with 3. Orcas is now 4-1 overall and 2-0 in league to put them in a three-way tie for first place with Friday Harbor and La Conner. Orcas hosted La Conner on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Go to www.islandssounder.com for coverage of that game.
Melanie Flint photos
Top: Viking Pasha Bullock drives down the court in the game against the Hurricanes. Right: Viking Vanya Bullock takes a shot. Above: Viking Joie Zier maintains her hold on the ball.
Vikings take on Cedar Park and Coupeville by MARTY ZIER Sports contributor
The Lady Vikings basketball team hosted Cedar Park Christian on Dec. 8 for a 45-35 win. Coach Gregg Sasan said his team started slow as he decided out how to handle the Lions. End of the first quarter Orcas led 7-4 and stretched it to 25-19 at half. “Cedar Park had a very good player and we had to figure out how to guard her,” Sasan said. “Once we established that we turned the game around. I knew it would be tough and I wanted to see how the young squad would
do with different defenses like full court press and man to man and it worked out well.” Although the Vikings never led by more than 10 points, Sasan was pleased with the consistent 3-point shooting throughout the game by Katelyn Minnis. “Katy shot well and kept us in the game, that’s her job and it’s what we want her to do,” he said. Orcas scoring was Minnis 13, Halle Thompson 11, Lilly Miller 10, Bethany Hansen 7 and Olivia Brunner-Gaydos and Jess Nichols both with 2. The Vikings traveled to Coupeville for a 52-38 non-league
loss against the Wolves on Dec. 9. Coach Sasan said his team had a tough match-up. “Coupeville is bigger, a more physical team and they shot really well,” he said. “We played zone and I thought the girls did really well.” The boys basketball team beat Cedar Park Christian 75-65 for their first league win of the season on Dec. 8. Coach Corey Wiscomb was pleased with his team’s first league win. “The season is early but the guys played well,” he said. “The Lions have some talent and I felt we were able to control of the game. This is
a good start, my guys always bring everything that have.” The Vikings lost to Coupeville 74-71 on dec. 9 in what Coach Wiscomb called a “run and gun shoot out that went down to the wire against an old upper A league rival.” Despite being out scored-early, Wiscomb knew his team was still in the game. “I told the guys to stay patient,” he said. “Coupeville was fouling us like crazy and they did not have the depth to keep it up and sure enough some of their key players ended up in foul trouble. In the second half we were right where
we wanted to be. By late in the fourth, we took a 71-70 lead and had a chance to win but our shot did not drop. Because we were forced to foul, the Wolves finished the game at the free throw line. Brother Murphy played his heart out, laying his body horizontal for loose balls and Miles Harlow had a massive 3rd quarter with 3 three pointers and couple tough inside shots.” Orcas scoring was Pasha Bullock 23, Brother Murphy 18, Miles Harlow 15, Jordan Randolph 9 and Vanya Bullock with 6.
INSIDE THIS EDITION
Jordan Randolph tells it like it is page 6
Orcas Island’s dark drug-filled underbelly page 5
Olivia Smith reveals novel plans page 4
Lizard person rumors denied? page 5
New horoscopes for you and your family page 5
om e.c c i o ngv viki s a c or
WEDNESDAY, December 16, 2015 VOL. 26 NO. 2
Advocating for condoms in our school
Google royalty revisits past
by DEVON MANN Let’s face the facts: teenagers have sex, and most of the high school is teenage. In fact, according to Youth Advacates, “46 percent of all high school age students and 62 percent of high school seniors have had sexual intercourse.” Almost 50 percent of our high school students across the nation are having sex whether they have protection or not, whether the school teaches abstinence or birth control or not, whether parents consent or know what they’re doing or not. Kids are going to be sexually active. Regardless of one’s opinion of the morality or social acceptability of the issue, this much is unavoidable. Logically, then, contraceptives should be made absolutely as available as possible to the teen community, yet an undeniable stigma persists surrounding the acquisition of birth control. In this regard, our town is fairly exemplary. A number of student and community groups have made condoms freely available in a variety of locations throughout Eastsound for the express purpose of supplying youth. However, the majority of these locations are not necessarily the types of places the average student might frequent. Take, for example, the senior center — not exactly a spot one might expect to find a high school student. Some locations even require that one explicitly asks for condoms in order to receive one, a system fairly counterproductive if the goal is to take awkward feelings away from the act of acquiring birth control. While these public placements are a step in the right direction, see CONDOMS, page 7
Jake Knapp smiles in the new computer lab / Photographer: Chris Waage
by EMMA HEIKKINEN Former editor-in-chief of The Viking Voice and current design partner at Google Ventures, Jake Knapp is selfdescribed as one of the tallest designers in the world. As former editor-in-chief from 1995-1996 and long-time newspaper member during high school, today Knapp often uses the communications skills that he learned during his time at The Viking Voice in the Real World.
Working in software design, Knapp comments that newspaper is the “perfect education” for his line of work. Knapp works at Google Ventures in the Real World. Google Ventures is “kind of” a part of Google, but less so now due to “the Alphabet thing,” in Knapp’s words, referring to the breakup of Google in administration. The company invests in around 300 companies such as Uber and Medium, many of which are related to health-
care and technology. “My job is to help companies we’ve invested in — in designing their products, and [helping] when they have questions. We work with them together for a week. We’re gonna create something really fast and we’re gonna show it to people.” Knapp compares the process to the night before sending the paper to The Islands’ Sounder for print, deemed “Hell Night,” during his run as editor-inchief. Today, it’s only known
as “Print Committee,” which is decidedly “not as cool.” Knapp elaborates on the process, known as a “sprint”: “For instance, I’ve done that with Medium a couple times. We go in and work with them for a week on some new idea they want to test. We’ll make a prototype of it and test it with their customers. That’s what I do over and over again, work with these different companies and find out what they’re working on — super fun because I
Holiday luncheon pre-cap: ‘tis the season by ANNEKE IVANS Have you missed sweaters, hot chocolate, cold weather, and holiday cheer? Well you’re in luck, because the holiday luncheon is upon us once again. This is the one time every year that the school gets together and celebrates the holidays. In past years, students have all brought dishes from home to add to a potluck, as each class has a designated dish to bring. Before the luncheon last year, Mr. Buckner and the leadership class hosted an assembly for the entire school. They put together fun holiday games for all the students in order to spread the holiday cheer and get everyone pumped for the upcoming meal. Last year’s luncheon even featured a talent show put on
by students and teachers. Mr. Buckner states, “On Friday, December 18, we will have our annual holiday luncheon. The ASB will provide the main dishes, ham and turkey, and students will bring side dishes. There will be activities planned and fun times to be had by all!” This year, the leadership class is promising nothing but a great time. ASB and the leadership class encourage everyone to bring food so all students are contributing. Mr. Buckner says that if everyone brings a dish there will be enough for every student to have a good meal. A spirited talent show is something students can expect, and everyone is encouraged to participate. see HOLIDAYS, page 2
kind of geek out on all the technology things they’re doing.” Knapp is currently working on a book that is due in March discussing the five-day process of the sprint, a flow developed at Google Ventures. Knapp started working on the school newspaper in eighth grade. “They had just gotten a scanner and you know, nobody knew how to use it so I got the job,” see KNAPP, page 2
Don’t know what to bring?
Seniors: Side dishes Juniors: Salads Sophomores: Bread Freshmen: Dessert
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Viking Voice
NEWS HOLIDAYS FROM 1
KNAPP FROM 1
Whether it’s a science project, making a fire, singing, putting on a skit, or dancing, it’s all welcome in the talent show. Anyone can show off their special skills at the event. Ray Doss, the father of Sweater Wednesday says that “the holiday luncheon is a great tradition! I love the Christmas cheer, and of course the food! My favorite part of the luncheon is the talent show and dinner.” If you have a burning passion or talent you want to show off to the school, the best place to showcase it is at the luncheon. Entertain your fellow classmates and teachers with your fantastic talents.
remarks Knapp. “I was like, ‘Oh yeah, cool, I’ll do that!’” From then on Knapp rose through the ranks by learning to use Photoshop. On the broad question of ‘how he got started,’ Knapp details the process, “I started working on the newspaper in the eighth grade because I was really interested in computers. Maybe I did a little writing in eighth grade, but I don’t think so. I just loved working on the newspaper. I got super into writing and design, so it was just this great combination of all that stuff.” Considering the process of laying out the newspaper today, our “Hell Night” pales in comparison to the 90s’ “Hell Night” of layout. As one might imagine, the current 2015 tech lab is equipped with relatively state-of-the-art Macbooks with programs used to create finished products electronically, such as InDesign. During Knapp’s run, print layout was an arduous process running until the “wee hours of the morning … probably because I’m crazy.” Although technology mimicking current programs such as InDesign existed, the computer lab then was “just a row of Windows computers with CRT monitors,” at the end of which sat a single Mac with a layout program. “Everyone would write their stories in Word, put them on floppy disks. I would sit at the end there and lay out stuff and edit stuff. People would print out their stories and I would write on it with a pen, and in the end people would have to save it in a format you could read on a Mac. That was really tricky,” Knapp describes. The use of floppy disks shows how different the process was in the ‘90s. It gets more “ancient,” says Knapp, “We had this big glass table and a hot wax thing. It would take a super long time. So we’d print it all out and then cut them with an x-acto knife. [Comics] would be hand drawn and then we cut it out. The hot wax thing was like a ruler and the table was lit from the back. We’d have sheets of those, we had a grid and you’d stack it all up. Then you had to physically take those to The Island’s Sounder. And they sent them to the printer. It was a separate thing, but they went to the same printer.
Last year’s first Sweater Wednesday / Contributed photo
Successful Sweater Wednesday season comes to a close by RAY DOSS and EMMA HEIKKINEN
2015’s Sweater Wednesday season proved itself to be yet another sweater-filled success, as students and staff showed off an array of fashionable and comfortable winter wear. It takes a village to make Sweater Wednesday what it is. For those unaware of the tradition’s origins, Sweater Wednesday was pioneered by proud sweater-wearing students Halle Thompson and Ray Doss. Primarily, it was just a few students showing off their hidden game, but as time went on, it turned into something much bigger. Today, Sweater Wednesday has hopefully become an Orcas High School tradition for the ages. This sweater season showed quite a lot of tough competition. With reigning champions from 2014 crawling back for more alongside incoming freshmen out for victory, the battle for the scented candle prize was harsher than ever. Freshmen Luke Pietsch and Ronan Kau demonstrated sweater-wearing underclassman are a force to be reckoned with, and
Devon Mann and Ella Conrad walked away with the upperclassmen victory. Controversy was found in some sweater decisions; Jordan Randolph suffered a controversial loss in late November. Randolph wore head-to-toe sweater material, yet it was not sufficient to gain sweet candle victory. The decision is still under harsh scrutiny, but Sweater Wednesday isn’t itself without controversy. As Sweater Wednesdays draw to a close, students still have one last chance to gain victory. The last event of the year will be a “Sweater Friday” — the Friday of the Holiday Luncheon, right before winter break. It will be the grand finale to this year’s incredible sweater season. Don’t forget to wear your best holiday sweater — you could walk away with an amazing holiday-scented candle. The winner will be announced during the luncheon talent show, as well as who will be carrying on the Sweater Wednesday tradition for future generations. Thompson and Doss are looking forward to announcing who this person will be, and they hope Sweater Wednesday will live on for many years.
One time we printed with another color ... black and blue. Full color would have blown my mind now.” It’s no secret that today’s The Viking Voice relies on humor, especially in the satirical section and within our staff acknowledgements. Twenty years ago, however, the Voice had much more freedom in its ironic and controversial comments, sans fear of lawsuits, advertising, or loss of readership. As an insert in
an online edition. Although not many had internet access and the newspaper published articles attempting to explain to students what the “World Wide Web” even was, Knapp and his friend Ian decided to put it online anyway. Not many read it. “I’m not sure anyone did. Not that many people even had internet access, so probably mostly me,” laughs Knapp. “The URL for it was my friend Ian’s account. The school didn’t even have a
“The [readers] we cared about were us. We enjoyed it ... we read it, and if other people read it that was great.” The Islands’ Sounder in the present day, the Voice enjoys a wide range of readers and distribution throughout the islands. In the past, however, the newspaper was limited to readership among the student body and the newspaper staff. “The [readers] we cared about were us. We enjoyed it, you know, it was chock-full of inside jokes. The whole thing was just kind of making fun of each other. We read it and if other people read it that was great. We’d get ‘em printed out and then we’d have to walk down to Teezer’s or whatever and put them around, but realistically it was just students.” Headlines such as “Where’s the Beef?” were featured on the old newspapers Knapp
website. We were like, ‘we have these text files. We could just put these in HTML, and put these on the internet. We should just do that. We have photos.’ I remember getting really into setting it up, but it was mostly just for us.” Discussing how newspaper skills have followed him in life, Knapp can comment easily on how much newspaper has truly lent him, particularly in his field. “The stuff I worked on doing the newspaper turned out to be the most useful stuff in my career. It wasn’t what I studied when I went to college, like painting. But I was always really interested in computers and really interested in layout. So I ended
creating made a significant impression on Knapp, “You know, I think that the really cool thing about working on the newspaper is that you get to create a whole thing, and it involves lots of different skills and coordinating people on the team and then you produce this finished thing and put it out in the world and some number of people read it, and that sounds really simple. I took it for granted at the time. But it’s actually really unique. There’s not that many things in high school you can do where you make a thing and then put it out in the world. The making of the thing is pretty cool. Once you have that experience under your belt, like ... I know how to get a group of people to work together and make something and make sure that it meets my bar and then you hear a little bit, you start to understand what people think when they read it and you can watch them read it, see what they skip over and it’s just really cool. For me, it was a great foundation for making software and working on products. Working with teams of adults, I felt like when I got out in the real world that this is not so unfamiliar to me.” In other words, creation is an essential part of development and high school newspaper is an excellent foundation for developing basic creative skills. A finished product solidifies the enjoyment of the creative process. “Anyway, I don’t know,” says Knapp.
“Headlines such as ‘Where’s the Beef?’ were featured on the old newspapers Knapp brought along.” brought along for our interview, even accompanied by a photoshopped picture of a cow inside a frying pan. Controversy was never quite stirred during Knapp’s time due to low readership and the inability to know who actually read the stories: “it was much harder to [know who read stories]. I’m embarrassed to say that we were never able to poke people into controversy although we tried. We really tried to be obnoxious.” One of Knapp’s most prominent accomplishments for The Viking Voice was the implementation of
up working at Microsoft and then at Google, so the work that I do is software design. It’s very similar, lot of writing and a lot of layout and a lot of communicating stuff.” Writing upcoming his book similarly reminded Knapp of organizing the hierarchy of information and where content should be placed in writing. In his book’s acknowledgements, Knapp recognizes newspaper and his journalism teacher at the top of the list of acknowledgements as having a large impact on him and his career. Creating a finished product from scratch and the process of
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Viking Voice
STUDENT
Micro-Scholarships take bite out of tuition by OLIVIA SMITH It’s hard to get scholarships. Generally, it involves filling out a whole lot of applications during your already very busy senior year. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to get scholarships for regular school and extracurricular achievements? Well, there’s actually a way to do that. Micro-Scholarships are like regular scholarships, but they’re small and you don’t have to do anything extra special to get them. Just by being the awesome person you are you can earn lots of scholarships from lots of different schools up to $1,000 each. Getting A’s and
B’s or joining clubs can really help you pay for college, and chances are, you’re already doing some of those things anyway. All that is left to do is sign up for a MicroScholarship program, which can be done in a few minutes, online, for free. Called Micro-Scholarships for their small amounts and quick attainability, these scholarships can be a helpful way to prepare for college while earning money toward attendance. According to MicroScholarships’ website Raise.me, the goal of Micro-Scholarships is to help high school students set attainable goals related to college success and to reward them with much
OIEF stands up for education
needed school funds. Micro-Scholarships can be earned by getting good grades, joining clubs and sports teams, attending college events, doing community service, and much more. Programs are free through donations from colleges and other organizations. So, say you started a club based around your interest in the leaf-based origami technique known as palm folding. Normally, you would have to look for scholarship opportunities for which your DIY hobbyoriented leadership experience might fit. Micro-Scholarships, however, allow you to just add that cool information right into
Teacher of the month: Corey Wiscomb
by MATIA SCHWARTZ
Student using art materials donated by OIEF / Contributed photo
by DEVON MANN The Orcas Island Educational Foundation, otherwise known as OIEF, has been a pillar in our community for a long time. An organization that was created by our community and progressive parents, OIEF has been helping provide needed funding to support our school system for over 30 years now. As OIEF’s mission statement explains, “The Foundation was formed to respond to the increasingly widespread interest in promoting excellence in our Public School system. With the full support of the School Board and administration, we will provide a means for the public and private sectors to work together, sharing a bond of mutual responsibility for the education of
our youth. Our independent status will enable us to move with a speed and flexibility to enhance the educational offerings of the Orcas Public Schools without additional expenditures of local tax monies.” Over the years, OIEF has made several significant contributions ranging from helping save the school from financial crisis by raising over 250,000 dollars in 2008, to supporting school art and music programs, to providing scholarships to graduating seniors. This past year, OIEF has continued to contribute to our school system in significant ways. Through fund raising and grants, OIEF has provided funding for the sixth grade class’ weeklong Nature Bridge field trip to the Olympic Peninsula, helped provide supplies so
that every child can have an art class with a local artist for 16 weeks in grades K-6, helped the high school with a new drama program, helped to fund a STEM Guitar-Building class in the high school, bought books for “reading circles” in the middle school, paid for much needed supplies for the school library, and provided significant funding to the school’s new debate team and newspaper club. The student body, teachers, and administrators at Orcas Island High School are incredibly thankful for all of the work that OIEF has done over the years, and continues to do even now. OIEF is an excellent way to give back to the community, and is always looking for new volunteers and donations.
your online profile and rake in the cash. Sit back, relax, and fold some palm fronds into a few nifty elaborate bird shapes because you’re going to college. Basically, these little scholarships let you take what you are already doing and use it to make money for college. You can start whenever you want, so you don’t have to wait until your senior year to start earning scholarships. You can earn as you move through school and by the time you graduate these small scholarships can really add up. Micro-Scholarships are a cool way to take off some of the cost of college tuition, one little bit at a time.
Corey Wiscomb, the current art, guitar building, digital photography, and yoga teacher, as well as the boys basketball coach, has been a part of the Orcas community for his entire life. His grandparents first came to Orcas from Chicago and started Orcas Lumber, which is now ACE Hardware, and his family has been on the island ever since. Wiscomb was a student here throughout his school years and was very involved with the high school basketball and football teams. His favorite part of being involved in the small community during high school was the ability to form close friendships with classmates. After high school, Wiscomb went to Colgate University, a liberal arts school in upstate New York. Although the aca-
demics were great, he went because he had a chance to play on a Division basketball team. He went to school for four years altogether, but took a year long break. He majored in Visual Art Studio and Visual Art History, and was one class away from a minor in Asian Studies and Religious Studies. After college, Wiscomb did some traveling and then took a job as a professional martial artist in Indianapolis. He ended up moving back to Orcas after a visit with his parents when he was stunned by the natural beauty of his home, especially in comparison to the flat terrain and corn fields in Indiana. Since he had been teaching martial arts since college, Wiscomb started out as a substitute teacher for the Orcas Island School District, enjoyed it, and was eventually asked to become a teacher
at the high school. Just last year, Wiscomb began working as the head coach of the boys basketball team and is starting the upcoming season with great hope and enthusiasm. This year he also began teaching a 7th period AP Studio Art class that is an independent study. He decided to pursue it because he wants to encourage and help any student in the arts who wants to achieve a higher level. If there is something he can do to keep students making art and getting credit for it, he’s going to help those people make it a reality. The students at Orcas Island High School appreciate having Wiscomb at the school as well as all of his encouragement and assistance in helping students reach their goals.
Wiscomb demonstrating the magic of art / Photographer: Matia Schwartz
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ARTS
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Viking Voice
Artist of the month: Olivia Smith
The budding author Olivia Smith / Photographer: Matia Schwartz
by RACHEL BREWER As a junior in high school, Olivia Smith is already striving to complete what many adults don’t even attempt:
write a novel! What may seem like a difficult task to some comes easily to Smith, as she is simply pursuing a passion that she has had since childhood. “I’ve been making up stories for pretty much as long as I can remember,” Smith muses, “I know I was already into it when I was in kindergarten, and I just never really stopped.” Smith loves to write for a vast variety of reasons; it is an excellent outlet, entertaining, and extremely rewarding when she is able to produce a finished piece. “Writing is like making up entire other worlds to change and explore,” she explains, “I love being able to put
ideas in my head into words, and it’s a great feeling when other people like reading the stuff that I make up for fun.” While Smith enjoys a range of different genres, she prefers reading and writing realistic fiction with aspects of fantasy mixed in. “That’s what my favorite book is like: an almost-ordinary setting with just one aspect of the completely extraordinary that makes the book really amazing.” Smith hopes to one day achieve the same memorable effect as her favorite pieces of literature in with her own work. Smith’s current novel is a work of realist fiction with just enough surprising twists
and turns to make it interesting. Smith says of her work, “Right now I’m in the planning stage for a novel
“I’ve been making up stories for pretty much as long as I can remember.” about people with good intentions making everything awful. It’s also kind of about different kinds of isolation — self-imposed, socially mandated, et cetera.” When asked what inspired her to begin writing this particu-
lar novel, Smith explained, “I think it’s interesting to write about people accidentally changing everything about a situation. It’s interesting because the character doesn’t necessarily understand why everything is suddenly different, but, as the author, I can look at all the things that led the character up to that point. I wanted to try writing characters who are, in a lot of ways, complete inadvertent messes.” This particular work is not part of a series, as Smith usually gets ideas for stand-alone books. However, she has a lot more ideas and is already planning out storylines for future works in her head. “I’ll definitely be writing more when I’m done with this one. It’s kind of hard to imagine not writing!” Smith remarks. Smith
has faced some issues while writing this novel, primarily relating to her demanding school and extracurricular schedule. “Time is definitely an issue. It’s hard to find time to actually sit down and write, and it’s way easier to imagine the story out.” Smith knows that her hard work will eventually pay off, however, and plans to continue to pursue writing in college. “I definitely want to be an author.” Writing is an integral aspect of Smith’s life and she cannot imagine living without it. She encourages other perspective writers, both young and old, to dive right in like she did, “The fact is that if there’s something you want to write, you can. ... It’s a lot of fun and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to try.”
AP Art students, profiled by EMMA HEIKKINEN A call for another art class brought the establishment of an independent 7th period AP Studio Art at the beginning of the school year. Eight students are currently enrolled: Matia Schwartz, Reid Ledgerwood, Emma Heikkinen, Devon Mann, Rachel Brewer, Kaya Osborne, and Holden GriskeyWatson. Each student is specializing in different mediums in their own time. Independent art study is different from other classes, of course — Brewer describes it as “self-driven,” because, “unlike the other classes, we design all of the art projects.” AP Studio Art, which teacher Corey Wiscomb has taught in the past within the classroom, has a curriculum which lets students design all the art projects. In independent study, though, students have no structured time in which to work on their art at school. Some students, like Brewer and Osborne, do their art during free periods in Wiscomb’s classroom. Schwartz elaborates on the complexities of an independent art study: “This art class is different from others in the responsibility it requires. The AP class already asks for two pieces of artwork each quarter and an art history section each semester. To do
it all on your own is sometimes difficult, as you have to budget your time on top of homework from six other classes. It also encourages us to work outside of school, but in my opinion, this makes us work far more than we would if we had an hour or less a day. Overall, it’s been very enjoyable and this year I have gotten in all my art assignments on time, opposed to when I took the class last year.” Schwartz is focusing on painting and drawing, Ledgerwood is working in industrial design in CAD format, Heikkinen is specializing in 3-D portraits, Mann is focusing on painting on canvas, and Brewer is aiming her attention on printmaking, painting, and textile design. Each student has taken Wiscomb’s art classes before; AP Studio is a culmination of the previous skills learned. “I’m basically Picasso,” joked Mann, “I’ve taken Art 4 Life. And now I’m here. I’m one of the elite. My whole life has been an art lesson, man.” Since this class is a cumulative skills class, every student enrolled already has a niche forming. Ledgerwood has a very clear niche: industrial design in Computer Aided Design, a specific path. Similarly, Heikkinen has only been focusing on paper 3-D portraits and the
Let’s get cooking!
Teacher Paula Towne and students Lexi Pence and Halle Thompson laugh it up over their cooking / Photographer: Matia Schwartz
by MEG WAAGE and PARIS WILSON Although the majority of people have seen the new library and cafeteria, most haven’t seen another new space right here on campus: the Culinary Arts room. Culinary Arts has been a class at Orcas Island Middle School for a long time, but it is back at the high school for the first time in many years. Paula Towne, teacher of this class, says that the room for Culinary Arts is one of the most beautiful spaces on the campus and thoroughly enjoys working in it. Towne has many hopes for this class. “My goal is
Emma Heikkinen, Rachel Brewer, Devon Mann, Matia Schwartz, Holden Griskey-Watson, and Reid Ledgerwood pose for a picture. Not pictured: Kaya Osborne. / Photographer: Anneke Ivans
development of a certain pattern. Mann, in the past, has largely focused on paint on canvas, and this year is no different. Schwartz has been exploring different mediums and forms of conveying artwork. As a photographer and painter, Schwartz captures images and moves them to the canvas through paint. She describes her art as “realistic in most senses. I attempt to make my paintings or drawings as close to the original picture I took as I can. Sometimes I will do abstract artworks, but it is much more rare. I enjoy to get the students excited about cooking,” Towne says. She hopes that all of her students will continue to cook outside her classroom and learn to love the art of cooking. Towne wants her students to be able to go out into the world being able to cook their own meals. “It’s important to make your own food, not pre-packaged foods you buy on a shelf,” says Towne. Besides having academic goals to achieve over the course of the class, Towne also thoroughly enjoys the simple act of teaching students how to cook. “This class is really fun to teach because it’s not like a regular classroom,”
painting and drawing the most and recently have been enjoying watercolors quite a bit.” Brewer has an expansive range of mediums, describing her artwork as “very colorful and stylized. I work in lots of different mediums.” This year, she’s “currently doing a series of acrylic paintings.” Mann focused more on the emotional aspect of her work when describing her own artwork, “I think my art is more abstract — bold colors. It’s all me trying to capture emotion and concepts of beauty.”
says Towne. “There’s more freedom and less sitting in chairs all the time.” Upon being asked what she liked about the new space, she commented that she appreciated the food processors and loved being able to use sharp knives to cut through foods more easily. Not only is this a positive, satisfying class for the teacher to teach, but extremely fun for the students to learn. Pupil Ella Nelson says she has been taking this course because she enjoys cooking, and she wants to learn through the school program to help her become even better at it. “I really want to look into making
other things rather than just basic dishes,” says Nelson. Towne creates a diversity in her lesson plans, starting with fairly easy foods and then gradually moving towards the more difficult dishes. “The most challenging so far has probably been enchiladas because there were a lot of steps,” Nelson says. “It took the longest to make, but it tasted great in the end.” Other students of the class include Lexi Pence and Halle Thompson who have become popular in the school commons for sharing their delicious creations after class.
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LEGITIMATE NEWS
Dispelling the harsh lizard rumors
I (Claire Bishop Martin) and Claire (Claire Orser) aren’t two perfectly normal high school students, but in fact one singular chameleon lizard entity. This statement simply is not true. Claire Orser’s hair doesn’t constantly change colors depending on her mood at a given moment, she dyes it like that. Also, the fact that everyone who’s gone to school with us has gone with both of us is just a coincidence. Our birthdays are different, and we’re frequently seen in separate rooms from each other. As these rumors continNothing to see here! Just a normal homecoming parade with Shrek, Claire, and Claire / Photographer: Some garbage ue more actions are being by “CLAIRE” (LIZARD) ple do not exist, and these me food with worms in it, taken against those who BISHOP MARTIN rumors have had a negative insisting it was food that I, continue to tarnish the good impact on those accused as a lizard person, would name of our students. Soon Recently there have been of being lizard people. The enjoy. They weren’t even a redaction will be pubrumors spread around the Viking Voice caught up mealworms, just garden- lished taking back the slanOrcas Island High School with recently accused liz- variety earthworms.” derous accusations made campus that lizard people ard person Ray Doss and Despite the emotional tur- in the previous newspaper, walk among the students he told us, “After the school moil that these rumors have and disciplinary actions and faculty. These rumors newspaper published that caused, they still manage to have been taken against the must be stopped, as there I was a lizard person, my spread rapidly throughout individuals credited with is simply no validity to life instantly went down- our school. The most recent starting these rumors. these claims. Lizard peo- hill. People started giving of these rumors being that
Horoscopes:
What will your future hold? by DEVON MANN
Aries: It’s Time To Get Angry! Let Rage Fill You. If You Can Hit It You Can Misdirect Your Anger At It. If You Can’t Hit It Then You’ve Got A Problem Buddy.
Scorpio: What’s the ratio of ten severed feet to one human body? That and other questions are going to become very relevant very quickly. You better, ahem, step up.
Gemini: I wonder what would happen if we all had super long tongues, like 3 or 4 feet. That would be super crazy. What if we shook tongues instead of hands. Anyway, you should probably be careful for the next month or so, just in case.
Capricorn: It has been fourteen years since the day we fell in love. I clasp my hand in yours. You lean towards me and my breath hitches. “I have a questions for you,” you whisper. I cover my mouth with my hands and you sink to one knee. “Would you rather never poop again or not be able to see the color green?” You ask, tears in your eyes.
Leo: You are the equivalent of a human piece of burnt toast with butter on it that has been dropped onto the floor. Embrace that. Let your true spirit soar. Virgo: We’re all just walking corpses if you think about it, trying to delay the inevitable march of death.
Sagittarius: It’s a metaphor, appreciate art for once Janet.
Libra: Look to the future. Be true to yourself. Let inspiration lead you forward. Or not. You will probably be fine if you don’t. Not everyone can be special. Settle for mediocrity. You’ll probably die in your mid 70’s and the highlight of your life will be a two week trip to Hawai’i.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Viking Voice
Is your child a dealer?
Risking their lives, our photographers were able to capture this shocking photo of a real tendie deal taking place / Photographer: Matia Schwartz
by DEVON MANN Once again, the dark depths of the Orcas Island Public School system have come to light. An underground dealing ring of illegal substances is growing within our school. Chicken Tenders, locally sold at our Island Market, are being resold by a student whose name is being protected by our newspaper’s Witness Protection Program. Our anonymous source, whose name has been scrambled for confidentiality, is hereby named Lexa Gnineerg. “The life of crime just pulls you in,” says Gnineerg, “you think it’s just one cheese stick then then you’re dealing three or four bags of tendies a day. It’s a dark road.” Recovering addict Ray Doss explains, “I thought I would just try one tender. All of my friends were doing it and it seemed cool.” Doss goes on to tearfully admit, “It ruined my life, I couldn’t sleep, my grades
were dropping, I lost the trust of my friends and my family, I would have done anything for my next hit.” As the tendie trade gains popularity, the school only further deteriorates. Students roam through the halls begging for tenders. “We have to take a stand against chicken tenders in our community,” says cleancut-tender-free-advocate student Brother Murphy, “I stand for a school that is free of the sweet, sweet taste of deep fried chicken.” During this troubling time, parents must keep an eye on their children. Keep an eye out for the signs of tendie abuse and dealing. Do your children have empty white bags coated in grease hidden under their beds? Do they have glassy eyes? Do they whisper “tendies” under their breath constantly? Do they sneak out at night? Are they speaking in a Boston accent? If so, they might just be involved in the dark world of the tendie trade.
Pisces: If you combine the first letters of all the star signs you get the word “aglvlscpsatc.” Inspiring. Aquarius: Know this: I believe in our perseverance, our right to use up the world’s resources and our right to exploit cheap overseas labor.
Tendie deals happening during the day in the high school commons. This is truly a tender situation / Photographer: Matia Schwartz
Taurus: Release the bees. Cancer: “Who am I,” is the question you should be asking in the coming months as you wake up in the park covered in someone’s blood with no memories and a note telling you to “seek the truth.” So much blood, oh god, so much blood.
Terra Firma NW is proud to support the Orcas Island School District and the Orcas Island Parks and Recreation District in building the Orcas Island PCA Initiative.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Viking Voice
SPORTS
Viking fall sports yield a fruit basket of outcomes by EMMA THORON This year, Orcas High School not only had volleyball, girls soccer, boys soccer, and football teams, but also a cheer leading squad and a newly founded cross country team. The combined Orcas/Lopez football team had a great fall with a 6-4 season. Senior Pasha Bullock said of this fall sports season, “best sports year I have ever had.” Helping bring Viking cheer to the football games for the second year in a row was the OHS cheer leading squad. The Orcas volleyball team was headed by Rebekah Hardee and Janna Carter, with Hank Date as the assistant coach. They had a good season and four of their players will be graduating. New to the fall sports program this year was the cross country team, coached by the Hohmans. Junior Stephen Hohman Jr. says, “All in all, I’d say that the season was very productive because everybody on the team ended up running considerably faster at the end of the year. Additionally, a
foundation has been set so that we may achieve success in the years to come. This bodes well for the future of the Orcas Island running program.” This is a great way to continue to run in high school for those who enjoyed the Funhouse Running Club. Additionally, it may become possible to do both soccer and cross country next year. Both the girls and boys soccer teams had amazing seasons. The boys had one of the best seasons in program history at 11-5, very nearly qualifying them for state. The team had eight seniors, many of whom played for all four years. When asked about his experience on the team, senior Zach Waage said, “It’s been a truly incredible experience. Many of my teammates have become my close friends and brothers. I’ve never been a part of anything else like this.” The girls soccer team had a substantially better year than last year, with measurable and incredible growth. Senior Jo Gudgell said of the girl’s soccer season, “The Lady Vikings soccer season has been a season of growth, persis-
Fall athletes dressed up to the max for their spirit assembly / Photographer: Matia Schwartz
tence, and endless love. It was the first time that I’ve been a part of a team where I’ve seen significant improvement with each consecutive game. This year’s team was the most united the soccer team has been in my last four years playing; which is saying a lot. The sense of family, commitment, determina-
Jordan Randolph: the man of the hour, every hour
Jordan Randolph looking super snazzy / Photographer: Matia Schwartz
by PASHA BULLOCK Jordan Randolph’s reputation as an outstanding three-sport athlete and a generally good-hearted guy has won him recognition among his peers, school, island, and even league. The 1A/2B league, however, doesn’t know Randolph the way we do at Orcas High School. Randolph has always had a love for sports and a competitive spirit which he says can be attributed to his dad, who is an athlete himself, “My dad had a big influence on my sports career. Pushing me to try new sports, and pushing me early when I was less confident, as well as [all the] hours outside playing catch or pass.” Randolph’s athletic career kickstarted in the first grade on the soccer field where he was able to tie together his competitive nature and love of sports. A couple years later, after being commended for his lightning speed and cat-like awareness, Randolph moved up a tier to the fourth and fifth grade team. Even there, he proved to be an absolute nightmare for his opponents. Later, as a wide receiver for the island youth football team, the Kings, Randolph
was awarded with Most Valuable Player one year and Best Offensive Player another. “I remember him just being so slippery. So hard to tackle,” raves one of his former teammates. On the baseball diamond, Randolph’s quickness was evident on the base path and in the field. Although not being his favorite sport, he excelled as a baseball player due to his innate athleticism and sports knowledge. The game of basketball, however, is the sport that stole his heart. Ever since Randolph picked up that auburn colored ball he never let it go. Commanding the floor as point guard, Randolph quickly became one of the best dribblers and passers of his age group, as well as the strongest overall player. “Playing him one-on-one was like trying to chase a cheetah,” a friend once said, “you always lose.” Basketball, along with all of the other sports, have continued to be a major part of Randolph’s life. He has literally stricken fear in the hearts of his adversaries. “They were talking on the bus about you, Jordo. LaConner said they were scared to defend you,” Football coach Justin Frausto explained after a season-ending loss. Randolph has also been awarded league honors in various sports and has caught the eye of many coaches. Maybe someday Randolph’s fans will even include college scouts. Most importantly, however, Randolph is a person who values friendship and optimism above all things - sports being a very close second. He always seems to wear a happy face and always makes people laugh. There is a certain aura that he emanates and carries onto the field or court that has the power to lift his teammates’ spirits and inspire them to strive to play their best. In the upcoming boy’s basketball season, do not bother looking for Randolph amidst the turbulence of the game. He will stand out right away.
tion, and fire made it an utterly unforgettable season.” To celebrate their seasons fall sports athletes participated in a lip-sync contest at a school assembly on November 13. The sports lip syncs had a very different feel than spirit week lip- syncs. For example, the personalities of the
people on the teams and the overall energy of the teams were represented in each dance. The boys soccer members all wore Hawaiian shirts and crazy socks. The girls soccer players dressed as rappers, and both the volleyball and the football teams incorporated their game play into the lip-syncs.
This fall, basketball for all, ya’ll
by MILES HARLOW
The air is crisp, the holidays are right around the corner, and the students of OHS are flocking to the courts. Around 50 students are competing for both the Vikings and Lady Vikings this winter, and the hype is real. Whether you play to defeat league rivals, to spend time with your friends, to stay fit, or even to visit the Darrington Pawn Shop, basketball season has aroused much excitement throughout the student body. The girls return with long-time Head Coach Greg Sasan assisted by Amber Paulsen
while the boys are led by second year Head Coach Corey Wiscomb. When Wiscomb was asked what he would like to accomplish this year he responded by saying, “Perhaps you could call me a motivator that strives to encourage my players to create high-level, achievable aspirations. Once they have set their intent, I become nothing more than the guide on that journey, pointing to where they need to travel to achieve those dreams, and if I’m lucky, the team will believe in and support each other enough to take me along for the ride. This season could be
one sweet adventure.” Lady Vikings senior Lilly Miller, Emma Minnis, and Halle Thompson are prepared to fill the shoes of last year’s graduating seniors while the boys, with their entire varsity team returning, are ready to take it to the next level. When you step into the 21-year-old “New Gym” you might just witness an Aidan Kruse slam dunk or a deep three from Katy Minnis, so everyone is encouraged to fill the stands and cheer our Vikings to many more victories on the hardwood this season!
The Viking Boys squad looking tough / Photographer: Melanie Flint
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EDITORIALS Hallway talks
How should Physical Education classes be graded? It should definitely count towards our GPA because it makes it so that there is an actual incentive to try during P.E. I don’t think that it should be pass or fail though, because some people can try as hard as possible and still not meet the requirements.
Stephen Hohman, junior
I think P.E. would be easier if it were pass or fail, but I think Coach Elliott tries to make her grading more on improvement and participation and not too much on if you are good or not. However, P.E. is an important part of life, so I think it’s fair for it to be counted on your GPA
Lilly Miller, senior
I think the school system should encourage students to strive for improvement rather than a level of perfection. P.E. grades should be based on effort/improvement, rather than the final result. If someone goes into a class with a very high leveling skill, they should still have to show just as much determination and effort as someone who goes into a class with a subpar skill level. Both should work to better themselves and grades should reflect that, as long as it is fair for everyone involved.
Luke Bronn, junior
I think that P.E. is already basically graded on participation. The real problem is people who play sports should count practice as P.E. Most schools do that already and it’s exhausting to work out for P.E. and practice.
Bethany Hansen, junior
I believe exercise is extremely important, especially for young people, as it generally leads to healthier, more active lives as adults. For a lot of people sports do not come naturally, and that is okay, but it is not okay for them to be embarrassed about it, or get a worse grade because of it. If P.E. is being graded, it should be based on level of effort, not how perfect their serve is. A lot of people who would enjoy P.E. more in high school if it wasn’t so stressful, which won’t make anyone want to exercise.
Enzo Thixton, senior
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Viking Voice
CONDOMS FROM 1 they still perpetuate the I believe condoms and tion.'” Abstinence educastigma surrounding contra- birth control within the tion is relatively ineffective ceptives which exists in our school would spark an and assumes that teenagers society. interest and discussion of will always wait until adultWhat our communi- better and more progressive hood to have sex, despite ty’s youth needs is a way sexual education. One of the empirical evidence stating to access birth control in a most common arguments that the average age of first convenient and not embar- against providing condoms sexual intercourse is 17.3 rassing location. Talking to and more extensive birth years of age for females and one's parent is a good way to control is that by doing so, 17 years of age for males. learn about sex and discuss the school is promoting sex- Abstinence as sexual education is also rooted safety, but havin ideals of 'female ing birth control purity' and reliavailable for those gious influences teens that don't that I believe have feel comfortable no business in our talking to their education system. parents or whose For the good of parents won't proour youth and our vide them with a society as a whole, form of birth conwe must promote trol is vital. better sexual health What we need is Devon Mann shows off a condom / Photographer: Matia education. The birth control in our Schwartz first step begins in schools. Where do kids spend most of their ual activity and promiscuity. our schools, through protime? At school. That way That is completely incor- viding easy access to birth students have ready access rect, and has been proven control. I urge you to talk to free birth control — in wrong. Anneke Fleming to your local school board this case, for convenience states in an essay on the about providing this service and financial reasons, con- benefits of sexual education and promoting the group doms would probably be that “in a study by Baldo Island Reproductive Health this form of birth control. and Aggleton, the conclu- Initiative, or IRHI, which With more convenient and sion was that 'sex education is currently attempting to accessible forms of birth either caused a delay in the lobby for these services and control, students that might onset of sexual activity or improvements in the way not have used birth control a reduction in overall sex- our school and our society now will. And with these ual activity. Sexually active deals with sexual education condoms, we can help pre- youth, in 10 studies, also and activity. vent the spread of STDs and adopted safer sex practices unplanned pregnancy. after attending sex educa-
Real staff
Meet the staff
Emma Heikkinen: Editor-in-chief Rachel Brewer: Copy editor, student section editor Ray Doss: Treasurer, ad sales, satire section editor Devon Mann: PR, art section editor Zach Waage: Club “president”, sports section editor Emma Thoron: Editorials section editor Claire Bishop Martin: Reporter, life expert Pasha Bullock: Reporter, #35 Olivia Smith: Reporter Matia Schwartz: Reporter, chief photographer Kahana Pietsch: Reporter Anneke Ivans: Reporter, photographer Miles Harlow: Reporter Paris Wilson: Reporter Meg Waage: Reporter, photographer
Additional honorary “staff” Couch: Was taken away during move, come back
Anneke Fleming: Said she was going to do stuff, come back Ed: Club mascot Face made of beans and salad, inside joke: Our child! Mints: Our lifeblood, our soul, our meaning, our one and only, thank you mints, especially Altoids cinnamon mints Bug: Crawled out of apple during meeting, we believed in you Chris Waage: Sorry for everything, thanks for buying the mints Enzo Thixton: Get it together, Jesus, please come back, we know there’s no couch but we will have one soon. ETA January 2016. Anthony Kaskurs: Dead to us
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Viking Voice
Where’s Comito?
Can you find him? Do our staff’s complementary and organically made “Where’s Mr. Comito” with your friends and see who can spot him first! We think you’ll be surprised with the results. The answer to Mr. Comito’s location is underneath the picture.
Having Trouble? Can’ t find Mr. Comito? Haha loser.
Thank you to The Islands’ Sounder! We can’t do what we do without you! Thanks for your help and support!
Across
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Crossword!
2. Is your child a ________? 3 3. What are freshmen bringing to the Holiday Luncheon? 5. Who is our Viking Voice copy 5 editor? 8. Which recovering chicken 7 8 tendie addict confessed to his dark past? 9 9. Viking fall sports yield a _________ of outcomes 10 10. Who is teaching Culinary Arts? 11. Which foundation is a strong supporter of our schools? the den e v l 13. What is the last name of our u solues hird o y artist of the month? Canwith cout ou h e 15. Which AP Art student is uzzl througition? p “basically Picasso”? ed
Down
1. Who’s Google royalty and also an Orcas alumni? 4. Which astrological sign needs to “release the bees”? 6. Which AP Art student is working on industrial design?
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7. What is the first name of our athlete of the month? 12. It’s not Sweater Wednesday this week! It’s Sweater ________. 14. What is the first name of our teacher of the month?
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Islands’ Sounder
WWW.ISLANDSSOUNDER.COM
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‘Jazzin’ with the classics’ Music at Emmanuel presents the ninth annual yuletide baroque, which for the fourth year in a row is entitled, “Jazzin’ with the Classics for Christmas,” featuring soprano Linda Tsatsanis, jazz flutist, pianist and clarinetist Martin Lund, classical flutist Jeffrey Cohan and very special guest virtuoso vibraphone player, Tom Collier. The concert is on Monday, Dec. 28 at 3 p.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Parish in Eastsound on Orcas Island. Admission will be by free will offering, with a suggest donation of $10. 18 and under free. In this program, four renowned classical and jazz artists and friends
meld their musical perspectives in an unusual collaboration and unique celebration of the Yuletide season that is guaranteed to generate an abundance of Christmas cheer. Tsatsanis, Lund, Cohan and Collier will team up to bridge contemporary improvisational jazz and the “art music” of baroque and renaissance times. Instrumental musicians have “jazzed up” melodies familiar to them in the style of their day for centuries, and this team’s virtuoso improvisations on Yuletide favorites, and their renditions of classical standards such as arias from Handel’s Messiah will bring together the best of jazz and classical worlds.
Icing on the cake this season Bring the family and celebrate the season with the truly beloved holiday favorite, “The Nutcracker Ballet.” The world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre’s luscious production of Tchaikovsky’s magical and cherished ballet streams to Orcas Center on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 pm. Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” was first performed over 120 years ago The gorgeous costumes, exquisite production and enchanting characters we all love, will transport you to a fairyland of magic where you’ll see every detail as if you are sitting front row center of the grand Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. The Bolshoi Theatre’s dimensions, its glittering architecture and its stage are awesome and miraculously, we at Orcas Center get to “be there!” “The Nutcracker Ballet” is based on the story, “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice,” written by E.T.A. Hoffman about a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads. This treasured and most popular ballet opens with a Christmas Eve party at a grand house with the most beautiful tree imaginable. The family is hosting their annual Christmas party, welcoming the arrival of their family and many guests. The children, Clara and Fritz, are dancing and playing as they welcome their friends too. Clara is given a remarkable nutcracker doll by her godfather and her brother is envious of this gift which becomes the hit of the party. As the clock strikes mid-
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night strange things begin to happen. While Clara sleeps, she finds herself in the midst of the Nutcracker’s battle against the Mouse King and his army of mice. Coming to her aid, the Nutcracker is transformed into a Prince and journeys with Clara to the Land of Snow, the magical Kingdom of Sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy
holds a celebration in their honor. An all-time favorite ballet for the holidays, the Bolshoi’s “The Nutcracker Ballet” is the perfect holiday outing for the whole family. See the extended trailer at www.orcascenter.org Tickets for “The Nutcracker Ballet” are $18, $13 students and $2 off for
Orcas Center members and may be purchased at www. orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesday - Friday from noon - 2 pm. $5 subsidized tickets are available at the Box Office. For more information about Orcas Center events, please visit www.orcascenter.org.
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The team at OIFM is dedicated to you and your family’s health and well-being. Dr. Russell offers personalized primary care in an intimate and comfortable setting, with an emphasis on privacy and individualized attention. We are proud of the family atmosphere we foster within our office, and strive to offer each patient the same care and consideration we would expect for our own families. David L. Russell, MD. Comprehensive health care for your entire family in an intimate and personalized setting. Call 376-4949 for an appointment
Medical offices
Orcas Island Family Medicine, PC.
David L. Russell, MD. Comprehensive health care for your entire family in an intimate and personalized setting. Call 376-4949 for an appointment.
Psychotherapy
Michael Elder MFT, CTS Brief Targeted Psychotherapy 360-376-3255 ext 2
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SWISH b-ball brings home second place by MANDI JOHNSON Sounder Reporter
Coach Blythe Simpson’s team of Orcas Island Middle School’s 7th grade girls “SWISH” team concluded their two-month season with a 5-3 record. The girls brought home the second place trophy for the “Silver-Samish” league. The season ended Saturday, Dec. 12, with the League Tournament at Sedro-Woolley High School. The team squared up against Concrete Lions in the first round, beating them. The next game, the girls lost to the Burlington-Edison Tigers, who had won
earlier in the day against Friday Harbor. The girls say they were inspired to never give up after a field trip to watch the Western Washington University women’s team play and seeing both Orcas Viking varsity teams win the night before during home games against Mt. Vernon Christian. The team consists of: Lindsey Simpson, Astasia Monahan, Hazel Meinhardt-Moe, Izie Janecek, Grace Gustafson, Evie Smith, Lani Lago, Flora Lister and Emma O’Neal. The team was coached by Simpson and Assistant Keri Lago. They would also like to thank Troy O’Neal.
CHURCH SERVICES on Orcas Island & in the San Juans CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
Sunday Worship & Sunday School 10:00 am (Library Conference Room) Wednesday Testimony meeting 7:00 pm– Last Wed. of each month Library Conference Room 376-5873
COMMUNITY CHURCH
SAT, DEC. 19
SUN, DEC. 20
BOLSHOI BALLET IN CINEMA:
FESTIVAL OF LESSONS & CAROLS: Followed by cider
EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL
LIFE CHURCH
Sunday 10:00 am Senior Center on 62 Henry Road Nursery and Kid’s Life Contemporary Passionate Worship Our Vision: Share Jesus. Share Life. 376-6332
LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE SAN JUANS (ELCA)
Sunday 11:00 am St. David’s Chuch 760 Park St., Friday Harbor Sunday 9:00 am Center Church 312 Davis Bay Rd., Lopez Island Pastor Beth Purdum Sunday 1:15 pm Emmanuel Church 242 Main St., Eastsound 370-0023 • pastor@lutheransanjuans.org
ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH Orcas - St Francis Church in Eastsound Mass 1:00 pm Sundays Lopez - Center Chuch Mass 10:30 am Saturdays
and cookies. Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 5 p.m. Info, 376-2352, www. orcasepiscopal.org.
DEC. 22 AND 29
Serving Orcas Island For 132 years Sunday Worship 9:30 am (Nursery & Kids Sunday School) Weekday programs for all ages. Info @ www.OrcasChurch.org Or call Pastors Dick Staub or Brian Moss, 376-6422 In Eastsound on Madrona Parish of Orcas Island The Rev. Berto Gándara Eastsound (by the water) • 376-2352 SUNDAYS: Holy Eucharist 8 and 10 am Church School THURSDAYS: Holy Eucharist 12:15 pm Misa en español primer sábado de cada mes a las 6 pm
Contributed photo
In front, left to right: Lindsey Simpson and Hazel Meinhardt-Moe. Back row: Izie Janecek, Grace Gustafson, Emma O’Neal, Flora Lister, Lani Lago and Astasia Monahan.
Calendar Presents “The Nutcracker,” Orcas Center, 6:30 p.m. Ticketed, $18 adults, $13 students. Info, 376-2281, www.orcascenter.org.
Residential & Interior Design
Bonnie Ward ASID, IIDA 376-5050 www.designwardinc.com
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Islands’ Sounder
ALMOST CLASSICAL: The Orcas Island trio, Almost Classical, will appear at Darvill’s Bookstore in Eastsound on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. and at Random Howse the following Tuesday, Dec. 29, doors open at 5 p.m., concert is at 6:30 p.m. These performances are their first together since Lisa and Emy Carter began studying at the Conservatory of Music at BIOLA University, in Los Angeles. Paris Wilson is a freshman at Orcas Island High School.
THURS, DEC. 24 BILINGUAL CHRISTMAS EVE:
candlelight service with Holy Communion at 5 p.m. in the Emmanuel Parish Hall and a traditional Christmas eve candlelight service with Holy Communion at 8 p.m. in the Emmanuel Church. CHRISTMAS EVE: Candlelight Service at Orcas Community Church, 6 p.m.
MON, DEC. 28 YULETIDE BAROQUE CONCERT:
3 p.m. at Emmanuel Church in Eastsound.
NOW TO JAN. 1 ROSARIO RESORT FESTIVAL OF TREES: Local non-profits
p.m., Community Church. AA: For women, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., for men, 7 to 8 p.m., Emmanuel Church. CELEBRATE RECOVERY: 7 to 9 p.m., Orcas Senior Center.
WEDS. – ONGOING LIONS CLUB: Weekly lunch, 11:45 a.m., Legion. AA: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Benson Hall, Emmanuel Church. ANSWERS IN THE HEART: 7 to 8 p.m., an S.L.A.A. 12-step recovery, Episcopal Church. ADULT VOLLEYBALL: 7 to 9:15 p.m., High School Gym, $2.
THURS. – ONGOING
decorate trees in the Moran Mansion for public vote on favorites. One dollar raffle tickets are entered into drawings for prizes.
STORYTIME: 11 a.m., library.
SUN. – ONGOING
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: 5:30 p.m., Orcas Longhouse.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS:
AL-ANON: 5:30 p.m., Benson Hall, Emmanuel Church.
5:30-6:30 p.m., Emmanuel Church. ADULT VOLLEYBALL: 7 to 9:15 p.m., High School Gym, $2.
MON. – ONGOING
BINGO: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., first Thursday of every month at the American Legion, in support of Kaleidoscope.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Benson Hall, Emmanuel Church.
5:30 p.m. at the Community Church Family Center.
AL-ANON: 7 p.m., Benson Hall, Emmanuel Church. DUPLICATE BRIDGE: Monday Night Duplicate Bridge Group. Need a partner? Call Cheryl at 376-3104 or Marguerite at 376-2220. BUDGETING WORKSHOP: First Monday of each month, 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the library’s community room.
TUES. – ONGOING KIWANIS CLUB: 12:30 to 1:30
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS:
FRI. – ONGOING AA: Noon, Community Church. AA: 5:30 p.m., Benson Hall, Emmanuel Church.
SAT. – ONGOING AA: 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Emmanuel Church. Potluck last Saturday of the month.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Islands’ Sounder
WWW.ISLANDSSOUNDER.COM
Page 19
Historical Society aims Almost Classical returns to preserve oral history home for two performances One of the projects included in this year’s Orcas Island Community Foundation’s annual Holiday Giving Calendar is Orcas Island Historical Society’s “Saving Orcas Voices” project. Hidden away in the storage vault behind the Pioneer Museum is a collection of more than 40 tapes containing interviews recorded over the past 30 years. The interviews include residences such as: Bob Schoen, Arthur Reddick and Madilyn Reddick Haffey, Cherie Lindholm, Jane BarfootHodde, Roy and Agnes Flaherty and the Bond brothers. OIHS has begun the process to capture these interviews digitally, and share them at the museum. Board Member, Harold Lentzner, along with volunteer archivist, Edrie Vinson, have taken the lead in the efforts to preserve the tapes. Phase 1 in OHIS’s restoration project begins with creating a digital copy of each tape, many of which are old and fragile.
Once the tapes have been digitized, they are then transcribed, then matched with photos from the Pioneer Museum’s photo archive, and finally placed into binders available to museum patrons. Some of the binders have already been completed, along with the oral histories collected over the past 30 years, and can currently be viewed at the Pioneer Museum. Along with more than 40 tapes needing to be digitized, OIHS has recently discovered yet another hundred, or so, tapes that are currently being catalogued. The preservation, digitizing, transcribing, and cataloguing of these additional tapes is Phase 2 of OIHS’s “Saving Orcas Voices,” project. Once the two phases have been completed, OIHS hopes to begin collecting interviews from current Orcas residence to add to their documents. OIHS’s goal is to have these records to document the social, artistic, cultural, commercial, and agricultural history of Orcas Island.
Orcas Island Elementary School students deliver to food bank
The Orcas Island trio, Almost Classical, will appear at Darvill’s Bookstore in Eastsound on Tuesday, Dec. 22, and at Random Howse the following Tuesday, Dec. 29. These performances are their first together since Lisa and Emy Carter began studying at the Conservatory of Music at BIOLA University, in Los Angeles. Paris Wilson is a freshman at Orcas Island High School. At Darvill’s, at 2 p.m., the trio, featuring Lisa Carter on piano and Celtic harp and Emy Carter and Paris Wilson on violin, will play holiday favorites from their recently released Christmas CD, “Almost Classical Christmas.” The CD is now available at Darvill’s. For the performance at Random Howse, Almost Classical will present an
Dec 18 & 19 • 5pm The Peanuts Movie Noah Schnapp, Bill Melendez, Hadley Belle Miller, Rated G
and at 7:30pm
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, part 2
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, PG-13
Mandi Johnson photos by MANDI JOHNSON Sounder reporter
Orcas Island Elementary School students delivered the accumulation of a two-week food drive to the Orcas Island Food Bank on Monday, Dec. 14. The weather was cold, but dry, as all of the elementary students carried handfuls, bags, boxes and pulled wagons down from the school to the open doors of the food bank early Monday afternoon. The students wound their way through the side entrance of the bank distributing their goods across multiple empty tables. Once the tables were full they began to set full paper bags down and fill boxes on the floor. The volunteers at the food bank had wide eyes and large smiles as the children deposited cans, boxes and bags of food throughout the building. The food bank has yet to weigh the donations; “the men” will be doing that later this week, said volunteers. They estimate the children brought in a couple hundred pounds of food for donation.
First Run Movies/ Independent Films State of the art projection Now serving Beer, Wine & new food items 234 A St, Eastsound • 376-5724
after-Christmas “pop” concert. This concert will feature the group’s own arrangements of their favorite pop songs. The doors will open at 5 p.m., with Random Howse serving Thai food; drinks
will be on tap from 5 to 8 p.m. The performance starts at 6:30 p.m., and all ages are welcome to attend. Since there is no cover charge, the musicians will compensated by donations to the tip jars.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Islands’ Sounder
Pet of the week
EASTSOUND The Barnacle Wed & Thurs 5 pm–12 am Friday & Saturday 5 pm –1 am Nightly Cocktail Specials 249 Prune Alley Enzo’s Caffé Open daily 8 am–4 pm Sunday 8 am–3 pm N. Beach Rd, 376-3732 Island Skillet Breakfast everyday 8:30 am–2 pm Full breakfast menu, beer, wine 325 Prune Alley, 376-3984 Lower Tavern Lunch & Dinner Open daily at 11 am Food to 10 pm (Sun–Thurs) Food to 11 pm (Fri & Sat) 46 Prune Alley , 376-4848
Mijitas Mexican Kitchen Dinner Tues–Sat 4 pm 310 A. Street (at N. Beach Rd) 376-6722 The Loft at Madrona Dinner: Thursday–Saturday 5pm Sunday Brunch 10am–2pm Main St, Eastsound 376-7173 The Madrona Bar & Grill Sunday -Thursday 11:30–9 Friday & Saturday 11:30–10 Happy Hour in the bar; Mon–Fri 3–6 pm 310 Main St, 376-7171 Pizzeria Portofino Dine-In/Take-Out Open Tue–Sat 4:00 pm–8:30 pm Closed Sun & Mon 274 A St (Off N. Beach Rd.) 376-2085
White Horse Pub Open from 11:30 to midnight 7 days a week Serving food until 10 pm Happy hour M–F 3–6 pm 246 Main St, 376-PUBS
DEER HARBOR Deer Harbor Inn Restaurant Open Fri, Sat and Sun from 5–8 pm 376-1040 deerharborinnrestaurant.com
ROSARIO Rosario Resort & Spa The Mansion Restaurant Breakfast: 8 am – 11 am Daily Dinner: 5 pm – 9 pm Daily Moran Lounge Bar Menu: 4 pm - 9 pm Mon - Thurs, Noon - 9 pm Friday - Sunday Dinner: 5 pm - 9 pm Daily
ORCAS LANDING Orcas Hotel / Octavia’s Bistro Dinner 7 nights a week 4–9 pm Happy hour 50% off small plates 4–5 pm Orcas Hotel Café Open daily 6 am–5 pm www.orcashotel.com, 376-4300
Call the Sounder to advertise 376-4500 Cost: $13.25 per listing (green fee included) 6 lines max.
Two ways to ID me: Name’s Popcorn, and I’m a Keeshond Mix breed. Hope that helps. If you want a happy, friendly, young canine to be your best friend, that’s me! I even like cats… come quick, any day 2-5 to the Orcas Animal Shelter, 376-6777. Check us out on the web:
www.orcaspets.org.
Advertising is totally unnecessary. Unless Unless you you want want to make $$ to make $. As the number #1 news source for Orcas Island and beyond, the Islands' Sounder newspaper can help you get the word out about your business. We have reasonable prices and talented graphic artists on staff!
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We’ve got ALL your Holiday Trimmings! Meat, Cheese & Veggie Trays from our Deli …for your holiday festivities, football-viewing parties & get-togethers with friends. Let us do the preparation for you! Stop by our Bakery Department for traditional pumpkin pies & try our delicious specialty breads. Check out the Deli Department for fresh, homemade salads & pick-up a party tray brochure. Great accompaniments to your holiday feast!
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