Wednesday, July 4, 2012 • The Islands’ Sounder
LETTERS FROM 4 Jon McVeigh, Heather Moss, Sparks, Nichole Maher, Molly Bastine, Charles Dalton, Doug Bechtel, Dan Larson, Doug and Michel Marshall at the Office Cupboard and so many more in costumes, lining the streets and enjoying the day. The early intention was through art build community, with community go outside and play and through play create a ripple of laughter and fun. Happy summer! Laura Gibbons and Michael Budnick Summer Solstice Volunteers
Help with fire hydrant access We are at the peak of the growing season right now. That’s good for our tomatoes and beans, but not so much for our fire hydrants. Last week, the Orcas Island Fire Department responded to a fire in the Eastsound Urban Growth Area. The firefighters were quickly able to extinguish the fire with the water resources carried on the fire truck. However, it was only after the fire event that the volunteer firefighters were able to identify the nearby fire hydrant. It was hidden behind untended grass that was taller than the hydrant. If the fire event had been larger, the firefighters might have needed the water from the hydrant. Locating a hydrant hidden in the overgrown in the dark of night could take valuable time, when time is of the essence. We would like to ask a favor from our island neighbors. If you have a fire hydrant on your property, or adjacent to your property, would you consider trimming back the growth when you are out caring for your own landscaping? Technically, fire hydrants belong to the local water system. In Eastsound, EWUA does undertake routine maintenance on our hydrants to insure that they are functioning normally. However, with well over 100 hydrants in our system, keeping up with “weed wacking” is a challenging proposition. We expect that other water systems face similar challenge with limited resources to be out and about regularly “weed wacking.” Please consider “adopting” your neighborhood hydrant and helping keep it easily visible and acces-
sible for service. You never know who and when someone will need the service provided by that hydrant! Paul Kamin EWUA General Manager Kevin O’Brien Orcas Island Fire Chief
OWL program gives thanks OWL is a sexuality education program developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association. We give deep thanks to Orcas Island’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community Fund, through OICF, and our local Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, who funded the program for ten 7th-9th graders this year. Their ability to delve deeply into sensitive subjects and hold strong to their beliefs, even when in a minority position, was remarkable. Pre- and post-tests showed increased understanding and comfort with the subject matter. Most importantly, we had a lot of fun, and created a cohesive and well informed group of young teens who are prepared to make good decisions about their own sexuality and act as leaders for their peers. This was a tremendous collaborative effort - we give thanks to so many of the individuals and organizations who partnered with us, including: Dr. Shinstrom, Aaimee Johnson, Phoebe Hirshenow and Orcas Family Health Center staff for teaching and tremendous support as our nonprofit and administrative sponsor; Anita Castle & Lila Richardson at DVSAS for teaching and providing our meeting space; Michelle Marshall at Office Cupboard; Jason Linnes at Island Market; Shelly Carlson; Renee Racik; Virginia Erhardt; Laurie Gallo and Jean Bried of Orcas Island Medical Center; Sarah Lyle, Kevin O’Brien and Jean Henigson of the Islands Reproductive Health Initiative; Rachel Bishop of InterIsland Medical Center; Susan Babcock of Camp Four Winds; OPALCO; Janet Brownell of OIEF; Charles Dalton of the Kitchen; Mia Kartiganer of Mia’s Café; Ben and Megan of Wildflour Bakery; Orcas Island School District and OASIS Staff; Orcas Christian School; Jeffri Coleman; Jeffrey Ludwig; Thaddeus Gincig; the Islands’ Sounder and Orcas Issues. We also give special, heartfelt thanks to our
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panel of six gay and lesbian community members, including Laurie Gallo and Lisa Byers, Dan Coles and Steve Lelievre, and Charles Dalton, one transgendered person, and one survivor of sexual assault, who all openly shared their joys and challenges. Biggest thanks to the students who made this a wonderful experience. Stay tuned for more, and thanks again! Sandi Burt Suzanne Olson OWL program
Ultimate steward of sailing Ray Jarecki was a great steward of the sport of sailing. For many years Ray has kept a close eye on the development of the Junior Sailing Program supported by Orcas Island Yacht Club of which Ray was commodore in 1997. In 2007 this program merged with Sail Orcas, which is now managed by its board member Betsy Wareham. Support for boats, parts, instructors, safety boats has come from fundraising tuitions and in no small part from the support and guidance of Ray Jarecki. Few yacht clubs can foster boating with the young up and coming sailors, yet our program has momentum as 180 individuals take 250 lessons per year on average despite the economic conditions. Burke Thomas, head coach of the Orcas high school team, said, “The importance of the starter programs is immeasurable for the training needed for our team and for entering on instructor level while still in high school. So far we have graduated nearly 40 high school students who started in the Jr. Program. We have gone to Nationals five times and now have placed about 20 graduates in the marine industry with more to come!” I started racing at the age of five in an eight-foot El Toro with the support of my father Howard White and remain an active racer. I understand the importance of parent, coach and program support from an early age, therefore I am personally grateful to Ray’s commitments. Ray is largely responsible for the accomplishments of this program and I applaud him for making the junior sailing program a priority during his life with us on Orcas! For more history of Ray’s accomplishments visit http://sailorcas.
org/?content=jarecki Chris White Sail Orcas and Orcas Island Yacht Club
Thanks, Orcas High School seniors This is a big THANK YOU to the 2012 Orcas High School Seniors. Given the opportunity for your civics and economics classes to distribute a $5,000 donation to worthy causes on Orcas, you Seniors deliberated and elected to dedicate the entire amount to support health care for Orcas Islanders who lack adequate insurance and could not otherwise afford the care. Your decision could well save a life, prevent a childhood disease, return an injured parent’s ability to support or care for the family, relieve an older citizen’s pain – and maybe all of the above. Given the many worthy causes on Orcas, you could not have made any choice which better serves all age groups and all members of our Orcas community than your choice for health care for all. You valued the trust placed in you and accepted the responsibility to make a good fund allocation. You approached the task collaboratively, thoughtfully, and enthusiastically. And when you might have supported more popular teen needs and interests, you instead focused your attention on the broader and deeper needs of our community. Your action displayed the very soul of good citizenship, good government, good philanthropy, and good community service. So while we thank you – along with your donor – for the gift of health care, we thank you seniors even more for your example and inspiration to us all. We hope that this shining choice will be the first of many wise and unselfish decisions you make during your lives. Certainly this choice was one of which your families, your teachers, your school, your community, and you yourselves should be very proud. You have given us all an injection of hope for the future, strong medicine indeed! Seniors, thank you! Norm Zimlich President, Orcas Medical Foundation
Thank you for One World Music WOW!!! Martin Lund’s One World Music Festival was a weekend of sweet nostalgia, high-octane energy, and a level of musicianship
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that knocked our socks off! Our sincere gratitude to the many involved in making this Funhouse Commons fundraiser such an incredible success. Thank you so much to the incomparable Martin Lund, the show’s co-artistic director, for 10 years of unbelievable support! Many thanks to event producer and co-artistic director Donna Laslo for her vision and unbelievable commitment of time and energy. Also thank you to event underwriters Bob and Lisa Rivers, for kindly helping make this festival possible. Heartfelt thanks to our accomplished (and fabulous) island musicians and singers, including Steve Alboucq, Jim Bredouw, Tony Morales, Gene Nery, Sharon Abreu, Khadoma Colomby, Kt Laslo and Grace McCuen. Many thanks to Seattle-based bands Apple Jam and Lee Oskar and Friends Orchestra, and singers Shannetta Brown and Jaz Lund, for sharing their exceptional talent as well. Huge thanks to the many local businesses and individuals who generously supported the show: Eastsound Landmark Inn, Black Dog Farm, Doe Bay Resort and Retreat, Morning Star Farm, Orcas Homegrown Market and Gourmet Deli, Passionate for Pies, Roses Bakery Café, Smugglers
Villa Resort, Orcas Island Community Church, Orcas Center staff Kara O’Toole, Artha Kass, Jeff Ludwig, and Sparks, Susan and Wally Gudgell, Rita and Dr. Steven Bailey, Sabrina Bailey, Cookie Lady Paula Capitano and her assistants, Betty Corbett, Sue Kimball, Marylou Padbury, Libi Geddes, Savvy and Jeni Sanders, Jay Kimball, Debbie and Tom Pawlak, Mary Wachter, Amber and Dickie, Christopher Dolan, Sukima Hampton, Steven Forsythe, Kandis Susol, Marlia Starwater, Alison Weir, Sadie Bailey, Anita Holladay, Kay and Stan Miller, Cheryl McIntosh, Krista Bouchey, Jon Bric, Tara Hubbard, Kate Hansen, Freddy Hinkle, Kt Laslo, Kevin Dickey, Loren Dickey, David Dickey, Marcia Gillingham, Dave Klein, Joe Sumrall, Julia Bailey, Robert Hall and Aiden McCormick. And to our audience, thank you for supporting the Funhouse Commons with your ticket purchases – and for expressing such great appreciation for the talented performers on stage! Thank you all so much! Pete Moe Funhouse Commons, Executive Director Board of Director
What they’re saying ... online How do you feel about the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold virtually all of President Obama’s health care overhaul? “I read of neighbors, friends, workers who are sick with no medical care. We raise money which pays for hours of care. I thank President Obama every day for making health care reality for everyone. I have health care, everyone in this great country deserves this opportunity.” – Ann Marie Shanks, Orcas Island “Thank goodness! There is much refinement needed to the program and I understand there are portions that feel unpalatable to many people. But we have to change the old system. I personally know many, many people who currently have no coverage or catastrophic only. Everyone needs to be covered but now we have to make insurance affordable. It is crazy expensive right now. One of the biggest reasons it is so expensive is that people in this country who aren’t covered by insurance still get health care but in the worst manner possible, when it’s an emergency. It is always going to be far more expensive when the care is delivered in an emergency setting. Uncompensated medical bills get folded in to the overall increase in the cost for everyone else. Either that or the private pay person loses savings, retirement, maybe even homes. The stories about how a illness or injury can financially devastate families is true.” – Valerie Harris, Orcas Island To have your opinions heard, visit the Sounder Facebook page at www.facebook.com/IslandsSounder.