Wednesday, March 6, 2013 • The Islands’ Sounder
WWW.ISLANDSSOUNDER.cOM
Orcas Center volunteer dinner Orcas Center is hosting its annual meeting and appreciation dinner for members and volunteers on Sunday, March 10. The meeting is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. followed by a thank you dinner from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The meeting will be in the theater for a mix of business and entertainment. A Irish dinner will be held in the Madrona Room. RSVP to 376-2281, ext. 4.
Taylor 2 Dance performance See dance world’s legend Paul Taylor’s Taylor 2 Dance Company at Orcas Center on Saturday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. Choreographer Paul Taylor is the last living member of the pantheon that created America’s indigenous art of modern dance. Taylor has set works to an eclectic mix that includes Medieval masses, Renaissance dances, baroque concertos, classical symphonies, and scores by Debussy, Cage, Feldman, Ligeti and Pärt; Ragtime, Tango, Tin Pan Alley, Barbershop Quartets and The Mamas and The Papas; and telephone time announcements, loon calls, and laughter. There will be a master class for intermediate/
advanced modern dancers with Taylor 2 Dance Company members on Saturday, March 9 from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Center Stage. Pre-registration is required at 376-2281 ext. 3.
Tickets for Taylor 2 Dance Company are $25, $19 Orcas Center members, $11 students, and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 3762281 ext. 1.
Park and Rec spring activities
Spring into Fashion! New Spring items arriving Daily! Come in & ask about our Easter Bonnet Contest. Happy Spring!
Fashion Fairy Consignment
Eastsound Our House Building Winter Hours Open 11 to 5 pm Wed ~ Sat
OPALCO member bylaw change initiative by Winnie AdAms
Orcas Island Rowing is holding its annual “24-hour row” early in the season this year. The crew team will be outside the Island Market grocery store continuously on a rowing machine. They typically take 30 minute relay sessions. The coaches and a few of the more enthusiastic parents help, but it’s mostly the junior crew members. They will be rowing from noon on Friday March 8 until Saturday, March 9 at noon. The event is a traditional rite of passage for the team as well as a low key fundraiser. The kids will be running a car wash at the same time as rowing Saturday morning across from the market in the Key Bank drive through. For more info: OrcasIslandRowing.org or martin@OrcasDigerati.com.
ities taking place in the evenings, including adult basketball, volleyball and futsal soccer. Help maintain Orcas Island’s world-class skate park at the Skate Park Clean Up on March 23 at 10 a.m. Bring gloves and helping hands. Park and Rec will also be offering a spring bike tune up in April. To keep up to date on lat-
Guest column
OPALCO board of directors
24-hour rowing event
Spring is just around the corner and Orcas Island Park and Recreation District has a new lineup of activities including spring soccer, spring running club, naturalist hikes and more. All Island Baseball and Softball start on March 18. Find sign up information at www.orcasparkandrec.org. T-ball starts April 22. There are also adult activ-
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est activities, sign up for the online newsletter at www. orcasparkandrec.org or call Marcia at 376-PARK.
A group of co-op members on Lopez Island, organized as the Lopez Chapter of Citizens for Safe Technology, recently submitted a petition asking for a change to the OPALCO bylaws related to the construction of wireless facilities. The number of signatures was adequate to meet the bylaw requirements for member initiated amendments (Article XIV, Section 2), however, the proposed language of the bylaw change was ruled impermissible by OPALCO’s legal counsel on the basis that is was in conflict with OPALCO’s articles of incorporation. The letter sent to Citizens for Safe Technology is available to view at http:// tinyurl.com/cfbemxh. This letter is a legal response because, as a cooperative formed and organized under Washington state law, we are sometimes compelled to respond formally and for the record. However, on a higher level, I want to make it clear that the member concerns being raised are taken seriously and will factor into the decision about whether or not it makes sense for OPALCO to move forward with the broadband initiative. We hear loud and clear that some members are concerned
about the use of wireless technology. We will be talking with members and seeking solutions when we get to the stage of finalizing system design. We have begun a member engagement effort, meeting with community groups and organizing opportunities for member dialogue and input into the process. Please let us know if you have a group we can meet with. We have also made the findings of our extensive study available online at www. opalco.com and are compiling resources and Q&A for member consideration on our website. A group of co-op members has created an online forum to discuss the project at www.sjcbroadbandforum.org. This project will move forward only if there is substantial support (more than half of the membership) from the community. It’s a complicated and multi-faceted initiative and we know that people have a lot of questions. Please stay tuned; we will be publicizing opportunities to ask questions and give feedback on the project on multiple islands. Check the website (www. opalco.com) often for updates, and contact us at broadband@opalco.com if you have a specific issues or question you’d like us to consider.
Nominate a neighbor for a ‘Good Steward’ award Do you have a friend or neighbor that you’ve noticed takes exceptional care of their land? Help the Stewardship Network of the San Juans recognize individuals, students, teachers and businesses that have made a significant impact on the conservation, preservation, and protection of the San Juan Archipelago. Submit a nomination by March 25.
Previous years’ winners, nomination forms and award guidelines can be viewed on the Stewardship Network website at http:// w w w. s t e w a r d s h i p s a n juans.org/. Awards will be announced in the media the
week of April 8 and at the Earth Day Celebration on Lopez Island on Saturday, April 20. Call 378-2461 or or email kathleenf@sjpt.org for more info.
Jean Henigson’s ballet, creative, modern and folk classes for toddlers through adults
376-6549
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