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letterS FROM 5 Lopez and the county were addressed. She came over to Lopez to listen to our concerns, to advocate for our issues, and to help find solutions to our problems. She puts in the time and energy that it takes to understand the issues, making her a very valuable resource for those priorities identified as important on each island. Lovel’s soft-spoken, intelligent, dedicated energy for doing the homework on important issues, both inside our county and in Olympia, actually gets the
heavy lifting done while others sit by and complain. As others have said of Lovel Pratt, she will do the most good for the most people and the environment. Page Read and Marney Reynolds Lopez Island
Support for Byers I have known Lisa Byers for many years, observed her ability “to get things done,” and seen her grow to become an outstanding community leader. She has a strong work ethic, a keen business sense, and excellent managerial skills. From
her years of experience, Lisa has an excellent understanding of the diverse issues one faces in a county-government leadership position. Moreover, she is a leader who listens, can see all sides of issues, and seek balance in addressing them. Lisa is eminently qualified to represent and serve us all. Bob Myhr Lopez Island
Vote for Hughes I am going to vote for Rick Hughes for county council. Here’s why. I am convinced that Rick will work for the best interests of all the people of San Juan County and the place we live. Growing up and living where your parents and grandparents grew up teaches respect and concern for the people and the place where we live. This doesn’t happen over night. As a fourth generation north sounder myself, I am concerned about a persons relationship to place and people. I ask that before you cast a vote, you look beyond a simple list of accomplishments and evaluate how Rick treats people when others might not be watching. Then show Rick the respect he deserves by voting Rick Hughes for county council. It’s the right thing to do. Roger Adams Eastsound
Support for Hughes, Jarman In response to Don Pencil’s letter: yes, people, speak up! I too have the same concern.
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We will not have a balanced council with both Lisa and Lovel being elected. We do need Jamie to continue as he is the only experienced council member from his district. Believe me, I do appreciate what both Lovel and Lisa have done for our community and their abilities, but at the same time a balance of how we go forward is imperative for the overall health of our islands. How long can we continue to ask the “middle class” to support the issues that are eroding their ability to continue to stay here? Those who have ample resources may not be concerned. I wholeheartedly support Hughes and Jarman because of their background and experience. They will come into office with a fresh yet open approach as to address what will be best for the islands overall. Velma Doty Eastsound
Concern about PAC Have you noticed the nasty political attacks coming from blogs on the right? Now there’s a Political Action Committee. Their ad states that they are “nonpartisan.” Yet the PAC was first announced on the San Juan County Republican website: http://webcache. googleusercontent.com/ s e a r c h ? q = c a c h e % 3 AW k r z s g A 2 v 9 8 J % 3 Asj c r p. org%2Fnew-pac-of-interest-for-our-county-councilelections%2F. Who is funding this new Republican supported “Trust Islanders?”This PAC doesn’t appear to be listed yet with the Public Disclosure Commission. But the Republican Party’s site makes it clear that this PAC is devoted to raising
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money and spending big bucks to make sure the three candidates not endorsed by the Democrats win this race. How is this not a Republican endorsement? How is this non-partisan? Meanwhile, the letters to the editors and the bloggers just keep on telling us how we’re all supposed to keep quiet and be good little non-partisan candidates and voters. The county’s prosecuting attorney has repeatedly stated the charter only mandates the election itself be non-partisan. Meanwhile, the candidates are free to be endorsed. The parties are free to give their endorsements. It’s called free speech. That’s how it works in all the other charter counties in Washington state that have non-partisan elections. So please quit the posturing and just drop the fig leaf already. Howie Rosenfeld Friday Harbor
response to rosenfeld Your letter posted in local papers has come to our attention. We are grateful to you for having posted a picture of our email, written to our neighbors and friends on March 9th. There is nothing in our email to indicate an endorsement by a political party, but rather a group of concerned islanders who are distressed about the future direction of our county. Your letter appears to be yet another attempt at divisive partisan politics. We wish to clarify that the San Juan Republican Party did not ask us if they could post our email to their site, nor are we members of the San Juan Republican party. We are not officers of the PAC, however, we are supportive of Trust Islanders! Dave and Jane Cable San Juan Island
Crossroads lecture on the ‘Big One’ by CALI BAGBY Staff reporter
The earthquake is coming. Experts just don’t know when it will hit. They know it’s happened before. In fact, magnitude 9 Cascadia earthquakes occur here from intervals as short as 300 years and as long as 800 years. The last “megathrust” Cascadia earthquake occurred in 1700. Recent studies by Oregon State University geologists say there is a 10 percent chance that one could happen in the next 50 years. If that prediction makes you want to run for the mainland, stay in your chair because Tim Walsh, chief hazard geologist of the Washington Department of Natural Resources, has good news. “Most people will survive the earthquake by doing the right thing,” Walsh said. “Surviving is possible. Absolutely.” On Sunday, April 7, 2 p.m at Orcas Center, Walsh will explain just what a “megathrust” Cascadia earthquake is in his lecture “The Next Big One: Earthquake and Tsunami Risks in the San Juan Islands.” There will be a Q&A session and a reception. The talk is part of the Crossroads Lecture Series, which brings a variety of speakers to Orcas Island to share their expertise on timely and important issues. Walsh will discuss the risks and potential impacts of such a major earthquake, the resulting tsunami, and how it will affect islanders. The 45-minute lecture will also cover how residents will survive this disaster. Walsh estimates that islanders will have an hour and a half to get out of harm’s way, which essentially means getting to higher ground. “People should not afraid, but should be aware of all of those kinds of things that go wrong and put them in perspective,” Walsh said. “A Cascadia subduction zone earthquake is a rare event, but it’s best to know what to, not dwell on the event.” Walsh earned bachelors and masters degrees in geology from UCLA, and has been practicing geology in Washington for more than 32 years and has taught at South Puget Sound Community College for nearly 30 years. Walsh has performed geologic mapping in many parts of the state – as well as tsunami hazard mapping, active fault characterization, and landslide and abandoned coal-mine hazard assessments. This is his third lecture in the islands and he recalls most islander being receptive to his warnings. “Are we ready for the next big one?” Walsh said. “To paraphrase George Bernard Shaw, we learn from experience that we don’t learn from experience.” Tickets are $10 at Darvill’s Bookstore, at www.orcascrossroads.org or at the door. Some complimentary tickets are available in advance at the Senior Center.