Islands' Sounder, June 25, 2014 by Sound Publishing

OPINION Islands’ Sounder

Page 4

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Editorial

To the Editor:

The fun of fireworks

Thank you for sparing the daisies

hey’re sparkly and patriotic and symbolic. They are also dangerous. We would like to remind everyone that personal fireworks are not allowed anywhere in our beautiful county. The use of any type of personal fireworks presents a very real danger of injury and fire. “‘Safe and Sane’ fireworks sold on the mainland are intended to be used in the communities where they are purchased,” says San Juan County Fire Marshal Steve Marler. “Many of the fireworks sold on reservations are not legal anywhere in the state other than on Native American lands.” There will be some amazing fireworks shows presented by professional pyrotechnicians throughout San Juan County. Fireworks shows are planned at Roche Harbor, Friday Harbor, Eastsound, Deer Harbor and – the biggest one of all – on Lopez Island. Residents and visitors alike enjoy these shows. Speaking of the professional shows, the Orcas Chamber is in need of donations to help fund its fireworks display on July 4 over the waters of East Sound. “The Chamber believes the annual pyrotechnics show is an invaluable event that brings visitors to the island and delights hundreds of locals,” says Director Lance Evans. “And for the second consecutive year we are pleased to be working with Western Display Fireworks, one of the Northwest’s finest companies in the business.” The cost of putting on a fireworks show has increased over the years. With stricter marine and Homeland Security regulations and with a barge rental charge, the chamber can no longer absorb the $14,000 price tag into its normal operations budget. There are several sponsorship levels: gold ($500-plus), silver ($250plus) and bronze ($100-plus). With a sponsorship, your name is included in an Islands’ Sounder thank you ad, the chamber blast, an annual meeting announcement and the Facebook and other social media posts as well as recognition at July 5 Community Parade. To donate call 376-2273 or email info@orcasislandchamber.com. Donations can also be mailed to the Chamber of Commerce (PO Box 252, Eastsound) or dropped off at 65 North Beach Road. In addition, The Orcas Island Community Foundation has a fund for donations. Send in a check made payable to OICF, PO Box 1496, Eastsound, WA 98245, or donate at www.oicf.us. Note “Fireworks Fund” with your donation. “We value every dollar received, even if you can’t join our sponsorship levels,” Evans said. So even if you have $10 or $20 to spare, it will go a long way to helping us keep this Orcas Island tradition alive. And when we have a beautiful show to watch, who needs illegal fireworks?

Public meetings Thurs., June 19 • OPALCO board of directors, 8:30 a.m., Friday Harbor.

Tuesday, June 24

In the first letter I’ve ever written to a newspaper, I’d like to publicly express heartfelt thanks to the man who mowed the grass at the edges of the road from Eastsound to Rosario for sparing the parts with daisies on them and not cutting them! I was delighted to catch him and ask him before he cut those sections and even more delighted when I saw that he actually left them standing! They are especially charming this year and brighten my daily trips to town and back. He was so thoughtful and gracious to me, and I appreciated what he did, or didn’t do, so very much. What a wonderful gift. Thank you so much! Heidi J. Lindberg Eastsound

Lions’ BBQ benefits local students Several weeks ago, $17,500 in college and vocational school scholarships were presented by our local Lions Club to eight of our graduating seniors. Another $2000 was donated to help Oso landslide victims. A significant part of these donations is made possible by fundraisers such as the upcoming 39th

Almanac TEMPERATURES, RAINFALL ORCAS June 16 June 17 June 18 June 19 June 20 June 21 June 22

District, east side of airport, end of Cessna Lane, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 3 • Eastsound Planning Review Committee Monthly Meeting, 3 - 5 p.m. , Orcas Fire Hall.

• Eastsound Sewer and Water

SOUNDER THE ISLANDS’

The Islands’ Sounder (USPS #764-230) is published weekly for $38 a year to San Juan County addresses; $58 per year to Washington state addresses; and $58 per year to out-of-state addresses by the Islands’ Sounder at 217 Main Street, Eastsound, WA.

Publisher/Editor Colleen Smith Armstrong editor@islandssounder.com Assistant editor Cali Bagby cbagby@islandssounder.com County Reporter Scott Rasmussen srasmussen@soundpublishing.com Advertising Sales Colleen Armstrong carmstrong@islandssounder.com

June 25 June 26 June 27 June 28 June 29 June 30 July 1

High Low Precip 60 51 .16 72 54 — 68 53 — 68 54 — 67 49 — 70 48 — 72 51 — Precipitation in June: .62” Precipitation in 2014: 17.14” Reported by John Willis Olga SUNRISE, SUNSET Sunrise Sunset 5:11 a.m. 9:18 p.m. 5:11 a.m. 9:18 p.m. 5:12 a.m. 9:18 p.m. 5:12 a.m. 9:18 p.m. 5:13 a.m. 9:17 p.m. 5:14 a.m. 9:17 p.m. 5:14 a.m. 9:17 p.m.

Circulation/ Joanna Massey Administrative Coordinator jmassey@soundpublishing.com Marketing Artists Scott Herning sherning@soundpublishing.com Kathryn Sherman ksherman@soundpublishing.com Copy editor Maura O’Neill

Wednesday, June 25, 2014 • The Islands’ Sounder

Annual Lions Club Salmon BBQ, on Saturday, July 5 at the Eastsound Fire Station. Although Nancy and I have lived here for only three and a half years and I have been a Lions Club members for two and a half years, I continue to be amazed by the amount accomplished by this organization. Other fundraisers include renting tents, tables, and chairs, and the annual “Run for the Grub.” Service events include the annual Easter egg hunt, the quarterly blood drive, the health screening van, holiday fruit baskets, eyeglass and hearing aid programs, and the mobility equipment program at the Senior Center, which loans equipment to anyone on the island needing it. Most of these services are provided at low or no cost to the community due to the many hours of service provided by Lions Club members. My first introduction to the local Lions Club was at the annual Salmon BBQ in July 2011. As new residents we were made to feel welcome and enjoyed a wonderful meal among members of this wonderful community. This year’s Salmon BBQ is on Saturday, July 5 beginning after the parade at 1 p.m. and lasting until 7 p.m. Barbecued chicken is

also offered and take-out is available. There is a raffle with great prizes donated by local businesses, and the Eastsound firehouse is a wonderful venue for such a nice community event. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time on Friday afternoons at the Island Market, Saturdays at the Farmers’ Market, during the parade and at the actual event. Please consider making this part of your July 4th weekend plans. Steve Schaefer Orcas Island Lions Club

Loss of Sheriff’s Log We are extremely dismayed over the discontinuation of the Sheriff ’s Log. We have lost something that represents some of the most important values of a small town. Reading the Sheriff ’s Log was a regular reminder that each of us is not just an individual but also a part of our community. Each of us is accountable for our actions because what we do, good or bad, affects not just ourselves, but all of us. We wish there were some way to bring the Sherrif ’s Log back. Jean and Steve Henigson Orcas Island

WSF holds meeting WSF is holding a community meeting from 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Wed., June 25, with the San Juan County Council, at 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor. The meeting will be streamed live from the San Juan County website. Questions will be taken via email by writing coursem@wsdot.wa.gov. Discussion topics include route-specific issues, liquefied natural gas, new vessel construction, and long-range planning.

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