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Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County
Wednesday, January 24, 2018 VOL. 51, NO. 4 75¢ islandssounder.com
Islanders march in solidarity – page 16
Got green waste? Need mulch? Check out ORS
by Mandi Johnson Staff reporter
Burning yard debris adds carbon monoxide to the environment and directly contributing to climate change along with being hazardous to the health of humans. There is an alternative to burning
yard waste, however. It can be taken to Orcas Recycling Services. “We decided a couple of years ago that it was crazy to have people pay to put green waste … in the garbage and truck it to the landfill 400 miles away. That just makes no sense at all,” ORS Executive Director Pete Moe said.
“So, one of the first things we did when we took over a few years ago [was create] the green waste program.” ORS will take green waste, garbage and noxious-weed free, store it and grind it into mulch for $100
per ton. That’s ⅓ the cost charged for garbage. “A lot of the stuff we’ve got now has composted really nicely. It’s really good stuff,” Moe said. “We’ve got this product for sale. … This is the first, real full-circle
Stand Up Men’s message is resonating State by Mandi Johnson Staff reporter
A movement is spreading like wildfire across the country, fueled by brave individuals coming forward to share their stories of domestic and sexual abuse. The men of San Juan County are doing their part by uniting to stand up for victims. The Stand Up Men’s group was formed in 2015 as part of SAFE San Juans, which provides services to victims and educates the community about domestic violence and sexual assault. It all began with a fundraiser seeking 100 “stand up” men to donate $100 each. “There was such an overwhelming response, and many of the men asked what else they could do in addition to giving money. So this action group naturally evolved,” said SAFE San Juans Board President Angela Douglas in a Rotary presentation on Jan. 12. “These stand-up men are helping spread awareness in the community.” In 2017 more than 280 hotline calls were made to SAFE San Juans, and it assisted 64 domestic violence survivors: five male, 59 female and 10 between the ages of 18 and 24. The agency also supported 48 survivors of sexual assaults in 2017: seven male and 41 female; six between the ages of 13 and 17 and 12 between the ages of 18 and 24. “I could go on and on about all the statistics and how things need to change. But [what] I really want you to understand is that these statistics are only from the men and women who stood up, who reported it or came for help,” said Douglas, who lives on
Orcas. “I am so proud to be part of an organization that is bringing awareness, making a change, helping victims and educating the community.” The Stand Up Men is a group of community members who work together to spread the message that men are willing to be active against domestic and sexual violence. It’s a grassroots movement that began on Friday Harbor and is coordinated by SAFE San Juans Prevention Advocate Isaac Berg, who lives on Lopez. “SUM (Stand Up Men) is important to me personally because I love my community and want it to be safe for everyone. Even with how peaceful and idyllic it is here, intimate partner violence and family abuse still exist,” said Berg. “As a husband and father, I’m happy to join with other husbands, fathers, brothers and grandfathers who want to stand up for this in many ways.” From accusations this past fall against film producer Harvey Weinstein to those against Roy Moore, a former Alabama Supreme Court judge who ran for a Senate seat, allegations against actors, directors, producers and politicians are on the rise. The #metoo movement, for survivors to share their stories, launched on social media. Nearly all attendees of the 2018 Golden Globes wore black in a show of solidarity for the anti-sexual harassment group Time’s Up. Closer to home, the weekly sheriff ’s log contains calls regarding domestic assault and abuse. “Other men should be interested in joining SUM because society needs more visible examples of
SEE STAND UP, PAGE 4
capital budget passes by Hayley Day
Journal reporter
The state legislature approved the allocation of nearly $4 billion for construction projects across Washington on Jan. 18. The decision comes roughly six months after Washington lawmakers closed the last, elongated legislative session without passing the two-year capital budget, holding up San Juan County projects including those for affordable housing developments, land conservation and salmon recovery. “It put a strain on many departments and created uncertainty,” said San Juan County Councilman Jamie Stephens about the delayed
Mandi Johnnson/staff photos
Above: ORS Director Pete Moe. Left: The mulch available. product that we’ve come up with. We’re taking local stuff that used to go into a landfill and we’re making a product out of it that can be resold into the community.” The green waste disposal project hasn’t been advertised much, Moe said, so the community hasn’t really taken advantage of it yet. He said he hopes to get the word out and have more people take advantage of both disposing of their yard waste and purchasing locally
SEE MULCH, PAGE 4
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