6 — Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Journal
The Journal of the San Juan Islands welcomes comment on issues of local interest. Letters to the editor must be no more than 350 words in length and must be signed by the writer. Include address and telephone number for verification purposes. Anonymous letters will not be published. Guest columns are proposed by the newspaper
Opinion Letters to the Editor
Young volunteers make a difference
Our annual Dollars for Scholars San Juan Island letter campaign, which is a primary source of funding for this important program, is going out this week, but we can’t hope to reach everyone through direct mail. This letter to the editor is one more way we can raise the community awareness for the important work being done by our young volunteers in our community. As you may already know, the mission of Dollars for Scholars San Juan Island is to support higher education and promote volunteerism among our community’s youth. Students who have completed a minimum of 80 hours of volunteer community service during their high school career are eligible for a scholarship from our organization. This past year Dollars for Scholars San Juan Island was selected as one of the top chapters across the nation. We are honored to know our mission has been recognized and hope you will see this as further proof
that your support is well directed. Here are a few things you might not know about Dollars for Scholars San Juan Island: n There are 75 students currently participating in volunteer activities for the San Juan Island community. n Students can receive matching funds for their Dollars for Scholars scholarship through participating institutions. n We are part of a national organization known as Scholarship America, which supports Dollars for Scholars chapters across the county. Our chapter can help you, your family or your organization establish a scholarship for San Juan Island students by: Providing 501(c)3 status, holding, administering and distributing scholarship funds, vetting viable candidates for your scholarship, including assisting or overseeing the selection process. If helping to grow volunteerism in our community appeals to you, please join us with your financial support of a donation to our scholarship fund by visiting us on the web at www. dollarsforscholarssji.org, or by mailing your support to: Dollars for Scholars,
Purrrfect ‘Fest’, CATS says thanks
Just Imagine, our 2012 Holiday Festival, rocked, on Dec. 1. Not only did it raise more than $112,000 for San Juan Community Theatre, but it also brought our community together for holiday cheer, great food, dancing, entertainment and so much more. Thank you to everyone — CATS, volunteers, sponsors, donors, staff, attendees, media — for helping to make this such a fantastic event and helping your Theatre “Reach for the Stars!” Pat Nieman President, SJCT Board of Trustees
You deserve our applause, credit
As commissioners for San Juan County Public Hospital District #1, we want to express our greatest appreciation to all the for-
The Journal erred by failing to note its policy on identifying affiliations of guest columnists — generally done at the end of such a column — in an editor’s note at the conclusion of a letter, “Useful information revealed”, pg. 6, Dec. 5. Failure to do so may have left an impression, as it did with the writer of the aforementioned letter, that two recent guest columnists neglected to identify their group affiliation, and that the Journal took it upon itself to do so. Such an impression, in either case, would be false, inaccurate and unfair. We regret the error. n
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Accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism. If you believe we have erred, call Editor Scott Rasmussen at 378-5696, ext. 5050, or send an e-mail to srasmussen@ sanjuanjournal.com
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or prospective writers. Columns must be no more than 500 words in length, and must be signed by the writer. Send letters to Editor, Journal, 640 Mullis St., West Wing, Friday Harbor 98250. Or send an e-mail to: srasmussen@sanjuanjournal.com. The Journal reserves the right to edit for length, accuracy, clarity, content and libel.
SJI, P.O. Box 3366, Friday Harbor, WA, 98250. We are a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization and your donation is fully tax deductible. June Arnold President, Dollars for Scholars
For the Record
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The Journal of the San Juan Islands | SanJuanJournal.com
Publisher Roxanne Angel, ext. 1050 publisher@sanjuanjournal.com Office Manager Frances Bacon, ext. 1550 fbacon@sanjuanjournal.com Circulation Manager Gail Anderson-Toombs, 376-4500 circulation@sanjuanjournal.com Classified Advertising Journal Classifieds, 800-388-2527 classifieds@soundpublishing.com Display Advertising Roxanne Angel, ext. 1050 rangel@sanjuanjournal.com Howard Schonberger, ext. 5054 hschonberger@sanjuanjournal.com
mer staff of the Inter Island Medical Center. You all have worked hard to provide healthcare to our community over many years and many of you have worked on the planning and process of making Peace Island Medical Center happen. You all suffered financial stress with less pay and more work in these last years. We honor that as well, and your willingness to go forward. You also dealt very well with the many changes this past year and the transition to Peace Island Medical Center. Thank you all so much for your service and your commitment to make this transition possible. We wish you all the best as you take on this next journey in healthcare for San Juan County. You are: Tina Barnes, Rachel Bishop, MD, Haria Burke, Cynthia Cazacopol, RN, Cindy Conrad, RN, Rebekah Deitz, RN, Marlena Gutierrez, Emily Hallock, RN, Cathy Hansen,
Graphic Designers Scott Herning, ext. 4054 sherning@sanjuanjournal.com Kathryn Sherman, ext. 4050 ksherman@sanjuanjournal.com Newsroom Editor Scott Rasmussen, ext. 5050 srasmussen@sanjuanjournal.com Reporter Steve Wehrly, ext. 5052 swehrly@sanjuanjournal.com Mailing/Street Address 640 Mullis St., West Wing Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Phone: (360) 378-5696 Fax: (360) 378-5128 Classifieds: (800) 388-2527
Katherine Holt, Pamela Hutchins, Auralee Jameson, RN, Loren Johnson, MD, Denise LeDuc, Rosalie Le Vee, RN, Susan Mahoney, MD, Joann Mayo, RN, Ryan McCullough, Angela Menjivar, R.T.R,, Tony Hasselman, R.T.R., Kathleen Oliver, M.L.T., Cher Renke, Joanne Runyan, RN, Julie Stock, Doug Tuttle, MD, Carrie Unpingco, Kimberlee Van Der Kolk, ARNP, Beth Williams-Gieger, and Michael Wingren, MD. We also want to thank the Inter Island Healthcare Foundation and the Medical Center Guild for their continuous support throughout the life of the Inter Island Medical Center. You have been the many people working behind the scenes to help sustain our medical center here on SJI. Thank you all. hospital commission
Lenore Bayuk, J. Michael Edwards, Keri Talbott, George Foster, Rosanna O’Donnell
Copyright 2012 Owned and published by Sound Publishing Co. Founded Sept. 13, 1906 as the Friday Harbor Journal. The Journal was adjudged to be a legal newspaper for the publication of any and all legal notices, San Juan County Superior Court, May 6, 1941. The Journal of the San Juan Islands (ISSN number: 0734-3809) is published Wednesdays by Sound Publishing Co., at 640 Mullis St., Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Periodicals postage paid at Friday Harbor, Wash. and at additional mailing offices. Annual subscription rates: In San Juan County: $38. Elsewhere: $58. For convenient mail delivery, call 360-378-5696.
Can use of ‘killer’, orca is the name
In the Journal for Wednesday, Dec. 5, page 3, there appears an article regarding the de-listing of “killer whales.” I wish to strongly denounce the term “killer” and its use to describe these wonderful animals. Am I a “killer human” because I eat beef, chicken and fish? These creatures have a perfectly valid name. They are orca whales and should be referred to as such. David T. Hoopes San Juan Island
Freedom, rights demand defense
Saturday, Dec. 15 is National Bill of Rights Day, a day to honor, to celebrate, and to reaffirm this nation’s commitment to civil liberties, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights. See LETTERS, Page 7
The Journal also publishes the Springtide Magazine, The Book of the San Juan Islands, The Wellness Guide, the Real Estate Guide and special sections related to business, education, sports and the San Juan County Fair. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Journal of the San Juan Islands, 640 Mullis St., West Wing, Friday Harbor, WA 98250-0519 Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, National Newspaper Association.