Sports
Scene
Boys bounce back from OT defeat; too much for Trojans down the stretch
Winter Carnivale features burlesque, art and music Jan. 20-22
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Editorial The floor is now open — the Land Bank Commission wants to hear from you PAGE 6
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, January 11, 2012 Vol. 105 Issue 2
of the San Juan Islands
Ranker backs equal unions
www.sanjuanjournal.com
Snowy owls here, but not to stay By Cali Bagby
SJ senator supports Gov.’s gay marriage legislation Journal staff report
Gov. Christine Gregoire will have support in the San Juans for her bid to put gay marriage on the books in the 2012 legislative session. State Senator Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, last week endorsed the governor’s proposed legislation, which, if approved, would make Washington state the seventh in the nation to allow same-sex m a r r i a g e s . Sen. Kevin Ranker Gay couples can legally wed in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont, and in the District of Columbia. As of today, Washington state recognizes “domestic partnerships”, and a law passed by the Legislature in 2006 prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing, insurance and lending. “Marriage is more than just a collection of rights and protections — it is the commitment between two people who See MARRIAGE, Page 4
Contributed photo / Steve Anderson
A juvenile snowy owl on South Beach in the San Juan Island National Historical Park. The photo was taken Dec. 3, around the time when sightings of snowy owls were coming in across the country in what is called an irruption.
Two snowy owls have been confirmed on the San Juan Islands by local bird experts. And one was caught behind the camera lens. It was Saturday afternoon and Steve Anderson was bored with just hanging out at his house. So he grabbed his camera and headed to South Beach in the San Juan Island National Historical Park. When he parked near Redoubt Road he spotted an owl perched on a fence post. It was white, and its body was practically covered with black streaks. It wasn’t until he got home and researched the bird he had photographed that Anderson realized he had seen a juvenile snowy owl on San Juan Island — a raptor that rarely stops on the islands. John Jensen a master birder, confirmed the bird in the photo as a snowy owl. “I was shocked,” said Anderson, who has been photographing wildlife for the last five years. “Everyone I’ve shown the picture to is really surprised … it was a treat.” Anderson’s photos were taken Dec. 3, around the time when sightings of snowy white owls were coming in from across the country in what is called an irruption, not to be confused See SNOWIES, Page 4
First-time parents Oshea and Andrew Vasquez with daughter Adelaide Pearline, born Jan. 5. Adelaide is San Juan County’s first boby of 2012.
First baby of the new year
REAL ESTATE in the
JANUARY 2012
San Juan Islands
Properties Bought & Sold ..................................... page 7
By Scott Rasmussen
More than $500 in gifts and prizes. A lifetime supply of bragging rights. And a pony, too? No wonder Adelaide Pearline was so anxious to make her presence known. Born Jan. 5, Adelaide arrived on scene in the wee hours of the morning, 3:25 a.m. to be precise, weighing in at six pounds, one ounce, and measuring 19 inches tall. And two weeks ahead of
Contributed photos
Journal photo /Scott Rasmussen
schedule, to boot. Still, she didn’t catch parents Oshea and Andrew Vasquez by surprise. Even though Andrew and Oshea
pulled up to the ferry landing moments before last Wednesday’s red-eye left the dock, and were the last vehicle allowed onboard, they arrived at Whidbey Island’s See DERBY, Page 4
2011 Special Award; Second Place: General Excellence from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
January Issue is now on the newsstands! Look inside this week’s Journal for the rest of the real estate listings