Wedding bells Demuth and Reid engaged, August wedding
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Scene
Flying Karamasov Brothers top New Old Time Chautauqua show page 9
Column
The greatest threat to democracy? Columnist Howard Schonberger pcks the Super Pac page 7
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, March 7, 2012 Vol. 105 Issue 10
of the San Juan Islands
Olsen cues final bow
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GOP picks Romney — by a nose By Scott Rasmussen
SJCT director draws the curtain after 12-year tour By Scott Rasmussen
Just how far is Merritt Olsen willing to go to promote a show? The answer is South Dakota, evidently. After 12 years at the helm, Olsen last week announced that he will be stepping down as executive director of San Juan Community Theatre at the end of May. Olsen and his wife, Janet, who recently retired from her position as band director of Friday Harbor High, will be return- Merritt Olsen ing to Cedar Rapids, South Dakota, the city where the couple packed up their bags a dozen years ago and then headed out to forge a new life on San Juan Island. The announcement comes on the eve of yet another theatre production, the Sound of Music, in which Olsen takes on the role of director. The Sound See Olsen, Page 4
Journal photo / Scott Rasmussen
Republican of Friday Harbor voting precinct No. 1 discuss and debate merits of presidential candidates, planks of the party platform and selection of delegates San Juan’s GOP caucus, Saturday, at the Grange Hall.
GMO free zone? By Cali Bagby Islands’ Sounder reporter
A petition seeking to make San Juan County free of genetically modified organisms has hit the streets. Initiative Measure No. 2012-4 needs 1,560 valid signatures of legally registered voters in the county, validated by June, in order to qualify to have the initiative on the November ballot, or the county council could also choose to enact it as a law. The measure would make it
unlawful to propagate, cultivate, raise or grow plants, animals and other organisms which have been genetically modified and provides for penalties and destruction of such organisms. “Given the San Juan Islands’ isolation from the mainland we are in an excellent position to truly be GMO-free,” said Ken Akopiantz of Horse Drawn Farms, on Lopez Island. “In protecting our island from the genetic pollution of GMOs we would be supporting our local farmers.” Akopiantz is the sponsor of the petition, and said he has the support of a broad spectrum of community members including teachers, farmers, health care professionals, scientists, food retailers, and other concerned citizens. Milene Henley, San Juan County auditor, said this is the first time
San Juan Island’s libertarian leanings hit full stride early on at the Republican party precinct caucus, Saturday, at the Grange Hall in Friday Harbor. In the end, however, San Juan’s GOP faithful joined their county counterparts in endorsing former Massachusetts governor and Republican front runner Mitt Romney’s bid for the party’s presidential nomination. But not by much. Romney drew a combined 62 votes in county GOP’s non-binding straw poll, eclipsing Texas Congressman Ron Paul’s total, 56, by only four. Rick Santorum tallied 52 votes and Newt Gingrich had 48. The walls of the Grange were lined by a standing-room-only crowd as party members pitched the merits of their favorites at the outset of Saturday’s two-hour caucus. “My biggest concern is big government, Marxist style,” Rene Polda said in support of GOP candidate Ron Paul. Others echoed Polda’s praise for the Texas Congressman and his ultra-conservative fiscal platform. “The most important thing to me is a balanced budget,” one party member said. “I don’t expect See CAUCuS, Page 4
Friday Harbor High School Honor Roll See the complete list of honor students, page 11.
The petition calls for a ban on growing anything genetically modified.
Meredith M. Griffith photo
See GMO, Page 5
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