John Waugh photo
INSIDE
The moon in a “cottage cheese” sky, taken from Fisherman Bay road, Lopez, near the Islander, looking east on March 7. See more photos taken by islanders on pg. 8.
Letters
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Island history recorded
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LCLT Meeting
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Orcas author publishes Barefoot Bandit book ers during landings. His exploits grabbed national headlines It’s a story that took over a local writer’s during a crime spree that spanned nine states and prompted an international manlife. Bob Friel’s interest in teen burglar Colton hunt. His owes his victims an estimated $1.4 Harris-Moore began as personal curiosity. million in damages. Harris-Moore, who will turn 21 in a few The saga later became the focus of a meticulously researched book, “The Barefoot weeks, pled guilty to 33 state charges and Bandit: The True Tale of Colton Harris- seven federal charges, including stealing an Moore, New American Outlaw,” published aircraft, possession of firearms and piloting without a license. He is serving a six- and by Hyperion this month. Friel says it’s been a unique opportunity seven-year sentence concurrently. In August 2011, Harris-Moore signed a to write about a crime story that he actually movie deal worth $1.3 million, all of which experienced. “We lived through the birth of this thing,” will go to his victims. The 20th Century Fox he said. “Orcas was ground zero for this film will be based on Friel’s work and the … and I was able to separate fact from fic- screenplay is being written by Oscar-winner tion. I think people will enjoy seeing what Lance Black. Friel’s book is part true crime adventure, really went down in what has become island part journalist’s memoir. He conducted hunlore.” dreds of interviews with victims, witnesses, Friel will be signing copies of his book on Friday, March 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at law enforcement, and locals who tried to Darvill’s Bookstore. He will give proceeds capture Harris-Moore, as well as the young from books sold at Darvill’s to local chil- man’s friends, family, teachers, and prison buddies. Friel turned over every stone in dren’s charities. Camano Island native Harris-Moore was Harris-Moore’s past. He worked on the book from September on the lam for two years, hiding out in Orcas 2009 to January 2012. While Friel says he Island homes and the woods before finally wrote a “very balanced” account of Harrisbeing caught in July 2010 in the Bahamas. He reportedly spent time hiding in an air- Moore’s story, he discovered painful details plane hangar owned by Mike and Dawn about the young man’s childhood. Because Parnell, waiting until they flew off so he he never committed violent crimes, took could drive their car to their home, eat their drugs or joined a gang, Friel hopes the food and wear their clothing. He stole six Barefoot Bandit’s saga will illuminate the boats and airplanes from San Juan County, struggles of disadvantaged children. “There are people who have known him crashing one plane and damaging two othsince he was a kid and tried to help him … this could have worked out The only Symphony Orchestra totally differently, there are in the San Juans : Island Sinfonia! points where his life could Sunday March 25th at 3:30pm have changed,” Friel said. “Those same people and Grace Church
The
Islands’ eekly W
VOLUME 35, NUMBER 12 • MARCH 20, 2012
Creole and zydeco music on Lopez
By COLLEEN ARMSTRONG Islands’ Sounder Editor
SEE BANDIT, PAGE 5
Lopez Center
Contributed photo
Jeffrey Broussard, shown above, and the Creole Cowboys will perform on the island Sunday, March 25, 7 p.m. at the LCCA. Read more about Broussard on page 5.
The power of Island Sinfonia By Cali Bagby
Ginni Keith always loved music, she even majored in the oboe in college, but for 25 years music just evaporated from her life – she even sold all her instruments. But when she moved to Lopez everything changed. She joined the choir – and for the last 12 years she has immersed herself in sound, even adding a few instruments to her repertoire. “Now I just can’t get enough,” she said. “I practice eight hours a day and if I get sick of playing one instrument I just move on to the next.” In the upcoming show, Keith will be the soloist in Mozart’s “Exsultate, Jubilate,” featured in the Island Sinfonia concert March 25, 3:30 p.m. at Grace Church. The concert, conducted by Ned Griffin, of
Live Music & Dance Show!
Sunday March 25th, 7:00 pm
Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys
Buy your tickets now … $18 adult / $10 youth; Appetizers and Beverages for sale tickets: Paper Scissors on the Rock, Blossom Organic Grocery, Lopez Book Store, LCCA office and www.lopezcenter.org
Shaw Island, features a vast variety of composers, starting with the baroque period with Handel’s “Water Music” written for the King of England as he floated down the Thames on the royal barge. The concert will also feature works by Haydn, Schubert, Gershwin and Eric Satie, a French composer known for being colorful and eccentric. Keith said the concert will have something for everyone. Keith, who plays the flutes, English horn, trumpet and double bass, has been a member of Sinfonia for about a dozen years. The orchestra has members from all four ferryserved islands and plays on those islands every year. This year, the string section has been enhanced and energized by Orcas stuSEE MUSIC, PAGE 8