The
INSIDE Guest column
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‘Youth Speak Out’
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Trio of contested council races
tribute the energy and time Superior Court Judge demanded for an increasDon Eaton won a second ingly effective San Juan term by simply filling out County governance.” paper work and paying Rosenfeld identified his the candidate filing fee. “main concern” as getting Eaton is the only San Juan the county through the County official who transition of bringing is unopposed. “I am ready to take on the tasks on a new administraBecause he is tor and preparing the that await a group of citizen unopposed in a noncounty to deal with leaders who want to contribute the Charter Review partisan judicial election, Eaton will be the energy and time demanded Commission’s recomdeclared the winner if they for an increasingly effective San mendations, after the November pass. Juan County governance.” election. His name “I want to help write will appear on both the job description for – Friday Harbor businessman, Marc Forlenza the primary and genPete Rose’s replaceeral election ballots. ment,” Rosenfeld This is his first election after Friday Harbor, will see a con- said. As for the proposal being appointed to the job test between veteran incum- to reduce the council from in early 2010 after the death bent Howie Rosenfeld and six members to three, he of his predecessor, John O. Friday Harbor businessman said, “I’m okay with three, Linde. The filing fee rep- Marc Forlenza. Because although I would prefer we resents one percent of the only two candidates filed go to five, as long as everyannual salary of the elected for each position, after the body realizes the job will official. primary, all six candidates require full time from all Also filing locally for will advance to the Nov. 6 council members. election before the May 18 general election. In other races, there will deadline were candidates Forlenza announced his be primary elections for for three County Council intention to run for the 40th District state Senator, positions. council in a May 16 written and for U.S. Congressman In council District 1 (San statement that said, “I am from the 2nd Congressional Juan South), incumbent ready to take on the tasks District. Both races involve Lovel Pratt is opposed by that await a group of citizen Bob Jarman. Two newcom- leaders who want to conSee race, page 5
By Steve Wehrly
ers, Rick Hughes and Scott Lancaster, will compete to replace current District 4 (Orcas West) Councilman Richard Fralick, who is retiring from the council. District 3, representing
Lopez Island Baseball & Softball
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Cali Bagby photo
Sheriff’s Log
Islands’ eekly W
VOLUME 35, NUMBER 22 • MAY 29, 2012
The magic of an eclipse
Lopezian photographer Geroge Willis took these photos of the annular eclipse in Zion National Park, Utah, on May 27.
Ghostly remnants emerge from the sea By Cali Bagby
When Tom Averna looked down into the water next to his boat, he saw an object that looked out of place. He fished it out, and was surprised to find what appeared to be a survey stake with Asian characters on it – a possible remnant from the tsunami that ravaged Japan last year. “Just goes to show the power of the ocean currents,” said Averna, owner of Deer Harbor Charters on Orcas. And it’s not just small items that are floating toward Pacific Northwest shores. A rusty 164-foot Japanese fishing ship was spotted adrift off Haida Gwaii Islands in late March. The vessel is one of several being tracked by authorities after the March 2011 quake, which registered magnitude 9.0, and tsunami. Together, the events killed more that 15,000 people in northeast Japan. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its partners have iden-
tified at least three vessels, including the one in Canada, which were likely set adrift because of the tsunami. Canadian media reported in early May that a Harley-Davidson, with Japanese plates from one of the hardest hit areas, was found on the Haida Gwaii islands also off the coast of British Columbia. And a surge of debris is washing up on Alaska’s coastline including hundreds of black buoys. Even more disturbing, one oceanographer expects that human bones may wash up on northwest shores. The Japanese government estimated that the tsunami swept about 5 million tons of debris into the ocean, but that 70 percent sank off shore, leaving 1.5 million tons floating. There is no estimate of how much debris is still floating today. What does that mean for Lopez? You can found out more at “Lopez Preparing for the Arrival of Marine Debris from the Tsunami See tSunami, page 8
Learn How to Swim! Beginning and Intermediate Level Classes available the weeks of June 11th, 18th & 25th See the Lopez Summer Workshops brochure for registration details or call the LIFRC at 468-4117.