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Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County
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WEDNESDAY, October 10, 2012 n VOL. 45, NO. 41 n 75¢
Orcas School library reopens
Viking power
Students help with fundraising effort
by COLLEEN SMITH ARMSTRONG Publisher and Editor
Colleen Smith Armstrong/Staff Photo
Orcas Island High School celebrated homecoming with a high energy assembly and parade through Eastsound on Friday, Oct. 5. Pictured above is the senior class giving it their all during a tug of war with younger students in the high school. Each grade and the sports teams lip-synched to songs and performed dance routines. For a slide show of the festivities, go to the community section of our website, www.islandssounder.com. For coverage of the homecoming sports games, see page 8.
Madison Todd’s favorite book is “Gargoyles Don’t Drive Buses.” A fourth grader at Orcas Island School, Todd loves to read and check out books from the school library. But she and her fellow students were unable to do that this year after budget cuts shut the library’s doors. Todd went into action, participating in the Orcas Island Education Foundation’s “Unwrap the Library” fundraiser. She, along with sixth grader Sabrina Bailey, sold the greatest number of wrapping paper packages. They came in at nearly $1,000 each. Bailey reached out to relatives near and far via internet sales. Most of Todd’s sales were from going door to door. “I sold them to my family, to people at Lavender Hollow and to
Islanders still supporting Haiti relief work by CALI BAGBY Staff reporter
She knew the money would eventually run out. And when it did, Rosedanie Cadet started eating canned tuna and starchy breadfruit growing on native trees. Occasionally she picked carrots and greens from the garden to add to her meals. “I always expect to run out of money,” she said. Whether on a broken-down car she needed for travel or something as small as a $10 crab trap to help locals – the costs add up and the needs always outweigh the funds. But Cadet is not the type to operate under the fear of poverty. She’d rather use whatever finances are available, even if it means emptying the last of her pockets and putting every coin to the best use. And the coin does keep coming thanks to
supportive islanders and Cadet’s own bank account. Cadet founded Helping Hands Noramise, in the northern town of Limbe, Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, which according to the International Organization for Migration has left 634,000 people living in displacement camps and according to the Haiti government left a death toll of 316,000. Noramise provides social and developmental programs for income, pride and social activism. Cadet said it’s not a charity program – everyone must volunteer to receive benefits like education, fresh food from their garden or chlorine for water purification. Cadet has traveled back and forth between Haiti and Orcas since 2010. While on U.S. soil she works at The Kitchen restaurant, supporting herself and Normamise projects. On her recent trip, from April to August, she stopped in Florida to attend a conference on
sustainable development in Haiti for a week. Then she attended an aquaculture training course in southern Haiti with two Noramise members from Limbe. “I don’t live there so it’s important to have work started without me, after initially providing training and resources,” Cadet said. “I set up the first meeting and then I step back, allowing them the opportunity to work it out.” It’s a philosophy Cadet has adopted over the years because if locals can’t figure it out on their own, it won’t work long term. But giving others responsibility does not always mean that things move swiftly. Projects take time and money, and most of all need people who are committed – on both islands. When people on Orcas ask how they can help, her response is “what do you love to do?” She said when people are passionate they are
See HAITI, Page 6
Michelle Reed photo
Sabrina Bailey (left) and Madison Todd (right) were top sellers in the “Unwrap the Library” drive. They are pictured above filling out the fundraising thermometer. my friends,” she said. Thanks to the students’ hard work, donations from the community and a commitment from the school board, the library reopened on Oct. 8. Initially, it will be staffed four days a week for three to five hours a day. A chunk of the overall $43,000 goal has been met.
See LIBRARY, Page 6
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