The
INSIDE Evans guest column
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Evening music
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‘Symphony of Soil’
Anne Willis photo
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www.islandsweekly.com 360-468-4242 • 800-654-6142
The tales trails can tell There are two new trails on Lopez this year and they have interesting stories. First, when “Six,” a resident of Hamlet House, wanted to visit the Lopez Island Medical Clinic, he got his walker and oxygen bottle and hiked down Village Road, sharing the roadway with trucks, SUVs and fast drivers. Lopez Community Trails Network was concerned about this dangerous situation. County Public Works Department had no plans or funds to solve this problem, so LCTN volunteered to pay for and build a trail from the Hamlet to the clinic. Today there is a trail along Village Road, on either side of the entrance to Lopez Village Market, within the road right of way. Funds and labor were donated. LCTN was helped by many employees of Public Works, Aaron Dye of LVM, the Hamlet, Lopez Sand and Gravel and the Hancocks whose property adjoins the trail. There are plans to extend it all the
way to Washburn Place. The second trail is actually the “first” trail for LCTN as it was this idea that sparked the organization of Lopez Community Trails Network three years ago. Eric Hall had the idea of connecting Hummel Lake with Spencer Spit with a walking route by building a trail from Port Stanley Road to Bakerview Road. That way you could walk from the Hummel Lake Reserve at Center Road all the way to Spencer Spit. Public Works, who owns the old landfill site on Point Stanley Road, generously agreed to give an easement for a trail along the south border of the landfill site. Partnering with San Juan County Land Bank, LCTN planned, designed and has almost completed the first part of that connection. It’s a public trail, so give it a try. It’s just south of the entrance to the landfill site. There will be a “Love Your Trail” work party at the Landfill Trail on Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. We’ll
Lobo Basketball Home Games 1/12 Girls 11:30 Boys 1:30
SYMPHONY OF THE SOIL Sunday, January 13th, 4:00 pm
be removing some fencing and cleaning up debris. Bring warm clothes, gloves and old clothes. There will be a public meeting at Woodman Hall on Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. when LCTN will present the results of the survey about trails that was conducted last May. A trail policy statement will be developed from the discussion. Just like San Juan Island Trails Committee and Orcas Pathways, we will submit that policy statement to the San Juan County Council to be adopted as a resolution. A trail building clinic, taught by professionals from the Washington Trails Association with help from the Bureau of Land Management and San Juan County Land Bank, is being planned for the spring. It will be open to anyone,
Islands’ eekly W
VOLUME 36, NUMBER 2 • JANUARY 8, 2013
Contributed photo
Bob Walker of LCTN with a group of Burlington student volunteers at the Landfill Trail site. especially trails groups and other stakeholders in trails throughout San Juan County, like Parks, Public Works, and conservation organizations. It will be a three-day
event and cover planning, design, construction and maintenance of trails. Stay tuned for announcements. LCTN meets bi-monthly. There’s a website with more
information: LopezTrails. org. LCTN has sponsored trail building classes, National Trails Day events, as well as planning, designing and constructing trails.
Islanders get first crack at camping reservations at San Juan County Parks San Juan County Parks is continuing its “residents only” opportunity to prereserve campsites at county parks in 2013. This year, the county parks program offers local residents a chance to make prime-time summer camping reservations between Jan. 14 and Feb. 28. The
offer is available for camping at county managed parks on San Juan, Lopez (Odlin), and Shaw islands, and at the county fairgrounds R.V. campsites. Camping reservations for the general public will begin March 1. All three county campgrounds are located in water-
front parks with spectacular views, beautiful beaches, and small craft boat launches. The fairgrounds offer R.V. camping with water and electrical hook-ups, close proximity to downtown Friday Harbor and a public beach (Jackson Beach). Scheduled campground renovation and road construction at Odlin County Park on Lopez Island during the summer season, May 1 through July 31, may impact
campers. Camping rates will be discounted 20 percent at Odlin during construction. Proof of residency is required for the residentsonly early reservation program. Info is available on the county parks website: sanjuanco.com/Parks/ camping.aspx. Local residents can email (parks@sanjuanco.com) or call the Parks Department, 378‑8420, for a reservation form.
Lovel ELECT
Pratt COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1
Lopez Community Center Potluck ~ Film ~ Discussion
Bring your own plate and utensils For more information call Michele 468-3618 Lopez Locavores Film Series – www.LopezLocavores.org
PROVEN LEADERSHIP FOR ISLANDERS
www.lovelpratt.org Paid for by the Committee to Elect Lovel Pratt 2551 Cattle Point Road • Friday Harbor WA 98250