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COMMENTARY | Letters to the editor. [4&5] CLIMATE ON ORCAS | Experts share their observations [9] ARTS | Concerts, classes and more coming soon [10]
SOUNDER THE ISLANDS’
Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County
www.islandssounder.com
WEDNESDAY, January 23, 2013 VOL. 46, NO. 4 75¢
M&Ms musical trio wins Orcas Has Talent Junior Eight adult finalists move on to the big show at Orcas Center on Saturday, Feb. 9 by CALI BAGBY Staff reporter
The Orcas Island Grange came alive last Saturday as six young performers shared their talents on stage. Contestants shined with a variety of skills from singing bluesy solos to original tunes to group numbers with enthusiastic choreography at the Orcas Has Talent Junior Show on Jan. 19. “It’s great to see growth every year,” said Donna Laslo, the event producer. Some vocalists made the audience cry, while others got them clapping their hands and tapping their toes. The junior competition had more than 100 eager audience members filling every seat in the house and cheering on a varied group of young stars. Performers were rated on their stage presence, technical ability and showmanship. All net proceeds from the junior and adult shows go to Orcas Island Prevention Coalition to support
drug-free youth. Sabrina Bailey, 11, Paris Wilson, 12, and Cameryn Thompson, 11, also known as the M&Ms, wowed the crowd with sassy dance moves and killer vocal stylings, performing “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” by Selena Gomez. The three young performers walked away with not only first place but the chance to compete and win $500 against the adults at the Feb. 9 Orcas Has Talent final show at the Orcas Center. The girls have been best friends for the last two and a half years and said they were happily surprised by their first place title. They’ve been practicing twice a week for the last couple of months. “I’m really excited, we were hoping for the best,” Sabrina said. Singer Stormy Hildreth, 10, came in second place for the juniors, earning her the opportunity to make a cameo performance at the final Orcas Has Talent Show. Singer/songwriter and guitarist
Cali Bagby/Staff Photo
L-R: Cameryn Thompson, Sabrina Bailey and Paris Wilson won the Orcas Has Talent junior competition. Madi Jane West, 14, came in third place. The winners were chosen by all-star judges Gene Nery, Susan Osborn and Bob Shipstad. Later that evening, I, along with 11 other adult contestants, performed during the regu-
lar auditions. Those who made to the final show are: The band Allmost Canadian (bander members Julia Bailey, Christian Bailey, Kellen Comrie, Emy Carter, Lisa Carter, Brynna Gregg), sax player Gregory Books, singer Yuko
Candidates field questions during forum by COLLEEN SMITH ARMSTRONG Editor/Publisher
Colleen Smith Armstrong/Staff Photo
Council candidates from Orcas, left to right: Rick Hughes, Lisa Byers and Greg Ayers.
It was standing room only at the Orcas Island election forum, with audience members spilling into the lobby. They kept the questions firing at the District 1 and District 2 council candidates, covering everything from the Critical Areas Ordinance to ferry service during the Jan. 16 meeting. Orcas Councilman Rick Hughes, Lisa Byers and Greg Ayers are vying for two spots in April’s general election. Councilmen Marc Forlenza and Bob Jarman and former Councilwoman Lovel Pratt are the three San Juan Islanders facing off in the Feb. 12 primary. Hughes, Byers and Ayers agreed that the recently approved Critical Areas Ordinance needs some minor tweaking, which will likely take place before the Growth Management Hearings Board. “I am pleased it passed,” said Byers, director of OPAL Community Land Trust. “I applied
some of the CAO rules in an OPAL project, and it wasn’t that hard or scary … but we need to refine it so it’s easy to understand and make sure it’s flexible.” Pratt recommended “moving on” from the CAO because there are “so many other important county issues.” Jarman and Forlenza were adamant that the ordinance still needs a lot of work. Many in the audience brought up inadequacies and inconsistency with the planning department, particularly in regards to code enforcement. Hughes said he has three major goals: localization (a code enforcer on each island), simplification (simplify the code), and communication (an independent hearing board that could hear community grievances). Ayers said the planning department needs “a goal and vision” while Byers wants to see more leadership for the department.
SEE FORUM, PAGE 6
Horikawa, pianist Kellen Comrie, magician Matthew Laslo-White, comedian Conrad Wrobel, singer Jake Perrine and this reporter and singer Cali Bagby. For slideshow of the finalists, visit www.islandssounder.com. Tickets for the Feb. 9 show are on sale at Darvill’s Bookstore.
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