Sports
Island Scene
Wolverines to host La Conner; league title on the line
Spotlight shines on Japanese art, culture, current events
page 8
page 9
Letters
Find out who’s backing whom — and why — in the latest race for County Council page 6-7
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, January 23, 2013 Vol. 106 Issue 4
of the San Juan Islands
www.sanjuanjournal.com
Ballot Pin for win bound; choices emerge
District stands by PIMC contract
By Steve Wehrly
By Steve Wehrly
In downtown Friday Harbor on a recent afternoon, one potential “man-on-the-street” gave a reporter the “you’ve got to be kidding” look and kept walking. Another, sipping coffee at the Crow’s Nest, said, “No. I’m too jaded.” A woman walked by briskly, saying “I’m here on business.” But longtime disc jockey and local realtor Pat O’Day jumped at the chance to talk about the February County Council election. “This election is absolutely chaos,” he said. “People don’t know why they’re voting again.” O’Day is referring to the fact that three part-time council members were elected to fouryear terms last November, the same election that approved county charter amendments, proposed by the Charter Review Commission, which eliminated the present six council districts in favor of three “residency districts” comprising Orcas, San Juan and Lopez/Shaw islands. All county voters will vote for all council members in a primary election on Feb. 12 and a final election on April 23. (The Lopez/Shaw district, because there are only two candidates, won’t be included in the primary.) The new full-time council will wield expanded executive powers, like the pre-Charter
Despite the litigious reputation of the ACLU, the San Juan County Public Hospital District again stood its ground when faced with questions about reproductive services and the subsidy from the hospital district to Peace Island Medical Center. On Jan. 17, the Public Hospital District responded to a letter from the ACLU which raised the question whether the annual milliondollar subsidy to PIMC violates state law and the state constitution by providing county tax revenues
Journal reporter
See Election, Page 4
Journal reporter
Journal photo / Scott Rasmussen
Friday Harbor’s Marquis Napier sizes up an opponent moments before pinning his La Conner rival in the Wolverines 36-34 team victory, their second against the Braves, Jan. 16, in Hall Gym. They host Anacortes, Thursday, at 5 p.m.
Vandalism spree spurs $250 reward The Town of Friday Harbor is offering a $250 reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the person, or people, who tipped over and shattered four large planters in the breezeway that connects Spring Street and Sunshine Alley. The planters were damaged beyond repair in an apparent case of recurring vandalism in the early morning hours of Nov. 19, Nov. 24 and, most recently, on Jan. 13. The town is offering the reward
See contract, Page 4
With its planter smashed intopieces, a root ball lies exposed in the walkway between Spring Street and Sunshine Alley in the wake of a wave of vandalism.
Love Stories
Contributed photo / Town of Friday Harbor
as a means to put an end to the disregard and destruction of public property, Town Adminstrator Duncan Wilson said in a prepared statement. “The purpose of offering this reward is to stop the ongoing
destruction of valuable property belonging to the citizens, and to ensure that these activities do not escalate to other serious offenses,” Wilson said. Replacement and resetting of See REWARD, Page 5
2011 Special Award; Second Place: General Excellence from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
The greatest love story of all time might be yours. Shop LocalSend us a true tale of your the Find best buys andromance; the perfect best-of-the-best will with be pubgift right at home this lished Feb. edition of13. the Journal ‘Shop (Entries: rangel@sanjuanjournal.com or Local’ guide. srasmussen@sanjuanjournal.com