INSIDE
Contributed
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The fourth annual Day for the Bay is April 13. Read more on page 8.
photo/ Peter Cavanagh
Letters
Civil Discourse
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All State Player
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www.islandsweekly.com 360-468-4242 • 800-654-6142
The
Islands’ eekly W
VOLUME 36, NUMBER 14 • april 2, 2013
Community conversations | Part 3 By Weekly staff
The revamped three-person council was approved by the voters in November. The three members will be elect-
Saturday April 13
ed countywide from “residency districts” comprising San Juan, Orcas and Lopez and nearby smaller islands. Lovel Pratt and Bob Jarman
7:30pm Lopez Center
Featuring DRÓMENO
Greek & Balkan Dance Music With Thea Huijgen, dance instructor Adults/$10-$15 Youth/$5
Lopez Center
Piano Concert Featuring
Saturday April 6th 7:00 pm
Grisha Krivchenia
from San Juan are running for the District 1 position. Jarman is the current incumbent on the present six-member council. Pratt is a former councilwoman who was defeated by Jarman in a 2012 council race.
Bob Jarman
Weekly: What is the single most critical issue facing county residents? BJ: Our county residents are concerned about being able to make a living, provide for their families, and hang on to their property. Our economy in the islands is
going to be directly effected by the implementation of the Critical Area Ordinance and Shoreline Management Plan. Hardest hit will be the building trades, our small farmers, and property owners. We were able to push the implementation of the CAO forward to December, giving us time to hear the results of the lawsuits before the GMA Board. Adjustments and compromises need to be made so that our economy can grow stronger going forward with as few government encumbrances as possible, while maintaining our county’s rural character.
performing classical & original compositions By donation www.lopezcenter.org
✓OTE YES FOR
OUR LOPEZ SCHOOL
I take care of our school every day. We are decades behind what is needed. This renovation is a good value, half of what other schools are spending. Let’s come together and provide the best we can for Lopez kids. - Denny Jardine
Paid for by Yes For Lopez, 1937 Bakerview Rd., 98261 (360) 468-2474 www.yesforlopez.org • www.lopezislandschool.org
The Mobile Dental Van will be on Lopez May 3rd and 4th! Applications available at the LIFRC office (468-4117.) Priority given to those with no dental insurance, emergency dental needs and first-time dental van patients. The dental van will be parked at the Lopez Island Family Resource Center. The mobile dental van is sponsored by Fish for Teeth and the Lopez Island Family Resource Center and is supported by many generous volunteers.
LOPEZ CITIZENS FOR SAFE TECHNOLOGY PRESENTS Two Venues for Education & Conversation: SUNDAY April 7th/ 7pm/Port Stanley School COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: “From Financial Health to Biological Health: The problems with OPALCO’S WiFi Broadband Plan”
Contributed photos
Candidates from left to right: Lovel Pratt and Bob Jarman. Our council needs to find ways to promote commerce and sustainable jobs through technology, health care, the building trades, tourism, real estate sales, and agriculture so that our county residents can afford to live in these beautiful islands. Weekly: What issues or projects would you take a leadership role on if elected? BJ: I am currently a member of the Building Advisory Committee, and if re-elected, would like to remain on that committee. We are identifying and reviewing our outdated codes and codes that can be simplified, thereby streamlining the process of getting a building/land use permit. For example, “One stop shopping” (being able to go to one place without having to go to several different agencies). The committee is looking at better cooperation between our building and planning department staff to meet the needs of our citizens. I
want to work on boosting the morale of our county employees by building trust with the council though openness, honesty and mutual respect, which will in turn create better customer service. We want to set up office hours on Orcas and Lopez so those islanders’ needs can be met more easily. We’re also in the process of setting up a committee to hear complaints from builders and home/land owners regarding the permit process. The committee will be comprised of their peers and will bring the complaints forward with its recommendations to the council. This will eliminate people with permit complaints from having to go before the Hearing Examiner at the cost of $2,500 for the complaint to be heard. I believe this committee is vital to our community. Weekly: Which government agencies have the most influence on San Juan County, and See Q&A, page 5
SUNDAY April 21st/ 7pm/ Lopez Library
FILM: “RESONANCE-Beings of Frequency“ (Just released in 2013, this documentary from the UK reveals the harm we are doing by existing in an ocean of Man-made wireless technology.
Sunday April 21 • 7:30pm • Lopez Center Presented by the Utah Ballroom Dance Co. Adults/$15 Youth/$8
FACT: Lopez school costs comparisons: • Lopez cost per student 2012-2013 budget…….…$23,050 • Trout Lake cost per student 2012-2013 budget…..$14,450 • San Juan cost per student 2012-2013 budget…….$12,965 • Orcas cost per student 2012-2013 budget………..$13,261 SEE NEXT With passage of the school bond, cost per student on WEEK'S PAPER… Lopez will rise by at lease $5,000 and will exceed $28,000 next year and continue at this rate for 20 years
Will this increase in school spending FOR MORE FACTS ABOUT make our kids better educated? THE SCHOOL BOND
Paid for by Lopez School Facts Committee, 856 Shark Reef Road, Lopez, WA. 98261, nolopezbond@gmail.com
Our Buns are Back! Stop by and say hello! Opening Wed. April 3 Wed.-Sat. 7-5 • Sun. 7-4 Closed Mon. & Tues.
468-2133