Journal of the San Juans, May 15, 2013

Page 1

Great outdoors

Open House: Get a look at what goes on at the Labs page 20

Island Scene

The smile, the voice, the audience command... that’s all Ruthie page 11

Real Estate Guide

It case you missed it, look inside for the April local real estate guide Insert

Journal

The 75¢ Wednesday, May 15, 2013 Vol. 106 Issue 20

of the San Juan Islands

County prevails in ‘open meeting’ lawsuit

www.sanjuanjournal.com

End draws near for Frits’ house By Scott Rasmussen Journal Editor

By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter

A court has found that the state Open Public Meetings Act was not violated by the County Council by discussions in a joint council/staff “implementation committee” prior to passage of the CAO updates by the county council. On May 9, Island County Superior Court Judge Alan R. Hancock issued a summary judgement in favor of San Juan County in the case of Citizens Alliance for Property Rights Legal Fund v. San Juan County. Subject to an appeal, which CAPR spoke person Gordy Peterson said “is very likely,” the decision essentially dismisses the case. CAPR Legal Fund sued the County in San Juan County Superior Court in October, seeking to have the Critical Areas Ordinances invalidated because some 20 closed meetings were held involving three county council members and various county staffers to discuss implementation aspects of the draft CAO package. After these meetings, the entire council met, discussed and passed the package late in 2012. The case was transferred from Superior Court Judge Don Eaton’s purview to Judge Hancock after CAPR attorney Dennis Reynolds successfully argued that Judge Eaton should See prevails, Page 4

Contributed photo

Once home of Journal publisher/editor Virgil Frits (1907-1958, photo inset), the former pawn shop on Second Street, across the road from San Juan County Courthouse, is slated to be demolished at the end of May.

New face for historic FH home

Acanthus Antiques’ Jenny Prescott and mother Barbara enjoy the celebration and gathering in which Prescott was presented the town’s ‘Partners in Preservation Award, May 9.

By Scott Rasmussen Journal Editor

The blood, the sweat, they’re now more like distant memories. But the tears, they’re never far from the surface. Jenny Prescott fought back a well of emotion recalling how the hours turned into months, and months turned years, as she and friends, and family, painstakingly dismantled, renovated and finally restored the 1913 Roark House on Argyle Avenue to somewhere

No one would argue that the funky little home with the old pawn shop sign on Second Street in Friday Harbor has seen better days. By the end of the month, however, it will likely have seen its last. “There was some interest from a few people in it for awhile, but that was before they found out about the asbestos and the lead,” said Frank Mulcahy, director of the county Public Works department. “Everyone has come to the same conclusion, that the cost to move it would be more than it’s worth.” The former home of Journal editor and publisher Virgil Frits has been owned by the county since the early 90s. For years, it was leased out to a Friday Harbor businessman for a pawn shop. It no longer suitable for use — mortar gone between the bricks, no insulation, infestation of post beetles, for starters — and the time has come demolish and remove it, Mulcahy said. The county is taking bids and Public Works hopes that the demolition work can begin, and be completed by the end of May. That the demolition would take place during Historic Preservation Month, just may be fitting

IN YOUR COMMUNITY SHOP SAN JUAN ISLAND FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

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very near the charm and integrity that the Craftsman-style bungalow once had in its heyday. But in the end, it was a labor of love. “I fell in love with this house,” Prescott said. “And because of it

I’ve found out so much more about the history of Friday Harbor. And now I’m part of it.” The efforts of Prescott, owner of Acanthus Antiques, and company, like mother Barbara and See Home, Page 4

2011 Special Award; Second Place: General Excellence from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association

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This page supported by the following organizations:

Journal photo / Scott Rassmussen

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Available at participating dealers while supplies last. © 2011 STIHL

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