Local
May is fawn season; four tips to help keep them out of harm’s way
Island Scene
Fiddle in the middle; violinist headlines benefit page 9
page 5
Editorial
This time Olympia got it right; kudos for new law that helps get rid of derelict boats page 7
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, May 22, 2013 Vol. 106 Issue 21
of the San Juan Islands
www.sanjuanjournal.com
Holes Discovery day, in the deep emerge in boat deal
SJ Fire department in, EMS out in deal for new sheriff’s boat
By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter
By Scott Rasmussen Journal editor
The San Juan County Sheriff ’s Department remains on course to acquire a new and improved emergency response boat, built by federal dollars, despite the fact that several public safety agencies that previously were expected to chip in for its maintenance and operations have abandoned ship. San Juan Island Fire Department, however, along with Shaw Island fire district, remains onboard. In a 2-0 decision, fire district commissioners Albert Olson and John Jensen last week gave the department a green light to negotiate a maintenance agreement with the Sheriff ’s office. Because of a conflict created by dual roles as both a county councilman and fire district commissioner, Bob Jarman, heeding advice of the county prosecutor, recused himself from the May 16 vote. Fire Chief Steve Marler said maintenance of the boat will likely cost the department no more than $47,000 a year, “at worst case,” adding that a pressing need to replace the fire boat Confidence, now 12 years old, and the greater fire-fighting capacity planned for the new boat, weighed heavily into See Holes, Page 4
Board member quits co-op
Journal photo / Scott Rasmussen
Right, Pema Kitaeff of Friday Harbor Labs holds up a Sunflower Star, of the echinodermata phylum, like sea urchins clams and snails, for Andrew Rezabek, 5 (middle) and sister Katelyn, 3, to examine at the Friday Harbor Laboratories annual Open House, Saturday.
Citing “very different perspectives on matters of governance, and management resources,” George Mulligan, a member of the OPALCO board of directors since 2008, has resigned. In his letter of resignation, Mulligan wrote, “To me, these differences are serious: they foretell real limitations in OPALCO’s ability to meet near term challenges and opportunities.” Questioned about those challenges and opportunities, Mulligan
Interest in office uneven Town’s first female mayor wins second term, unopposed The first round of 2013 election filings ended Friday, May 17, with 47 candidates filing for election to 34 public offices. Eleven offices attracted no candidates. A special filing period begins Wednesday, May 22, and ends Friday, May 24. If no filings are made for any of these positions, the current officeholder is automatically re-elected to serve another term. If the officeholder resigns, the commission in question appoints a replacement. Open races may be found at wei.sos.wa.gov/county/sanjuan/en/ Pages/default.aspx. Friday Harbor Mayor Carrie Lacher and 21 other candidates are unopposed for election. Only one race, Position 4 on the Friday Harbor Town Council, has three candidates, necessitat-
ing a primary election on Aug. 6 for that one position. Incumbent county Deputy Sheriff Felix Menjivar is opposed by former Friday Harbor Planning Commission Chairman Farhad Ghatan and Matt W. Mayor Carrie Lacher Shildneck. In other contested races on San Juan Island, two-term incumbent Port of Friday Harbor Commissioner Mike Ahrenius is opposed by New England Antiques owner Daniel Miller, former county councilman Howie Rosenfeld faces off against Mark Schwinge for Public Hospital District Commissioner position 1, and incumbent San Juan Island Park and Recreation Commissioner Scott Zehner is opposed by Ian Paterson for position 3. Unopposed San Juan Island candidates are: See Uneven, Page 2
2011 Special Award; Second Place: General Excellence from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
See quits, Page 4
Cover
Publishe d by The Journal of the San Jua Hetrick n Islan © ds, Islan ds’ Sou nder and Islands’ Weekly
paintin g by Beth
Springtide 2013 Places to go…things to see. Pick up your copy of the Journal’s annual visitor’s guide, today.