OPINION Islands’ Sounder
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Editorial
To the Editor:
Transitions at the island newspapers
Message from the Olga Strawberry Council
C
hange can be a time of sadness and exuberance, as we bid farewell to one chapter and open up another. Here at the Sounder, our long-time employee Gail Anderson-Toombs is retiring after seven years of administration and circulation management for our three island newspapers. Her creativity, hard work, green thumb and compassion have been an integral part of our team. As we’ve weathered changes, Gail has been a steadfast supporter and we thank her for all of her efforts. We now welcome her replacement, Nicole Matisse Duke, into the fold. She moved to Orcas in 2011 and has been involved in a variety of projects at such places as Doe Bay and Orcas Center. Nicole holds a Master of Business Administration and has a background in personal wealth management and public relations. She lives on Orcas with her husband Dwight Duke and their white lab Daisy. Please say hi to Nicole at our office on Main Street. She will be handling our circulation and administration department. Cali Bagby has been promoted to editor and sales rep of the Islands’ Weekly on Lopez Island. This promotion comes with much excitement and responsibility, as Cali will be serving the community in full. This encompasses managing editorial content and helping business owners with their advertising needs. She will continue to work as a reporter and web editor at the Islands’ Sounder. Phil Hankins has joined the San Juan Island news group as a sales representative. His territory is predominantly in Anacortes, but he will be serving the Journal of the San Juan Islands, The Islands’ Weekly and the Island’s Sounder. His goal is to “help people and make a difference.” Phil is an incredible asset to our team. He has worked at the Arkansas Gazette and as a radio DJ in Hawaii during his many travels across the country. – Colleen Smith Armstrong, Sounder editor and publisher – Roxanne Angel, Journal and Weekly publisher
Public meetings THURSDAY, JULY 25 • Orcas Island School Board, 5 p.m., school library.
FRIDAY, JULY 26 San Juan County Land Bank Commission, Lopez Island Library, 10 a.m. Public com-
SOUNDER THE ISLANDS’
The Islands’ Sounder (USPS #764-230) is published weekly for $38 a year to San Juan County addresses; $58 per year to Washington state addresses; and $58 per year to out-of-state addresses by the Islands’ Sounder at 217 Main Street, Eastsound, WA.
ment time is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
THURSDAY, AUG. 1
Thursday, August 1 (3 pm). Eastsound Planning Review Committee, 3 p.m., Eastsound Fire Station.
The Olga Strawberry Council is the non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation created in 2005 to purchase, restore and manage the historic 75-year-old Olga Strawberry Barreling Plant, better known as the Artworks Building. Last Friday’s tragic fire impacted many lives. The building housed three businesses (The Artworks Cooperative, James Hardman Gallery, and Cafe Olga) and was a source of income for 46 Orcas Island artists as well as the cafe owners and staff. The building itself is a treasure that will now need to be restored. It is unclear at this point how much funding will be needed, as the damage is still being assessed and insurance coverages evaluated. We wish to extend our utmost gratitude and admiration for our Island fire departments that swiftly and tirelessly tended to the fire, the aftermath, the rescue of treasured artworks and the ongoing investigation, and to EMTs and community members who came early in the morning and throughout the day to do whatever they could to assist. The Olga Daze Celebration had a tremendous turnout and garnered an amazing $2,000 in donations to help the businesses. Several individuals have offered spaces to house Café Olga, The Artworks Cooperative and the James Hardman Gallery until they can move back into the fully restored Barreling Plant building. The outpouring of support from the community has been heartwarming and inspiring. The Olga Strawberry Council is able to facilitate donations for the businesses and the building restoration. If you would like to make a donation, you may send a check payable to OSC to PO Box 214, Olga, WA 98279. If you would like to direct your contribution to one specific business or toward the building restoration, make a note in the memo line of your check. If a donation is not assigned, it will be used for the area of greatest need. Updates on our progress will be posted on our web site at www. olgastrawberrycouncil.org, so visit often. Our heartfelt thanks again
Publisher/Editor Colleen Smith Armstrong editor@islandssounder.com Staff Reporter Cali Bagby cbagby@islandssounder.com County Reporter Scott Rasmussen srasmussen@sanjuanjournal.com Advertising Sales Colleen Armstrong carmstrong@soundpublishing.com
Circulation/ Gail Anderson-Toombs administrative gandersontoombs coordinator @islandssounder.com Marketing Artist Scott Herning sherning@soundpublishing.com Kathryn Sherman ksherman@sanjuanjournal.com Legals/Office Staff admin@islandssounder.com
Wednesday, July 24, 2013 • The Islands’ Sounder
to this amazing community, and we are looking forward to a grand re-opening soon. Patsy Stephens, Beverly Johanson, Edith Thomsen, Dave Durand, Madie Murray, John Louton and Susan Bentley Gordon Olga Strawberry Council Board
Library Picnic a success I want to thank everyone who joined us on July 13 during our picnic to celebrate 20 years in our current building. Everyone seemed to have such a good time with the music, pulled-pork and coleslaw, kids’ games, and door prizes, that we are going to consider celebrating our milestones more often! Incidentally, along with our building anniversary, this is also the 25th anniversary of the Orcas Island Library District. I also want to thank the people who helped to make it such a success – and will apologize in advance for anyone I missed. The Lions Club provided tents, food, and the beer garden (especially Mike Jonas, Toby Hiller, Jim Biddick, Leif, Mac Trunkey, Kim Rose, Grant Stone, Loreen Arnold, and John Lofland). Our dedicated Library staff members all worked hard on every aspect of the event: Kathleen Lunde, Holly King, Karen Hiller, Martin Arnold, Nita Couchman, Mary Pugh, and Tony Ghazel. Some of our volunteers included Steve Jehly, Evan and Jimmy King, Perry Pugh, Tim Lunde, Lori Arnold, and Pierrette Guimond. Morgan Meadows painted faces, and NAPA donated and operated the bouncy house. Our musicians included Lisa and Emy Carter, Kellen Comrie, and
Mailing/Street Address P.O. Box 758, 217 Main Street, Eastsound, WA 98245 Office (360) 376-4500 Classifieds (800) 388-2527 Fax (360) 376-4501 Copyright © 2012 by Sound Publishing, Inc.
Madi Jane West. Tom Welch gave a succinct and entertaining summary of library services on Orcas Island, starting early in the 20th Century. Also, our current Library Trustees, Donna Riordan, Rachel Newcombe, Margaret Payne, and Tom Fiscus, helped to serve food and welcome attendees, as well as saying a few words about Trustee Alan Lichter, who recently passed away, and whom we greatly miss. Soon, we plan to schedule further events, both regular programming such as J.A. Jance on August 7, and focus groups and other opportunities to help us to better understand how strongly the community will support a project to add onto our building. Also, please join us at the Friends’ Library Fair on August 10, which this year will take place on the Library grounds. Phil Heikkinen Library Director
Moran needs more care and attention For many years, I have visited the San Juan Islands during the summer months on bicycle camping tours. A highlight has always been to spend a few daytime hours at Cascade Lake in Moran State Park on Orcas Island, if not to camp there. Not anymore. Two days ago, I arrived at the lake-side beach and swimming area for the first time in three years, looking forward to a swim in the lake on a hot, sunny day. I discovered to my disappointment, nay shock, that the area has been taken over by a small flock of Canada geese. The entire grass area fronting the lakefront is an awful mess
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