INSIDE
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving &
Energy Matters
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Annual Wreath Sale
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Catholic Hospitals Forum
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The
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VOLUME 36, NUMBER 48 • NOVEMBER 26, 2013
OPALCO is ready to speed up broadband project By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter
Advocates of broadband expansion and local companies who want to deliver the latest technol-
ogy to San Juan County followed up on recent communications problems with renewed motivation to bring broadband technology to all county businesses
and residents. The meeting room at the Orcas Power and Light Cooperative San Juan Island office was jammed Nov. 21 with about 50 islanders who wanted to see how the co-op Board of Directors would respond to the week-long telephone and internet outage. The OPALCO board
grabbed the brass ring, unanimously endorsing a resolution directing management to speed up deployment of broadband infrastructure to San Juan County. The board resolution, written and moved by San Juan Island board member Glenna Hall, authorized use of OPALCO
money in an effort that Board Chairman Chris Thomerson estimated might cost as much as $12 million over the next three years. The resolution specified that, “Deployment will be supported and funded by OPALCO assets, including equity and rates.” The resolution was accompanied by more than
an hour of public input and almost an hour of board discussion. Some members of the public, such as Wally Gudgel of Orcas Island, Mark Anderson and Mark Madsen of San Juan, and Victoria Compton of the San Juan County Economic SEE OPALCO, PAGE 3
PIP returns to Lopez Elementary By Lorna Reese Special to the Weekly
There’s a newly outfitted cozy playroom at the Lopez Elementary School this fall, home to a nationally acclaimed project developed to help primary grade children make the most of their school experience. PIP, familiar to parents and teachers throughout San Juan County from its earlier local success, is the acronym for the long-standing Primary Intervention Program developed at the University of Rochester, New York.
Lopez Union Cemetery Annual
Wreath Sale
Crafts & Gifts Nov. 29 to Dec. 7 10 am – 2 pm
at the Union Cemetery Workshop
Pre-order your fresh wreaths by calling 468-3032 from 10 am to 2 pm
Sold
! Out
nk Tha
! You
Fifth Annual Jingle Bell Dinner This Saturday, 6pm
Lopez Community Center Auction catalog available for preview in the Lopez Island Hospice & Home Support office, 10am-3pm Monday - Thursday For more information: 468-4446, admin@lihhs.org
All proceeds to benefit Lopez Island Hospice & Home Support
Once a week kindergarten through third grade children participating in the school-based program come to the imaginatively stocked play room with a specially trained caring adult to engage in one-on-one sessions of child-led play. “Awesome,” was one first grader’s reaction to the abundance of figures, sand-play trays, miniature planes, cars, people and animals, art and dress-up supplies, and much more. “Kids can express what they experience through play when they don’t have words,” says Carol Weiss who is co-ordinating the program with Jeanna Carter, school counselor. A licensed marriage and family therapist with 40 years of experience, Carol is especially interested in young children and their families, and has been consulting to PIP programs in the islands for 20 years. “Some children need additional individual attention,” SEE PIP, PAGE 8
Annual Craft Fair Sat., Dec. 7 10 am-3 pm and Sun., Dec. 8 10 am-3 pm Available at: Sunset Builders, Ark Veterinary Clinic, & Lopez Animal Protection Society. For more info: www.sanjuanco.com Search “dog license”
Come join us for a wide array of arts and crafts from all islands.
Any questions, call Kathy or Sydney 468-2233.
Islander
Resort
Family owned since 1997
JUST RELEASED!!
Friends of the Library Book Sale!
Designed By Nancy Bingham
RED BAG SALE!
“Series B” LOPEZ ISLAND JUNK BOND Available from SWAP booth at Pre-School Bazaar, Islander and Pt. Stanley School craft fairs, and Paper Scissors on the Rock
JUNK BOND SALES SUPPORT OUR LOPEZ DUMP!
FRIDAY, NOV. 29 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Lopez Island Community Center
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! FILL A FREE “RED BAG” FOR $20!
Huge selection of used books, videos, and audiobooks! Shop at The Friends Corner Store New merchandise at great prices! All proceeds benefit the Lopez Island Library