Islands' Weekly, December 24, 2013

The

INSIDE

Concerns over jet noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3

School levy

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 George Wiillis photo

Sports update

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8

www.islandsweekly.com 360-468-4242 • 800-654-6142

Islands’ eekly W

VOLUME 36, NUMBER 52 • DECEMBER 24, 2013

Banner year for marriage in San Juan County and across the state.

“I think the numbers show a lot of people our taking advantage of this new found freedom,” San Juan County Auditor Milene Henley said.

“There was a rush at the end of the year because of the change in the law and we’ve seen a lot of people from out of state coming here to get married.”

Washington became one of 15 states plus the District

By Scott Rasmussen Journal editor

Turns out that 2013 is well on its way to being a banner year for love, honor and commitment in Washington state, and in the San Juan Islands as well.

Credit the legalization of same-sex marriage, at least in part, for the spike in the number of couples tying the proverbial knot, both at home

Lopez Center In Celebration of John Sangster

Friday Dec. 27th, 7:00pm ★

★

★

★★ ★

★

★ Proceeds to Lopez Center and San Juan Preservation Trust in memory of John. ★

★

Lopez Islander Resort NEW YEAR’S EVE

4 Course Dinner Special rty New Year’s Eve Pa Complimentary Glass of Champagne at the Tiki Lounge Party Favors!

Live music by the Isle Zen Band 9 to Close

Caesar Salad or Clam Chowder Choice of Seared Salmon or Prime Rib Homemade Dessert ALL FOR $24.95 per person Regular Menu also available

Reservations Recommended, 360-468-2233

Lopez Center

Presents

Saturday, Jan. 4th, 2014 5pm

LCCA 2013 SPIRIT AWARD RECIPIENT & FIRE/EMS RETIREMENT CELEBRATION POTLUCK FOR MARTY CLARK Please bring a potluck dish and your own place setting.

Organizers are planning a photo book. If you have a brief story, photo or letter of appreciation, e-mail it to Liz at jlmal@rockisland.com or bring it to the party.

Scott Rasmussen / Staff photo

Ron Hall (left) and Robert Herrmann were one of five local couples who applied for marriage licenses on Dec. 6, in 2012. of Columbia to legalize samesex marriage when voters approved Referendum 74 in November of 2012. The measure passed with 54 percent of the statewide vote and 71 percent of ballots cast by San Juan County voters.

In 2012, a total of 150 marriage licenses were issued by the San Juan County auditor’s office. That number includes nine issued to same-sex couples after Dec. 9, the date that the same-sex marriage law went into effect, but before the end of the year.

San Juan Island’s Karen

Kuester and Susan Moon were among the first in line at the auditor’s office once the law took effect. They paid the $60 license fee, abided the mandatory 3-day waiting

purpose to the couple’s longstanding relationship.

“We did feel different afterwards and I think we still have a feeling that things SEE MARRIAGE, PAGE 8

Sangster Family Band playing soon

Concert to honor and celebrate the life of John Sangster

By Cali Bagby Weekly editor

After John Sangster passed away suddenly in November, his children found it hard to imagine playing their scheduled “Sangster Family Band Concert” on Lopez. On the other hand, it was hard to imagine not doing the show.

“It felt like dad would have wanted us to do it,” said John’s son Jim. “It

would be a terrible thing to cancel.”

The band includes John’s wife Patsy, his two sons Jim and Johnny and his five grandchildren: Malcolm, 21, Stella, 16, Owen, 12, Lila, 13, and Sam, 9. The varied genres of music the band plays reflect the varied ages in the group. Their music ranges from swing jazz, rockabilly and other early rock and roll as well as

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period and got married on the winter solstice of 2012.

Even after more than three decades together, Kuester said marriage adds a new air of excitement and sense of

some modern songs.

You can hear the family band with a guest appearance by Stanley and Kip Greenthal on Friday, Dec. 27, 7 p.m. at the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts. Tickets are by donation. The concert is also a benefit for the Lopez Center Man-lift Fund and The San Juan Preservation Trust.

“We had planned this benefit show before he passed and we’ve decided to go ahead and do it as a celebration, and in honor of him, and because he’d have wanted us to,” Jim said.

This is the band’s second official performance on Lopez, but the Sangsters have been playing music on the island for many years.

John and Patsy Sangster became permanent residents on Lopez in 1988.

Jim and Johnny grew up in Seattle, but spent countless summers on Lopez and attended a year of high school on the island.

“We’d make music late into the night,” said Jim, recalling summer nights on his parents’ deck overlooking the water, watching his family with guitars and uku-

Saturday, Dec. 28

SEE BAND, PAGE 5

5 pm until 9 pm

Beer and wine offered • Complete Dinner, starts at 5:30 Dinner choices include, baked potato with lots of topping options and salad $5, w/ polish sausage add $2 • Bingo starts at 7

BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Community Calendar

FRI, DEC 24 SERVICE: Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, 9 p.m., Center Church.

Co-sponsored by the Lutheran Church in the San Juans and Grace Episcopal Church.

SERVICE: Christmas Eve

Service, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., Lopez Community Church.

An informal time of worshiping and focusing on the gift of the Christ Child.

FRI, DEC 27 EVENT: Sangster Family Band, 7 p.m., Lopez Center for

Community and the Arts.

Admission: by donation.

SAT, JAN 4 EVENT: Retirement Party and Spirit Award Recipient, 5 p.m., Lopez Center for Community and the Arts.

Please call Shawn 468-4389 or Suzanne 468-3074. If you have a story or letter of appreciation, email Liz Malinoff at jlmal@rockisland.com.

THURS, JAN 9 EVENT: Lopez School Proudly Presents Winter Arts Night,

6:30 - 7 p.m., Lopez Center for Community and the Arts. Art, Music, and Drama presentations by Secondary Students.

JAN 10 - 11 CLASSES: Growing a Great Business: “The 2 Day MBA,” Create a Business Development Plan on Jan. 10, 9 am – noon. Create a Financial Plan on Jan. 10, 1 – 4 pm. Create a Marketing Plan on Jan. 11, 9 am – noon. Create a Business Operations Plan on Jan. 11, 1-4

pm. Each session is $30.00, or the entire class is $75. Instructed by James Dunn at Lopez Library.

For info, call 468-4117 or go to www.lifrc.org.

Preregistration required.

SUN, JAN 12 FILM: Lopez Locavores Film Series presents “In Organic We Trust,” 4:30 p.m., Port Stanley School. A food documentary that looks beyond organic for practical food solutions such as farmers’ markets, school gardens, and urban farms.

Hot cider, tea, popcorn and lively discussion will accompany the film. Free admission, donations to the food bank appreciated.

SAT, JAN 18 EVENT: SalmonAtion, 5:30 7:30 p.m., Lopez Center.

Lopez’s volunteer salmon researchers bring the fifth annual SalmonAtion celebration and report.

Music is organized by Lance Brittain and Chicken Biscuit, treats by Bruce and Peter at Vita’s, wine from Lopez Island Vineyards.

News briefs OPALCO to raise rates 6 percent

The following was submitted

by OPALCO

At its November meeting, the OPALCO Board approved the 2014 budget for a total of $30,665,000, which includes a rate increase of 6 percent.

AA Meetings: Mondays - 7:30 p.m. at the Children’s Center Wednesdays - 4 p.m. Women’s meeting at the fellowship hall at Grace Episcopal Church Fridays - 7:30 p.m. at the Children’s Center Saturdays - noon at the Children’s Center Call 468-2809

Al-Anon: Saturdays - 9:30 a.m. at the Children’s Center, Lopez.

Call 468-4703.

The increase is necessary to meet the 2014 budget’s operating expenses, including a 9 percent Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) rate increase, significant construction projects to replace aging underground cables and preparations to replace a redundant submarine cable in the San Juan to Lopez crossing that was laid in 1977.

The board’s recent directive to accelerate broadband expansion has a neutral effect on the budget and rates. The

Carol Weiss, MA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Adult and Senior Psychotherapy

rate increase will be effective with the March billing.

As a nonprofit and member-owned cooperative, OPALCO delivers electricity at cost to 20 islands in the San Juans. The cost of service is determined through a variety of factors including an independent cost-ofservice study conducted every four to five years to make sure each member rate class is paying its fair share.

An update to the current study is scheduled in 2014.

OPALCO’s cost to purchase power from BPA is adjusted every two years. In the recent BPA rate case (effective Oct. 1, 2013), rates went up by 9 percent, which affected OPALCO’s financial health

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and ability to get financing in case of major capital expenses (like the submarine cable replacement) or emergencies. This increase is independent of the board’s Nov. 21 motion to “accelerate expansion of OPALCO’s … high-speed data infrastructure.”

The budget includes construction projects already slated for 2014 to build out the co-op’s communications infrastructure (also referred to as the backbone or middle mile). The board directive asks staff to accelerate that expansion and lift the moratorium on new fiber connections once system design, rates and policies are approved.

Any new connections would be made at the cost of service with a neutral effect on budget and rates.

Power rates will continue to rise for the foreseeable future as the Federal Columbia River Power

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Publisher

360.378.5696 Roxanne Angel publisher@islandsweekly.com Editor

360.376.4500

Cali Bagby cbagby@islandsweekly.com Circulation Manager 360.376.4500

Nicole Matisse Duke circulation@soundpublishing.com Display Advertising 360.376.4500

Cali Bagby cbagby@islandsweekly.com

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The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • December 24, 2013 – Page 2

Graphic Designers 360.378.5696

Scott Herning, ext. 4054 sherning@soundpublishing.com Kathryn Sherman, ext. 4050 ksherman@soundpublishing.com Classified Advertising 800-388-2527 classifieds@soundpublishing.com Mailing/Street Address PO Box 758, Eastsound, WA 98245 Phone: (360) 378-5696 Fax: (888) 562-8818 Classifieds: (800) 388-2527

Marijuana market news report

By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter

Lopez Business Hours Galley Lopez Islander Breakfast: Restaurant Saturday and Sunday Open at 8 a.m.

8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Lunch: Full menu until at 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily least 8 p.m. every night Dinner: Short-list menu 4:30 - 8 p.m. Sunday after 8 p.m.

4:30 - 9 p.m. Monday - Thursday 4:30 - 10 p.m. Friday - Saturday Fresh, Local, Good Affordable Food / Great Sports Fantastic Lounge Specials www.galleylopez.com www.lopezfun.com 468-2713 468-2233

System reaches capacity and market-rate power purchases (Tier 2 rates) increase to meet the demand.

Watch the Weekly for more information on how OPALCO is working with nonprofit organizations to increase energy and conservation efficiency and encourage local renewable generation.

“Working together, we can reduce our co-op energy load and mitigate the impact of regional rate increases,” say OPALCO representatives.

The approved budget will be posted online with the November meeting minutes.

Board packets are posted online at www.opalco.com one-week prior to each board meeting. Co-op members are welcome to attend meetings.

For more info, go to www. opalco.com.

On Nov. 26, the Washington State Liquor Control Board, which is charged with regulating “legal marijuana” after the 2012 voter approval of a legalization initiative,

released the first list of applicants for producing, processing and retailing licenses.

No applicants for any license were from Lopez Island.

Of 445 producer applications, 328 processor applications and 159 retailer applications, only 10 came from San Juan County - six “growers,” three processors and only one retailer.

The one application for a retail store is from “Evergreen State of Mind Smokeshop” of San Juan Island, but a business named “Island Grown Foods” at the same address also applied for grower and processor licenses.

Under WSLCB regulations, the same licensee can have both a “producer” and “processor” license, but a retailer license cannot be held by either a producer or processor.

The only individual person who applied for a license was Peter A. DeLorenzi of Friday Harbor, who applied for a producer (grower) license. The other applicants for producers licenses were Four Nineteen and 1/2 of Eastsound, Billy’s Goat (Greatest of All Things) of Orcas Island, NW Connoisseurs of Deer Harbor, and Dragonleaf of Friday Harbor. Billy’s, Island Grown and NW Connoisseurs applied for both producer and processor licenses. The license application window closes Dec. 19.

If more than one applicant files for one of the retailing licenses allocated to each of San Juan, Orcas and Lopez islands, a drawing will decide the winner.

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Postmaster: Send address changes to The Jour­nal of the San Juan Islands, 640 Mullis St., West Wing, Friday Harbor, WA 98250-0519.

Annual subscription rates: In County: $28/ year, $18/6 months. Out of County: $52/year, $28/6 months. For convenient mail delivery, call 360-378-5696.

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The Islands’ Weekly was founded in 1982 and is based on Lopez Island. The Islands’ Weekly is published every Tuesday and is

Guest Column

Concerns about jet noise

By Ande Finley Special to the Weekly

Citizens in the San Juans have recently learned about an Environmental Impact Study that is being conducted by the Navy to evaluate the potential environmental and health effects of adding 10 Growlers (EA-18G electronic attack aircraft) to the expeditionary force and 3 Growler aircraft to the training squadron at NAS Whidbey in Oak Harbor.

The Navy is also proposing to continue and increase growler operations at both Ault Field in Oak Harbor and OLF Coupeville and has agreed to a three-year program training Australian pilots to fly EA-18G’s, which will bring an additional 12 aircraft to NAS Whidbey.

Earlier this year Coupeville’s Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve were successful at getting a temporary suspension of flight training at OLF Coupeville

by filing a lawsuit, alleging that the field, built for World War II planes, does not meet Navy requirements for use with modern jets and has dangerous crash zones overlapping with homes and businesses.

The flights at OLF increased from 3,200 in 2010 to 13,300 in 2012 and that number is likely to go up with addition of new squadrons.

Their website (http://citizensofebeysreser ve.com/

Issues.html) characterizes the Central Whidbey experience of frequent flyovers with higher noise levels than ever before as “living underneath a full-time highvelocity runway.”

Lopez southenders are all too familiar with the impacts of the NAS Whidbey Growler program, which has now spread farther and farther north on the island.

Flights can occur any day of the work week and the invasive noise can go on until well after midnight, rattling windows at potentially damaging decibel levels even inside buildings.

Concerns among the island communities are not limited to the effects of noise levels.

There have been eyewitness reports of jet fuel dumping over Smith and Minor Islands west of Whidbey, both National Wildlife Refuges surrounded by the largest kelp beds in the Salish Sea, key to sea life in this marine environment. Impacts of jet fuel exhaust and emissions on air and water quality and agricultural activities need to be considered as well as the incompatibility of jet noise with the beauty and quiet on which the San Juan

economy, based in great part on tourism, depends.

As with the recent Cherry Point coal export terminal EIS, scoping is an early and open process where the public is invited to help identify issues to be studied.

The scoping period ends on Jan. 3, 2014.

If you share any of these concerns, make your voice heard at www.whidbeyeis. com and write your state and federal congressional representatives and your county council member. For more information and a sample scoping comments letter, contact Cynthia Dilling at seraphim@rockisland.com.

Quarterly review of San Juan County finances

By County Auditor Milene Henley Special to the Weekly

Third quarter is the neglected stepchild of quarterly financial reporting. During the time when I should be reporting on the County’s third quarter results, I am instead immersed in preparation of the next year’s budget. With all eyes on next year, third quarter gets short shrift, and unless there is something dramatic going on, we don’t make much of it.

Fortunately, the only news in the third quarter of 2013 was good. Sales tax revenue, which lagged through the first half of the year, finally took off. An extraordinary July – caused by use tax reporting of some large purchases – followed by an excellent August put us back on track to finish the year on budget. Total revenues for both the general fund and all County funds are on track to finish the year just above budget.

Expenditures are also in good shape. In Washington State, expenditures are not allowed to exceed appropriations; that is, we can’t spend more than budgeted. Because we budget at the fund level, we watch each fund individually. A couple of County funds will bear watching at year-end, but most, including the general fund, are comfortably within budget.

With little quarterly news to report on, we can look instead to next year. It took some judicious, and occasionally painful, trimming, but the adopted 2014 general fund budget came in virtually identical to

the 2013 budget. County-wide, the adopted budget is almost 3% less than in 2013.

A better measure of whether operations are decreasing, increasing, or remaining stable is headcount: how many people does the County employ? We measure employees in full-time equivalents (FTEs). Since some employees are fractional – a person who works half-time, for example, is .5 FTE – we add all those fractions together to get total FTEs for the County.

For 2014, we have budgeted 219.735 FTEs. Yes, we get down to some pretty small fractions for our seasonal staff, such as in Parks and Fair. That represents a decrease of just over 6 FTEs from 2013.

While there are minor changes here and there, the difference is primarily attributable to the closure of County Solid Waste operations. Fortunately, there were no layoffs: the former employees of our transfer stations either joined the Roads department (without an increase in Roads FTE, by the way), or joined the private entities that took over the transfer stations.

So we’re really looking at a business-asusual year in 2014. Unfortunately, because expenditures tend to increase faster than revenues, business as usual will not be sustainable for long. So once again, I encourage you to let your elected officials know which County services you value, and which ones you think we could do without.

Because eventually, we’re going to have to make some hard choices.

But for now, 2013 is closing, and 2014 is

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a new beginning. New years are always, for me, a time of hope and promise. So my hope for each of you is that you enjoy the

holidays with your family and friends, and look forward to a new year full of hopes realized and promises fulfilled.

San Juan Islands Conservation District Board of Supervisors Has Two Open Positions in 2014 The San Juan Islands Conservation District is currently accepting applications for open positions on its Board of Supervisors.

Supervisor Responsibilities and Requirements: • Supervisors must be registered voters and reside within the boundaries of San Juan County.

• Supervisors must attend monthly Board meetings to discuss and approve policy, plans, and budget.

• Supervisors serve without compensation.

Elected Position: The San Juan Islands Conservation District will hold an election for one open position of District Supervisor with a term of three years to begin May 15, 2014. The position is currently held by Jerry Rasmussen whose term expires May 15, 2014. The SJICD Board of Supervisors has appointed Linda Lyshall to serve as the election supervisor.

To Vote: To vote in person, please come to the San Juan Islands Conservation District office on February 10, 2014 between the hours of 12:30 PM and 5:30 PM at 530 Guard Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. To vote by mail, please request a ballot by sending an email to info@sjislandscd.org or call 360-378-6621. Mail-in ballots must be requested between 1/1/2014 and 1/31/2014. All ballots must be received no later than 2/10/2014.

To File as a Candidate: Please request an application by emailing info@ sjislandscd.org or call 360-378-6621 by 1/3/14. Candidate filing deadline is 1/10/2014.

Appointed Position: There is also one appointed position open, vacated by April LaLande.

To Apply for an Appointed Position: Please request an application by emailing info@sjislandscd.org or call 360-378-6621. Preference will be given to applications received by 1/17/14 with appointment likely in March 2014. Applications may be submitted in person or by mail to either of the following organizations: San Juan Islands Conservation District Mailing Address: 350 Court St, #10, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Office: 530 Guard Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Washington State Conservation Commission Mailing Address: PO Box 47721, Olympia, WA 98504-7721 Office: 300 Desmond Drive SE, Lacey, WA 98503 Phone: 360-407-6200 The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • December 24, 2013 – Page 3

Lopez School Places replacement M&O levy on February ballot Submitted by Lopez School District Special to the Weekly

At their regular December meeting, the Lopez Island School District Board of Directors voted to place a Replacement Maintenance and Operations School Levy

before the District voters in February, 2014.

This levy will replace the current four year levy which expires at the end of 2014. This levy funds approximately one quarter of the District’s operating budget, which covers the

school’s day-to-day teaching and operating costs, including salaries, classroom supplies, utilities, special education, and other academic and operating items.

District officials estimate that the first year of the

replacement levy will cost the owner of a $400,000 property an additional $29 in 2015.

The levy includes projections of increased enrollment and addresses anticipated rising costs of instructional materials and

other operating costs. The estimated annual cost per thousand dollars of a taxpayer’s assessed valuation in the final year of the current levy (2014) is $0.66.

Year 1 (2015) of the replacement levy is estimated to be $0.73, 2016 is also

Crossword Puzzle Across 1. Threadbare clothing 5. Become friendlier 9. Amorphous mass 13. Various forms of the same speech sounds 16. ___ lamp 17. Mediterranean plants with large edible flower heads (2 wds) 19. Mac 20. A.T.M. need 21. Drill bits 22. Kuwaiti, e.g.

24. Throughout (music) 27. Ed.'s request (acronym) 28. Arctic 30. Toni Morrison's "___ Baby" 31. Big East team 32. E or G, e.g.

34. Surface of a ship's hull above water 37. Container with historical records for future discovery (2 wds) 39. Afflicted with oxygen-deficient blood 41. "___ say!" (contraction) 42. Norse god of mischief 43. ___ DeLuise, actor 45. Dead, as an engine 49. Arthur Godfrey played it 50. Innocent 53. Doctor Who villainess, with "the" 54. Yogi's sidekick 56. Cal. col.

estimated to be $0.73, 2017 is estimated to be $0.75, and 2018 is estimated to be $0.76.

“Lopez School District taxpayers have strongly supported our maintenance and operation levies for many years. These M & O levies directly support the day-to-day education of our students and Lopez school is very appreciative of this ongoing support of our community’s young people,” said Superintendent Bill Evans.

“We look forward to sharing more information and background with the community in the next few weeks, prior to the ballots coming out in late January.”

County Offices holiday schedule

58. "Concentration" pronoun 59. Tried by military law (2 wds) 63. The "A" of ABM 64. At some time later 65. Gift on "The Bachelor" 66. New newts 67. Blanched Down 1. Hodgepodge 2. Attraction 3. Worldwide 4. Blubber 5. Massenet opera 6. Stinger 7. Amazon, e.g.

8. Chinese dynasty from A.D. 386-556 9. Write a shared

online journal 10. Along an inland body of water 11. Pigged out 12. Hounds 14. Dash 15. Cicatrix 18. Cast 23. Very brief bathing suit 25. One who accepts charges 26. Support, with "up" 29. Audition tape 31. Means of support 33. "Absolutely!"

35. Telekinesis, e.g.

36. Brood sullenly 37. Prepared foods intended to be eaten elsewhere 38. Formally surrender

The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • December 24, 2013 – Page 4

39. Train's lounge area (2 wds) 40. Lennon's second wife (2 wds) 44. Cautioned against doing (contraction) 46. Spanish dish 47. Sick 48. Mottle-colored t-shirt 50. Bunk 51. "Where the heart is" 52. Entices 55. Cheese on crackers 57. ___ cross 60. "___ Maria" 61. Call, as a game 62. Drink from a dish Answers to today's puzzle on page 8

San Juan County’s office will be closed on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1. On all other days during this holiday season, county services will be available on their regular schedule with the following exceptions: The District Court office will be open regular business hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the week of Dec. 23 and the week of Dec. 30. The court will conduct arraignment hearings on Thursday Dec. 26 at 8:30 a.m. All other hearings will be held at the regularly scheduled day and time.

The San Juan County Fair office will be closed the week of Dec. 23-27. All inquiries related to the fairgrounds should be made to the Parks Administration office at 378-8420.

As always the County Sheriff’s office and emergency services dispatch center will be in operation around the clock.

environmentally sound

WWW.ISLANDSWEEKLY.COM

Sudoku Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column, and 3x3 block. Use logic and process of elimination to solve the puzzle. The difficulty ranges from 1-5 (easy) 6-10 (moderate) and 11-15 (hard). Today’s puzzle is level 6.

Sudoku and Crossword answers on page 8

BAND CONTINUED FROM 1

leles in hand. As the family turned into band mates, they found they already had an existing bond, unlike bands that form first and have to search for common ground.

John told the Islands’ Weekly last year that, “Bands come and go, people pull in different directions,” but that playing music as a family kept everyone together.

The loss of John has

made rehearsals tough, but it’s helped the family focus on something positive during their grief.

“Dad really loved playing with his grandkids – it was really a joy,” Jim said.

He describes his father as a charming and confident performer and a quiet leader. John showed his children his love of music through his Bob Dylan records and guitar workshops he attended with his boys when they were teenagers. Jim recalls growing up in a house that opened his ears to all kinds of music.

“The wonderful thing about our parents is that they were supportive of us becoming musicians and gave us this wonderful gift – a love of music,” said Jim. Because there was no formal memorial for John on Lopez, Jim hopes the concert will also serve as a way for people to celebrate John’s life while enjoying the music he loved.

“It’s important because he had such a love of the people and this place,” said

a great gift idea and a great value, too.

Just $30 buys a year of outdoor fun, and a single pass can be transferred between two vehicles.

For more information or to purchase, visit www.

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The Sangster Family Band is playing at the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts on Dec. 27.

Jim. To learn more about the event, visit www.facebook. com and search Sangster Family Band. To see videos of the family band, visit http://vimeo.com/ album/1887907.

The relocation guide of the San Juan Islands

The

Stumped about a gift?

Discover Pass fits the bill The Discover Pass makes a great gift for the recreationists on your list.

When you purchase the Discover Pass as a gift, you get to choose the start date, so your recipient can take advantage of an entire year of outdoor adventure.

The Discover Pass provides access to millions of acres of recreation sites, including parks, trailheads, water access points and wildlife watching and heritage sites in Washington state.

The Discover Pass or a daily fee of $10 is required to park at any state park or recreation site, including Lime Kiln, Moran and Spencer Spit state parks.

Whether you’re a grandparent wondering what to give your adult children and grandchildren, or a friend looking for a stocking stuffer (try tucking one into a pair of new hiking socks?) the Discover Pass is

Contributed photo

Book • 2014-15• Publishes

February 26, 2014

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IslandsWeekly.com The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • December 24, 2013 – Page 5

Wetland buffers: return of ‘cookie-cutter’ approach

By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter

Planning Commission recommendations to amend wetland protection buffers in the Critical Areas Ordinances were received favorably by the San Juan County Council at its Dec. 10 council meeting, but action was deferred until February pending further consideration and a public

hearing.

The proposed changes were fashioned in response to issues raised by the Growth Management Hearings Board in its decision on appeals filed earlier this year by Friends of the San Juans, the Common Sense Alliance and others.

The GMHB essentially ruled in favor of contentions of Friends, but both Friends

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and the Common Sense Alliance have appealed the GMHB decision to the San Juan County Superior Court.

The ordinances were passed after a contentious six-year process and must now be amended and returned for review by the GMHB in order for the county to achieve compliance with the state Growth

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Management Act. The wetland protection buffers were, and still are, among the most fought-over parts of the ordinances.

The county council in 2012 decided not to follow state Department of Ecology guidelines, but the planning commission decided during its November deliberations to adopt the DOE’s method of determining water quality buffers.

The staff presentation to the council says the planning commission’s recommendation addresses the GMHB’s decision in four ways: critical areas are protected within the “Best Available Science” range included in the CAO adoption record; the lower pollution percentage removal and the controversial methGreen Living odology originally adopted online by the county in the @ CAO

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The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • December 24, 2013 – Page 6

of the Common Sense Alliance, said that he was “a little disappointed” in the planning commission plan and that CSA’s appeal to the Superior Court would continue.

The council continues to follow its schedule for compliance with the GMBH decision, which includes another hearing on Dec. 17 on the recommended changes, a public hearing on Feb. 11, council deliberations and decision on Feb. 18 and filing of the revised CAO with the Hearings Board no later than March 5.

Both the original CAO and the revisions are intended to become effective March 1, although the Common Sense Alliance has asked the Superior Court to freeze the effective date of the CAO until all appeals are finally decided.

5th SalmonAtion

Call The Journal CALL CALIat: today

AT THE

are eliminated; using the DOE guidance establishes buffers, a so-called “one-size-fits-all or “cookiecutter” approach, which comport with best available science; and the risk for failure to protect critical areas is reduced from “high” to “moderate.”

Friends attorney Kyle Loring applauded the recommendation in a statement: “By using one of Ecology’s standardized, sitespecific buffer methods, the county can rely on a tested model that increases predictability and lowers costs for landowners while at the same time providing better protection for our wetlands, streams, and seas, and the critters that need them.

Friends supported this approach in 2007 and continues to support it today.”

Dave Cable, president

WWW.ISLANDSWEEKLY.COM

Lopez Island’s intrepid volunteer salmon researchers bring you the fifth annual SalmonAtion celebration and report to the community with an informative slideshow, music organized by

Worship Services in the Islands LOPEZ IsLand Christ the King Community ChurCh, There’s Always a Place for You! CTK gathers at 10 a.m. in the school multi-purpose room at 86 School Road. Come as you are! More info at ctkonline.com/lopez. Email: lopez@ctkonline.com Phone: 888-421- 4CTK ext. 819. graCe episCopal ChurCh, welcomes you to worship with us on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Fisherman Bay Road at Sunset Lane.

468-3477. Everyone welcome! harbor of hope lutheran ChurCh, invites you to worship at 10 a.m. Sundays beginning Oct. 27 at 1145 Channel Road. Please check at theharborofhope.com for information on “The Bulletin Board,” or call Pastor Don 360-468-4019. lopez island Community ChurCh, 91 Lopez Road. Sunday School: pre-school through adult 9:30 a.m.; Worship at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Jeff Smith 468-3877. lutheran ChurCh in the san juans. Join us Sundays at 9:00 a.m. in Center Church on Davis Bay Road.

Also in Friday Harbor at 11:00 a.m. in St. David’s and in Eastsound at 1:15 p.m. in Emmanuel. Pastor Anne Hall, 468-3025.

Lance Brittain and Chicken Biscuit, great food treats by Bruce and Peter at Vita’s, wine from Lopez Island Vineyards, and a panoply of marine scenes by our feature poster artist this year, Mike Rust.

It all happens on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Lopez Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. This year: exciting new insights about Pacific Sandlance, the fish that Chinook salmon eat the most.

Come to learn about and celebrate salmon in style.

Admission free.

Doing business without advertising is like doing exercise in the dark…

You know what you’re accomplishing but no one else is watching!

QuaKer Worship group Meetings will be Sundays at 10 a.m. at the home of Ron Metcalf, 6363 Fisherman Bay Road. Children’s program. Everyone welcome. Phone 468-2129. Email: lopezfriends@gmail.com st. franCis CatholiC ChurCh Come worship with us at Center Church on Davis Bay Rd. We welcome you to join us for Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Call 378-2910 for Mass times on San Juan and Orcas Islands.

Call Cali Bagby today!

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ROTTWEILER Purebred Puppies, sweet, great temperament, family-raised, nice markings, lst shots, wormed, dew claws & tails done, $585 & up, joann@ scattercreek.com 360-910-0995

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Excellent Opportunity for someone! 4 BR, 1.5 BA home for sale to be move locally on San Juan Island. This home has recently become available, wood sided, low roof for easy moving, thermal windows, great open floor plan. Best of all, the price to buy and move this house is only $40,000 OBO. Please contact your local Nickel Bros. office for details at 1-425257-2097 or toll free at 1-866-920-BROS Call soon!!

COUPLE SEEKING TO ADOPT Loving couple seeking to ADOPT an infant. We can offer your baby a lifetime of opportunity, humor, adventure and financial security. We will provide a happy home, sharing our interests in the outdoors, travel, music, and sports. Let us help support you with your adoption plan. Contact us at direct at 206-920-1376, toll-free at 877-290-0543 or email AndrewCorley@outlook.com You can also contact our attorney at 206-728-5858, ask for Joan file #0376.

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FISH BAY WATERFRONT CABIN 12mo lease preferred 2 small bd, 1ba $850 OWNERS! We want your rentals!

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ISLAND PETS lost/ found. On Lopez call Jane 360-468-2591; Joyce, 360-468-2258; Sheriff’s Office 360-3784151. Lopez Animal Protection Society, PO Box 474, Lopez, WA 98261.

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REPORTER The North Kitsap Herald, a Friday newspaper and daily online site located in beautiful Poulsbo, Washington, is accepting applications for a fulltime sports and education reporter. The ideal candidate will have solid reporting and writing skills, have up-to-date knowledge of the AP Stylebook, be able to shoot photos, be able to use InDesign and contribute to Web updates.

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This position will support all aspects of the Hospital Information System, focusing primarily on network user management, monitoring and backup/recovery.

Requirements: Minimum two year technical degree required.

Minimum two years Desktop Support experience required. Minimum two years Network Administrator experience preferred.

Healthcare experience desirable.

TO APPLY PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ www.island hospital.org www.islandhospital.org

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San Juan County is seeking a part-time ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST II to provide support for the Assessor’s Office.

For a detailed job description and application, visit www.sanjuanco.com or call 360-370-7402.

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noting Executive Director in the subject line, or mail to Selection Committee, Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, 284 Boyce Rd, Friday Harbor WA 98250 For more selection, go to nw-ads.com.

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pets/animals Dogs

4 PEMBROKE CORGI Welsh Puppies avail!

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Shots and worming will be. Taking deposits, will make a great Christmas Present! $350 for Black and White; $425 for Blue Merles. Call: 360-6316089 for more information.

GERMAN WIREHAIR Pointer Pups. AKC Registered. 12 Weeks Old. 1 Male, $700. 4 Females, $800 Each. Bred by Pro Dog Trainer. Natural Retrievers on Land or Water. Good Pointers, Easy to Steady. Very Stylish and Athletic.

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AKC POODLE Standard Super sweet puppies, very intelligent and family raised! Two year health gauruntee. Adult weight between 50 - 55 lbs. Black coloring;2 litters 15 puppies available. 3 Brown coloring. 13 Black coloring.

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1999 Fleetwood Southwind, 32’ with slide outs.

V.10 Ford, Banks power pack, 68K miles, handycap lift, $25,000. 1998 Gulfstream 5th Wheel, 31’, slide out. $10,500.

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WEST HIGHLAND White Terriers, AKC Registered. Born August 17th, 2013. Champion Bloodlines. 3 Males, 1 Female. Perfect Health, Great Personalities, Excellent Conformation.

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Professional Services Attorney, Legal Services

Notice to Contractors Washington State Law (RCW 18.27.100) requires that all advertisements for construction related services include the contractor’s current department of Labor and Industries registration number in the advertisement.

Failure to obtain a certificate of registration from L&I or show the registration number in all advertising will result in a fine up to $5000 against the unregistered contractor.

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A B S O L U T E L Y ADORABLE Miniature Australian Shepherd pups. 6 weeks, ready just in time for Christmas. So much cuter in person! Beautiful markings, many blue eyes.

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THE ISLANDS’ WEEKLY • WWW.ISLANDSWEEKLY.COM •

December 24, 2013 -

PAGE 7

By Gene Helfman 180 ft. West facing 2.7 acres of old-growth fir forest, with driveway. Water, power and phone at lot line. Septic permit.

Small cabin and mooring buoy.

Price Reduced $159,000

The Lady Lobos won impressively over the Cedar Park Lions while the boys basketball team came up short at home on Friday Dec. 13.

LOPEZ ISLAND

THANK YOU LOPEZ

Serving our friends and neighbors from our "downtown" location in The Friendly Isle Building 1986 - 2013.

Thank you for continuing to give us the opportunity to be of service.

The girls played close through most of the game, the two teams separated by only two points at the half.

But Lopez stepped on the gas and pulled away in the second half, winning 54-40. Lobos top scorers were Anjuh Suhh, Mattie Jordan, and Brianne Swanson. The highscoring game was packed with numerous loose balls, fast breaks, and lay-ups by both teams.

Afterward, coach Nathan Borg said, “We emphasize hustle in practice. The girls did just that tonight and it paid off.”

The Lobos boys, coming off a heart-breaking overtime loss to Grace Academy, had difficulty erasing an early 11 point deficit, despite playing evenly most of the evening. With three minutes to go, Lopez was still behind by 11 points.

The Lobos rebounded well and shot consistently but couldn’t match Cedar Park’s

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Friday 13th lucky for Lobos Girls

Lopez Island

Puzzle Answers

Contributed photo/ Gene Helfman

Fletcher Moore drives to the basket against a Lion defender in the Lobos 63-46 loss to Cedar Park. impressive shooting from beyond the three-point line.

The game ended 63 to 46.

Top scorers for Lopez were Mike Hobi, Chase Schober,

and Fletcher Moore.

The Lobos have five away games before the next home contest on Jan 7 against Providence.

Annie Albritton - Beth Andrewes - Jim Gorton Mitty Huntsman - Dianne Pressenda Roy Richmond - Carol Gorton - Claudia Bradley

Contributed photo/ Gene Helfman

$624,000

Emalie Hobi (24) brings down a rebound against Cedar Park while Shelby Prewitt (22) watches. Lopez won 54-40.

HOME-STUDIO-VIEW

Big Lopez Sound & Mt. Baker views dominate this property. 4 BR/1.75 BA home of 2,715 SF. Additional 1000 SF studio & a 3rd bldg. that includes garage & shop. #465386

Season’s Greetings & Established 1972 Happy New Year

MARRIAGE CONTINUED FROM 1

have changed,” she said. “I think our three kids we’re almost happier for us than we were. We’ve seen nothing but positives and I really like being part of something that can help people understand P.O. Box 9, Lopez, WA 98261 our changing society and that being married shouldn’t Office: (360)us 468-2291 seem like a threat to anyone.”

Fax: (360) As468-3113 of mid-December of 2013, of 205 marriage licensToll free: 1-800-632-1100 es issued in San Juan County, 47 were for same-sex couEmail: lopezisland@rockisland.com ples, roughly 22 percent of the grand total.

Website: lopezislandrealty.com But that’s not all, as far as Established 1972 matrimonial data goes.

While the auditor’s office keeps tabs on applications to Gary Berg, Broker-Owner wed and the number of marriage licenses it issues, the P.O. Box 9, Lopez, WA 98261 state Department of Health Office: (360) 468-2291 tracks wedding ceremonies Fax: (360) 468-3113 and where those ceremonies occur. San Juan County sits Toll free: 1-800-632-1100 near the top of that statistical Email: lopezisland@rockisland.com ladder as well.

Website: lopezislandrealty.com Between Dec. 9 of 2012

Lopez Island Realty

$865,000

HOME ON THE WATER

‘Easy for entertaining’ home w/ guest house on 4.8 AC w/ private beach access. Enjoy the ironwood deck, 4 sided fireplace, many built ins & the large master bedroom suite. #512516

you GaryWishing Berg, Broker-Owner the best in the New Year ~Gary Berg

$625,000

SHOAL BIGHT SECLUSION

Southend 660 sq. ft. log cabin w/ flexible living space & wrap around decks on 250’ of shoreline. Good stairs to a shared gravel beach + views across Rosario Strait. #510279

(360) 468-3344 • Toll free 866-468-3344 Friendly Isle Building in the Village Website: http://www.wrelopez.com E-mail - wrehome@wrelopez.com • Member NWMLS

Lopez Island Island Realty Realty

Season’s Greetings & Happy New Year

The Islands’ Weekly • www.islandsweekly.com • December 24, 2013 – Page 8

Season’s Greetings &

and Sept. 30 of this year, a total of 389 wedding ceremonies took place in the San Juans. Of those, 80 were for same-sex couples. At roughly 20 percent, San Juan ranks fifth among the state’s 39 counties when same-sex marriages are calculated as a percentage of the number of total weddings overall.

Statewide, of the 42,408 weddings that happened between those dates roughly 7,701, or 16.6 percent, were same-sex marriages, according to DOH. Henley notes that some of the state’s border counties, like San Juan, Island and Clark, have the greatest percentages of same-sex marriages. The numbers appear to bear that out.

In the DOH data, King and Jefferson counties rank second and third, respectively, and Clark County, home of the city of Vancouver and neighbor of the Portland, Ore. metropolitan area, tops all others, at 30 percent. At 19 percent, San Juan’s neighboring Island County ranks sixth.