Contributed photo / Gene Helfman
INSIDE
A fraction of the fleet of 29 boats crosses the start line at the Islands Cup Interscholastic Sailing Regatta. To read more go to page 8.
Guest column
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Waste District news
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Quilt retreat
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The
Islands’ eekly W
VOLUME 37, NUMBER 15 • APRIL 15, 2014
Candidates for OPALCO board of directors By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter
A total of six candidates will be vying for two positions on the Orcas Power and Light Cooperative board of directors. The upcoming election promises to highlight contrasting views on what direction the co-op should take in upgrading its electrical distribution system, expanding its network of fiber-optic cable, and, ultimately, how the cost of those investments should be covered. The candidates seeking election to the two board positions, both representing the district that includes San Juan Island, are incumbents Vince Dauciunas and Glenna Hall, and challeng-
ers Br yan Hoyer, Steve Hudson, Douglas Rowan and John Sheehan. Don Galt, Sr. of San Juan was also in the running until he withdrew his candidacy on April 7. Dauciunas, noting that prior board elections have typically been decided by less than 10 percent of the co-op’s 12,000 members, said he would like to see a far greater turnout in the upcoming election, which culminates at the co-op’s annual meeting on May 3 (ballots will be in the mail beginning April 11). All members have the opportunity to vote for the San Juan Island district directors. The two candidates with the most votes will be elected. More info can be found at http://www.opalco.com/
April 26th 2014 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
about/annual-meetingreport/. Although fellow incumbent Glenna Hall is enthusiastic about standing for election after serving as an appointed director for less than a year. Hudson was nominated by a petition of 15 San Juan Island members. Hoyer, Rowan and Sheehan were selected by a nominating committee appointed by the OPALCO board. All seven are profiled at www.opalco. com/about/board-of-directors. The nominating committee consisted of three San Juan residents: Victoria Compton, Economic Development Council director, Peter Kilpatrick of Ravenhill Construction and civic activist and technology executive Mark Madsen.
www.SanJuanJournal.com
Hoyer was a Silicon Valley engineer, inventor and entrepreneur who designed “ever ything from high power satellite systems to network encryptors.” In his candidate’s statement, he wrote that he will focus on guiding the technical and business issues that arise as a result of bringing broadband to the islands. Two member-initiated bylaw amendments will be voted on along with the board elections. The first, presented to OPALCO by Steve Ludwig of Lopez Island, would require Energy Member Informational Meetings with the board and management on Orcas, San Juan and Lopez ever y three months. The SEE OPALCO, PAGE 6
Concerns rise over jet noise By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter
MIND YOUR MEDS Buns back soon! 468-2133
As the Navy moves toward preparing an environmental impact statement to justify its continued training and testing of a growing fleet of jet aircraft at two airfields on Whidbey Island, San Juan and Lopez islanders living within earshot of NAS Whidbey are raising their voices to express concerns
Spring Tide
The Lopez Chamber of Commerce would like to say
• 2014-15•
SJ County Parks, Nick Gervasi, Bill Scherer & Sage Construction for the fabulous “Facelift” to the Village Park Restrooms and Showers! Stop in and take a look!
for OPALCO’s pursuit [of expanded broadband] has not been made clear.” Rowan is an electrical engineer who was utility industr y manager for IBM. He worked with the IBM team that set up and managed the New York Power Pool created after the 1965 east coast power blackout. His priorities for OPALCO “would be to continue reliable, low cost power, alternative energy and conser vation initiatives and use of technology in all areas.” Sheehan is a mechanical engineer who worked for General Electric on coal-fired steam turbine generators and on nuclear power plant operations. He retired as manager of nuclear plant services in San Jose, Calif.
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Lopez Island Prevention Coalition reminds everyone to and dispose of any expired, unused or unwanted medicines in the drop box located by the sheriff’s office behind Lopez fire station
Madsen, chairman of the committee, said the panel talked with about 30 potential nominees, all of whom were experienced in community service, business or “running something.” The chosen three are all wellqualified, he said. Madsen and Kilpatrick agree that most of the potential candidates identified expansion of broadband as the most important issue in this year’s election. Hudson, raised on San Juan Island, is a former telecommunications manager and executive whose early career was with the local telephone company that became Centur yLink. He’s been an outspoken critic of OPALCO’s broadband initiative, writing in his candidate’s statement that, “the economic case
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about their quality of life. Two weeks after a Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve group returned from a visit to Washington D.C., which included talking with midlevel Pentagon bureaucrats about noise from FA-18 “Growlers,” a contingent of Lopezians and San Juan County officials will travel to Whidbey Island to receive a “command briefing” from the base commander and see the noisemakers themselves lined up at Ault Field. “It’s tragic that the noise has gotten to this level,” said musician Stanley Greenthal from his home on Lopez, where he has lived since
Lopez Center
1971. “The intense noise from the EA-18G Growlers is truly an assault upon the senses. Individual flyovers combined with ground shaking multiple engine run-ups at the N.A.S. often go on for many hours, from morning into the evening.” Greenthal’s wife, Kip, noted that the couple has quietly endured the noise for many years. But the disruptions have intensified in the last eight months. She said that they are now smelling exhaust or jet fuel while walking in their yard. “The recent escalation SEE NOISE, PAGE 6
Live in Concert
Sunday, April 27th, 7:30pm
Tracy Grammer Modern Folk
Tickets at PSR, Lopez Book Shop, Blossom, lopezcenter.org. $15/adult, $7/youth