Sports
Wins remain elusive, but Wolverines prove feisty in stalemate PAGE 9
Island Scene
Folk, rock, blues, gospel; Catch Foster, in concert, on fire PAGE 11
Guest Column
How the ‘hobby lobby’ and panicky politicians drew a dark cloud over the seasonal delights of spring PAGE 7
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, April 30, 2014 Vol. 107 Issue 18
of the San Juan Islands
www.sanjuanjournal.com
Co-op courts internet clients
Marine cleanup makes a splash
OPALCO offers broadband for those who wish to pay
By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter
By Colleen Smith Armstrong Sounder Editor/Publisher
For those who are willing to pay the connection fee, broadband is available in several core areas of San Juan County. Orcas Power and Light Cooperative created a division in 2004 called “Island Network” that allowed individual broadband connections that were close to its fiber optic infrastructure. This includes most of Friday Harbor, Eastsound and Lopez Village and a few other areas close to fiber lines. Broadband is defined as high speed internet and other communication services. As OPALCO investigated a county-wide broadband solution in early 2013, a moratorium was placed on new Island Network connections. The board lifted that freeze in February. As of today, there are 28 members hooked up to the co-op’s broadband. “OPALCO may not be a broadband solution for everyone,” said Communication Specialist Suzanne Olson. “But we will give our members the option to connect to our infrastructure, where available.” To see a map of existing and future fiber connections, visit www.opalco.com/island-network and click on “Service Locations.” See CLIENTS, Page 4
Journal file photo
Sporting military medals, Roy Matsumoto. above, waves to the crowd while participating in a Friday Harbor Independence Day parade. Below, Matsumoto at the FH Film Festival with daughter Karen, (contributed photo).
Century of honor, sacrifice
Prevention of derelict vessels is becoming the new paradigm in dealing with sinking, abandoned or illegally moored boats in Washington. Because identification and removal of derelict boats has been such a success in San Juan County, the Puget Sound Partnership in 2013 awarded the county more than $300,000 to develop and coordinate a derelict vessel prevention program in other Puget Sound counties. The county was chosen to administer the money because it is the only county in the state, and See SPLASH, Page 5
Patriot at heart, Matsumoto bested bigotry, enemies and the odds By Scott Rasmussen Journal editor
Roy Matsumoto was a small man in stature, which in some ways make his heroic exploits, boundless energy and epic journey over an unpredictable landscape marked by deprivation, racism and global military conflict seem even that much more remarkable. Much like the “Little Engine that Could,” Matsumoto would not be denied. He bested the Great Depression and discrimination of his day only to find himself branded an “enemy alien” by the country of his birth, and then banished to an internment camp alongside so many other Americans of Japanese ancestry after the attack on Pearl Harbor. But at age 29, time was on his side, and Matsumoto would make the most of it. The one thing he could not overcome, however,
Attention Class of 2014: was time itself. Matsumoto died Monday, April 21, at his San Juan Island home. He was 100. The day before, the Matsumoto family celebrated Easter Sunday with a dinner of fried chicken, a selection dear to Matsumoto’s heart in that it personified the triumph of Japanese troops in the jungles of Burma and daring role he played See SACRIFICE, Page 4
2011 Special Award; Second Place: General Excellence from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
Your senior memory (150 word max) and senior photo are due by May 12th. Please submit your entries to Kathryn Sherman ksherman@sanjuanjournal.com