The
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Spotlight on Lopezians
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Get involved at the fair
Two herons by George Willis
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School bond on ballot
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LOPEZ CENTER: Gayle Skidmore
Singer-Songwriter / Piano, dulcimer, banjo & guitar
Thurs. August 14th at 7:30pm $15/adults $6/youth Tickets at PSR, Lopez Bookshop & lopezcenter.org
Our Sweet Poodle Boy died in my arms at midnight of the 17th with his family by his side. He gave me a little kiss, laid his head down and died. He fought so hard to live right to that point, but you can’t live with out working lungs. Though Bamm-Bamm was tiny, he had a huge soul, loved people and all he lived for was to bring joy and happiness to everyone. We thank everyone who knew him, stopped to pet him on our many walks in the village and elsewhere or just smiled at him as he smiled at you. You helped to make his life a happy one, full of love and joy. ~ Stuart and Cindy Post, Mary Grace Lartz, Heather Post, Ali Dupuis, Pebbles and Frodo
Save this Date Nationally acclaimed performers
Jan Garrett & JD Martin
present a concert of music to Delight the Ear and Nourish the Soul
Thursday, August 7 Woodman Hall • 7:30 PM
Concert produced by JC Marean, former director of Lopez Sound
Islands’ eekly W
VOLUME 37, NUMBER 31 • AUGUST 5, 2014
Ranker calls shutdown of int’l sailing ‘irresponsible’ Journal staff report
A decision by Washington State Ferries to shutdown the international sailing for two days to remedy disruptions in ferry service near Seattle drew a pointed and swift rebuke from state Sen. Kevin Ranker. The state ferry system canceled the Thursday and the Friday sailing between Anacortes and Sidney, British Columbia to shift the boat on the international run to the Edmonds-Kingston route, which earlier in the week saw one of its two vessels transferred to Seattle-Bainbridge Island route following a power failure Tuesday onboard the Tacoma, a Mark II Jumbo class ferry. Ranker, D-Orcas Island, noted that the decision to shift of boats will give the Edmonds-Kingston route two boats and leave the San Juans international run, which docks twice each day in Friday Harbor, with none. “Historically, when a ferry is down elsewhere in the system, replacement ferries have come from the San Juan route,” Ranker, D-Orcas Island said. “During the winter, while there is an impact, I have supported these decisions, because we have lower ridership and can – for the most part – absorb the impact. In the summer however, this is not the case. To simply end the Sidney run during an extremely busy and economically lucrative part of the year is, quite frankly, irresponsible.” The two-day cancelation of the international run comes at the height of tourist season in the San Juans and on the eve of the city of Anacortes’ widely popular and commercially significant 53rd annual Arts Festival, Ranker added. “I have nothing but sympathy for our fellow ferry commuters south of us; we know all too well the frustration,
negative economic impact and wasted time that comes from delayed ferry service,” he said. ““There are major differences, however, that make this decision by senior administraSEE FERRY, PAGE 5
Oil spill draws $112K penalty Journal staff report
State officials cited negligence as a factor in imposing a $112,500 fine against an Anacortes-based seafood company, whose fishing
boat accidentally sank in Bellingham Channel, near Guemes Island, a year ago in July. Following investigation of the sinking of the
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13TH 11TH A N NU A
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Lopez Home Tour Visit 7 distinctive homes while benefiting THE LOPEZ CENTER FOR COMMUNITY & THE ARTS www.lopezcenter.com
Clam Digger, owned by American Gold Seafoods, the Washington state Department of Ecology determined negligence on the part of the company was responsible for 315 gallons of oil that was spilled into the channel during recovery of the 59-foot sunken boat. “This spill was preventable,” said Dale Jensen, manager of Ecology’s Spill Prevention, Preparedness and Response Program. “The Clam Digger was not adequately maintained, and not fit for its intended use that day.” When the Clam Digger encountered high waves after it left Anacortes on July 10, began taking on water, and eventually sank. The company immediately initiated appropriate response protocols, accord-
ing to Ecology, and six days later divers recovered the boat. However, during the recovery as much as 315 gallons of oil spilled. The 59-foot boat reportedly was carrying 2,700 to 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel at the time it sank. Bellingham Channel, located just north of Anacortes, between Guemes and Cypress islands, is home to seagrass and kelp. Pink and Chinook salmon were present in the area at the time of the spill, as were marbled murrelets, listed as threatened by the state and federal government. Ecology’s investigators found uncovered, open or leaky deck hatches on the Clam Digger, which compromised its ability to stay watertight. In addition, SEE OIL, PAGE 5