The
INSIDE Lopez spotlight
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Contributed photo / Colleen James
Business retreat
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Tedx features Rhea Miller
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www.islandsweekly.com 360-376-4500
Annual Craft Fair Sat., Dec. 6 10 am-3 pm and Sun., Dec. 7 10 am-3 pm 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
Community Community Shakespeare’s Shakespeare 13th 11th Annual Annual Fall Fall Festival: Festival
AS YOU LIKE IT The Tempest (appropriate for all ages)
Nov. 7, admission by donation, Nov. 19th at 12 noon & 7:30 p.m. 12 noon & 7:30pm Admission Nov. 8-9-10By atDonation 7:30pm. Students $10,at Adults $15 Nov. 20-21-22 7:30 p.m. Tickets online at $15 Students $10, Adults Lopezcommunityshakespeare.org, Center for Community & the Arts Also at Paper Scissors Rock Tickets: communityshakespeare.org Remaining seats sold at 6pm at the door: and at Paper Scissors Rock Lopez Center for Community & the Arts
Thanksgiving Meal Baskets The Lopez Island Family Resource Center is pleased to help assure all in our Lopez community have a bountiful Thanksgiving. If you would like to donate food or money to help buy the “fix-ins” for Thanksgiving baskets for local families please call the LIFRC @ 468-4117. If you and your family would like a meal basket provided, call the LIFRC for details.
Islands’ eekly W
VOLUME 37, NUMBER 44 • NOVEMBER 4, 2014
Dangers of date rape in SJ County there is a whole population we need to educate: adults. A lot of women don’t know the safe party rules.” Undersheriff Bruce Distler says the victims on Orcas and Lopez were possibly slipped drugs in their drinks prior to the sexual assault. Nationally, 55 percent of date rape cases for women and 75 percent for men involve alcohol or drugs. The most commonly used “date rape drugs” are Rohypnol (known as a roofie) and GHB, which are central nervous system depressants and are seven to 10 times more potent than Valium. Ketamine, used as
By Colleen Smith Armstrong Editor/publisher
Law enforcement and victim support groups are aware of a series of alleged date rapes in the San Juans. While the cases are currently at a stand still because of victims’ reluctance to testify, the need to educate the public has become apparent. “As an agency, prevention is a big piece of what we do,” said Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Services of the San Juans Director Kim Bryan. “We are active with prevention programs in the schools. And we’re realizing
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Jingle Bell Dinner
Saturday, November 29, 6pm Lopez Community Center
Tickets available at Paper Scissors on the Rock For more information: 468-4446, admin@lihhs.org
All proceeds to benefit Lopez Island Hospice & Home Support
a large animal anesthetic, is also easy to slip into beverages. “All of these come in powder or liquid form and can be laced in just about anything – and the drugs are entirely clear,” Distler said. “They all have the same general action: it takes away your ability to remember and makes you drunk.” Predators groom their victims to create a sense of trust and use drugs that completely incapacitate them. Men and women who have been given these drugs say they felt paralyzed and had blurred vision and memory loss. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, approximately two thirds of rapes were committed by someone known to the victim and one out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed
TRASH-TOTREASURES Auction & Sale
Cleverly Refurbished & Repurposed… Furnishings Art & Décor Gifts Accessories …PLUS Services Activities Adventures
CHILI & CORNBREAD SUPPER Sat Nov 15 5:30-8pm Woodmen Hall BENEFITS THE LOPEZ DUMP! www.lopezsolidwaste.org
rape. “Date rapes are happening with people that these women know,” Bryan said. “They are excited about going out on a date or know the man through an acquaintance. Women often don’t report the rape because they feel it is their fault for drinking. If you cannot give consent, it is rape. That is the state law. We need to blame the assailant not the victim.” Bryan says that when predators continually get away with assaults, it emboldens them to continue finding victims. “What is blowing me away is that as this is being talked about more in the community, long-time islanders are saying: ‘Oh yeah, that’s been going on around here for years,’” she said. “One assailant on Orcas has three known victims but the incidents are not being reported. I want people to take this seriously – it’s happening here. We need to watch out for each other. If your friend seems drunk, step in and take her home.”
Keep yourself safe
The number one rule: don’t leave your drink unattended whether you are in a bar or at a party. If someone offers to buy you a drink, watch the bartender make it. SEE RAPE, PAGE 8
inter-island creative affair Woodmen Hall, Lopez Island
November 8 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
Cool handmade items from all three islands in one place for one day. *Bring non perishable food for a raffle ticket for a cool prize. Refreshments by hospice. slowartlopez.com