Guest Column
Owls vs. autos? No match; be extra cautious at night PAGE 8
Sports
Two shutouts, two semifinal berths; boys & girls advance PAGE 16
Island Scene
Conservation is the star of the first-ever Young Filmmaker’s Project, designed to inspire creativity PAGE 9
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, November 19, 2014 Vol. 107 Issue 47
Orcas man killed in crash
Reservations? Think ‘30-30-30’ By Scott Rasmussen Journal editor
By Scott Rasmussen Journal editor
An Orcas Island man died on Upper Deer Harbor Road after losing control of a motorcycle he was riding early Saturday morning. Shannon E. Andersen, 43, was pronounced dead at the scene of the fatal crash. He wore a helmet at the time. Known by many as “Cowboy,” Andersen was a longtime resident of Orcas Island and a mechanic by trade, according San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Gaylord, whose office doubles as county coroner. Gaylord said that Andersen was riding a Suzuki 650 belonging to his landlord and that he reportedly was “quite familiar with” operating the motorcycle. He was entering an S-turn just below Deer Harbor Inn, and less than a mile from home, when he lost control of the motorcycle and struck an alder tree. He died of injuries suffered from the collision with the tree. Orcas Island Fire and EMS responded to the scene of the crash at about 9:15 a.m. Investigators found no “obvious” sign that alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash and, Gaylord said, Andersen had spoken to people at his home just prior to leaving on the motorcycle. Results of a toxicology report are expected in about six weeks, See CRASH, Page 2
Journal photo / Scott Rasmussen
Washington State Ferries Dwight Hutchinson, right, and WSF outreach consultant Fauna Larkin show diagrams for parking and “staging” at the Friday Harbor terminal to accommodate Ferries reservation system.
Digging for the truth on Easter Island
See RESERVATIONS?, Page 4
San Juan Island offers reminders to archaeologist Candace Gossen that her work on the Chilean annexed island is not finished. Especially the Monkey Puzzle tree in her front yard.
By Emily Greenberg Journal Reporter
She came to camp and convene with the orcas once a year for the past 17 years, but she never thought she would stay. Yet that’s exactly what environmental archaeologist Candace Gossen did, choosing San Juan Island as the place to decompress from her latest adventure, and to plan the next one—or did the island chose her? Half a world away from the place in which she’s dedicated her
The big payoff isn’t expected until the summer sailing season, when demand is at its peak, lines are long and it’s pretty much anyone’s guess how early one should show up to catch a ferry headed to or leaving the San Juan Islands. In the meantime, islanders, along with everyone else, will have back-to-back sailing schedules—winter and spring—with which to experiment following the debut of Washington State Ferries new and expanded, and San Juanscustomized, reservation system. Beginning Dec. 2, along with release of the wintertime lineup of sailings, the light turns green on making travel plans in what is undoubtedly the slowest of sailing seasons. Still, if the Port Townsend-Keystone run is of any measure, WSF’s Dwight Hutchinson, reservations manager, believes that the ability to secure travel space ahead of time should prove a blessing rather than a burden for islanders and visitors alike once the much busier sailing seasons roll around. Ridership is up, he said, while congestion is down at the ferry terminals in Port Townsend and Keystone (Whidbey Island), where a reservation system somewhat
Journal photo / Emily Greenberg
life’s work, San Juan has been a constant reminder that her job there is not yet complete. For over 12 years Gossen has been digging in the dirt on Easter Island, a southern hemispheric province of Chile, unearthing its rich history. She’s uncovered an untold story of the native Rapa
Nui people, and developed a strong desire to help restore harmony to their intrinsic culture. The driving force to remain on San Juan came during her visit in May of this year, when she connected with the Whale Museum. See ISLAND, Page 4
Winner of six 1st place awards in Washington Newspaper Publishers Association 2014 BNC, 17 in all
Real Est ate
in the
San Juan
Islands
November
Emily Greenberg
photo
PO Box 171
Eastsound, WA 360.376.2145 98245 www.orcasislan drealty.com
2014
Published the Journal of the San Juanthird Wednesday of each month Islands, Islands’ by the Sounder and Island s’ Weekly
Low Bank Wat erfront Hom e Sunny Olg
a Farm
Enjoy the proximity of the beach Orcas waterfr and water windows face ont home. Views of from nearly Waldron, every room suite w/sittin the water. 3 bed, 2 Sucia & beyond of this beautifu bath with decks & lawn . Expanses of light-fi l jetted tub, g area & private view oak deck.
lled & tile floors Covered porch to the waters edge. & fenced gardens $1,095,000 Master entry, 2 car . Curren garage, tly a well-ren
fireplace, ted vacatio n home.
MLS# 70004
2
Sunny 5 acre Olga nontoxic finishes Farm with multiple options guest or caretakerused to create a one bedroom for living spaces. Organic quarters. A /2 bath main materials or writer. An additional studioseparate studio with power, home with attached from the land and gardens, and one bedroom cabin could water and a raised /1
bath wood stove garden help is ideal $588,000 vegetable beds thrive on ahouse gentle southern or guests. The organic for an artist slope. Dog friendly
orchard, berry fencing.
MLS# 70039
3
Brent Rameno Kathryn Sherman
fsky
photo
Deborah Hansen
Harvey Olsan
Lisa Botiller
Locally Own
Mary Clure
ed and Oper
ated
Victoria Shaner
Kristen Slabaugh
Marty Zier
Real Estate in the San Juan Islands
See inside for October’s real estate sales, listings and statistics.