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WEDNESDAY, December 3, 2014 VOL. 47, NO. 49 75¢ islandssounder.com
LOCAL | Orcas students hold hunger banquet [3] COMMENTARY | Letters to the editor [4-5] ARTS | A Christmas Carol opens at Orcas Center [7] NEWS | OPALCO announces internet pilot project [8] MUSIC | Baritone Philip Cutlip returns to the island [8]
ORS looks at buying property for Exchange by CALI BAGBY Assistant editor
“Is the Exchange ever coming back?” This is the question posed to Orcas Recycling Services Director Pete Moe on a daily basis. Standing on the grounds of a 35-acre property that could be the Exchange’s new home, Moe says the answer to that question is: “Yes, the Exchange is definitely coming back.” It’s just a matter of when. Nearly one year ago, Orcas Recycling Services took over the transfer station and also the responsibility for the Exchange, a reuse center where islanders could drop off and purchase various items. In February 2013, just as ORS was in the process of looking at how they could take the helm, the Exchange burned down due to an accidental fire. Now nearly two years after the fire, ORS staff and board mem-
bers are hoping to have a new Exchange up by spring if they can secure the right piece of land. The property in question is owned by a long-time island family and is located near the Old Trout Inn on Orcas Road. The land already has a building that could house the Exchange permanently. If they rebuild the Exchange at the transfer station it will be owned by the county. But if it’s located somewhere else then ORS should own the facility. The property could also be used for other ORS services like composting and mulching. Not having the Exchange at the dump would also free up more room for islanders to sort recycles rather than dumping everything together. “The critical part of what we do is to get to zero waste,” said ORS Board President Tim Blanchard. Buying land may also be the
Cali Bagby/Staff Photo
Orcas Recycling Services Board President Tim Blanchard at the property where a new Exchange may be built. fast track to having the Exchange back up and running. If ORS wanted to rebuild the Exchange at the dump, they are first required by the county to build a road, which would not be started until the spring. ORS would have to build a new structure, making the reopening of the reuse center unknown. Blanchard is optimistic that
purchasing the 35 acres would allow ORS to have an Exchange functioning as soon as April. Currently ORS is in the feasibility study portion of the process to make sure the new property will work. Feasibility included finances, renovations to the structure and operation funds to get started. Moe said that ORS is estimating a ballpark figure of a half
School’s first debate club earns trophies by COLLEEN SMITH ARMSTRONG Publisher/Editor
When Gunnar Sandwith and Devon Mann went to their first debate competition, the last thing they expected was to bring home trophies. As members of Orcas High School’s first speech and debate club, it was a great way to start the season. “We got up to speed really fast and we triumphed at our first tournament,” said Coach Joan Pedrick. Sandwith and Mann, both sophomores, attended a tournament in Snohomish in midNovember where a total of 22 schools competed and only four students earned awards in the novice division. Mann earned third and Gunnar came in second. “For us to get two awards at our first tournament was incredible,” Pedrick said. It all started this summer when Sandwith and Mann, who are good friends, attended a debate camp at Whitman College. They were originally drawn to the activity because of its value on college applications. But after camp they were hooked, and their parents helped launch the club with the help of Pedrick, who competed in high school and college. She went to a coach’s training clinic to get prepped and
Contributed photo
Devon Mann and Gunnar Sandwith.
the Orcas Island Education Foundation is providing $3,000 toward the club’s expenses. “It made a big difference in my life so this is my ‘pay it forward’ moment,” Pedrick said. “The students are smart and funny and a joy to work with. Their enthusiasm has been a motivator for me to step it up.” Ian Lister is the assistant coach and other club members are Annika Flemming, Maggie Paige, Emma Heikkinen and Keith Light. They meet twice a week and participants practice the one-on-one “Lincoln Douglas” style of debate that is based on values, logic and philosophy.
For those who don’t want to debate, they can participate in the speech activities. “Students do not need to compete,” Pedrick said. “They may attend simply to improve their writing and speaking skills … We are hoping to host a mini clinic this summer for high school kids to get their feet wet and spark interest.” Students are given a month to prepare their arguments on a pre-determined topic. For this most recent tournament, it was “the right to be forgotten from internet searches should be a Civil Right.” Competitors must present arguments from both sides in 1,300-word cases. Pedrick said this stye is a “good analytical builder.” “I’ve always liked arguing but debate club makes you look at things from another perspective,” Sandwith said. “It opens your mind.” Mann says the club gives her “self-confidence from doing something intellectual” in front of other people and that her public speaking skills have improved immensely. Debate club students will attend three district tournaments this year plus the state qualifying meet on February. If Sandwith and Mann make it to state, they will no longer be competing in the novice division. “If we get that far, we’ll refine our arguments and be prepared for anything,” Sandwith said.
a million dollars to acquire the property, make renovations, clean up, permitting and operating the Exchange. Blanchard said he knows how important the Exchange is to the community and that is why ORS wants to accelerate the process. “The Exchange was different things to different people. Some wanted to drop off stuff after cleaning houses, others relied on the Exchange for basic material to operate their homes,” Blanchard said. To address questions regarding rebuilding the Exchange, ORS has scheduled a community Q&A on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Station.
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