Island Scene
New museum adds unique flair to San Juan art scene PAGE 11
Local
‘Heart of Christmas’ in harmony, with SJ Singers PAGE 16
As I See It
Marijuana: Not just another crop, more regulations may be needed; how a moratorium might help PAGE 7
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, December 10, 2014 Vol. 107 Issue 50
SJ tops in state turn-in demos
More Growlers, less noise? By Cali Bagby Weekly editor
By Scott Rasmussen Journal editor
Tearing apart a boat that’s past its prime is nothing new for Michael Durland. In fact, it’s more akin to business as usual at Orcas Island’s Deer Harbor Boatworks, where, over the course of two days, Nov. 13-14, Durland and crew demolished five boats whose owners had surrendered various vessels they could no longer maintain or dispose of themselves to the grindstone of the state-funded voluntary turn-in program coordinated by San Juan County’s derelict vessel removal program. Four made of fiberglass, measuring 21 to 27 feet in length, respectively, proved rather routine and crumbled quickly, but even the old-hands at Deer Harbor winced a bit when it came time to gut and disassemble a 38-foot wooden Owens cabin cruiser whose former glory was only faintly eclipsed by the passing of time. “It’s a shame to have to bust that one up,” Durland said. “It had really good mahogany and some other real nice features on it. We salvaged what we could. But it’s a good thing, the program, because some of these boats would just end up sinking.” The voluntary “Turn In Option” is a new twist and incentive recently added to See DEMOS, Page 3
Islands’ Weekly photo /Cali Bagby
Critics of Navy jet noise display protest signs outside Lopez Island’s performing arts center, the location of the Navy’s its first-ever scoping meeting on Lopez, Dec. 3.
Pregnancy gone awry; female falls
See NOISE?, Page 4 Left, J-32 elevates from the waters of the water of Haro Strait. The body of the 18-yearold orca was discovered on the shore of Vancouver Island Dec. 4.
By Scott Rasmussen
Contributed photo / Center for Whale Research
Journal editor
The cause of death has yet to be determined, but the demise of yet another member of the Southern resident killer whales marks a new low point for a population that shows little, if any, sign of recovery. The body of J-32, an 18-year-old female, was found Thursday, Dec. 4, near Courtenay, British Columbia, roughly 70 miles north of the city of Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island. Results of a necropsy performed
“Honk if you like quiet skies” was written in bright letters and posted outside of the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts where the Navy held its first ever scoping meeting on Lopez on Dec. 3. Just a few feet down the road, dressed in down jackets and fleece gloves and hats, Stanley and Kip Greenthal pass out blue papers labeled Growler EIS Scoping Meeting. ”This is our chance to show the Navy that we are impacted and do not want an escalation of noise and over flights from more Growlers,” said the flyer. “Our attendance will show that we are not wiling to give up our quality of life and become collateral damage.” The noise from thousands of engine tests and training runs by new EA 18G Growlers and other planes at Naval Air Station Whidbey and Outlying Landing Field Coupeville has generated outcry this year, mainly from Lopez Island. At a meeting held by Rep. Rick Larsen in early October, Lopezians asked for the Navy to come to Lopez to discuss the noise pollution from the aircraft. Inside the community center, 25 representatives for the Navy have answered those request and speak with islanders at different booths labeled public involvement, Growler operations and aircraft noise. There are also about five police officers standing around the room. According to Navy Public Affairs Officer Ted Brown, the Navy always has some type of law
New season, lofty goals, ru gged rivals
A
walk in the park? For the Friday Far from it. Harbor girls means going basketb toe-to2B and 1B divisions, and toe with some of all team, competition on its positio at the 2B level with the outcom the state’s toughe st teams in e of post-season n in the Northwest both the 2B/1B Leagueeach and every game play. having impact Mount Vernon standings and on its prospe season as runner Christian lost cts of only one starter -up in the MVP a year 1B state from a Sarah Ott, ago, returns for a seniortournament. La Conneteam that finished a last r’s Anna Cook, ise to be no prolific scorer since her season, as does Shoreli league pushover as freshman year. ne “It’s a really well. Orcas and Christian senior strong Darrin league,” Head tough road.” gton promCoach Eric And, that’s Jangard said. “It’s going strength. Fridaya rough road ahead to be a Allie Galt (ankle)Harbor enters the even when–or if–the season with Wolverines lined or playing and 5-foot 11-inch two of its top get to full sophom players limited , 6-foot junior ore Hayden minutes becaus Still, once Mayer the two are both on the e of respective injuries (hip), either sidecourt, joining . junior Madie Kincaid on the See RIVALS
two days later reveal that the orca was carrying a near full-term baby at the time of its death. The orca is believed to have died no more than two days before its body was discovered. The death of J-32, also known as Rhapsody, stands as the second loss for the “endangered” population in about a month, and the
fourth in 2014. Equally alarming for many killer whale advocates is that the Southern residents have not had a newborn in more than two years that has survived for more than two months. The population now totals 77, a 30-year low. See FALLS, Page 5
Winner of six 1st place awards in Washington Newspaper Publishers Association 2014 BNC, 17 in all
, Page 8
From left; Hannah Hopkins, Madie Kincaid Allie Galt, LiliTaylor Turnbull, Kiana Journal photo Woods, / Scott Rasmussen Wood, Savanna h Hoffman, Ella Hu, Hayden Mayer, Alexa Mora, Madden Shanks.
Winter Sports Preview
Let the games begin; inside you’ll find stories, schedules, team photos, and more of Friday Harbor winter sports.