SOUNDER THE ISLANDS’
Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County
WEDNESDAY, January 14, 2015 VOL. 48, NO. 4 75¢ islandssounder.com
Inside this edition
An advocate for the elephants
A supplement to the Journal of the San Juan Islands, Islands’ Sounder and Islands’ Weekly
by COLLEEN SMITH ARMSTRONG Editor/Publisher
The Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand has become like a second home to Tracy Harachi and Nathan Yoffa. The islanders travel to Asia several times a year to volunteer at a 150-acre sanctuary that is home to several hundred dogs and 41 elephants. The nonprofit was originally launched to provide a loving environment for elephants rescued from abusive work conditions. Harachi says that many Americans don’t understand what the animals endure overseas, and she hopes to educate and inform the public. “Any time you see an elephant in the street or available for rides – it’s most likely been beaten,” Harachi said. After devastating floods in 2011, volunteers transported more than 500 dogs from Bangkok to the sanctuary. Most of them were injured and many were near death. Yoffa and Harachi helped care for the dogs and decided to fly back with B.K., a purebred Kintamani
Contributed photos
Orcas Islanders Tracy Harachi and Nathan Yoffa are pictured with one of the elephants at the sanctuary in Thailand, which is also home to dogs, like the injured pups above. Bali Dog, two years ago. She now happily resides on Orcas with her packmate Joey, an Australian Shepherd. Harachi, who is a professor at the University of Washington, travels to Cambodia up to four times a year to do social work. Yoffa works for a software company and has a flexible work schedule, so he is often able to accompany her. During their last trip this past December, in addi-
tion to their usual tasks of feeding and bathing the elephants, they helped rehabilitate injured animals using hydrotherapy and a hand-held laser device for repairing tissue that had been donated by the manufacturer. When a 56-year-old elephant named Mae Keow shattered ligaments in her leg, Harachi was asked to help administer laser
treatments. Unfortunately, Mae Keow’s injuries were too severe and prevented her from being able to stand on her own, a crucial need for elephants, and she was ultimately euthanized. But Yoffa and Harachi saw the laser help others’ ailments – from arthritis in elephants to flesh wounds in dogs. The FDA-approved device, which has recently made its way into vet-
Orcas Has Talent celebrates 10th year Leo Miller is crowned Orcas Has Talent Junior winner; adults to compete in February by COLLEEN SMITH ARMSTRONG Editor/Publisher
Another group of island performers have earned their golden ticket. Orcas Has Talent is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and eight hopeful singers and musicians will compete for $500 during the finale show on Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Orcas Center. This past weekend, the Orcas Has Talent Junior competition was held prior to adult auditions. Leo Miller, a young breakdancer, won the junior title and $50 with his killer moves. He will perform at the finale show. The adults moving on are singers Carl Burger, Cali Bagby, Arianna Dean, Stormy Paul Kamin photo
At left: Breakdancer Leo Miller is the Orcas Has Talent Junior winner. He will perform Feb. 7.
Hildreth, Brianna Rose and Wade Lucas, Susan Weiss and violinists Sasha Hagen and Michael Harlow. After 10 years, organizer Donna Laslo says there is always room for a few changes. So this season there will be new coaches to help participants blossom, more prizes in the competition and a fresh way to decide who the winner is. This year’s coaches/judges are Susan Osborn, Jake Perrine and Ken and Karen Speck. A certain percentage of the judges’ votes will be tallied with the audience for evenness. The winner will receive $500. “The audience still has the power,” said Laslo. “But it will be balanced with the judges’ final decisions. That way someone can win points with talent, poise and stage presences
SEE TALENT, PAGE 6
erinary care, pulses red and blue light at different frequencies. It accelerates tissue healing, reduces inflammation, decreases pain and can penetrate down to the bone to repair damage. The couple wanted to raise money for purchasing another laser, and when the manufacturer agreed to throw in a second unit for free, they started an online
SEE ELEPHANTS, PAGE 6
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