SOUNDER THE ISLANDS’
Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2015 VOL. 48, NO. 14 75¢ islandssounder.com
Melanie Flint photo
Viking sports action – page 8
New postmasters for Orcas Island Cali Bagby/ Staff photo
Donna McNeil, left, is the new postmaster of the Eastsound office. Dana Starfire, pictured on page 5, now oversees the Orcas Post Office.
by CALI BAGBY Assistant editor
Donna McNeil’s family tree is brimming with postal employees. Her mother worked at a post office, her grandmother was postmaster of Deer Harbor and her great uncle rowed the mail to the
hamlets of Orcas at a time when the roads didn’t extend to the different hubs of the island. Not only did her family deliver the mail but they were one of the first settlers – the Cayou family. This rich history makes McNeil’s recent position, Eastsound postmaster, a
natural step. “It helps that I know the community,” she said. Dana Starfire, Orcas postmaster, calls McNeil’s history invaluable to the job. “Sorting and helping people find mail turns us into detec-
tives,” she said. “The knowledge that Donna has – you can’t pay someone to have that knowledge because she has been here for so long.” McNeil, who was born and w on-island, started working raised as a cleaner at the post office when she was 18. She then worked as a letter carrier substitute, then clerk, then postmaster at Orcas office. She has spent more than 30 years on the job. “It was a long-term goal to be in the postal field and have a job so I could sustain a living,” she said. One of her goals at the Eastsound office is to hire three new people so that they are fully staffed and can more quickly handle lines at “rush hour.” “I am working on getting thing in shape,” she said. Her appointment coincides with Starfire taking over as postmaster of the Orcas Post Office. Starfire also worked her way through the postal system, starting as a letter carrier and moving on to clerk. She said she always
Sen. Ranker ‘disgusted’ by antidiscrimination amendment defeat by COLLEEN SMITH ARMSTRONG Editor/Publisher
Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, is “disgusted” following the defeat of an amendment which would have required vendors who do business with the state to be in line with state and federal anti-discrimination laws. The amendment did not receive sufficient votes from the Senate Republicans during a late-night budget session on April 3. The House passed its budget on a partisan 51-47 vote, but as of press time, the Senate failed to pass its budget. Ranker was particularly disappointed by the failure to adopt a specific amendment. “We voted to allow discrimination. Elected officials are willing to sacrifice core values to
gain control,” Ranker said. “It was disgusting.” He said the amendment was simple: any business that contracts with the state cannot discriminate based on race, religion or sexual orientation. It also did not require any funding. “I am astounded that in 2015 we still have to fight for basic civil rights,” Ranker said. “Even now, we read headlines about state governments making it legal for businesses to discriminate against their own citizens. We are not Indiana but we are following their lead.” Proponents of Indiana’s “Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” which was recently passed by the Indiana legislature and signed into law by the governor, say it protects individuals and businesses from acting against their religious beliefs.
In a news story in the Spokesman-Review last week, Senator Mike Baumgartner, R-Spokane, said the Democratic amendments at the recent budget session were mostly about securing “political gain.” “A budget isn’t about the policy of social issues. It’s how we fund our state,” said Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, in the story. Ranker says he is “not done” and will continue to advocate for equality in the workplace. “I am going to fight like hell that we don't become Indiana,” he said. “We are not Arkansas, we are not Wisconsin. The system is broken and we are not representing the values of Washington citizens.” To see Ranker’s speech on the Senate floor, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=6whcsBqwFdw.
wanted to become a postmaster. After eight interviews, Starfire was promoted to postmaster in the town of Index, Wash., in 2008. When a job opportunity came up for Waldron Island, Starfire jumped at the chance to try living off the grid. On Waldron she found people that were extremely passionate about having a post office because it was their main way to receive goods or important items like automotive parts that would fix a failing vehicle. The community fought and won to keep the place open six hours a day. She went on to be a postmaster on Lopez, and then this April officially landed the job of Orcas postmaster. “I like the mail. Once you start working with the mail, there is a connection with people. It’s all about the people - it connects people,” she said. “The Internet has changed things. Now we’re geared toward small packages. People are shopping more online.” What makes Starfire and McNeil’s jobs as postmasters on island this year even more timely is that the first ever female postmaster general was named. Megan Brennan is the 74th postmaster general.
SEE POSTAL, PAGE 5
Sounder deadlines Display advertising: Friday at noon Classified advertising: Monday at noon Legal advertising: Thursday at noon Press releases, Letters: Friday at 3 p.m.
How to reach us Office: 376-4500 Fax: 1-888-562-8818 Advertising: advertising@ islandssounder.com Classified: 1-800-388-2527, classifieds@ soundpublishing.com Editor: editor@ islandssounder.com