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Dinosaur bones on Sucia
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VOLUME 38, NUMBER 21 • MAY 26, 2015
Island men stand up against violence By Colleen Smith Armstrong Islands Sounder Editor/Publisher
Local men are taking a public stand in opposition to violence against women. Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of the San Juans has been holding a fundraising campaign to get 100 “stand up” men to donate $100 in tribute to a woman in their life. “This is a way for men to get involved but also be recognized for it,” said DVSAS Community Advocate Alison Sanders. “Men have been honoring daughters, mothers, partners. It’s been really sweet.” Donors have until the end of May to make donations at www.dvsassanjuans.org. The campaign has not yet reached 100 men. Donors and the woman they are
Lopez Center
honoring will have their name published in the paper and on the DVSAS website and will receive a handmade card. The contribution will go toward safety planning tools and counseling services for victims and prevention outreach in the schools. “The campaign was our Director Kim Bryan’s idea. We always wanted to do it around Mother’s Day,” said Sanders. “With the start of the men’s action group on San Juan Island, it seemed like there was a lot of movement around mobilizing men. It’s something that all agencies are trying to push.” Richard Lowe, who is the only male victims advocate for DVSAS, is leading the men’s action group. They’ve been meeting for a few months to plan upcoming
Irish Music in Concert!
Friday, May 29th, 7:30 pm
Tickets in advance: Adult $10, Youth $5 or online: LopezCenter.org PSR, Lopez Bookshop, Blossom Grocery
Tickets at Door: Adult $12, Youth $6
Irish Music Workshop presented by Giant's Causeway Friday, May 29 at 3:30 pm Adult $20, Youth $10
Contributed photo
In 2014, Lopez High School Senior Miriam Drahn launched an awareness campaign for sexual assault with posters featuring her male classmates. It is an example of boys and men becoming part of the conversation about violence against women. projects. There are twelve group members who range from community leaders to business owners to elected officials. Every Friday they are on the courthouse lawn with signs and hand-outs. “It’s about men approaching men,” he said. “We want to be an example to other men to stop being the silent gender. It’s not a gender problem, it’s a human problem.” Sanders is hopeful that men on Lopez and Orcas will be next up to start an action group. Getting men involved in the violence against women discussion has become a national trend. Groups like A Call to Men, Coaching Boys Into Men, Men Can Stop Rape and MenEngage promote building relationships based on respect and
1989–2015
Please Join Us May 30th, 2:00 p.m.
Lopez Community Center Potluck For more information contact: Mary Jenison 468-2456 or Carol Steckler 468-2138
ered bystanders who can confront abusive peers,” wrote Katz on his website. Sanders says it is important for men to be involved in domestic violence and sexual awareness because the majority of perpetrators are men and the majority of victims are women – although boys and men can certainly be victims of abuse. “We need men to get fired up,” she said.
Stand up men
Ron Krebs honoring Barbra Pluff Gregory Maynard honor-
ing all women David Champlin Juan Lopez honoring Heidi Lopez Gregory Gerhardstein Michael Buettell honoring Sue Buettell Peter Goddu honoring Margaret Langlie Keith Whitaker honoring his daughters Court Bell honoring Ann Bell Chad Peterman Mark Cunningham David Anderson honoring Linnea and Avaline Anderson SEE STAND, PAGE 4
Times are changing on Lopez By Greg Blomberg Special to the Weekly
In Loving memory of Keaton Farris
equality. Author, speaker and activist Jackson Katz led a TED talk entitled “Violence against women – it’s a men’s issue.” He says that gender violence should be approached as something that involves men of all ages and socioeconomic, racial and ethnic backgrounds. He stresses the importance of speaking up. Remaining silent or looking the other way perpetuates violence against women. “View men not only as perpetrators or possible offenders but as empow-
In the 60s my wife and I sailed our boat into
Fisherman’s Bay, and I experienced “love at first sight.” The local residents, who today we’d call the “Old
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Timers” were sweet and welcoming. I’d never experienced anything like it. I wasn’t content ‘till my boat was sold so there were funds to buy a toehold on “The Rock.” I vowed to always welcome those who came as I had been welcomed. I also vowed to not change the island, well that’s essentially impossible, but I have been fortunate enough to create work and activities that have not depended on “developing” the island. With and without me the island has changed a great deal since I moved here. Now there’s more than one ferry serving the islands. A clinic was built and we got
a real doctor. We have an active business community that serves up wonderful food and a plethora of goods and services we all depend on. In 1968 Lopez had an aging community, with fishing and farming being the traditional way to make a living here. Back then many of the young folks headed for the city. Now there are many young people and babies; we all enjoy all the good energy of the vibrancy that brings. We have been blessed by many new residents who’ve both the financial where-with-all and a vision of community with the generosity and grace to SEE TIMES, PAGE 3