Season’s tunes to come B-1
Lovin’ the lavender
Putting on ‘The Coats’
Specialty shop opens downtown
Holiday voices come to Sequim
B-5
A-7
SEQUIM GAZETTE www
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015
Sequim’s Hometown Newspaper
com
School board votes for Feb. 2016 bond proposal Construction costs push plan to $54M by MICHAEL DASHIELL Sequim Gazette
For the fourth time since early 2014, Sequim School District’s board of directors is asking area voters to approve a school construction bond. In a 5-0 unanimous vote Monday night, directors agreed to put a
bond proposal on a special election ballot on Feb. 9, 2016. The bond would pay for several projects school advocates say are needed, including the building of a new elementary school and added classrooms at Greywolf Elementary School and Sequim High School. “These are the most critical needs,” board director Jim Stoffer said. Cost of this bond is $54 million, up about $5 million from a pro-
75 CENTS
Vol. 42, Number 49
Historical Sequim farm is earmarked for conservation Land Trust awarded $344K toward project
posal that failed by less than half a percent — or a little more than 50 votes — in November. The increase is a result of rising construction costs, according to Brian Lewis, executive director of business services for the Sequim School District. The board needed to approve a proposal and submit it to the Clallam County Elections office by Dec. 11 for the Feb. 9 special
by ALANA LINDEROTH Sequim Gazette
An effort to conserve a notable 60-acre farm is under way. In the shadows of the Olympic Mountains the “Historic” Ward Farm has fulfilled a variety of agricultural purposes for 157 years, Tom Sanford, North Olympic Land Trust executive director, said. The farm remains one of few large plots
See SCHOOLS, A-15
North Olympic Land Trust was awarded $344,000 by the state legislature to begin efforts to conserve the “Historic” Ward Farm. Submitted photo
of farmland to border the banks of the Dungeness River.
See FARM, A-6
SEQUIM CONNECTION
Game Farm employees talk Hollywood ties by MATTHEW NASH Sequim Gazette
1A
The lore is strong with this tale. It’s been buzzing for many years and it sounds to some that a few of Sequim’s creatures went on a journey not so long ago to a galaxy far, far away. Former and current employees of the Olympic Game Farm say several animals’ sounds were recorded in Sequim and used in “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” and possibly later films, games and merchandise in the franchise. As ticket presales continue to mount and the world anticipates the release of the next film in the franchise — “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” — some believe one Sequim creature may have played a role in saving the lives of some iconic heroes. Barbara McInnes Edmondson, a 1979 Sequim High grad, was a tour guide at the time on the farm. She was a sophomore with curly hair and wearing overalls in the summer of 1977 when “Star Wars: Episode 4: A New Hope” was a big hit.
See STAR WARS, A-16
Jan Beebe sits with Pippen the sea otter at an undisclosed time at the Olympic Game Farm. Former Option 1B and current employees believe an otter like Pippen had its vocals used to create the sounds of “Star Wars” creature Tauntaun. Photo courtesy of the Olympic Game Farm Former Olympic Game Farm employee Barbara McInnes Edmondson says the sounds of the river otter eating and begging helped create the “Star Wars” creature Tauntaun’s voice, seen at top right with Harrison Ford playing Han Solo and actor Mark Hamill playing Luke Skywalker. Submitted art
Sports B-8 • Schools B-10 • Arts & Entertainment B-1 • Opinion A-14 • Obituaries A-13 • Classifieds C-1 • Crossword Section C
0 $0 $0 $0
weather outlook:
$
THURSDAY, DEC. 10
▲49 ▼41
DUE AT SIGNING*
FRIDAY, DEC. 11
DOWN*
Jetta
New 2016 Volkswagen
▲47 ▼39 ▲46 ▼39
WILDER
VOLKSWAGEN
You Can Count On Us! 53 JETTA WAY, PORT ANGELES 1-800-927-9395 • 360-452-9268
SEC. DEPOSIT*
S
P/MO FOR 36 MO LEASE*
*Exclusions apply. Plus switch to VW and get a $1,000 Bonus**. Offers for highly qualified customers through Volkswagen Credit. Excludes Hybrid models. Sale Price is plus tax, license and a negotiable $150 documentation fee. See Wilder Volkswagen for details. Expires 1/4/16.
5C1473464
229
$
SATURDAY, DEC. 12
1ST MO. PYMT*