Islands' Sounder, January 27, 2016

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SOUNDER THE ISLANDS’

Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County

WEDNESDAY, January 27, 2016  VOL. 49, NO. 4  75¢  islandssounder.com

A new baby Orca

– page 7

First San Juan County baby of 2016 is born Rylie and Lorne Paulson win the annual ‘Baby Derby’ contest by Courtney Oldwyn Special to the Sounder

The arrival of baby Dailor made his parents happy. However, the couple’s three older “babies” – their three tiny dogs – are not so thrilled. “They’re not sure what to think other than that they’re feeling a little ignored,” said new mom Rylie Paulson who, along with her husband Lorne, welcomed their first child Dailor Robert Paulson on Jan. 16, making him the first baby born in San Juan County this year and the winner of the Journal’s 2016 Baby Derby. Rylie moved to Friday Harbor from Lynnwood in 2009. She

met Lorne, a born and raised islander, in 2014 when she was working at Browne’s Home Center. He is co-owner of AskewPaulson Construction and was often at Browne’s picking up supplies for work. They began dating in February and a year later, on Valentine’s Day of 2015, he proposed. They were married in August. Baby Dailor’s middle name is from his maternal grandfather, Robert Adams, who lives in Lynwood. Dailor is the first grandchild on Rylie’s side, and is also welcomed by Rylie’s mom and stepdad, Marli and Phil Brocato and Grandma Courtney Oldwyn photo

At left: Rylie and Lorne Paulson with their newest addition Dailor, the first baby born in San Juan County for 2016.

New study released on low-income households in San Juan County by Anna V. Smith Journal reporter

A study concerning low-income households in Whatcom, Island and San Juan County has been released to better understand the problems they face. The study, entitled “Prosperity Project 2015” released by the Opportunity Council, is an update from a similar study done in 2006 that focused on childcare, education, healthcare, affordable housing and unemployment to better encapsulate their experiences. “It pretty much validates what we see here on a daily basis,” said Jennifer Armstrong, director at San Juan Island Family Resource Center, who helped distribute and collect surveys from respondents. “None of it came as a big surprise, I think it’s just helpful that the Opportunity Council consolidated this information where the public can be more aware of these issues.” Respondents were primarily from Whatcom County, at 44 percent, with 33 percent from Island County and 23 percent from San Juan County. In San Juan, respondents were made up of 87 percent white people and 74 percent female. 16 percent of San Juan respondents were veterans.

Few living-wage jobs, transportation challenges, low availability of affordable housing, difficulties of finding affordable medical care or not being insured were some top issues that the study addressed. Housing In San Juan, 51 percent of respondents rent their house, 38 percent “owner-occupied housing,” 4 percent were homeless and 3 percent were transitional/emergency shelter. Of all the counties, nearly one-third of survey responders, or 31 percent, said that in the last year, they had to make the decision of choosing between basic needs or paying their rent or mortgage. One in five had to share housing with another household to prevent becoming homeless. The survey determined that “housing is considered to be affordable when households spend no more than 30 percent of their pretax income on housing costs.” In this case, on average, the study found that renters and owners were spending nearly half or more of their income for monthly rent or mortgage payments. In other words, nowhere near affordable. The survey acknowledged that

percentage could be higher, since those numbers did not reflect utilities or house maintenance costs. Healthcare San Juan County respondents said they had mostly good experiences with healthcare on the islands. Region-wide, high cost and not having insurance were major reasons for not receiving medical, dental, mental health or medications. Dental care was identified as one type of healthcare that was especially difficult to find. Fish for Teeth, a local nonprofit, is one dental care provider that is trying to fix that problem in the county by offering free dentistry. The team recently came to San Juan Island Jan. 22. According to the study, “more than three in four survey respondents who did not receive needed dental or prescriptions cited high cost as a reason.” Childcare Region-wide, the study identified a downward trend of licensed childcare providers, limited hours, few options for children with special needs, and the high cost of childcare

SEE STUDY, PAGE 6

Pat Rishel, all of Friday Harbor. On the Paulson side, Dailor is welcomed by Lorne’s mom Paula Kamp of Sandpoint, Idaho; his dad Dan Paulson and wife Ruth Flemming of Friday Harbor; and Lorne’s many siblings from both sides of his family. Being a new parent is “tiring, but it’s awesome,” said Rylie. “All those times people say that your life will never be the same and you sort of think, okay, okay and then nine months later you realize ‘Oh, they were right!’” “There really are no words; it’s a newfound love for sure,” said Lorne. The family receives over $600 in local “Baby Booty” as winners of this year’s derby, including gift certificates from Friday Harbor Drugstore, Friday Harbor Dentistry, Harbor Rental, Island Market, IPS, Roche Harbor, Cecil’s Electronics, The Toy Box, Be Chic, Friday Harbor Freight, Lopez Village Market, Kings Market and Petro San Juan; a year subscription to The Journal; and $25 from Islanders Bank. “Maybe we’ll start him a college fund with that gift certificate,” said Lorne.

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


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