March 11th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
By Rivkah Sweedler
The story of Colton Harris-Moore is a cautionary tale of what happens when a society does not provide in a positive way for its children, as when a society spends more on prisons than on schools, more on war than on health care.
We as a society have an increasing number of children with ADHD, depression and other imbalances. Medicating, punishing and imprisoning are not useful ways to help afflicted persons regain their stability and centeredness so they can be positive members of society.
When I was in Cuba in 2000, I did a story telling in a neighborhood school. I observed among the children a strong sense of cooperation and looking out for one another. Among U.S. schools I had been observing competitiveness and bullying. When asked, the Cubans explained that their philosophy as a Nation was that one should look out for and be kind to the more troublesome or difficult children. This way they would not grow up to be a problem or threat to the community, but rather a part of it. I would call this “Properganda”!
This cautionary tale is a wake-up to re-evaluate our approach to achieving a civil society that is truly civil.
| |
March 9th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
Chinook School in southwestern Washington
As I drove past Chinook Elementary School in southwestern Washington State last weekend, I suddenly remembered the wet night that my gentle Dad burst angrily through the front door, rain dripping from his 1950s hat.
“What’s the matter Dad?” My college-age brother asked.
“That darn car was stuck in first gear all the way from Tacoma to Seattle!” he said. This was before I learned to drive, and didn’t understand how being forced to go a maximum of 15 miles an hour was such a handicap. He got home safely, didn’t he? Our 1956 two-tone Chevy, with the doors on the driver’s side held shut with wire, hadn’t quit on him, it just slowed him down on his way home from a job.
Dad was frequently unemployed in those days, and having a job – or a car – at all was the big deal, not how fast it went or how good it looked.
I imagined similar thoughts were put before the people of Chinook some years ago, while the school was still populated with elementary students. And it seems as if similar thoughts are concerning people on Orcas Island who are faced with a sizable school district bond.
People say we should only repair what’s broken: the plumbing in the elementary school, the heating that wastes tens of thousands of dollars each year, things like that. We shouldn’t expand at all with new buildings, they say.
That would be like replacing the ‘56 Chevy’s doors (at sizeable cost) without addressing the larger transmission issue; it would mean spending thousands of dollars on a “fix” rather than $30 a month for a decade to drive a car that is more fuel-efficient, more road-worthy, and more of a “tool” to enable my Dad to work.
Most of the “new” construction is actually replacement construction for school buildings that engineers have told us need to be upgraded for safety reasons; the new construction is also to provide a building for the vocational (Career and Technical) education, or CTE, classes that prepare our students for careers in the growing fields of applied physics, computer technology, marine technology, agricultural, construction and carpentry trades.
Maintenance of the school buildings is an issue. And maybe my Dad’s car would have run better if its previous owners had kept up oil and transmission fluid levels. But they didn’t, and in the meantime, the cost of fuel increased, the efficacy of the heating and cooling systems improved, and the regulations on pollutant emissions increased.
The School District had years of cutting maintenance expenses and deferring maintenance in order to balance the school’s general budget (in 2006, there was only $5,000 in the district’s reserve fund – it is now at $341,000, up $100,000 from last year). What this means is that the OISD Board, assisted by the Orcas Island Education Foundation (OIEF), and the Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) have rebuilt the district’s financial structure responsibly and responsively.
Deferred maintenance, like a dangerously low reserve fund, will no longer be considered as a policy option by this school district board. The proposed school bond provides the capital (investment) outlay for a contractual maintenance plan as well as for energy savings and efficiency.
The bond, as currently written by OISD Board resolution, calls for the authority to request funds in two stages. This means that the Board may ask for the full amount they’re authorized to ask for in the first stage, but then they may well ask for a lesser amount in the second phase.
It’s been known to happen that capital projects come in under-budget: the replacement Tacoma Narrows Bridge was completed last year, under budget and before deadline; the oil field fires in Iraq following the first Persian Gulf War in the 1990s were extinguished far ahead of what was thought possible. Here on Orcas, we do the “impossible” rather frequently – purchasing Turtleback Mountain, outlawing jet skis and plastic bags, producing healthy reserve funds for our institutions, building outdoor stages with local effort, and operating cemetery and port districts at below the authorized tax dollars.
New construction business models have introduced the General Contractor Construction Manager (GCCM), rather than the design-bid-build process in which the lowest bidder (who may well be an off-island company) contracts for the entire job. In the GCCM method, the contractor is there throughout the building process to help mitigate issues in design.
Board President Scott Lancaster has been researching the GCCM model for the last five years. The Board hopes to write into the contract that local contractors have priority consideration, if not for the General Contractor position, but also for the sub-contracting jobs that the bond pays for. This is why the bond has been described as a “Local Stimulus” investment that will employ islanders.
And for those over age 61 and those disabled who will “never” see an increase in their income, if that income is below $35,000, our County’s Treasury provides that their property value will be “frozen” and they can be exempted from paying any of a new bond amount. (See accompanying story “Low-income Seniors and Disabled Qualify for Bond ‘Tax’ Exemption”).
Did you know that the kids at school are building new cars? Julian Glasser, class of ’09, retrofitted an engine to use biodiesel fuel. This year, another senior is working to re-define the car as our primary mode of transportation.
This week, Kari Schuh, the Career and Technical Education Director, and Superintendent Barbara Kline are meeting with State school officials to discuss local “satellites” of vocational instruction centers. Maybe within our lifetime, Orcas students will “invent” a new mode of transportation that ends our dependence on foreign oil and high prices at the gasoline pump, much as Lakeside School students Paul Allen and Bill Gates, Jr. built a new information communications system in the last generation.
That will never happen, you say? I remember my Dad saying, “I’ll never have a car that works,” and my Mom replying, “Never is a long, long, time.”
My Mom also went to work the following year, and two years later, bought one of those weird little Volkswagen “Bugs” – on time. She considered it an investment in her livelihood, and in our future.
| |
March 3rd, 2010, by Margie Doyle
The news of the Ace Hardware attempted break-in this weekend has pumped life into the bored, bond-weary, environmentally-critiquing Orcas public, and the town is buzzing with conjecture about the Moldy Hairy Colt who may be running rogue throughout our sleepy village.
But that is why we see Scott Lancaster’s stoic integrity and refusal to pander to the romanticism that a “common thief” (in Lancaster’s words) engenders, as inspirational.
Lancaster said on Monday that he had been contacted by no less than a dozen “news” shows for interviews about the Sunday morning alarm at his store. He refused them all. He was told that Sheriff Bill Cumming had also refused to be interviewed. Far more helpful is Cumming’s frequent advice to take action to prevent burglaries; such advice kept a “successful” break-in from happening at Ace Hardware this time.
Yes, there is a “romantic” element to a “kid” who has the chutzpah to steal planes, destroy surveillance equipment and elude arrest, but, especially locally, isn’t that a little dismissive of the nerds, the wonks, the grinds, the “ordinary Joes” who labor day in and day out to make our everyday life a little better, a little easier, a little more pleasant and safe for our children and elders?
The Lancaster family bought Ace Hardware less than two years ago, and have been working to continue this local business; Orcas Homegrown Market, Vern’s Bayside, Island Market all are not just unpeopled, faceless corporations, but our neighbors — contributing businesses that keep us employed in an ongoing manner, supply us with workday needs and frequently lead the pack when islanders organize to help others less fortunate.
So it’s a little facile to say that the thief that is victimizing them isn’t hurting any person, that his/her crimes are “only against property.” It’s more than galling to find various Colton Harris-Moore “fan clubs” organized to laud his exploits. What about Kyle Ater of Homegrown Market, Belinda Landon and Marion Rathbone of Vern’s Bayside, and Dale Linnes of Island Market – and their employees — who are left to pick up the pieces and work to provide the services we ask them for everyday?
We know, it’s just human nature to mythologize someone who’s brazen, imaginative and reckless in his/her snubs to “the establishment.” But it’s ambulance-chasing like the media frenzy this punk has inspired that gives those who promote it a “sensational” reputation. As one caring islander said wearily, “It’s just a matter of time before there’s a ‘Movie of the Week’ about him.”
We’d rather stand by the Scott Lancasters of this community, and neighbors like Kyle Ater, who said “We’re all here everyday to help other islanders.”
| |
February 23rd, 2010, by Margie Doyle
Updated Feb. 23 at 4 p.m.
Having completed our first two public meetings, we as your recently elected Orcas Island Park and Recreation District (‘OIPRD’) commissioners would like to clarify what seem to be some common misperceptions about the District.
First, this newly formed local body, despite its similar name, is not a replacement for the existing county program called Orcas Rec.; a longstanding and highly valued organization. (Interestingly, the taxing district title of ‘Park and Rec’. is actually one created by the state). While Orcas Rec. was mentioned frequently in the materials promoting the formation of this District by its supporters, along with the Funhouse, our schools and other equally worthy local organizations, and while it is among the top priorities that we are in the active process of addressing, they are wholly different organizations.
It should also be noted that this new District, while created by a wide 72% margin of ‘Yes’ votes, was not funded, and consequently cannot disperse even a dime to any organizations until it is; when and if the public may or may not deem it worthy of its support. Orcas Rec. has been gradually losing its County support for years and currently receives only office space, which will run out by 2011 to the County’s daunting budget challenges — so, along with all of our highly valued Orcas non-profits, Orcas Rec. continues to need every bit as much help as it has historically had from its generous volunteers and donors in order to survive.
Second, some believe that we can and should get on a ballot immediately to ask the public for its financial support.
While we are and have been working diligently doing research for the purpose of creating a proposal that we hope will help guarantee that some of the more valued programs on Orcas (and locations, potentially) will be supported and maintained going forward, we would point out that: A) There are only a small handful of dates on which we are legally allowed to be on a public ballot and that any funding, even if passed, will not be made available to this body for many months; B) It will cost anywhere from $3,000-$17,000 just to be on a public ballot (November’s election being the least expensive, but also the farthest away), for which, as mentioned, there is currently no funding; and C) It takes a great deal of time to evaluate and create a proposal that is well thought out, balanced and, most importantly, defensible to the general public and we feel this should not be done without adequate care and consideration. That is, we want to do it right the first time.
Finally, we would like to reassure those of you who wanted this District formed that we are moving this process forward as quickly and with as much consideration and effort as we can and will have something to present the public as soon as possible. We also invite you to attend and contribute your voice to our published monthly meetings. Thank you.
OIPRD Commissioners:
Jim Bredouw
Bob Eagan
Martha Farish
Ian Lister
Vicki Vandermay
Comments are closed | |
February 22nd, 2010, by Margie Doyle
Behind the stage in Act II, the performers "quietly" act out their own drama. Photo courtesy of Chris Thomerson.
In the howling, romping fun of “Noises Off,” at the Orcas Grange, it’s easy to forget about the painstaking work of timing, blocking, memorization, and characterization that go into the portrayal of comedic characters.
But, two days after seeing the Actors Theater of Orcas Island present “Noises Off,” I’m still grinning and shaking my head in wonder and admiration for what Doug Bechtel and his troupe of actors has pulled off in this quintessentially British farce, which plays again this Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at the Grange.
The structure of the play needs to be understood to fully appreciate what the Actors Theater have achieved: in Act I, our Orcas Island cast portrays a troupe of actors in final rehearsal of a play called “Nothing On,” placed in a country home where “no one is in residence,” but all kinds of characters appear; in Act II, the Grange audience sees a “live” performance of the play a month later – only from the backstage perspective, so the “actors” are frantically miming backstage as they call out their lines to the audience; finally in Act III, we are at the final performance of the play, again from the audience perspective, when everything that can go wrong, does go wrong (and you get the feeling that everything that CAN’T go wrong, still does go wrong).
This play involves the most complicated set I’ve ever seen, and huge kudos go to Bill Westlake, Vince Monaco and Doug Bechtel (and his crew) for envisioning, designing and building the set. It’s constructed in three parts, and watching the set’s reversal during intermissions is an added spin-off to the value of the performance.
The actors are true to their quirky characters as written:
- Patty Monaco portrays “Dotty” the housekeeper, lost at the onset, who only becomes increasing flabbergasted as the play goes on
- Frank Michels as “Lloyd” the director, in a state of high anxiety throughout the rehearsals and performances of “Noises On,” as he struggles with timing, lines, and his cast, not to mention the two love affairs he is conducting on the side
- Nick Hershenow as “Garry” the clueless rental agent, who couldn’t explain the most straightforward situation, which is not the case in either the play within a play or the play itself
- Kaityln Richards as “Brooke,” the vapid doxie who shines in her confusion
- Dove Dingman as “Poppy,” the stage manager who is powerless to bring organization to the production, or recognition to her lovelorn condition
- Ron Herman as “Frederick,” the home-owner who is evading his taxes and is forever whining “You know I’m no good at …..”
- Cele Westlake as “Belinda” the innocent-natured wife who sees the good and sweet in all situations
- Freddy Hinkle as “Tim” the stage hand who may or may not be called to the rescue or disaster of the production
- Tony Lee as “Selsdon” the dipsomaniac actor whose rubber-faced expressions give credence to the cast’s doubts about him.
In short, this is a 3-ring circus of a performance, with each actor fully “on” at all times. The lickety-split nature of “Noises Off” demands energy, control, and ultimately, the confident freedom of actors flying through their hilarious parts. My neighbor in the audience was literally falling out of her seat, laughing so hard at the broad British comedy.
It’s a little strange to use the word “heroic” in describing the performance of a comedy, but that is really the word for it, from director Doug Bechtel’s vision and ambition, to the set construction, to each actor’s commitment to an ensemble tour de force.
With three productions still to go this weekend, there has been demand for an additional performance, rumored to be either Thursday night or Sunday afternoon. Be sure to treat yourself to a performance. Tickets are at Darvill’s or at the door.
| |
February 22nd, 2010, by Margie Doyle
I want to follow up the letter I wrote to correct a few misperceptions I had, and may have given. I talked with the man who removes the signs and is the enforcer for all the county codes. Being only one man, he must be very busy, yet he took the time to talk with me. He was courteous and helpful, and willing to share what information he had, including sending me the sign ordinance part specific to Eastsound.
The Ordinance (section 16.55.300(D) of the San Juan County Code – Eastsound Subarea Plan) as it now stands, states that there can be NO free standing signs anywhere in Eastsound, even on private property.
I’m not sure where the boundaries of ‘Eastsound’ are. Outside of ‘Eastsound,’ a different section of the Plan states that some free standing signs for events can be put up for short periods of time, but nothing commercial may be advertised.
The sign ordinance was pushed forward by a vocal few, not the many. It is coming under review by the County Council, who have received complaints about it and are aware that it’s flawed. I urge everyone who’s against the sign ordinance to come forward now – write letters and emails to the council, and keep copies to send on to whoever else needs to read them.
Tourists, guests, and residents love and are charmed by our signs and find them informational, helpful, and fun. Now is the time to make our voices strongly heard. Speaking in person during public comment time at a council meeting is especially weighty and gets their attention. Let the Council know the will of the people.
Sadie Bailey
Eastsound
Comments are closed | |
February 16th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
I’m writing to speak to Senator Kevin Ranker’s remarks about his vote in the Senate to suspend the rule requiring a 2/3 majority before increasing taxes.
I’m sure Senator Ranker has had to make very tough decisions. Many in our state have been devastated by the economic crisis caused by the banking industry
.
We have a serious problem in our country with deregulation. Foxes guarding the henhouse is the quality of representation we’re getting in D.C.
It doesn’t help that our country is mired in expensive ongoing wars and that many of our jobs have been shipped overseas to maximize corporate profits. Our country is being sold out from under us, and both major political parties are responsible.
We must end corporate domination of our elections. Then our representatives would have incentive to represent our best interests over the interests of corporations that profit from wars and outsourcing jobs. We need publicly funded elections.
Our U.S. House Representative, Rick Larsen, a former lobbyist, too often favors corporate interests over the needs of the people in our district. He doesn’t lead, nor does he project a vision for a future that is both economically and environmentally sustainable. He does not promote jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency which we desperately need. (The one reference I found on his website is buried, vague, and not specific to our district.)
Rep. Larsen has said nothing about the Supreme Court decision giving corporations unlimited influence over our elections. And he doesn’t support H.R.1826 for publicly funded elections, stating that it would take money away from education and social programs. That is a false excuse. It would cost little, save a lot, and allow our representatives to spend more time legislating and less time fundraising.
I’m supporting Larry Kalb for Congress, a Progressive Democrat whose platform emphasizes people over profits. Larry will be at the San Juan Library on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 12-2 p.m.
On Orcas, Larry will be at the West Sound Community Club this Sunday, Feb. 21 from 12-2 p.m. He will also be on Lopez Island at the Lopez Community Center, Sunday, Feb. 21 from 7-9 p.m.
I encourage people to meet Larry, share concerns and ask questions. If we can get real representation in Congress, we have a real hope of restoring a healthy economy.
Sharon Abreu, Eastsound
Comments are closed | |
February 15th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
“Ignoring the problem will only make it worse.”
By Terry Whalen, Owner, A1 Marine Services
A1 Marine Services began raising and removing derelict vessels from the waters and beaches of San Juan County through the Derelict Vessel Program in 2004.
After that first boat, it took us about two years to actually get a signed contract with San Juan County. During that two year period we were still removing derelict vessels, but we were just doing it without a contract.
In December of 2008 San Juan County dropped the Derelict Vessel Program; however, just because the County has dropped the program, it does not mean the problem has gone away. The latest boat that was salvaged through the Derelict Vessel Program was just two weeks ago.
I have talked to a lot of people over the last few months about the Derelict Vessel Program but it seems to have just fallen on deaf ears. It is as though, if it’s not on a beach in front of their house they don’t care. I have given it a lot of thought about why nobody seems to care about what happens to these derelict vessels and I am convinced that it is because people really don’t know what happens when on of these things go down.
They don’t see the environmental damage that occurs. So that’s why I am writing these letters; to show everyone why we have a Derelict Vessel program and why it is so important.
I understand budgets and I understand that we are in a recession. However the fact that we are in a recession does not relieve us of our responsibility to protect our marine environment and our marine habitats.
Here is a case in point: In August of this year a house boat broke anchor and washed up on the beach in shipyard cove. The owner removed it from the beach and tied it up to an illegal mooring that belonged to someone else. Then it began to sink, probably because of its time on the beach.
We notified the Coast Guard, DNR, and the county that the boat was in danger of sinking but we were never given permission to stop it from going down. Everyone knew who the owner was and I believe she was eventually notified but she chose to do nothing about it. It sat in shipyard cove for almost a month half submerged but nobody wanted to do anything about it.
Eventually it broke loose from the mooring and was carried out by the current into San Juan Channel and out through Cattle Pass. The current then carried it down to Eagle Cove on the south side. At this point the residenttse of Eagle Cove complained that it can’t be left to sink here, this is whale habitat.
So a month after it began to sink we were given permission to retrieve it. But by the time we got there it was gone. The next day we received a call saying it was in front of the Lime Kiln light house. But once again by the time we got there it was nowhere in sight. At this point the Coast Guard put a helicopter in the air and located it. It was now close to Victoria in Canadian waters and the last notice that we were given was that its Canada’s problem now. Personally, I feel that whole fiasco was wrong on many levels.
The damage caused by these boats sinking can be widespread. We have removed as much as 200 gallons of fuel and oil off of a single boat after it sank. They tend to sink in shallow coves, damaging fragile eco-systems and covering the beaches in garbage.
I truly believe that we need to find a way to stop these boats from sinking and not just clean up the mess after the fact. It took approximately $120,000 to clean up after the sinking of the Fish Hawk in Hunter Bay. In the last thirteen months DNR has spent approximately $170,000 in San Juan County removing these boats.
If we can’t afford to stop this from happening, how can we afford to clean up the mess after it does happen? If we had not caught the last boat two weeks ago, before it rolled over and broke up, the clean up would have again cost well over $100,000 and it would have coated the entire Provost area with garbage fuel and oil. This would have brought the clean-up cost up to around $250,000 in thirteen months.
Since San Juan County has dropped the Derelict Vessel Program we no longer have the ability to identify and remove derelict vessels before they sink. We at A1 Marine do not have the authority to stop a vessel from sinking and then charge the owner for our services. Once we touch the boat without this authority it becomes our liability. We have done this in the past, in fact we did this just last November at the request of the Port but we could very easily get stuck with the bill.
The boats [I mention] follow a common path. They were ether given to the current owners or sold to the current owner for very little money. The new owners have big dreams about fixing them up, but then the reality of how much labor and money it takes sets in. Then the vessels are abandoned and the owners take no responsibility for the damage that results from their careless actions….In the last five years we have remove over fifty of these Vessels and Floats. I believe we have made San Juan County a better place to live for both the people and the marine animals.
The bottom line is that we need help and we need to find a better way to deal with these derelict vessels. Ignoring the problem will only make it worse. A large part of the money spent to date by DNR and San Juan County has been to clean up many years worth of neglect. Letting these derelict boats accumulate again would be a tragedy.
(Terry Whalen will be speaking at the Marine Resources Committee on Wednedsday, Feb. 17 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Islanders Bank in Friday Harbor.)
Comments are closed | |
February 14th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
By Laura Trevellyan, DVSAS Prevention Coordinator/Youth Advocate
As Valentines Day approaches and talk of love surrounds us I would like to take a moment to spread the word on a topic that is unfortunately closely connected… dating violence.
February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. This month provides an excellent opportunity for our community to demonstrate its commitment to ending teen dating violence and to support the numerous victims and survivors who are among us. One in three adolescent girls in the US is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner. These violent relationships can have serious consequences for victims – putting them at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior, suicide and adult re-victimization.
This February is the time to educate about the seriousness of teen dating violence and the prevalence of this epidemic in our lives. The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault services (DVSAS) would be honored if you would help spread the word and support us in the prevention of teen dating violence. If you would like to learn more, schedule a meeting or set up a presentation for staff, students or other members of our community who work with youth, please contact DVSAS at 376-5979 or email at: dvsas.prevention@gmail.com.
You can also check out the National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month website at www.teendvmonth.org. We appreciate your support and thank you for your consideration of this vital issue.
Comments are closed | |
February 14th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
By State Senator Kevin Ranker
Many of you have contacted my office regarding the I-960 vote that we took this week. I think [the following article] in the Olympian describes the situation very well, and I wanted to share this with you.
Why I-960 is unworkable in this grim reality
Published February 12, 2010
Standing between Democrats in the state Legislature and their vote to increase taxes to help close a $2.2 budget shortfall is Initiative 960, passed by voters in November 2007. That initiative, which requires a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate to raise taxes, was approved by 51.2 percent of the voters.
Senate Democrats have taken the first steps toward removing the two-thirds requirement — in effect setting the stage for a tax increase vote later in this legislative session. The simple truth is this: The bottom has fallen out of the economy since voters approved the tax-limiting initiative more than two years ago. The landscape has shifted. The state already has cut billions of dollars in state spending, and an all-cuts budget would have devastating consequences for education, health, social services and public safety in this state.
In a normal budget year, about 59 percent of the budget is off limits to Gregoire and lawmakers. More than half the budget is obligated to pay for elementary and secondary education, Medicaid, pensions and other requirements. By accepting stimulus funds, Washington state has agreed to fully fund many other programs, leaving the governor and Legislature to make the needed cuts from just 29 percent of the budget. As Gregoire says, “There’s not a lot of options.” Lawmakers must find a balance between additional budget cuts and small, targeted tax increases to balance the two-year budget.
SMART VOTERS
Voters understand that the nation is in the depths of an economic recession. Voters understand that national unemployment is pushing 10 percent, and that demands for public services are up at a time when revenue is down. Read more
Comments are closed | |
