March 11th, 2010
Good food, good talk, good schools, all a part of the Orcas Island School Board's Bond Community Potluck last night.
Last night, the Orcas High School Commons was filled with a lively group discussing their viewpoints on the Orcas Island School District (OISD)Bond for Reconstruction and Repairs, which recently failed by about a 120-vote margin.
The Bond, which was for $35 million over a 25-year period, was described by many in attendance on March 10 as “just too big.”
Following a community potluck of hamburgers, veggie burgers, juice and “trimmings,” and numerous dishes brought in by guests, the Orcas Island School District Board, Superintendent, teachers, students, parents, architects, builders and other members of the public discussed what were identified as 4 critical questions, summarized as follows:
1) What concerns have you heard from those who did not vote for the bond?
2) What have you heard that would make those who voted no vote in favor of the bond the next time?
3) What questions do you have about the bond?
4) What will get people more involved in the discussion about the bond?
These questions were discussed around each of the tables where 10-12 community members sat. The entire group then heard from each table, and the concerns expressed in their answers were summarized by School Board Member Janet Brownell:
- The Bond is for too much money, especially now
- The Bond includes “wishes” as well as needs — some of the “extras” were enumerated as a track and indirect and contingency costs
- “Breaking Up” the Bond into 2 or several bonds would provide better timing and reduced expense for a construction bond
- Neighborhood groups and increased Internet presence would involve more in the discussion, as would theparticipation of teachers and students.
Brownell added that “trust issues” were also aired, particularly in the areas of sustained maintenance and the commitment to employ local builders.
The OISD Board has scheduled a meeting at 5:30 p.m. today, March 11, to discuss plans to move forward. They will consider both the timing and the amount of a future bond proposition. The meeting is open to the public, in the school library.
Board Member Keith Whitaker described the process of proposing a bond, saying, “The Board listens and responds. This bond was not the board’s agenda, but was put together after [the public] gave educational specifications of what we were told was needed…. This was a plan we heard from concerned community members.
“We will continue to do what the community asks us to do.”
Whitaker also added that some of the concerns have already been addressed, such as a Community Advisory Board for School Construction, which the Board is “committed to make happen in short order.”
People in attendance were reminded that the last time the District went out for a smaller-sized bond for capital construction after a larger bond had failed, (1978) the results were cost “savings” on materials and design that wound up costing more in terms of long-term sustainability.
Local builder Justin Paulsen corrected OISD Board Member Tony Ghazel’s reference to the Middle School Buildings as “not being built to today’s standards.” Paulsen said, “They weren’t built to yesterday’s standards either.”
Ghazel agreed with the correction and said, “In 1978, we got what we paid for — as we go forward, we will make sure we get what we pay for. We can only move forward.”
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March 11th, 2010
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.
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March 11th, 2010
Connie Zehner
On Sunday, January 24, Connie Zehner took her last breaths on this planet, succumbing to pulmonary fibrosis, a lung condition of unknown cause that has no known treatment.
Born in 1948 in Munich, Bavaria, Cornelia Gabriela Lipp was always a bit of a rebel. She preferred reading and the outdoors to attending teas and learning to be a “lady,” as her family felt was appropriate. A love of books came naturally, owing to her father’s publishing business; Connie never lost her fascination with that world. Her professional resume reflects her experience in the publishing world, from copyediting to layout to writing, even authoring a German-language cookbook of traditional recipes (with a cup of humor) and several anthologies.
She came to the U.S. in 1982 to open the American offices of a German publishing house, and met Jan Zehner in the course of her work in Washington, D.C. They were married in March of 1984, and spent four years in Zambia with the Foreign Service. There, Connie got involved in helping local artists market their crafts. Then followed three years in Vienna before returning to the States and life on Orcas Island. Over the years on Orcas, Connie volunteered in a number of venues, in recent years at the Healing Arts Center in Eastsound. She supported many people with her wide knowledge about alternative medicine, which she loved to research.
When Connie and Jan parted in 2005, it was with mutual respect and affection.
From her earliest days, Connie was a strong advocate of nature. She loved being outdoors, hiking, skiing, gardening, swimming, or just sitting in the sun. She loved birds, shoes, romantic old Italian movies, a good adventure, chocolate, espresso, good food with good wine, laughing, dancing, and helping others. She was unfailingly generous to causes and people she loved.
To the end, Connie maintained her characteristic humor and her infallible caring for others. She is much missed in our community, and in the community of spirit that she inhabited so brilliantly.
Connie is survived by her brother Dieter, her niece Sabina, and her nephew Fabian, of Munich, Germany.
A Memorial Dance Party will be held for the Friends of Connie Zehner on Friday, March 12 at the Odd Fellows Hall at 7 p.m. Outrageous Dress is encouraged, and guests are welcome to bring dessert to share.
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March 11th, 2010
By Stan Matthews
County Communications Program Manager
After much deliberation the San Juan County Council Tuesday authorized County staff to begin three steps toward raising money to keep the County’s solid waste utility afloat:
1) Prepare to sell bonds to pay down a portion of the utility’s rising debt and fund state-required capital improvements to its transfer stations.
2) Move forward with plans to transfer the Utility’s interest in a tract of land on Beaverton Valley Road and a closed land fill on Lopez to the County’s Equipment Rental and Revolving fund, to produce some cash and reduce the Utility’s responsibility for debt.
3) Proceed with an ordinance establishing a $15 minimum charge for dropping off garbage at any of the County’s transfer stations.
Additionally, the Council said that it would declare the utility’s need to proceed with capital improvements to meet Department of Ecology requirements to be an emergency. That could speed up the bidding and acquisition process for work at the San Juan County Transfer station.
The solid waste utility has seen its income plummet with the economic downturn. Faced with increased costs for planning a replacement transfer facility on San Juan Island and moving forward on projects to meet regulatory requirements, it has built up a $700,000 debt and is staring a cash flow crisis in the maw.
Tuesday County Public Works Director Jon Shannon presented the Council with four options for keeping the solid waste system operating, three of them involved maintaining the current level of service; the fourth would close transfer stations on two of the three islands. (Shannon’s outline of the options is available online at: http://www.sanjuanco.com/Docs/CAgendadocs/03-09-2010/County_Admin_SolidWasteMarch030910.pdf)
By a head nod, the Council indicated that reducing service by consolidating the transfer stations would be a last resort. Instead Council members indicated a preference for presenting an as-yet undefined revenue proposal to the voters in the fall election and, in the meantime, implementing the strategy of the property exchanges, borrowing and temporary fee increases to keep the utility functioning until the will of the voters is known.
Until last week, it appeared that the Council might assess a flat utility fee against land parcels in the County; however prosecutor Randall Gaylord issued a memo advising against that, saying recent case law could make such an approach vulnerable to legal challenge. Today he added that while an operating levy could be voted in by the electorate, it would have to be reauthorized by voters each year, making it essentially impractical.
Tuesday’s Council decisions were only preliminary. New fees, including any minimum drop off fee, must be adopted by ordinance after a public hearing. Council Members also indicated that they will seek public input and conduct additional discussion and deliberations before advancing a tax proposal to put on the primary or general election ballot.
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March 10th, 2010
By Stan Matthews
County Communications Program Manager
This year’s Count of Homeless Persons (PIT) in San Juan County recognized 79 persons as homeless.
Among the homeless, 29 were classified as unsheltered - living in tents, cars, boats (not equipped with facilities for living aboard) or staying in motels (with money from churches, etc.); and 50 people, including many children, were staying in temporary, unstable living arrangements either with friends or family members – a situation commonly referred to as “couch surfing”.
The state-required Count was conducted by the County Health & Community Services on Thursday, January 28th.
Count organizers had anticipated an increase in the number of homeless people in the county due to the worldwide economic crisis and significant local business closures, but the count remained close to last year’s numbers.
Last year’s count found 23 people unsheltered and 50 “couch surfing” a significant increase over the 2008 Count which reported only 9 unsheltered and 17 “couch surfing”. Similarly, in 2007 11 were reported unsheltered and 17 “couch surfing”.
Citing an extensive effort in 2006 which identified 50 homeless people, organizers, say the increased numbers reported since 2009 could be a result of the amount of effort that has been put into the count since 2009, rather than an actual increase in the overall number of homeless people.
Organizers admit these numbers are an estimate at best, it is impossible to truly know the exact number of homeless people and those staying with friends or family in unstable situations. However, based on this year’s results and information from churches, food banks and other organizations that help the homeless, organizers see no sign that the problem is decreasing.
San Juan County PIT Count organizers and volunteers worked with local schools, food banks, churches, healthcare providers, support service counselors, youth groups, Senior Centers, Family Resource Centers, Sheriff’s department, Fire and EMS departments and many other community organizations to perform this year’s count.
The PIT was established by the Washington legislature in 2005 in the Homelessness Housing and Assistance Act (RCW 43.185c). The goal of the Act was to reduce homelessness in our state by 50% by 2015.
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March 10th, 2010
Every Orcas and Waldron public school student is eligible to submit entries for the First Ever OISD Student Chef Competition. The Farm to Cafeteria Committee needs to received your recipe for the greatest sandwich, soup, dessert, casserole, meatloaf, pasta, omelet, granola, salad or taco in the world by March 19!
Students need to submit a detailed menu which includes ingredients and cooking methods, along with a photo of the item you will be preparing in the competition (if possible and advisable) as well as a written overview of why you feel this item is appropriate, it’s nutritional value, its practicality as an item on the school lunch menu and any other information that will entice its selection to compete. We would also like a short bio of yourself. Be sure to include your name, grade, and contact information.
For complete information on submitting an entry and more details of the competition, go to www.orcasislandf2c.org and click on “Student Chef Competition” to download the guidelines.
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March 9th, 2010
The 2010 Census is underway. I urge you to participate as a complete count will benefit our community greatly. Census data is used to allocate state and federal funds. It is estimated that each individual counted may qualify our community for an additional $3,900 in annual support. In 2000, San Juan County was estimated to have one of the lowest compliance rates in the state with 38%. Our community cannot afford such a low count this time around.
Additionally, Washington State is slated to gain a seat in the US House of Representatives based on this year’s census data. The census count will determine which district gains that seat. Your participation in the count will have a direct impact on that decision.
Forms are being hand delivered by census enumerators beginning March 2. If you are not home, the forms will be left on your door. If for some reason you do not receive a form, copies will be available at the public library. Please make the effort to complete the census. You count!
Hilary Canty
Olga, WA
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March 9th, 2010
The Orcas Choral Society announces a piano accompanist position to begin in September 2010 for the 2010-2011 season.
Advanced piano skills and accompanying experience are required. The pianist accompanies weekly choral rehearsals September through mid-May and additional prescheduled rehearsals. The pianist accompanies the choir in two major choral performances and possible additional performances each season.
The position is salaried. Please apply with a resume describing your accompanying and choral experience to:
The Orcas Choral Society
P.O. Box 47
Eastsound, WA 98245
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March 9th, 2010
The Orcas Island School Board invites the community to a BBQ & Potluck and bond discussion this Wednesday, the 10th, to be held in the High School Commons at 6:15pm.
On March 11, the day following the potluck, the Board will decide when to place the issue on the ballot – April is only one possibility and not a given. This will not be the last chance for community members to make their views known. The Board is committed to seeking public input throughout the design process and will create a community advisory committee to ensure that all voices continue to be heard.
The Board is open to any practical suggestion as to how to reduce the costs of the bond and has already been working towards that end, through bond committee and community meetings, and in consultation with experienced professional advisors, for the past several years. The Board cannot reduce the amount of the authorization that we request of the community based only on potential or possibilities, but that does not preclude us from pursuing any and all cost-savings measures and working to reduce the cost to the community, even after the bond is approved. This is exactly what we intend to do.
The Board has thoroughly explored the use of existing community spaces, but for regulatory and logistical reasons, the use of external facilities is not a workable means of addressing the needs of the educational program.
The amount of the bond was developed by experienced cost estimators who have worked on hundreds of school construction projects. It has been vetted against state averages and is close to $270 per square foot. The bond resolution does not mandate that unspent money be used to pay off the bond, but the Board has made it clear that it is their intention to do just that. There are significant restrictions as to how bond funds can be
spent: they can only be spent on capital projects, cannot be transferred to the general fund and must be spent within a prescribed period of time.
The interest rate of the bond cannot be accurately calculated until the bond passes in the election and it’s put up for sale. As a school building project, which is seen in a positive light by purchasers of bonds, the rate we get will be favorable. The Board intends to reduce the amount of the second half of the bond sale by as much as possible, to reflect whatever cost savings can be achieved during the design process. This will affect the total amount of the bond and the interest. Whatever amount is placed on the ballot, the Board is acutely aware that it will represent a maximum authorization only, not a mandate to spend all of the funds.
The $10 million in indirect costs on the $35M bond amount were not an unknown quantity. This portion of the budget includes many mandated costs, including required contingencies, employing a project manager, permit fees, geotechnical and other testing, as well as other known costs, such as furniture and fixtures for the reconstructed spaces, the fees for the architect, civil, structural and mechanical engineers and other consultants.
The repair and rebuilding of our school facilities is essential. Due to the condition of our aging campus, a 10%+ growth in our student population over the past year, and the increasing importance of offering programming such as Career and Technical (Vocational) Education and OASIS, that will serve all of our students now and into the future, we need to act promptly to provide a safe and effective learning environment.
The economic realities that we are all facing require us to be as prudent and as thorough as possible in our consideration of this bond, and we hope that the discussions at the BBQ and Potluck on Wednesday will be one part of that ongoing process.
We hope you will come and join us in discussing the future of our schools.
Sincerely,
The Directors of the Orcas Island School District
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March 9th, 2010
Miss Rose and Her Rhythm Percolators brings the art of the ukulele to Orcas Island this Saturday afternoon and evening
Contributed by Mark Morris
On Saturday, March 13, travel back in time to the earliest days of the Jazz Age with Miss Rose & Her Rhythm Percolators. They’re playing one show only, at 8:00 p.m., at the Odd Fellows Hall in Eastsound. Orcas’ Charly Robinson will open the show with a set of her own. It’s a family-friendly, all-ages event. A portion of the proceeds from the show will benefit the Orcas Island Education Foundation.
The Seattle-based quartet faithfully re-creates the vintage jazz of the early 1920s to the mid ’30s—the era when this original American music provided a playful soundtrack for the flappers who danced the Charleston and sipped illicit booze in the glitzy underworld of the speakeasy.
Miss Rose & Her Rhythm Percolators play well-known popular tunes that have since become part of the great American songbook and dust off forgotten gems from the early jazz era. Audiences delight at the unabashed romance, the playful humor, and the irresistible swing rhythms. Some can’t help but dance or sing along.
To fully transport audiences, the band members dress in period clothing, share some of the music’s history, and run a slideshow of art and photos from the era during performances.
Singer Sunga Rose croons and strums a ukulele while the Percolators—Ericka Kendall (upright bass), Holly Michelle Eckert (piano/violin), and Carey Rayburn (trumpet/flugelhorn)—keep time and knock out solos. Miss Rose & Her Rhythm Percolators revive for modern times a wonderful sound from a bygone era.
Come enjoy the band in their premiere San Juan Islands concert appearance.
Dancing is strongly encouraged. A selection of beer, wine, and nonalcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. Tickets are $10 per person, available in advance at Darvill’s Bookstore, Orcas Elementary School, Gordeaux’s, and Eastsound Instruments. For more information, call 376-3148.
Also on Saturday, March 13, Sunga Rose will lead two ukulele workshops at the Odd Fellows Hall:
Beginning Ukulele (age 10 – Adult)
2–3:30 p.m., $30
The ukulele is experiencing a new rise in popularity. Don’t you wish you too could play this extremely versatile and portable instrument? Come on! Jump on the bandwagon! This workshop truly is for absolute beginners. I’ll get you started with a few simple chords and some basic strums and send you off with a nice packet of songs to work on. You’ll be surprised at the number of songs you can play with only 2 or 3 chords! Bring your ukulele tuned G-C-E-A.
Intermediate Ukulele: Let’s go to the bar!
3:30-5 p.m., $30
Bar chords aren’t that scary, and adding a few to your uke arsenal is a great way to grow as a player. We’ll learn by working on some popular tunes and replacing your old “open” chords with “closed” chords (bar and other closed chords, too). You’ll be relieved to find that this will actually make some chord transitions much easier! We’ll also cover some music theory that will give you the tools to find many versions of the same chord all over your uke. Students should be comfortable with the basics and be able to change chords smoothly. Bring your ukulele tuned G-C-E-A.
If you’d like to pre-register for either workshop or have any questions, please contact Miss Rose at contact@missroserhythm.com.
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Thank you, Margie. We want Connie’s friends to come and celebrate her at a dance party she would have loved to attend. And if you knew Connie, you know she loved to dress up! Join us and toast her very special presence.
What a lovely tribute to Connie! I wish I could be there for this celebration of her life. She will be remembered long by so many. I will always miss her at our coffee gatherings, and remember fondly her pride when she became a U.S. citizen a few years ago.