Truck Stop Honeymoon plays this Sunday

Doe Bay Cafe Hosts Truckstop Honeymoon on Sunday, July 25th at 8 p.m.

Truckstop Honeymoon play tough, funny, hi-octane songs about interstates, pinball arcades and true love. Katie Euliss pounds a doghouse bass, while Mike West punishes a banjo mercilessly.Together they charm festival crowds and drive roadhouse drinkers to the dance-floor.

As always, seating is limited in the Cafe so please call ahead to book your table – 360-376-8059.  See you at the show!

www.truckstop_honeymoon

Be sure to register in advance for these upcoming Orcas Rec Programs

Go to www.orcasrec.org for a detailed list of all of Orcas Rec programs

Funky Art Fun!
When: July 24^th (1-3 p.m.) Free craft activities for kids!
Where: Farmers Market at the Village Green
Cost: Free

Mosaics Fun!
When: July 28 & 29 (10 a.m.-noon)
Where: Senior Center Multi-Purpose Room
Cost: $23.

Please pre-register!

British Soccer Camp
When: August 2-6 (M-F)
Where: Buck Park.
See website for details and to register. www.challengersports.com

New!Junior Sailing Evening Classes.
When July 26^th -29^th 5 – 8 p.m.
For Beginners and Intermediates – no experience necessary
Ages: 8 – 15
Cost: $80. Limited to 12 students

August 2^nd-5^th 5 – 8 p.m.
For Advanced sailors with experience. Includes spinnaker work and possibly Keel boats
Ages: 8 – 15.
Cost: $80. Limited to 9 students.

Those interested in having your child enroll in either of these classes please call Orcas Rec at 376-5339 for details and to register. Because this is a new class you can NOT register online for this class.

For all other sailing classes register at www.sailorcas.org

Go to www.orcasrec.org or call 376-5339

Orcas Center Gala this Saturday evening, "Under the Orcas Sun." Tickets still available.

Proceeds from Gala Fund-Raiser will help continue Arts Education Project

The Orcas Center “Gala” is its annual party, held under mild summer skies outdoors, to celebrate Center patrons and to raise funds for Center programs. Through the years, the “Gala” has entertained with Country barbecue parties and “Asleep at the Wheel,” Brazilian Carnaval – in keeping with the country of origin of the featured artist, Airto Moreira, Cajun-Creole culture with “Gumbo Gala”and “Buckwheat Zydeco,” and last year’s Beatle-themed event, “Imagine” with Abbey Road.

Also last year, like many island institutions, Orcas Center was feeling the heat of the economic downturn. Then former Executive Director Candy Ver Brugghen suggested an auction and then “rolled up her sleeves” and spearheaded the event whose surprising success, “came at a very good time in a very tough year,” says Barbara Courtney, current Executive Director at the Center.

Following the auction for the 12 dinner parties, patrons raised their bidding paddles to support programs such as the Arts Education Project and the Center’s fall production of “Great Expectations.” Courtney said her own expectations were that about $5,000 may be raised; so she was thunderstruck that the Center realized $20,000 in program support.

By Helen Venada
SJC Waste Reduction and Hazardous Waste Coordinator

The recycling rate for the 2009 County Fair was 11.2%.  Could we do even better this year to pump up that recycling rate?  We’re looking for some bold and adventurous volunteers to be “Trash Monitors.”   These good folks (young and old) will be stationed at major trash collection areas at the Fair (for 1 to 2 hour shifts) to help Fairgoers decide on just what can be recycled; we’ll also provide instruction about eliminating contamination, like liquids and food,  in the recycling bins.   Please, call the county’s waste hotline at 370-0503 to sign up early for the Trash Monitoring team …to get your shift of choice.

With all the fun, food, and festivities at the Fair comes the typically unsavory by-product of trash…TONS of it!  The 2006 County Fair generated 8.8 tons of garbage; 5.51 tons of 2009 Fair trash went to the dump (i.e. landfill in eastern Oregon).  This waste reduction by Fair-going island residents and visitors was mostly due to better-than-“fair” recycling at the Fairgrounds.  The effort saved on transportation to the mainland, landfill space, AND saved the Fair $$$$!

Olympia resident and national best selling author Jim Lynch will be at Darvill’s Bookstore on Tuesday, July 27, at 7 p.m. to read from his latest novel, Border Songs.

Lynch’s visit to Darvill’s is one stop on a sailing book tour through the San Juans on his 1970 Bristol 32.

Border Songs was picked as among the best books of 2009 by by many major publications, including The Washington Post and The Toronto Star. His first novel, The Highest Tide, won the 2006 Pacific Northwest Bookseller Award, has been translated into 10 languages, and was adapted to the stage by Seattle’s Book-it Theater.   Set in rural Northwest Washington, Border Songs is about a quirky young Border Patrol agent who has a knack for catching illegals and uncovers an international drug running ring.

The San Juan County Land Bank invites the public to a Guided Interpretive Walk at the Judd Cove Preserve. Join Ruthie Dougherty, local historian Boyd Pratt, and Steve Cohan on a walk to explore the preserve’s natural and cultural history, including the lime quarry and kiln located on the property.

The date for this walk is Sunday, August 1, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Meet at the Judd Cove Parking area ~ 103 Fowlers Way, just outside of downtown Eastsound. For questions, please call 378-4402 for more information.

Monday, July 19

Tuesday, July 20

Hot Dogs & S’Mores About the Bond” Potluck at Cascade Lake at 5:30 p.m. The Vote YES! For Schools Committee invites the community to a “Hot Dogs & S’mores about the Bond” BBQ at the Cascade Lake Shelter in Moran Park.  Bring your family and a potluck dish if you like. We’ll provide the bbq and drinks. This will be a fun way to talk about the bond…or just enjoy a great summer evening. School Board members and Superintendent Barbara Kline will be there, as will the members of Vote YES! with information, answers to questions, and plenty of Hot Dogs!  Hope to see you there!  Visit www.YesForOrcasSchools.com for more information.

Wednesday, July 21

Brown Bag Concert at Emmanuel Episcopal Church at noon features Carolyn Cruso on hammered dulcimer. Concerts are free but donations are accepted.

Thursday, July 22

Marc Foster Grant and Kate Scott host an Artist’s Reception featuring their work at the Orcas Center Gallery at 5:30 p.m. The show is titled “Folly a Deux” or “Madness of Two”  and will continue at the Orcas Center Gallery until August 3rd.

Orcas Island School Board meeting 5:30 p.m.

The 12th Annual Woodsong Arts and Music Festival, a grassroots outdoor summer festival, returns to Orcas Island beginning this Thursday, July 22.

Thursday, July 22

5 – 10 p.m.: Bring  a picnic dinner and enjoy the music. Jan Krist / The Rare Exceptions / Patrice O’Neill & Hilary Field / Carolyn Cruso / Jason Harrod

Friday, July 23 – see times below
9:30 – 11 a.m.: All ages/abilities drawing workshop led by Chicago artist, Tim Lowly
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Open Mic
1 – 10 p.m.:  Music: Kate Phillips / Dana Little / Sanoma / Tim Lowly / Peter LaGrand / Jan Krist  / Uncle Bonsai / Engine and the End / Jon Anderson / Victoria Williams
Craft Tent open all day long

Saturday, July 24
9:30 – 11 a.m. The Fine Arts Struggle: a get together of artists over coffee
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Open Mic
1-10 p.m.  Music: Where the Wild Things Aren’t / Mandy Troxel / Lower Lights Burning / Austin Jenckes / Tara Ward / Opiate Mass / Nancy Colton / Robert Deeble / Joel Willoughby / Citizen Hands / Bill Mallonee
Craft Tent open all day long

The festival address is 358 Emma’s Lane, Eastsound.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) of the San Juans sponsored the Candidates’ Forum at the Orcas Island Senior Center last night, where an audience of about 90 heard from five Sheriff’s Candidates, three candidates for U.S. Congress, four candidates for retiring State Representative Dave Quall’s position, and two surrogates for the other position from the 40^th district, and School Superintendent Barbara Kline as a proponent for the School Bond measure.

League of Women Voters Voter Services representative Jill Johnson congratulated the Orcas Island audience, noting that, of the three forums held in the past two days on Lopez, San Juan and Orcas Islands,  it was the most well-attended session and more audience members stayed past the sheriff candidates’ session.

Candidates for the Lopez Island County Council position did not attend, and thus the forum ended before the 2 hours allotted for it. At the beginning, a schedule set forth the time scheduling, limiting the speakers to three minutes, and questions to one-minute responses from each candidate to three questions from the audience

It had been arranged that a written statement in opposition to the School Bond would be available at the Orcas Candidates’ Forum; however, it was not delivered to the forum for circulation.

Saturday, July 17

Olga Daze annual event in Olga, beginning at 10 a.m. Olga Daze will start out with fresh cooked Maple Bars and coffee, followed by grilled hot dogs, Italian Sausages, piping hot baked potatoes, homemade Strawberry Shortcake and soft drinks and lemonade. Parade at noon, led by Sandy Taylor and his bagpipes, followed by Orcas Island fire trucks, and vintage cars. During the day there will be live music in the park with many local artists including JP & The OK Rhythm Boys, Heather Stansbury, Sandy Taylor, The Parking Angels, Marc Cohen and Carl Burger.

The American Cancer Society’s 2010 Bark For Life of San Juan County starts Orcas Island High School  at  10 a.m. Participants and onlookers will walk to the Orcas Island Dog Park just east of the Orcas airport. The event will conclude at 2 p.m.

Saturday Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Orcas Island Historical Museum Opening Celebration of the Smithsonian Exhibit  Journey Stories at 11 a.m.

M.L. Malcolm, author of Heart of Liesa new thriller recently published by HarperCollins, will be at Darvill’s Bookstore for a book signing from 2-4 p.m.

The following timetable has been scheduled for the League of Women Voters of the San Juans Candidates Forum to be held Saturday, July 17 at 5 p.m. Because of the large numbers of candidates attending, time limits must be strictly observed.

5:00 p.m. Opening greeting and explanations

5:04 p.m. Introduction of moderator Margie Doyle

5:05 p.m. Sheriffs Candidates: 3 min./ea total:15 min

• Jeff Asher
• Brad Fincher
• Brent Johnson
• Felix Menjivar
• Rob Nou

5:20 p.m. Q&A: 15 min.total, 1 min/question

5:37p.m. U.S. Representative, Congressional District 2, total: 12 min.

• John Carmack
• Larry Kalb
• Rick Larsen
• Diana McGinness

5:49 p.m. Q&A

6:06 p.m. State Representative Pos.1, total: 12 min.

• Thomas Boucher
• Kristine Lytton
• Donna Miller
• Tom Pasma

6:18 p.m. Q&A

6:35 p.m. State Representative Pos. 2, total: 6 min.

• Jeff Morris—surrogate Cathy Ferran
• Howard Pellett—surrogate Tim White

6:41 p.m. Q&A: none

6:43 p.m. County Council Member 6, total: 6 min.

• Jerry Gonce
• Bob Myhr

6:49 p.m. Q&A

7:01 p.m. Orcas School Bond, total: 6min.

• Pro: Barbara Kline
• Con: Janet Knowles (written statement to be available)

7:07 p.m. Q&A

7:17 p.m. Closing Remarks

LWV’s Voter Services coordinator has said, “The Forums are informational only and not a debate. The public is invited to ask questions of the candidates, but not make statements.”

Orcas Island Public Library wants to help you tell your story

The library is collecting islanders’ recollections of how they came to live on Orcas.  Did you come for vacation and just stay?  Or did you dream of retiring here?  Did you come here looking for a better life away from hustle and bustle of the mainland?  Please share your journey story with us! It will become part of the Historical Museum’s archives – imagine future islanders enjoying reading this journal in 50 years time.

Please keep your entries concise, but complete. We hope to collect as many stories as possible in this book, as everyone has a story to tell.  Anonymity is optional.  Visit the library during open hours and write your story in a journal specially made to record your journey to Orcas.

The Orcas library is open Monday through Thursday 10-7, Friday and Saturday 10-5, and Sunday 12-3.  Hope to see you soon. 376-4985.

Satko's Ark -- the Journey Story of the out-of-work steelworker who journeyed from Virginia to Alaska will be told on July 22 as part of the Historical Museum's 'Journey Stories' exhibit

Local Journey Stories also told in Destination: Orcas Island

Orcas Island Historical Museum invites you to attend an  opening celebration of the Smithsonian Exhibit  Journey Stories,  this  Saturday July 17 at 11 a.m.

“Please come by and check this exhibit out, you will want to book time to come back again with friends,” says Journey Stories project manager Andrea Cohen. “Our own local Orcas islanders’  Journey Stories, an addition to the Smithsonian traveling exhibit, will capture your attention!”

The Journey Stories exhibit arrived yesterday in its 14 containers and “We managed to get it assembled by the end of the day!” says Cohen. “Luckily we had a Smithsonian person on hand to help, which was an unexpected treat.”

The American story is a complex patchwork of many stories woven over time from the voyages – voluntary and involuntary – of people who traveled across the continent, from state-to-state and around the world to build new lives.  Journey Stories explores the history of American travel from immigration to migration, the role of myriad transportation modes and the search for freedom.

An independent steering committee made up of OPALCO members has begun to meet with the mission of developing a proposal for a new green power program that would provide financial incentives for renewable generation and, potentially, fund energy efficiency and conservation measures beyond what OPALCO can offer through Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) conservation program.

Why is OPALCO rebuilding its green power program? OPALCO was one of the first utilities to establish an interconnect program and demand has outgrown OPALCO’s current capacity to fund the incentive program that helps members offset the costs of installing a renewable generator. As of this July, there are 82 members generating their own renewable energy (solar, micro-hydro and wind) and interconnecting to the OPALCO grid—and more in the process of designing or completing a project. Of OPALCO’s 11,000 members, 0.75% are interconnected—nearly ten times more than any other utility in the region (the next closest are Inland Power with 0.09% and Puget Sound Energy with 0.07%). Since the beginning of the green power program in 2000, OPALCO has paid members a total of $198,928 for installation incentives—and $113,055 (57%) of that was paid out in 2009 alone.

Even the residents will be dazed this Saturday with Olga Daze festivities

Annual Parade starts at Noon!

By the Orcas Musicians Grapevine

This coming Saturday, July 17th, is Olga Daze….

This annual event is held to raise funds for the Olga Community Club, and this year the funds will go towards covering the costs of a much-needed renovation for the clubhouse kitchen. The building was built in the early 1900s and belonged to the historic Olga Energetic Club until it was deeded over to the Olga Community in 1997.

Several years ago, Olga Daze funds helped purchase land next to the clubhouse, now known as Olga Park, which serves as the main location for the event.

Here is the schedule of music for Olga Daze this year (thanks to Carl Burger!):

10 a.m. – Noon:  Marc Cohen, Carl Burger, Heather Stansbury, Sandy Taylor

Noon Parade

Carl & Marc vamp after parade, until 1 p.m.

1-2 pm, JP & OK Rhythm Boys

2 – 2:30, Parking Angels

Carl & Marc/possible open jam ’till 3-ish

The Vote YES! For Schools Committee invites the community to a “Hot Dogs & S’mores about the Bond” BBQ at the Cascade Lake Shelter in Moran Park on Tuesday, July 20th at 5:30 p.m.

Bring your family and a potluck dish if you like. We’ll provide the bbq and drinks. This will be a fun way to talk about the bond…or just enjoy a great Summer evening.

School Board members and Superintendent Barbara Kline will be there, as will the members of Vote YES! with information, answers to questions, and plenty of Hot Dogs!

Hope to see you there!

For updated and accurate information on the bond, please see the website at: www.yesfororcasschools.com

The San Juan County Land Bank Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting on Friday, July  16^th in the in the Lopez Public Library, Community meeting Room, 2225 Fisherman Bay Road, Lopez Island.  The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. Public comment time is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. The public is welcome at every monthly Land Bank Commission meeting.

The agenda for the July 16 meeting include the Director’s Report by Lincoln Bormanna and Discussion of the following Acquisition Projects (island/description):
Lopez

• Odlin South Trust Land Transfer lease
• Lopez Island Vineyards Conservation Easement (CE)
• Buffum CE

San Juan

• Mitchell Hill
• Buck – Beaverton Valley Marsh
• Taylor CE
• Mitchell Bay Nursery CE
• Erickson Historic Preservation and Conservation Easement

At noon, the Stewardship Report on the Frazer Homestead Lease Approval will be given.

The meeting will adjourn at 12:30 p.m. and reconvene at the Lopez Public Library at
1:30  p.m. for a Public Walk to Lopez Hill, which will conclude at 3:20 p.m.
Lopez Departures
Orcas – depart 3:55, arrive 4:35 p.m.
FH – depart 3:55, arrive 5:15 p.m.

The League of Women Voters of the San Juans has scheduled Primary Election Forums on San Juan, Lopez and Orcas Island. Candidates for all contested elections have been invited.

The Orcas forum will take place on Saturday, July 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Senior Center.

Unopposed candidates will not be presenting at the forum, and because of the large number of announced candidates, the only issue that will be discussed at the forum is the local Orcas School District Bond vote. 

Each speaker will give a 3 minute statement, followed by a session of questions and answers, conducted by the moderator.

The amount of time allotted for questions and answers will depend on how many candidates will attend. Invited candidates for whom Orcas residents will vote include

County Sheriff candidates:

• Rob Nou from Lopez Island
• Jeff Asher from San Juan Island
• Felix Menjivar from San Juan Island
• Brad Fincher from San Juan Island
• Brent D. Johnson from San Juan Island
• Brent Johnson from San Juan Island

15 Candidates for U.S. Senator (current incumbent Patty Murray)

5 Candidates for U.S.

M.L. Malcolm, author of Heart of Lies, a new thriller recently published by HarperCollins, will be at Darvill’s Bookstore for a book signing on Saturday, July 17th from 2-4 p.m.

Inspired by the author’s family history, Heart of Lies had been compared to books by authors such as Jeffrey Archer and Frederick Forsyth.  The story involves a young man, Leo Hoffman, who was born with a gift for languages. When his dreams for the future are destroyed by World War I, the dashing young Hungarian attempts to use his rare talent to rebuild his life, only to find himself inadvertently embroiled in an international counterfeiting scheme.

M. L. Malcolm is a Harvard Law graduate, journalist, recovering attorney, and public speaker who has won several awards for short fiction, including recognition in the Lorian Hemingway International Short Story Competition, and a silver medal from ForeWord magazine for Historical Fiction Book of the Year.

By Stan Matthews
County Communications Program Manager

County solid waste facilities on Orcas and San Juan Islands will be open to self-haulers for two additional days this week as both sites transition to a new schedule.

Both facilities will be open Wednesday through Sunday July 14 – 18 to help smooth the transition, and to catch up with pent-up demand resulting from the July 4 holiday closing.

“Self-haulers crowded both facilities on Sunday,” County Administrator Pete Rose said, “and we had reports that the waits became so long that some haulers gave up and returned home. We expect that the new schedule, being open on two weekend days, will prevent that from happening again.”

After July 16, self-haulers will be able to drop off garbage and recycling at the Orcas Island and San Juan Island locations between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

The new schedule is prompted by operational changes which began July 5 at the San Juan Facility. The change diverted commercial and franchise haulers to the Orcas Island transfer station.