Elementary School Needs Funding (matching or otherwise) to Fix Utilities

Work was completed this month at the Orcas Island High School for the energy conservation upgrades provided by the State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction grant awarded earlier in the year. Now the Orcas School Board must decide how to “match” the awarded grant funds to pay the $150,000 costs.

“This changeover to more efficient [energy] will save us money in [heat] and water costs and have also earned us an energy incentive through OPALCO,” said Orcas Island School District Superintendent Barbara Kline.

Weather-stripping, motion-sensitive lights and water-saving fixtures have been installed. The heating-ventilation-air conditioning (HVAC) system has been retooled.

Unlike the high school, more extensive repair and renovation to the utility systems in the elementary school will require more extensive funding.

The district had applied for a grant to the State Department of Commerce for $1.5 million for HVAC and plumbing replacements in the elementary school. But Orcas did not get that grant “largely due to our inability to do a three-to-one match for the grant funds,” said District Superintendent Barbara Kline late last month.

United Way of San Juan County is seeking three Volunteer Coordinators – one each for Orcas, San Juan and Lopez Island.

Each coordinator will be responsible for recruiting and training volunteers to help with the annual giving campaign that gears up in September. Two hours per week from August through December required, with stipend. 99% of all proceeds benefit United Way locally.

Job Description Duties:

• Become familiar with United Way mission and policies
• Work with the Board and Executive Director to ensure a minimum of five local presentations at businesses, schools and /or community events are completed by December 1, 2010.
• Assist with coordinating our annual Day of Caring and other community events.
• May help with various office projects
• Promote volunteerism as a way of helping United Way and as a way of building one’s own personal skills

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more, contact United Way Executive Director, Joy Goldberg at the United Way office at 360-378-4121 or by email at unitedwaysjc@rockisland.com.

The Eastsound Planning and Review Committee (EPRC) holds its monthly meetings on the first Thursday of the month. This Thursday, Sept. 2, it will change locations to meet at the Eastsound Fire Hall from 3 to 5 p.m.

The agenda calls for filling empty positions, updates from County Council Members Gene Knapp and/or Richard Fralick, solid waste, Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) update, Road Transfer to Public Works, and new issues.

Chair Gulliver Rankin described the EPRC goals to create better communication with the County Council on:

• 2009/2010 priorities;
• Pending ordinances affecting Eastsound

A request to change the Uniform Development Code (UDC) to remove the airport overlay zone from the Gerard Property will be presented by Francine Shaw.

John Campbell and Lisa Byers will address the EPRC on affordable housing with the goal of understanding the context and issues of housing in Eastsound in developing a housing element.

EPRC Member Audrey Moreland will give an update on the “Streetscape” plan for Eastsound; EPRC Member Patty Miller will give an update on the “A” Street to Main Street and Mount Property stormwater treatment project.

Finally the EPRC will review 2010 priorities in light of county budget constraints and refocus on one priority.

The Big Leaf Maple, planted in 1905, just needs better nutrition, arborists find

It now appears that all that’s wrong with the venerable old maple tree in front of Nellie Milton (Orcas Island) Elementary School is that it’s over-loved and thirsty!

Indicates that years of happy feet treading the ground around the 105-year-old maple have compacted the soil so thoroughly that water can’t seep down to its roots.

Plans call to loosen the soil around the tree and perhaps shelter it from “smother-love” with a fence.

A report from Olaf  Ribeiro, Ph.D. Certified Plan Pathologist and Arborist, conducted August 6 this year, concludes that the Big Leaf Maple’s “twig dieback and [poor] foilage coloration is probably… a result of dry soil conditions and/or nutrient imbalances.”

Decay previously noted on the south stem “appears to have calloused over at the presented time. ” The report finds “no signs of insects, fungus infections, sap flow…stress fracturaures…strucutral problems.. or decay. ”

However, soil examination showed that excessive amounts of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron and zinc inhibit the uptake of nutrients copper, iron, zinc, boron, calcium, magnesium. The pH is also high.

Orcas Island School District (OISD) continues to see enrollment figures climb to over 700 students, and on Thursday, Aug. 26, the OISD Board of Directors voted to approve teacher and administrative hiring to serve those students and their families.

Superintendent/High School Principal Barbara Kline told the board that enrollment was particularly high in the K-8 grades of the Orcas Alternative Student-Initiated Studies/Alternative Learning Experience (OASIS/ALE). “OASIS teachers (some of whom have been RIF’d [Reduction in Force, or laid off]), have been working this summer to be sure that all of the OASIS students have learning plans in place. This will allow us to count them all on September 1.”

“We will need to bring back the staff that we had last year and also to add more staff, particularly in OASIS. To serve this many students, we also need to add support staff to OASIS and to help with administrative tasks.”

Kline said that a minimum of seven additional teachers is needed.

Business Manager Keith brought up that there is a wide divergence of salary amounts among the low and high range of salaries.

Crowd-waving preceded the dancing as the Orcas Rec benefit concert began at the Village Green on Saturday

Updated Aug. 30

The “Cherry Cherry Band” regaled Orcas Islanders with a Neil Diamond-style concert on the Stage at the Village Green on Saturday late afternoon.

While many concert-goers brought their own chairs, most were up and swaying, rocking, dancing or jumping to the music.

The band came from Seattle at no charge, in order that the Orcas Rec program could derive the most benefit from the donations. Linda Sheridan, Orcas Rec Coordinator, was pleased with the turnout and the donations, which totaled around $1,000.

"Acrobatic" father-son dancing at the "Cherry Cherry Band" benefit for Orcas Rec

Along with lead singer Steve Kelly leading Neil Diamond favorites “Sweet Caroline,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “I Am, I Said,” the band played rock-era and funk favorites, “Under the Boardwalk,” and “Play that Funky Music, White Boy.” Couples slow-danced to the Boys Town anthem, “He Ain’t Heavy — He’s My Brother.”

A craft table was set up to make necklaces and other adornments, while kids tripped barefoot through the crowd, tossed balls around, climbed over each other, nibbled on ice cones, pizza and other treats provided by local vendors, (also to benefit Orcas Rec), or occasionally circulated with donation canisters during the show.

By Stan Matthews
County Communications Program Manager

The County Council will review the results of the public opinion survey on solid waste services and solutions on Monday, August 30, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Council’s hearing room in Friday Harbor. The survey report is available online through a link on San Juan County Council’s agenda page at: www.sanjuanco.com/council/displayAgenda.

“The objective of this project was to characterize county residents’ attitudes, beliefs, and values about solid waste management through a transparent, inclusive process allowing any interested resident to participate,” said Nina Rook, of Marketing Resources who designed and conducted the survey on behalf of the county.

Four thousand of the 9,000 households in the county were randomly selected to receive a survey questionnaire in the mail. A total of 1052  (26.3%) of this core group responded, and their answers and comments provided a substantial base for statistical analysis.  The results are shown in the report both county-wide and in comparisons between islands.

The report to be presented at Monday’s workshop charts community-desired services, consideration of different organizational structures, attitudes towards paying for services, and support of different budget options.

The Orcas Island Recreation Program would like to thank the United Way of San Juan County for helping support our summer programs with a generous grant. Because of their support Orcas Rec was able to plan, organize, and implement a variety of great programs this summer.

Some of the programs included a Nature Day Camp at Moran, the Young Writers, Artists, and Scientists Weekend at Canoe Island, the Ceramic and Pottery Workshop, Mosaics Fun Class and more! Orcas Rec would also like to thank all of the helpers, volunteers, and skilled instructors who helped with these programs. Thank you for being such great role models for our kids and for sharing your passion with them, we appreciate your time and talents.

Orcas Rec would not have been able to offer these fabulous programs without support from the United Way. Thank you for caring about our Island kids!

Linda Sheridan
Orcas Rec Coordinator

The Orcas Island Community Foundation will hold its annual Report to the Community Luncheon on Wednesday, September 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Rosario Resort Discovery House. This year’s theme is The Impact of Giving, a celebration of $2 million of grants made over the past 15 years. The entire community is invited to celebrate, as this is truly a community-wide accomplishment, honoring the tradition of islanders taking care of each other.

The Community Foundation was founded in 1995 with the mission of fostering philanthropy to preserve and enhance the quality of life on Orcas. Their mission is carried out in a variety of ways:

• Donor Advised Funds — There are 21 families and groups that have Donor Advised Funds with the Foundation. Donors contribute funds to OICF, receive a tax receipt, and then advise the Foundation Board on how to distribute the funds.  Donor Advised Funds have contributed over $1,219,000 in grants to nonprofits over the past 15 years. What a remarkable gift to our community!

Program  safely disposes of excess prescription drugs

By Marta Nielson
Orcas Island Prevention Partnership Community Coalition Director

The “Medication Take Back” monthly program continues next Wednesday, September 1st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ray’s Pharmacy located in “Templin’s Square” at 68 North Beach Road in  Eastsound

The Take Back Program initiative was begun with a partnership between the San Juan Sheriff’s Office and the San Juan Island Prevention Coalition.  Ray’s Pharmacy on Orcas, Friday Harbor Drug and the Lopez Pharmacy are all joining in to help with this important program that addresses the need to have a safe way to dispose of excess prescription drugs.  The Lopez Island Prevention Coalition and Orcas Island Prevention Partnership are also helping to get the word out and encourage all Islanders to take part.

Take Back Programs are beginning nationwide to offer a safe place for citizens to dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired medications.  The problems surrounding the disposal of prescription drugs is two fold.  These chemicals are highly toxic to the environment when flushed or washed down the drain, but, if kept at home beyond their prescribed usage time, they can fall into the wrong hands.

Fourth-graders at the Orcas Elementary School learn from a salmon dissection conducted by the San Juan Nature Institute's "Salmon in the Classroom" program

By Fiona Norris
Science Director, San Juan Nature Institute

Jim and Kathy Youngren have graciously agreed to host a benefit fundraiser for Salmon in the Classroom at Orcas Elementary School, on Sunday September 12 from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

Supper will be barbecued salmon from the Queen Charlotte Islands, or sausages, served with salad and a dessert. Tickets are $30 per person with a discount for couples ($50) and families ($60 for family of four). Reservations are required to assist us in the planning.

Tickets will be available at Island Market from 10 -12 noon on Saturday August 28. Reservations may also be made by calling 378-3646 or emailing San Juan Nature Institute at science@sjnature.org.

This year, San Juan Nature Institute will offer Salmon in the Classroom to the fourth-grade classroom. The Glenwood Springs Hatchery will supply eggs so that salmon may be raised in the classroom aquarium with equipment on loan from the Department of Fisheries.

By Stan Matthews
County Communications Progam Manager

The San Juan County Solid Waste Survey received responses from 26% of the recipients of the questionnaires mailed in late July. Survey Consultant Nina Rook of Marketing Resources termed the response rate “Outstanding.” Rook will present the results of the survey to the County Council at a workshop held on Monday August 30; beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Council’s hearing room in Friday Harbor.

The survey report should provide insights into the public’s attitude toward the difficult decisions the County faces in providing public services for garbage, recycling, and reuse over the next six years.  The draft report will be available to the public on the County website by Friday, August 27.

The survey was mailed to a core group of 4000 randomly-selected household addresses within all zip codes in the county.  More than 1000 households – nearly one-eighth of all households in the county – filled out questionnaires.

To provide an opportunity for all other interested parties to have their opinion recorded, an  online survey was also available on the County website.

Report from the San Juan County Fair
By Brigid Ehrmantraut

The fair is rolling along nicely. Other than some chilly breeze, all has been going well. Thursday was another full and rapidly spent day.

The morning was busy with sheep, poultry, dog and horse events. The afternoon progressed with goat, 4-H demonstrations, youth judging and more horse games. Large Animal Round Robin preparation was also held this evening. The Round Robin contest is held after general animal showmanship is completed, when the winners of each animal project in every age division compete with one another by showing EVERY creature considered large animal.

The Large Animal competition will be Friday at 3:00 pm. Small Animal Round Robin is also done this way, but with kids showing smaller critters, and will be held on Saturday at 11:00 am. After a Round Robin finalist is declared for each age group, all the winners of the ages compete together for the belt buckle award — a much sought after accomplishment.

Poultry winners this Thursday include Junior: San Juan’s Laura Brown; Intermediate: Wylie Kau of Orcas; Senior: Katie Gauthier from San Juan.

A fun summer tradition, the annual Orcas Center / Island Market Golf Classic is fast approaching, on August 28. All net proceeds of the Golf Classic support Orcas Center programs and operations.

Organizers of this year’s Golf Classic have put in place a different format and some fun new elements that will increase enjoyment for all involved. Theron Soderlund, Chair of the event, wanted to encourage golfers of all skill levels to participate, and his solution was to offer two tournaments of 9-holes each. The morning tournament which begins at 10 am, is for “the more serious golfers” who are focused on their game and enjoy competition in a friendly, fun environment. A 2 pm tee-off is for “us hackers and those who just want to have fun!” A golfer may choose to pay just one or both rounds, and all players enjoy a “Burgers & Brew” lunch, provided by the Lower Tavern. Following each tournament, prizes will be given to the winning teams.

Participation in the morning tournament costs $75 and includes golfing, a goodie bag, continental breakfast, and lunch.

By Stan Matthews
County Communications Program Manager

Deputy Rob Nou has a commanding lead in the hotly-contested race for San Juan County Sheriff, County Auditor Milene Henley reported Tuesday night.  Nou is one of five candidates vying to replace retiring Sheriff Bill Cumming.  Nou leads with 29.3% of the vote, followed by Deputy Brent Johnson with 20.89%, Probation Officer Brad Fincher with 18.73%, Deputy Jeff Asher with 18.52%, and Deputy Felix Menjivar with 12.11%.  The top two vote-getters will go on to the general election ballot in November.

“Our voter turnout so far is only 48%,” cautions Henley.  “We could easily receive another 12%, or almost 1400 ballots, prior to certifying this election.  Nou will be on the November ballot, but the votes for the next three are close enough that things could change.  I’m not ready to call this race yet.”

On Orcas, a school bond issue, re-worked and re-packaged since its failure in the February election earlier this year, failed once again to get voter approval.  54.5% of Orcas voters voted against, versus 45.5% for.

By Brigid Ehrmantraut

Tuesday saw the setting up of the San Juan County Fair.

With the exception of the horse 4-Hers, who went over on Saturday and Sunday, everyone from Shaw, Lopez, and Orcas (as well as a few from other islands who are part of these clubs) crowded onto the 10:00 ferry this morning. When you take into account that catching chickens, corralling steers, and loading up campers and trailers can be extremely time consuming, some people were starting at six or seven this morning and staying to decorate barns until ten in the evening! And the fair hasn’t even started yet!

Among the entries heading over were:  Emily Reid’s ginormous cabbage (entered in the horticulture tent under oversized; yes in places it’s over three and a half feet across), numerous chickens, rabbits, and cavies (better known as guinea pigs), pigs, sheep, goats, cattle and any variants thereof I haven’t mentioned, still life ranging from jams and jellies to photographs to table settings, and almost anything else that you can imagine being judgeable.

With her electric bike, Flaherty's Hill no longer presents obstacle to Kari Schuh's commute

Does the prospect of laboring up Orcas’ inclines deter you from bicycle-riding as a means of transport?

Kari Schuh, who sometimes commutes to Moran Park where her husband Jim is a Park Ranger, recently acquired a HEBB electrical-power assisted bike after researching her options.

The bike is designed to stay within the legal limits for electric-assisted bicycles (20 mph) and is intended to assist, not replace, pedaling.

She researched and purchased the bicycle online. When it came, she only had to put on the the pedals and seat, adjust the handlebars, and insert the charged battery.  She added the panniers (saddlebags) and a side mirror which she purchased at Wildlife Cycles.

“It should be OK in rainy weather,” says Schuh.  Most of the components are solid and have a covering to protect them from the elements.

The 350-watt battery for the motor needs recharging after 35 miles, and the 20 mph speed limit can be increased with pedal- and/or incline-power; something to keep in mind should you see the operator flying down Flaherty Hill.

Planning Commission to review changes this Friday

By Stan Matthews
County Communications Program Manager

The San Juan County Council will hear its first formal staff presentation on a set of proposed amendments to the appeal provisions of the Unified Development Code at its August 24, 2010 meeting.

The purpose of these amendments is to improve consistency between the UDC and the County Charter. These amendments were carried over from 2009, and will be a part of the first set of UDC amendments to be considered by the Council in 2010.

Other changes that will be considered in the year’s first set of UDC amendments include proposed changes to SJCC Chapter 18.30 concerning regulations for Land Use Districts; amending SJCC Chapter 18.90 to consider requests related to legislative actions and site-specific redesignations; and amending SJCC Chapter 18.20, to update the definitions associated with the proposed changes.

A copy of the work plan which summarizes all proposed UDC amendments can be viewed at http://www.sanjuanco.com./cdp/default.aspx.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 18.90 will be heard by the Planning Commission on August 20 in the Council Chambers. Hearings for other items have not been scheduled.

Tuesday August 17

VOTE! August Primary Election Ballots due! — Turn in to Post Office by closing time today, or to the Ballot Box outside the Senior Center!

Whale of a Show Tryouts — a great opportunity for kids to get on stage and perform their own unique act in front of a supportive audience. Performances can include song, dance, musical instruments, spoken word, or something of a unique nature that you choose! It is always a fun and entertaining show for all.  Tryout dates: either August 17 OR 19 (3 pm – 5 pm). We will provide a CD player and piano, please bring all other props or musical instruments that you need.  Where: Sr Center in the Lundeen room.  Ages: 5-18.  The final show is September 11 (7 pm) at the Orcas Center. 376-5339

Chamber Music Tickets available for the “Clara and Robert” concerts on Tuesday, August 17 and Wednesday, August 18, featuring the beautiful music of the Schumanns.  And you won’t want to miss this rare opportunity when Aloysia Friedmann takes the spotlight in a solo violin sonata performance with her husband, pianist Jon Kimura Parker.

Booklovers of all ages packed the Book Sale at the Friends of the Library Fair on August 14

The sun shone brilliantly as booklovers queued up to enter the Friends of the Library book sale at the 54th Annual Library Fair this year, some lining up more than two hours before the Fair “officially” opened at 10 a.m.

Lynn Carter was in charge of the Friends’ book sale this year, and although the book-buying slacked off around 12:30 p.m., when the temperature neared 90 degrees, she estimates that about 13,000 to 14,000 thousand books and other book sale items were sold — around two-thirds of the total items donated this year. A preliminary gross estimate of profits is about $8,250, Carter said.

James Lobdell again supervised the Library Fair, with Tom Maiuro in charge of the booths, which cost $50 to $75 dollars each. This year, it is estimated the Fair made between $15,000 and $18,000, with the quilt raffle bringing in about $1,000 and the art auction realizin about $1,600 said Carter.