Islands' Weekly, December 20, 2011

By Cali BagbyDuring the holidays, times

in this current economy can be hard for Lopez Island fami-lies struggling with financ-es. In these colder months, they face higher household expenses, like heating bills, and vacation time for families who qualify for school’s free or reduced lunch for their children are faced with two to three weeks without this assistance.

“Every year, we have seen

the number of people in need increasing for the holidays,” said Celia Marquis, director of the Lopez Island Family Resource Center. “People have been out of work for longer, and we are really noticing the effects of the economy — some people have been out of work for a couple of years.”

LIFRC’s The Spirit of Giving Program helps relieve

INSIDE Locavores column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4Guest column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5

www.islandsweekly.com800-654-6142

The

WeeklyIslands’

The

WeeklyIslands’

TheIslands’Weekly

By Rita LaromSpecial to the Islands’ Weekly

Jan Sunquist describes Pastor Anne Hall as an early Christmas present.

Hall recently accepted a two-year term call as the new “flying pastor” serving three branches by boat, or by plane — on three islands, all existing as the Lutheran Church in the San Juans.

She is “energetic and skilled,” said Sunquist, council president of the Lutheran Church.

Hall recently moved to Lopez as a full-

time resident, but has visited the islands since 1975. Her first official sermons were delivered Nov. 27.

Growing up in a suburb of New York City, Hall graduated from Radcliff College and has a Masters Degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She met her spouse, David Hall, a Seattle native, while at Harvard and became a Washington state resi-dent shortly thereafter.

Hall was a school counselor, an administrator, and a teacher of pre-school through college level students.

While searching for a church for the family, she became involved with a small American Baptist Church that was

assisting refugees. Her volunteer activi-ties evolved into office responsibilities and worship planning when the pastor

Pastor takes flightPastor Anne Hall accepts position known as the “ flying pastor” By Cali Bagby

When Herb Cunniff picked up the phone, he was surprised to hear the tearful voice of his granddaughter explaining that she had been in a traffic accident in Mexico and that police were hold-ing her for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Then she supposedly trans-ferred the call to the American Embassy in Mexico City - where an employee said if he wanted his granddaughter to get out of the country he would need to wire $23,083.

Cunniff began to suspect something was not right when the embassy asked for cash not a credit card.

It was also out of charac-ter for his granddaughter - a straight A honor student - to

get in trouble, and she had just been on vacation in Las Vegas, so how did she end up in Mexico?

But it was uncanny, even eerie how the voice sounded just like his granddaughter.

So when he got off the phone he immediately called the American Embassy in Mexico City, then the FBI and the police. They all told him the same thing - it was a scam.

This is not a new scheme, just one of many popping up across the country often requesting cash sent via Western Union.

Undersheriff John Zerby said beware of anything involving a wire transfer.

Fraud on the rise

Contributed photo

Pastor Anne Hall recently accepted a two-year term call as the new “flying pastor” serving three branches by boat, or by plane — on three islands, all existing as the Lutheran Church in the San Juans.

Contributed photo/Lorna Reese

The winter photo was taken from Reese’s south deck look-ing toward the (non-visible) Olympics Mountains.

SJC Sheriff ’s Office says beware of wire transfers

Your friends atThe Lutheran Church

in the San Juansand Grace Episcopal Church

You’re invited to our traditional

Christmas Eve Serviceat Center Church

Service at 11:00 p.m.And then

Christmas morningat Grace Episcopal Church

Service at 11:00 a.m.

Pastor Anne Hall andReverend Murray Trelease

BRRR! IT’S COLD OUTSIDE!

Please do not leave your water running to keep your

pipes from freezing.Use other means instead:

❆ cover up crawl spaces❆ install freeze caps for outdoor spigots❆ make sure your pipes are wrapped

Fisherman Bay Sewer District468.2131

When you’re given lemons....

+

Join us for an Opening Receptionat Islandale Friday, Dec 23rd, 2-3 pm

We will be serving oysters on the half shell and lemonade. Jones Family Farms Meats and Seafoods

are now available at Islandale!(360)468-0533 • www.jffarms.com

Join us for New Years Eve Prime Rib Dinner or Sauteed Ocean Prawns and dessert!$49.95 per coupleReservations Required

Open til 10pm for dinner

IslanderResort

Family owned since 1997

Featuring DJ Cyanide

New Year‛s Eve Party at the Tiki LoungeComplimentary Champagne and party Favors!

2012

Lopez Island Community Churchinvites the community to attend

For more information please contact the church offi ce at 468-3877

Christmas Eve ServiceSaturday, 5:30 p.m.

Christmas Day ServiceSunday, 10:30 am Spirit of Giving

SEE PASTOR, PAGE 8SEE FRAUD, PAGE 8

SEE GIVING, PAGE 8

Carpet heistA green and cream colored

rug was the only household item that disappeared in an apparent burglary and theft at a Lopez Island home on Nov. 24.

Valued at $250, the rug vanished from a residence on Normandy Lane, where authorities reportedly found no sign of forced entry.

Call for photographers

Lopez Center for Community and the Arts is seeking entrants for a photog-raphy show New Year’s Eve, from 6-8 p.m., and followed by a concert by Tiempo de Lopez.

We are seeking Lopez photographers to showcase

their photography. Entrants are limiting to two framed images, which will be on the wall and two matted images, which will be in bins.

Images are limited to 24”

on the longest side and there will be an entrance fee of $5 per framed photograph and $3 per matted one. The fees will be used to cover the cost of the hosting the exhibition.

Space is limited and will show work on a first come, first served basis. We expect to be able to show photographs from 15 to 20 local photogra-phers.

Contact Carolyn Cameron at [email protected] for more info.

SJCAC elects its officers

At the first San Juan County Arts Council Board of Directors meeting at the Orcas Hotel, Thursday, Dec. 1, the following officers were elected: President Teddy Deane, of San Juan Island, Vice President Lance Evans, of Orcas Island, Secretary Dennis Ryan, of Lopez Island and Treasurer Liz Illg of San Juan Island.

The Board of Directors will meet monthly and rotate island meeting sites. The SJCAC will continue to strive to achieve representation and represent artistic endeavors from all county islands.

For more info, email [email protected].

WED, DEC 21

OUTDOORS: The Fisherman Bay Marine Health Observatory Bird Survey, 9-11 a.m., Fisherman Bay Preserve parking area. No prior birding experience neces-sary, this is a great opportunity to learn about local wildlife. Also on Dec. 23, 2 - 4 p.m. at Fisherman Bay Preserve parking area.

READING: Storytime, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Helen Anderson Children’s Room at library. For toddlers and pre-schoolers, and the young at heart.

YOGA: Hatha Yoga with Liz,

9-10:30 a.m., Down Dog Studio @ Midnight’s Farm. For more info, call 468-2764.

MUSIC: Music With Emily Metcalf, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Grace Episcopal Church. Events are catered towards children infant to age four.

MOVIE: Movie with Sister Deborah Young. Women’s Group, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., library.

FRI, DEC 23

CLASSES: Drop- in Computer Training, 10 -11 a.m., library community meeting room.

SAT, DEC 24CHURCH SERVICE: Evening service, 5:30 p.m., Lopez School Gym.

SUN, DEC 25

SPORTS: Pickup Basketball at Lopez School Gym, 8:30- 10 p.m., Lopez Community Church.

FRI, DEC 30

ART: Winter Storytelling & Music, 7-8 p.m., library. Join Kip, Stanley, Rosie, and Alie for holiday sto-ries. to warm you up this winter.

CLASSES: Drop- in Computer Training, 10 -11 a.m., library community meeting room.

SAT, DEC 31

MUSIC: Lopez Photography Show and Tiempo de Lopez New Year’s Concert, 8 p.m., Lopez Center. To submit photos, contact Carolyn Cameron at [email protected] for more info.

TUES, JAN 3

MEETING: SJC Council Citizens

Access, 10 -11:30 a.m., library.SAT, JAN 7

MUSIC: JEM Jazz Trio, 7 p.m., Lopez Center for Community and the Arts.

MON, JAN 9

MEETING: LCCA Board Meeting, 9:15 p.m., Lopez Center for Community and the Arts. If you would like to address the board please contact either Janet Baltzer (director) at [email protected] or Lexi Taylor (chair) at [email protected]. or call 468-2203.

THURS, JAN 12

MEETING: Port of Lopez Monthly Meeting, 7 p.m., library meeting room. For more info, visit www.portoflopez.com.

FRI, JAN 13

MEETING: The Friends of Woodmen Hall’s second annual Spaghetti Dinner, 4:30 p.m., Woodmen Hall. Tickets will be on sale after Christmas.

,

CommunityCalendar

Galley Restaurant Open at 8 am

Full menu until at least 8 pm every nightShort-list menu

after 8 p.m.Fresh, Local,

Fantasticwww.galleylopez.com

468-2713

Just Heavenly FudgeExtended Hours:

11:00am - 5:30pm DailySenior Day

Mon - Wed - Fri 15% off!

Gift Boxed FudgeGift Baskets

Find the perfect gift!

468-2439www.justheavenlyfudge.com

Lopez IslanderFriday 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

Saturday 8:30 am - 10:00 pmSunday 8:30 am - 9:00 pm

Monday thru Thursday11:30 am - 9:00 pm

468-2233www.lopezfun.com

LOPEZ BUSINESS HOURS

Myth of MitigationThe County Council is com-

pleting the General Section of the CAO update. This section covers Mitigation, Reasonable Use Exception, and Nonconforming Use. The latter two are pretty straight forward legal issues, mitigation is not.

Mitigation is defined as causing something to be less harmful or severe; concep-tually it feels good. In its regulatory usage, it means providing compensation for harmful actions or the rep-lication of something which has been destroyed.

It’s easy to check off a box, approve a mitigation plan, and feel the problem is solved. But, the reality of implementing a plan is com-plex and exceptionally diffi-cult when replacing biologi-cal and physical functions. Maintaining wetland func-tions, for instance, is one of the most difficult mitigation

activities. Each wetland is a unique

feature, whose presence is due to factors such as topog-raphy, soil type, vegetation, and micro-climate character-istics.

Even small scale wetlands are very complex systems which provide a variety of valuable functions through physical, biological, and bio-chemical activities, but they can be functionally over-whelmed by inputs as well as physical damage.

Determinants of success or failure of mitigation involves nurturing and monitoring for many years. Human nature and our regulatory system do not lend themselves to a long term commitment of cultivation or compliance when dynamic systems are involved.

Mitigation provides an excuse to permit injury to a valuable function, pardon-ing ourselves for the deed and expecting the impossible result of No Net Loss.

This may satisfy an appli-cant and the regulators, but as guiding policy the result will be cumulative loss of irre-placeable values and benefi-cial functions throughout our county.

The best policy is to avoid the impact in the first place. It is easier to avoid a problem than to solve it. I personally prefer the medical dictum: “First, do no harm.”

SAN OLSONLOPEZ ISLAND

Letters to the editor must be no more than 350 words in length and must be signed by the writer. Include address and telephone number for verification purposes. Anonymous letters will not be published. Send your letters via e-mail to: [email protected].

Letters to the Editor

P.O. Box 39, Lopez Island, WA 98261Phone: 360.468-4242

Fax: [email protected]

Published Every Tuesday

Publisher: Marcia Van Dyke [email protected]: Cali Bagby [email protected]: Rebecca Cook [email protected] Design: Scott Herning [email protected] Sales: Cathi Brewer [email protected]

Lopez Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings:

Mondays - 7:30 p.m. at the Children’s CenterWednesdays - 4 p.m. - Women’s meeting at the fellowship hall at Grace Episcopal ChurchFridays - 7:30 p.m. at the Children’s CenterSaturdays - noon at the Children’s CenterContact phone number 468-2809

Al-Anon:Fridays - 9:00 a.m. at the Grace Church Hall, LopezSaturdays - 9:30 a.m. at the Children’s Center, Lopez.Contact phone number 468-2510.

Lopez Acupuncture& Integrated Health

Julienne Battalia LAc, LMPMost Insurance Accepted

(360)468-3239lopezislandacupuncture.com

Kristin Fernald, MALicensed Mental Health CounselorCounseling for Individuals,

Couples & Groups468-3785 • Lopez &Orcaswww.kristinfernald.com

Steve Ruegge Come in for your

FREE LUNCH!Galley Restaurant

Alice Campbell, M.S

468-4094 Lopez Island

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Children & AdultCouples & Families

Honoring most insurance plans Accepting new clients

“Love, not reason, shouldmake decisions.”Adi Da Samraj

for more info 360-468-3023

News briefs

Weekly photo/ Cali Bagby

An Oregon National Guard soldier stands in front of a bulldozer during road construction. Display your work at the LCCA photo show.

ONLINEWWW.ISLANDSWEEKLY.COM

SEE MORE NEWS BRIEFS, PAGE 6

,

LOPEZ ISLANDCHRIST THE KING COMMUNITY CHURCH, Now

meeting at 10:00 AM at the Lopez Elementary School

in the multi-purpose room. Find us on the web: www.

CTKonline.com/lopez or email [email protected]

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, welcomes

you to worship with us on Sundays at 10:30

am. Fisherman Bay Road at Sunset Lane.

468-3477. Everyone welcome!

LOPEZ ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH, 91 Lopez

Road. Sunday School: pre-school through adult 9:30 am;

Worship at 10:30 am. Pastor Jeff Smith 468-3877.

LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE SAN JUANS, Sundays

at 11:00 a.m. in Center Church on Davis Bay Road. Also in

Friday Harbor at 9:15 a.m. in St. David’s and in Eastsound at

2:00 p.m. in Emmanual. Pastor Anne Hall, 468-3025.

QUAKER WORSHIP GROUP Meetings will be Sundays

at 10 am at the home of Ron Metcalf, 6363 Fisherman

Bay Road. Children’s program. Everyone welcome. Phone

468-2129. Email: [email protected]

ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH Come worship

with us at Center Church on Davis Bay Rd. We welcome

you to join us for Mass at 10:45 am on Saturday. Call 378-

2910 for Mass times on San Juan and Orcas Islands.

Worship Services in the Islands

By Ande Finley for Locavores

Welcome to this new Locavores forum for issues on food sustainability as seen within the wider context of our community’s transition to energy and economic inde-pendence. As space permits, we’ll also include what’s fresh at local farmstands, post sea-sonal recipes, and talk about

upcoming events. Join the Locavores for their

next inspiring film “Cafeteria Man” about charismatic chef, Tony Geraci and the green-ing of the Baltimore City schools lunch program, Jan. 29, 4:30 p.m., at Port Stanley School.

With the smells and tastes from our Thanksgiving table still lingering, winter begins to close in, and out come

the seed catalogues with all those luscious color pic-tures of summer’s bounty. Territorial Seed and Uprising Organics used to be the only Northwest companies with seeds tested for our mari-time climate. Now we have Ana Malinoff’s Greenheart Gardens on the shores of Hummel Lake.

A few weeks ago over forty people packed into the library conference room for Ana’s Seed Saving workshop sponsored by the Lopez Community Land Trust.

“I’m a baby in the seed sav-

ing world,” Ana told the group, having started her small scale seed produc-tion only five years ago.

She confesses that her expertise is based on several years of hands-on experimentation, intuitive trial and error, and the help of some very infor-mative books. But she encourages all gardeners to incorporate seed sav-ing into their seasonal routine.

Healthy food systems require healthy seed systems. Improving and protecting this funda-mental natural resource must be a priority, begin-ning with revitalizing the public seed systems that once served our communi-ties. Since 1980, multination-al agrichemical companies have gained control and now 50% of the global seed indus-try is in the hands of just four companies.

And with the 1980 Supreme Court decision allowing pat-

ents on living organisms, farmers were effectively deprived of their traditional roles as seed stewards. Introduction of genetically modified plants or GMOs into North American agriculture poses a real threat to organic

food production. To address this criti-

cal issue, the LCLT provided space at their newest housing develop-ment, Common Ground, for a community Seed Library. Protocols have been developed to assure quality control for seed contributions and create procedures for check-ing out seed. This gives Lopez a strong shot at building back a diverse, open source local seed system.

“Garden plants adapt to our specific condi-tions,” Ana said during the workshop. “In a way, they become native to our island.”

In season, you can find Greenheart Gardens’ seeds at Blossom Natural Foods, Sunset Hardware, the Farmer’s Market, and on San Juan, Shaw, and Orcas as well.

Contributed photo

Ana Malinoff at her “Seed Saving” workshop in November.

Save our seeds

Wishing you & yours aMerry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

EVANS FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORY, INC.

1105 32nd Street Anacortes, WA 98221360.293.3311/360.378.4567

~

Public Service Announcement by Islanders Bank

Holidays bring gift buy-ing, visits to friends and family or vacations in sunny locals to escape win-ter. Shopping and traveling opportunities are a great way to step out of the daily routine. Unfortunately, travel and shopping pose a risk to financial security.

Each year consumers and businesses lose billions to identity theft and fraud. As consumers increase shop-ping and travel, credit and debit card use increase along with the likelihood that unscrupulous indi-viduals come into contact with your personal financial information.

Here’s a few tips to help ensure that financial fraud doesn’t happen to you.

When you conduct a transaction with a business that you don’t know, healthy skepticism is an important first step. If your credit or debit cards leave your sight, be aware who takes the card, how long they have it and whether the individual in possession of your card has oversight.

When buying online make sure the merchant uses a secure website encrypt-ed to ensure protection of your financial information. Look for an https:// secured website or the lock symbol on the merchant webpage to indicate strong security practices. Remember to log-off websites.

When traveling, keep your debit and credit cards

secure. Don’t use cash machines that aren’t associ-ated with a reputable hotel, business or bank. Look closely at cash machines and avoid any ATM that has loose card scanners or odd looking attachments, this can indicate skimming equipment that is used to copy your card for later use. Memorize your PIN num-ber and don’t carry it in your wallet in the event of theft or a pick pocket. Always be conscious of your location when obtaining cash.

Pay close attention to your credit card when pay-ing restaurant, lodging and shopping bills. Keep your receipts and closely scruti-nize your bank and credit card statements as soon as possible after your trip to ensure that listed charges are correct. Report any irregularities to your card provider.

Be aware of your situation at all times, fraudsters and criminals thrive on confu-sion. If something seems off or you are pressured to give up your credit/debit card or personal financial informa-

tion, step back and question why. Most people you meet are honest and well inten-tioned, financial security precautions are meant to protect us from those who are not.

‘Tis the Season for Financial Security

GET YOUR 2¢ HEARD.

VOTE ONIslandsWeekly.com

Do you prefer“Happy Holidays” to “Merry Christmas?”

SPECIAL EARLY DEADLINES

For Christmas: Dec 28th IssueALL THREE PAPERS: SALES DEADLINE: TUESDAY, 12/20, NOON

For the New Years: Jan 4th IssueALL THREE PAPERS: SALES DEADLINE: TUESDAY, 12/27, NOON

4 8 H R S E A R L Y

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.

By Russel Barsh and Madrona Murphy

Thousands of tourists visit

the islands every summer hoping to catch a glimpse of a killer whale. Hundreds

of local fishermen grumble about competing with harbor seals for salmon.

Love them or hate them, marine mammals are a big part of island life. But little attention is paid to one of

our most intelligent and suc-cessful marine mammals: the harbor porpoise.

It is estimated that the San

Juan Islands are home to about one-third of the harbor por-poises in the inland waters of western Washington. Harbor porpoises were also once a common sight in south Puget Sound, but declined rapidly

after 1940 and are rarely seen there today. Reasons for their decline are unclear, but accumulation of toxic compounds such as PCBs is suspected. Declines in her-ring and other favorite prey of porpoises have also been greater in the south Sound than here in the islands.

Harbor porpoises are small, sleek and fast with dark backs and white bellies. The largest are about six feet long and 200 pounds, the size of a human adult. They travel in pairs or small groups, but aggregations of more than 50 have been reported where there is a rich lode of prey such as a swarm of migrating herring.

Harbor porpoises are year-round residents in the Sound but tend to congregate in the islands in summer, like orcas.

They prefer relatively shal-

,

Christmas at Grace ChurchDecember 24th

Children’s Pageant 4pm

December 24th Christmas Eve with the

Lutheran Church at Center Church 11pm

December 25th Christmas Eucharist with the Lutherans at Grace Church

11am

Come Join Us!

Financing based on 11.5% interest, 15 years, O.A.C.. Actual rate may vary. Price does not include permit costs or sales tax & is based on a fl at, level, accessible building site w/less than 1ʼ of fi ll, w/85 MPH Wind Exposure “B”, 25# snow load, for non commercial usage & does not include prior sales & may be affected by county codes and/or travel considerations. Drawing for illustration purposes only. Ad expires 1/10/12.

W W W.PE R M AB I L T . C O M

800-824-9552Washington #TOWNCPF099LT

MEMBER45 Year Warranty

19,862,946Square Feet

As Of 12/2/1118,689

Buildings Built

OUTSTANDING VALUES - CALL TODAY!

Hundreds Of Designs Available!

Large Garage & Shop 24’x24’x9’ w/16’x36’x14’4” Concrete fl oor w/fi bermix reinforcement & zip-strip crack control, (1) 10ʼx12ʼ & (1) 9ʼx8ʼ raised panel steel overhead doors, 3ʼx6ʼ8” 24 gauge PermaBilt door w/self-closing hinges & stainless steel lockset, 3ʼx3ʼ double glazed vinyl window w/screen, 10ʼ continuous fl ow ridge vent, 2” fi berglass vapor barrier roof insulation, 18 sidewall & trim colors w/45 year warranty.

$29,423 $26,855 $314/mo

Includes:

Concrete Included

PLEASE VISIT YOUR LOCAL ANACORTES TIRE CENTER

(360) 293-51212311 COMMERCIAL AVE.

ANACORTES, WA 98221

WWW.LESSCHWAB.COM

FREE BRAKE INSPECTIONSFREE ESTIMATES • SAME DAY SERVICE

(ON MOST VEHICLES)

Over 30 Years ExperienceProfessionally Trained TechniciansPremium Quality PartsBest Brake Warranty

Contributed photo/ Gene Helfman

Keldon Jardine (#23) and Chase Schober (on floor in back) gather in a loose ball and pass it to Matthew Haber (#10) against Grace Academy.

Contributed photo/ Gene Helfman

Marina Steinbrueck (#12) and Alexa Ogden (#24) fight for a rebound against Grace Academy.

By Gene HelfmanBoth boys and girls basketball

teams fell just short of pulling out wins against the Grace Academy Eagles on Dec. 9.

After trailing most of the game, the Lobos girls pulled even and went up 31-29 with four minutes left.

The Eagles then pulled away to finish 39-31. Lopez Boys also trailed through most of the first three quar-ters, and were down 29-22 at the begin-ning of the final period.

A furious back-and-forth of rebound-ing and fast breaks, and a timely 3 pointer by Chase Schober, evened the game at 37 with 1:43 left. Regulation ended in a 39-39 tie.

With the game in overtime, Grace slipped past to win 44-42.

Lopez comes up just short in local basketball

WWW.ISLANDSWEEKLY.COM

Green Living online @

Neglected sea sirens of San Juan

Contributed photo/ Erik Christensen

Harbor porpoise cruising in search of a fishy lunch.

SEE SEA SIRENS, PAGE 6

OPALCO is gearing up to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2012, and has planned a fun-filled year of events, activ-ities and recognition.

To kick off the celebration, members can pick up a com-memorative 1937-style cal-endar featuring the artwork of Orcas Island artist Frank Loudin. Calendars are avail-able at local OPALCO offices, and at Ace Hardware Friday Harbor and Browne’s Home Center.

Here’s a look at events for the anniversary year:

ferry.

in Eastsound

Beginning with the vintage calendar, there will be a vari-ety of limited edition items created to commemorate the

will be available exclusively at

5.The 75th Anniversary

will also be the theme of OPALCO’s 2012 County Fair

eling historical exhibit that will be available for display at other island events and venues.

3537 if you would like to host the traveling exhibit at your event, place of business or community venue.

Contact Olsen if you have stories about OPALCO to share for the Anniversary Publication, memorabilia to loan or donate from

OPALCO’s past, or know of people who may be among the 75 longest-standing co-op members.

By Victoria ComptonHey, you, wonderful island-

er!Yes, you. You just ate a perfect

breakfast at Holly B’s, got into your car and drove past all the cute retail shops in town and thought to yourself, “This is such a fantastic place to live.”

Then you got into your car in the ferry lane. Off to do some holiday shopping in Burlington, not thinking about how shopping else-where could impact the islands we live in.

It does, of course. Every single dollar we spend else-where just…goes. It doesn’t help send our kids to school. It doesn’t help pave our roads. It doesn’t help preserve our jobs.

It doesn’t keep all the little businesses we love in busi-ness. And I think we can

all agree that we’ve lost too many favorite businesses in the past couple of years.

Our islands are each like a big terrarium. If you take out all the resources (in this case, cash),

this case, our businesses and the jobs they create) won’t survive. Even the seasonal inflow of tourist dollars can’t offset the negative impacts of our own off-island shopping.

in our community.

maybe save a few bucks (but very few, considering the

cost of gas and a ferry ticket). But the impacts to our community far offset these gains. And the gains of those few bucks could ultimately cost you – or your favorite retailer or waiter – a job.

The more we shop elsewhere, the less our local retailers can pay their employees. These employ-ees, in turn, can no longer afford to live here and they leave, thus reducing our tax base and causing many of our businesses to struggle to survive.

The more we shop else-

where, the more our prop-erty and other tax rates will go up because less retail tax income will be collected locally. Let me restate that: when we go to the mainland to shop, we cause our own property taxes to go up.

Not to mention the fact that it’s gonna be a major bummer when there’s no one around

a widget when we desperate-

and now the ferry is loading. Drive away! Please, during this jolliest of seasons, do your best to keep our beauti-ful, diverse island economy alive.

*The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics, http://www.civ-

iceconomics.com/Andersonville

2012 is another year, and another ‘Shop Local’ call to action

,

green editionNow you can view our

full print editions online ~

cover to cover!

Plus access a treasure trove

of previous issues of the Islands' Weekly

& award winning reader features.

Want extra copies

of the championship game?

Download & print the pdf. It's FREE! Visit www.islandsweekly.com/green_editions today!

P.O. Box 39, Lopez Island, WA. 98261 | (360) 468-4242 | http://www.islandsweekly.com/green_editions

THE

WEEKLYISLANDS’

THE

WEEKLYISLANDS’

THE

WEEKLYISLANDS’

cover to cover onlineyour paper24-7

A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

household supplies

hardware

1102 Commercial Ave. Anacortes

360-293-4575For more info visit:

www.sebos.com

Sebo’s Hardware & Rental

Center

Get them all at

toolsgarden

suppliespaint

electrical

Plumbing

PUBLIC NOTICEThe San Juan, Orcas & Lopez Transfer Stations will be closed

Sunday, December 25for Christmas Day

Sunday, January 1 for New Year’s

Day

Guest Column

Victoria Compton

OPALCO celebrates 75 years

,

LOPEZ ISLAND SERVICE DIRECTORYSer v ing the Lopez Island Business Communit y

ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS

EXCAVATION & LOGGING

A DIVISION OF BUFFUM BROTHER FARMS, INC.

Cont. Lic #BUFFUBE155MB

SITE SERVICES

DUNN SERVICES

WOOD CHIPPERFIELD MOWINGROTO TILLER

POST HOLE DRILLING

WINTER CLEAN-UPFLAIL MOWING

TRENCHING & SITE PREPSTUMP & LOG REMOVAL

Lawn Mowing / Fencing / Property ManagementLIC.# DUNNSSL922RA & BONDED

(360) 468-3215dunn-llc.com✓Tractor Work✓Excavator Work

ROOFING

A CLASSICR&M ROOFING

"NEVER A PROBLEM, ONLY A SOLUTION"

468-4357

COMPUTER SERVICES

LANDSCAPE, LAWN & GARDEN

Bloomers LandscapingALL LANDSCAPING

PROJECTSLarge & Small ~ for 17 years

www.bloomerslopez.com

468-4889

CONTRACTORSSince 1971

Donald R. Burt, Sr.532 School Road Lopez Island, Washington 98261

BURTE**984C8

360-468-2835

---GENERAL CONTRACTOR-----No Job Too Small

BURT ENTERPRISES

New Construction & Remodeling All Concrete Work - Home Improvement

Handyman Services

SEPTIC SERVICES

We now accept Visa and MastercardFREE ESTIMATES Family owned and operated

Dave WallaceTank Pumping & Real Estate InspectionP.O. Box 823, Lopez Island, WA 98261WA LIC#DAVIDJC0440D

LANDSCAPE, LAWN & GARDENBernardo Landscape Services

• Brush Removal• Wood Splitting• Pressure Washing• Installation of trees, shrubs• Fence installation

• Design, mowing• Storm clean up• Lawn & Garden Care• Remodeling - Decks

360-468-3144 Cell: 360-622-6644LIC# BERNALS926L3 BOND# LSMO042789

BernardoServices.comDistinguished Quality, Honest Service

Advertising in the Business Directory is affordable and EFFECTIVE!

CALL (360) 298-1679

Advertising in the Business Directory is affordable and EFFECTIVE!

CALL (360) 298-1679

CONSTRUCTION

MUD BAY BUILDERS 4060 MUD BAY ROAD

Lopez, WA 98261468.2784

[email protected] mbbuilders.posterous.com

MUDBAB1982Q2

MARION SPEIDEL

low waters, typically diving to less than 200 feet, and feed-ing on many of the same “for-age fish” that attract migrat-ing salmon and seabirds. Energetic swimmers, harbor porpoises consume about 10 percent of their body weight in fish every day. There is some evidence that local populations of porpoises are genetically distinct and behaviorally specialized, passing down “cultural” prey preferences to their offspring, as has been documented in orcas.

Like orcas, harbor porpois-es vocalize a great deal. They avoid areas of boat noise that may affect their ability to hear one another, but may also use the acoustic shadow of noisy boats to evade orcas.

Young porpoises are born in summer after a gestation period of 11 months, and have a life expectancy of eight-ten years if they avoid stranding, starvation, entanglement in derelict fishing gear and hun-gry orcas. Stranding is a rel-atively frequent occurrence. Herding by killer whales and flight from noisy boats are two possible causes.

Just as resident orcas in the

islands have suffered from declining Chinook salmon runs, harbor porpoises and seabirds in the islands have had less herring to eat, most critically in spring when they are feeding young.

Many more herring used to spawn in the islands, and spawned earlier than the remaining large herring popu-lation associated with Cherry Point on the mainland. We know very little about how porpoises here have adapted. In the north Atlantic, harbor porpoises shifted from a diet of herring to juvenile cod and other ground fish, but they are reportedly less healthy.

Salish Sea harbor porpois-es are highly contaminated with toxics such as PAHs, at levels comparable to orcas. Recent studies suggest that toxic loads lead to higher rates of infection, as well as reproductive failure.

Why are harbor porpoises neglected, when they face the same threats as orcas in the islands? They are almost cer-tainly more numerous than orcas, but their actual status and numbers are less studied and it is uncertain whether they are increasing or declin-ing. Perhaps we should take more interest in them now, while they still have a good chance to survive and thrive in our waters.

SEA SIRENSCONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Solid waste plan

moves forwardPublic Works Director

Frank Mulcahy said last week that he anticipates the changeover from a primar-ily self-hauled system to a primarily roadside pickup to occur in late summer. Before that changeover occurs, the County Council must adopt, and the Department of Ecology must approve a revised County Solid and Hazardous Waste plan accommodating the new system.

The project timeline calls for the plan to be completed for public inspection in early February, adopted by the council in early May and approved by DOE in mid-July with an opportunity for public review and comment along the way.

The Public Works solid waste team presented a draft of the first seven chapters, addressing legal require-ments, and collection, trans-fer, and disposal of waste, to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee on Dec. 1. Another chapter will deal with waste reduction and recycling, and the remain-ing three chapters of the

plan should be completed by Feb. 7. These chapters will be added to the pre-liminary public review draft when completed.

The preliminary draft pre-sented to the Solid Waste Committee is at sanjuanco.com/solidwasteplan and at county libraries.

For more info, contact Elizabeth Anderson at [email protected], 360-370-0531 or P. O. Box 729, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

Anderson notes that she welcomes comments on the preliminary review draft. Formal public comment will be accepted during the review period after the com-plete draft is available. The County Council is scheduled to hold its first public work-shop on the revisions to the County’s solid waste plan in March.

Watch out for winter ferry changes

Washington State Ferries will make several sail-ing schedule adjustments around Christmas and Hanukkah, and all routes

switch over to the winter sailing schedule on Jan. 1.

The Seattle/Bainbridge Island, Mukilteo/Clinton and Point Defiance/Tahlequah routes will be on holiday schedule on Monday, Dec. 26 — check WSF’s fall schedule for details on ves-sel sailing times. All other routes remain on their nor-mal fall schedules through-out the December holidays.

The winter sailing sched-ule is effective on Sunday, Jan. 1.

Changes include:No inter-island vessel on

the weekends in the San Juan Islands

No third vessel on the weekends on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route

No service between Anacortes and Sidney, B.C.

Islanders should pay par-ticular attention to the win-ter 2012 sailing schedule for minor sailing time adjust-ments to improve reliability.

For more info, visit h t t p : / / w w w . w s d o t .wa.gov/News/2011/12/Holiday_120511.htm.

$405,830 for Salmon recovery

The Washington Salmon

Recovery Funding Board has announced the award of nearly $30 million in grants to organizations around the state to help bring salmon back from the brink of extinction.

The $405,830 designated for San Juan County will fund two projects.

The first project, Neighborhood Conservation Easement Program, will cre-ate conservation easements on multiple properties.

“As far as we can tell, this approach has never been done before, so we antici-pate that this is a pilot proj-ect that will create a mecha-nisms that other jurisdictions would also be interested in using,” said Recreation and Conservation Office com-munications manager Susan Zemek.

The Fishing Gear Removal project will fund removal of the last remaining docu-mented derelict fishing nets in the San Juans. This is the final push to cap a multi-year effort to clean up the legacy derelict nets in the San Juans.

Read the full story at www.islandsweekly.com.

More news briefs

THE ISLANDS’ WEEKLY WWW.ISLANDSWEEKLY.COM December 20, 2011 - PAGE 7

Don’t worry...We’ll be up late, too.Don’t worry...We’ll be up late, too.Don’t worry...We’ll be up late, too.Don’t worry...We’ll be up late, too.

real estatefor sale - WA

Real Estate for Sale

San Juan County

real estatefor sale

Real Estate for Sale

Services

Classifieds. We’ve got you covered. 800-388-2527

Bottomless garage sale. $37/no word limit. Reach

thousands of readers.Go online: nw-ads.com24 hours a day or Call 800-388-2527 to get

more information.

real estatefor rent - WA

Real Estate for Rent

San Juan County

[email protected]

Apartments for Rent

San Juan County

announcements

Announcements

Announcements

Lost

jobsEmployment

Education

[email protected]


Advertise your service800-388-2527 or nw-ads.com

Employment

General

LOPEZ ISLANDPREVENTION COALITION

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT FACILITATOR

.40 - .50

[email protected]

Employment

Transportation/Drivers

stuff

Appliances


pets/animals

Cats

Dogs

http://vashonislandgoldendoodles.shutterfly.com/[email protected]

Dogs

wheelsMarine

Power

Marine

Sail

Automobiles

Chrysler

Sport Utility Vehicles

Chevrolet

ATVs

Motorcycles

Motorhomes

click! www.nw-ads.com email! classifi [email protected] call toll free! 1.888.399.3999 or 1.800.388.2527

Local readers.Local sellers.Local buyers.

We make it easy to sell...right in your communityreal estate

for sale jobshome

services stuff wheelsreal estate

for rent - WA PN

W M

arke

tPla

ce!

OfficeHours:8-5pm

Mondayto Friday

print &online24/7

financial and emotional stress from parents, and brings joy to kids during the holidays.

Around thirty families per year participate in the Christmas giving portion of the program. This year LIFRC is assisting 32 fami-lies, which is more than ever, according to Marquis.

“Giving trees” — festive trees with gift certificate requests tied to the branches — are set up around town, located at local businesses. Gifts certificates are avail-able both for local stores and for mainland stores where people can access clothing and other needed products not readily available on the island. You can make a dona-tion by purchasing gift cards,

then bringing them in person or send-ing them by mail to LIFRC.

Another option is to sponsor an entire family for the holiday season — the aver-age cost per family is $275.

Times are also hard for nonprofit organiza-tions like LIFRC that are struggling to meet the growing demands of their clients during a time when funding and access to resourc-es are being cut.

Despite these struggles and the fact that it is more of a stretch for small businesses to make a donation, LIFRC staff says the community has been consistently generous and supportive, always will-ing to give what it can.

The Lopez Birthday club recently donated $386 to the Spirit of Giving Program. The all woman club, which will celebrate its 90th anniver-sary next year, was formed to assist those in the com-munity who are in need. And the Median Foundation has

created a match chal-lenge — tripling any gifts by new donors, including the Birthday Club — adding to the $386 with a donation of $1,146.

“We couldn’t do it without local busi-nesses that have been great supporters of the program,” said Patsy Haber, LIFRC program coordinator. “It takes a community to support the com-munity.”

You can make a donation in person to

the Family Resource Center in Lopez Village, mail it to P.O. Box 732, Lopez Island, WA, 98261 or online at www.lifrc.org.

For more info, call 468-4117 or email [email protected].

was away. “It felt totally right,” she

said.She then pursued theo-

logical studies and earned a Master of Divinity from the Pacific School of Religion. Hall was ordained by the American Baptist Church in 1993. Following a co-pastor position at University Baptist Church that she held until 2003, she sought a part-time

pastoral position and, after a course of study, became rostered in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She served at University Lutheran Church for the past eight years.

“The pastor asks us about our spiritual journeys and joins with us in that discov-ery,” said Sharron Kick, a Friday Harbor parishioner. “She is bright and engaging and I believe she will encour-age and challenge us.”

Hall’s goal is to empow-er people to find their own vision and pursue it.

“I am passionately commit-ted to social justice and in engaging the church as an instrument for justice,” she

said. Dr. David Hall, the pastor’s

husband, is a psychiatrist with a practice in Anacortes working with children, ado-lescents and their families. The couple has two sons and two grandsons.

Hall is an avid reader, hiker and boater and is “just learn-ing to garden,” she confess-es. A new greenhouse for her yard awaits construction.

During advent, services are held every Sunday on each island and on Wednesday evening in Friday Harbor. Hall will preside at 11 p.m. at a joint Christmas Eve service with Grace Episcopal Church at Lopez Center Church.

,

Islands’ Weekly

PO B

ox 39L

opez, WA

98261

PRSR

T ST

DU

S POSTA

GE

PA

IDSO

UN

DPU

BL

ISHIN

G IN

C

EC

RW

SS

POSTA

L C

UST

OM

ER

Serving the residents of San Juan C

ounty. Printed on recycled newsprint

using soy based ink.

According to FBI’s web-site, cyber criminals create new ways to steal money and personal info during the holiday season. Here are a few tips to avoid fraud.

as the files may contain viruses

or there is an emergency, it may be a scam. Fraudsters create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly.

it probably is.

FBI’s how to avoid scams

(360) 468-3344 • Toll free 866-468-3344Friendly Isle Building in the Village

Website: http://www.wrelopez.com E-mail - [email protected] • Member NWMLS

LOPEZ ISLAND

Back Row: Carole, Dianne, Beth, Charlie (retired) , JimFront Row: Junko, Annie, Joyce, Carol, Margie, Mitty, Roy

HAPPYHOLIDAYS

&BEST WISHES

FOR THENEW YEAR

LOPEZ ISLAND

From the Gangat Windermere

Established 1972

Lopez Island RealtyGary Berg, Broker-Owner

P.O. Box 9, Lopez, WA 98261Office: (360) 468-2291

Fax: (360) 468-3113Toll free: 1-800-632-1100

Email: [email protected]: lopezislandrealty.com

Season’s Greetings & Happy New Year

~Gary Berg

Wishing you the best in the

New Year

PASTORCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

GIVINGCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“Money sent by Western Union is untraceable because its cash,” said Zerby. “So once it’s gone - it’s gone.”

He’s not sure how the lists of targeted people are generated, but the elderly are often singled out.

“They [the elderly] are often kinder,” said Zerby. “And if the scam involves a grandchild, those emotions can override logic.”

And law enforcement isn’t immune from attempt-ed scams.

Zerby recently received a fraudulent email asking for a money transfer for a “friend” in need of assis-tance in Europe. Another common scams involves a person claiming to be from an undeveloped country who has recently inherit-ed a large sum of money, and all they need is a bank account to deposit the new-found fortune.

“Once they have the bank account number they clean it out,” said Zerby.

These are just a few

examples of the five or six letters the sheriff’s office receives a day reporting fraud on San Juan, Orcas and Lopez. Some letters — involving scams over $100,000 — are sent to the Secret Service, but the reports are so rampant that not all are investigated.

On San Juan, there has been a recent spike in the amount of fraud reported, Zerby said. He advises islanders to follow Cunniff’s example and if you suspect something is just not right — verify who you are really talking to or emailing.

Cunniff he doesn’t think of himself as clever, he just has a lot of practice solv-ing problems, which helped him avoid a scam.

“Like they say all’s well that ends well,” said Cunniff.

If you do get involved in a scam, take any receipts or documentations and file a report to the sheriff’s office.

To report fraud call the Washington Attorney General’s office at 360-753-6200 or visit the FBI spon-sored website to report a scam at www.ic3.gov/com-plaint/default.aspx.

Contributed photo

Two Birthday Club members present a check to LIFRC’s Celia Marquis.

FRAUDCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Islands' Weekly, December 20, 2011

Documents

Transcript of Islands' Weekly, December 20, 2011