Local science for critical areas decisions

Surfactants, which are toxic to fish, have been measured at high levels in stormwater from Eastsound, Deer Harbor, and Friday Harbor. Non-ionic surfactants, widely used in pesticides and herbicides, as well as in many household cleaning products, breakdown into potent hormone mimics, such as 4-nonylphenol, that persist in marine and fresh water. The accumulation of these hormone mimics, which feminize male fish and amphibians, may be at least partly responsible for the drastic declines in our fish populations.

Fortunately, these toxic chemicals can be biodegraded in vegetated soils by bacteria and fungi. But this requires that the stormwater be slowed down by surface irregularities so that the surfactants can be trapped in the soil. This is why broad, vegetated buffers are essential to protect our marine and fresh waters. Where smooth landscaped surfaces or bare rock exist, the stormwater will not be absorbed quickly enough to trap the toxic surfactants. Extremely wide buffers or the creation of vegetated bioswales to catch and retain the stormwater are essential to protect our marine and fresh waters.

Surfactants are very widely used because they have, until recently, been thought to be relatively non-toxic. New information shows that the breakdown products of non-ionic surfactants are very toxic to marine and fresh water animals at extremely low concentrations. Because our knowledge of toxic compounds is constantly evolving, we can no longer assume that ”dilution is the solution”. As our ability to measure ever-lower concentrations of toxic chemicals increases, we are discovering that for some man-made chemicals the threshold of harm is on the order of parts per billion, and possibly lower.

Local stormwater samples are collected and the levels of surfactants are measured in a joint effort of the Washington State University program, Beach Watchers, and Mike Kaill of the Friends of the San Juans. Beach Watcher volunteers are also being trained to measure surfactant concentrations in runoff and in our marine ecosystems by Russel Barsh of Kwiaht, Center for the Historical Ecology of the Salish Sea, as an outgrowth of his studies at Friday Harbor Labs.

Janet Alderton

Deer Harbor

Thanks for a great season

Despite changes in the economic climate, faithful market-goers and our beautiful island climate facilitated a wonderful market season this year. Thanks to all who supported us: customers, the county council, the parks department and the Eastsound business community. We celebrated the final market of the season on Nov. 21 at the Odd Fellows Hall. We’ll look forward to seeing you again the first weekend of May.

Charly Robinson

Farmers’ Market Manager

Thanks from Barbara Bedell

I want to thank all the voters who endorsed my candidacy for Fire Commissioner, position #3. Your generous support made my election possible, and for this, I am very grateful. I want to repay your faith in me by insuring that our community will continue to have the highest level of fire and medical services available within budgetary means. The vision of the Strategic Plan of 2005 is nearing completion, and I will continue to work with Commissioners Jim Coffin and Clyde Duke for all Orcas Island residents with those goals in mind. The Orcas Island Fire Department has set a standard of excellence and commitment to our island community for which we must be proud.

Barbara Bedell

Orcas Fire Commissioner

A “merrie tyme” for all

Lords and Ladies of the realm filled the dining hall at Camp Orkila for feasting, music and dancing. The Madrigal Dinner event was presented last Monday by Orcas A Cappella with its director, Dennis Bonner. Members performed in small groups and altogether singing music from the Renaissance. The great fun was due to the efforts of many, including Doug and Michel Marshall (at The Office Cupboard), Jenny Pederson (at Darvill’s Bookstore), Jack Becker (at Eastsound Music and Instruments), Ron Rebman (at Orcas Village Store), Colleen Smith Armstrong (at Islands’ Sounder), Beth Wangen and Kim Toombs (at Camp Orkila), Sukima Hampton and Deborah Sparks (at Orcas Center), Jane Heisinger (at Orcas Senior Center), Margie Doyle-Stevens, Catherine Ellis, Dawn Gregory, Kay Miller, Larry Leyman, Pam Loew, Frank Michaels (a remarkable event narrator), Jim Shaffer-Bauck, Jeff Struthers, Lynn Thomerson and Candy VerBrugghen. And as we A Cappella members stood at the doors saying good night to the guests, we heard them exclaim as they drove out of sight, “Let’s do this again next year!”

Bev Leyman

Program Coordinator

Thanks from WSU

WSU San Juan County Extension wishes to thank the community for their support to continue our 4-H, Master Gardener and agriculture programs.

We are honored to carry on our 90-year tradition of educating citizens in youth development, home horticulture, natural resource stewardship and local farming and food production.

WSU Extension Staff

County has handled swine flu well

The swine flu has captured national attention this fall. Our San Juan County Health Department has proven its skills with the thoughtful handling of a challenging and potentially dangerous situation. Dr. James has helped raise awareness and the county nursing staff has gone above and beyond to get the vaccine to the community and follow up with those families dealing with illness. Hopefully, their leadership will avert the worst case scenario. They have provided a great service to our community and I am very grateful.

Hilary Canty

Olga

Stay healthy: avoid vaccines

Reading the editorial in the Nov. 11 issue, “Get vaccinated, stay healthy,” very much concerned me. It’s an oxymoron. It should read: get vaccinated OR stay healthy. Injecting toxic chemicals i.e. mercury, squalene, nonoynol-9 (spermocide), and Il-2 mixed with foreign genetic material in our blood stream doesn’t seem like a healthy thing to do. Many people have gotten sick and even died from taking vaccines.

Like I mentioned in an earlier letter to the editor (Sept. 30 edition), there are more benign ways to deal with viruses – ingesting oxysilver (colloidal silver) and/or miracle mineral solution (MMS). Bottom line is the vaccines are not considered safe by many in the medical field with only a few months of testing before deploying to the people.

I strongly question the authorities/experts that download misinformation to the media encouraging the public to risk getting vaccinated. Here are some websites that will provide fact-based information on H1N1 and other viruses: Naturalcures.com, fluscam.com, and projectcamelot.com.

Mikial Denker

Eastsound

Islanders support healthy ecosystems

The SeaDoc Society thanks Doe Bay Resort and Retreat and all of the people attending their Pizza and Open Mic night for their generous donation. Doe Bay donates money from this weekly event to a local organization that is doing important community work and SeaDoc was a recent benefactor.

Doe Bay’s commitment to using almost 100 percent local produce and their unique efforts to give back to the island is a clear example of what makes Orcas great. Islanders care about this place and know that having a healthy ocean supports our quality of life and economic prosperity. SeaDoc uses private donations to fund and conduct science to ensure we are taking good care of a system that cares for us. After all, scientific information is our most objective source of knowledge about how to keep our oceans healthy.

Joe Gaydos

The SeaDoc Society

Thank you to United Way

As the season of Thanksgiving is upon us, I would like to recognize the United Way of San Juan County for it’s wonderful continued support of The Funhouse and our mentoring programs.

The mentor program provides a variety of different mentoring styles. Traditional one-on-one mentor matches are the cornerstone of the program. Project-based matches connect a caring adult with a small number of children who learn a craft or skill. We also match children and seniors in anonymous written conversations in The Journal Project. Mentors also help us with the online learning program that enhances the public school’s educational offerings. Currently, 38 Orcas children are benefiting from the mentor program.

This would not be possible without the support that the United Way of San Juan County provides.

On behalf of The Funhouse Board of Directors, staff and the children we serve, we offer a sincere thanks to the United Way for everything they do for children on Orcas, and throughout San Juan County.

Pete Moe

Executive Director, The Funhouse