Help bill pass for seniors
Persons born between 1917 and 1926 have not received their total social security payments. For a number of years, efforts (which have not been completed) have attempted to secure at least some portion of the money, which is due these people.
A new bill, HR 238 “Notch Baby Act 2009,” has just been introduced, but has not made it to the Ways and Means Committee. Anyone interested can help get this act passed by writing to our representative: Rick Larsen, 107 Cannon House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515-4702. Or by calling his office in Everett at 1-800-562-1385.
The amount this would cost the country is tiny compared to what we spend on war and destruction, but many lives would be changed greatly for the better with even this small payment.
Mary Gibson Hatten
Eastsound
Thank you for saving Orcas Rec
The San Juan County Board of Commissioners approved $10,000 in funding for the Orcas Island Recreation Program for 2009 (a $6,500 reduction). In the original draft of the county budget, funding was scheduled to be completely cut. Because of many community member letters, phone calls, e-mails, and testimony at budget hearings, $10,000 was restored to the program. We wish to thank the commissioners for their attention and concern for the welfare of our children and community. We are inspired by your support and to be a part of what makes life on Orcas Island a great place for children to thrive.
Didier Gincig
Coordinator
Orcas Island Recreation Program and OIRP Advisory Committee
Thank you from the
SJ Chamber
Our 2008 year end holidays are behind us and we’re already into a new year, but I want to stop for a moment and thank a few people who have been very generous to us recently.
For holiday help, a big thank you goes to: The Town of Friday Harbor (King, Dave, and the Council, to name a few) for purchasing lights and working with OPALCO to put them in the Elm trees; Randy Lindsey (Time Warner), Bob Jarman (ICE) and Bill Henikman (CenturyTel) for getting our Snowflakes up on the light poles…and taking them down (Randy); Vern Long and the Friday Harbor Fire Department and Danny Kerr for putting the strings of lights up along the tops of the buildings on Spring Street (in windy and freezing conditions!); the Kiwanis and Lions for the refreshments and sponsorship of the “Character” outfits, to Angel Michaels and her carolers and all of Santa’s helpers handing out treats for the kids at the Tree Lighting Ceremony; Julie (Friday Harbor Mortgage) and Wes Corey (King’s Market) for wrapping the green lights around the Elm trees’ trunks; All of the businesses who participated in our “late night” shopping activity (amidst the snow!); and, to the Christmas Committee for all of your hard work, Sandy Baird (Chamber of Commerce), Joy Sevier (San Juan Wireless), and Julie Corey (Friday Harbor Mortgage).
And for a New Year gift, a special thanks goes to Libbey Oswald and Valmark, Inc. for providing and installing a door to my office, giving me privacy when needed and, because of the top to bottom window, allows me to keep an eye out for visitors in the Visitor Information Center when necessary.
Debbie Pigman
Executive Director
SJI Chamber of Commerce
Volunteers needed for library book sale
Once again plans for the Friends of the Orcas Island Library Winter Book Sale are under way. As always, we are amazed and gratified by the number and quality of books that are donated to the Friends each year. Profits from our twice yearly book sales are in turn donated to our Orcas Library and reduce the need for tax dollars. Besides being important fundraisers for our library, these book sales are also fun community events that enable locals to stock up on reading materials for prices that can’t be beat.
These book sales are, however, quite labor intensive for a short period of time. Due to dwindling Friends board membership, our need for volunteers to pull off the coming sale is greater than ever. Able bodies are needed to move boxes of books as well as a few pickup trucks or vans. There are also jobs for those who are unable to lift boxes.
This year’s sale is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21. Volunteers are needed on Friday afternoon for set-up as well as on Saturday. Anyone willing and able please leave a message at 376-3427. We can’t do it without you.
Ulanah McCoy
Winter Book Sale Chair
School District should not go for bond
The School District has bad timing and is not looking at the most economical solutions but is proceeding with a master plan to build a more visually pleasing campus. As Citibank was told, “Now is not the time for a new corporate jet!”
Is a new middle school campus needed right now? Just what was the “problem” that was discovered that requires an entire new school? Core samples were taken of the walls of the middle school and it was determined that only one layer of plywood was used on the outer walls. This building style was allowed and considered safe at the time. So what’s the problem?
If you wish to add on to a building that was built in this manner it is not permitted to do so now. There is no reason why the new career and technical education (CTE) building, already funded by the past bond, has to be physically attached to the current buildings; it could be a free standing building. This would then not require an entire new middle school campus.
If there are still concerns about the outer walls being single sheeted, why not put another sheet of plywood over the existing single sheet? During the last bond issue all dry rot and structural concerns were repaired in the middle school, the bathrooms and showers in the gym were retiled, flooring was replaced and painting was done throughout. Why now throw that money away by tearing down the school? The reason is their master plan to build a more visually pleasing campus.
With so many of us having taken a hit from the current economy and being told we must tighten our belts, is now the time to raise our taxes? Why don’t they apply to the federal government? I hear they are giving out money. The reason they are doing that is because times are hard. Do they teach current events at the school?
Chris Butler
Eastsound
Open Letter from the Fire Chief,
Lopez Island
First of all, I want to thank you all for welcoming me and my wife Sherry to this special place. You have helped make the move from Shelton to Lopez Island an enjoyable transition.
As your fire chief I have been busy with many activities and one of them is learning the road system, both public and private here on Lopez Island. In driving these roads, both as a training exercise and on emergency response, I have a few observations I would like to share with you and ask for your help.
The Lopez Firefighters and EMTs are outstanding neighbors. They are ready to respond to your emergencies when they are on the island. They carry pagers and have them on their dressers and nightstands so that during the day or in the middle of the night they can respond.
Using the tax dollars you have generously provided to Lopez Island Fire and EMS, we have purchased vehicles and equipment to render assistance in your time of emergency. Minutes are precious to us when trying to save a life or stop a fire. Your firefighters and EMTs need your help to avoid delays in reaching you.
Our aid vehicles and fire apparatus are wide, have extended wheelbases, and are 10 to 12 feet high. These vehicles carry your life-saving medical supplies and firefighting water and equipment. Many of the private roads and driveways I have driven on are too narrow, have overhanging tree limbs and/or sharp turns that will cause delays or damage to your emergency vehicles en route to help you in your time of greatest need.
As spring approaches, we are asking you to keep your roads at a minimum of 10 feet wide and 12 feet high and if there are sharp turns to widen the drive at that point to 12 to 14 feet. Clearly marking your driveways with the house numbers a minimum of four inches high on signs with a background different than the color of the numbers allows us to quickly identify that we have arrived at the correct address.
In severe medical, trauma or fire emergencies these simple steps can mean the difference between life and death.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and please help us by maintaining your roads and driveways so we can reach you without delay.
Jim Ghiglione
Lopez Fire Chief
Richard Fralick off to a good start
If you didn’t notice, Richard Fralick started out, in my eyes, with a bang that is as uplifting to many of us as the changes in Washington.
That is not to denigrate past or present council members, but here he is, two weeks in office, and is offering to meet with his constituents and hear from them, face-to-face, at the senior center. Perhaps that won’t be every week, as there are not that many pressing legislative matters at hand. But he promises to be available here on Orcas if he or his constituents discern that there are legislative or policy issues at hand. He avows he has much to learn but is more than willing to listen and also tell you his thoughts. I say good show, and I hope that the Orcas community will find time to reciprocate. Look for those meeting times in the Sounder.
Walt Corbin
Orcas Island
