— by Margie Doyle —
Some of the year’s most significant events started out dramatically — like the Olga fires; some were the result of long-term deep work — like the emergence of the Food Cooperative; and some were a combination of both — the Exchange Fire galvanizing the reduce-reuse-resource dynamic punctuating the work of the non-profit Orcas Recycling Services or the CenturyLink cable break illuminating the work of OPALCO to expand and guarantee “hybrid” broadband. Orcas Issues takes pride in its responsive and in-depth coverage of immediate events and long-standing issues.
So here we go, with a second update on 2013’s stories! (Keep count with us, read to the end of the article and let us know the number of stories you heard about first, or followed as they developed, through Orcas Issues!)
The Mt. Baker Road Reconstruction Project: Started on March 19 with a 90-day contract, excluding “holidays or when weather, differing site conditions or significant changes to quantities of work” according to Colin Huntemer, Senior Project Engineer for San Juan County Public Works Department overseeing the Mt. Baker Road project. Contractors had until August 20, to complete the physical road work and to avoid financial penalties.
A pervious cement concrete sidewalk along the south side of Mt Baker Road from North Beach Road to the entrance to Buck Park was installed. It was extended to the Crescent Beach preserve and thickened along the face of the embankment from 4 to 6 ½ inches. The sidewalk continued across the street, on the north side 9 Mt. Baker Road, almost to Terrill Beach Road. Because of “significant drainage and utility conflicts near Madan Lane,” the road profile elevation was raised about one foot for 200 feet on either side of Madan Lane.
A ceremony honoring completion of the road project was held in September. Further county road plans include improvements on “A” Street; widening Orcas Road from McNally to Nordstrom Lane; chipsealing and upgrading Prune Alley, with the possibility of radial curbs and gutters and a pathway through the three-lot “garden” across the street from Eastsound Village Green.
Summer Economic Boom: Summer 2013 saw non-stop commerce on Orcas Island, with restaurants and retail outlets doing a brisk business. Several businesses opened or expanded, introducing a new generation of Orcas Island entrepreneurs:
- Golden Tree Hostel;
- Coffee wagon, located in the parking lot of Hogstone Pizza — another new venture! — on Main and Haven Streets;
- Kathryn Taylor Chocolates moved into the Templin Center (Ray’s Pharmacy) building on the corner of Main Street and North Beach Road;
- Score! Nifty Thrifty, Orcas’ only thrift store, opened at the east end of the Post Office building;
- Brown Bear Baking Company moved into the Rose Garden corner building across from Darvill’s Bookstore and Crow Valley Pottery;
- Barnacles moved into the small building behind The Kitchen on Prune Alley, formerly occupied by Millie Vacarelli’s store and Dave Parrish’s music studio;
- Island Hoppin’ Brewery, making and selling unique island brews in its tasting room on Hope Lane off Mt. Baker Road.
In addition, the Art Gallery featuring works of local art students of Terry Johnson, opened on North Beach Road, and Washington State Small Business Administration (SBA) named Jill Blankenship, CEO of Frontline Call Center on Hope Lane, the 2013 Washington state Small Business Person of the Year in April.
The aftermath of the Artworks fire.
“Suspicious” Summer Fires in Olga: In June, a fire destroyed a home on Willis Lane near the hamlet of Olga. On July 19, a fire broke out at the Orcas Artworks building, (the Olga Stawberry building). Within a short time a second fire broke out at a Willis Lane structure. Investigation into the cause of the fires continues, with the Sheriff’s office posting a reward for information. Meanwhile, the non-profit Olga Strawberry Council, under the leadership of Patsy Stephens, is hard at work to repair and restore the historic 75-year-old Olga Strawberry Barreling Plant. The building housed three businesses: The Artworks Cooperative, James Hardman Gallery, and Cafe Olga. The Artworks Cooperative re-established on Main Street in Eastsound; many of the artworks housed in the Olga building had to be submitted to insurance companies to determine damages, so most of the art currently on display is new work. Cafe Olga has relocated to the building formerly occupied by the Thai Sisters and FIRE! on Urner Street in downtown Eastsound.
ORS Takes Over Orcas Waste Transfer Station: On August 19, county officials signed over a lease authorizing the Orcas Recycling Services(ORS) non-profit to manage the Orcas Transfer Station, following 10 months of negotiations with the County Public Works Department. Future improvements in waste disposal and expansion of resourcing operations will be dependent upon successful operation of the waste station, Manager Pete Moe said. The ORS hired Master Plan Consultant Terrill Chang, who met with the community-organized Exchange Redesign Advisory group to consider options for the transfer station on the four-lot site leased by the county.
ORS Board, community members and Transfer Station employees celebrate the re-opening of the site under ORS operations.
Since taking over operations on Sept. 5, ORS has reduced disposal rates and increased hours of operation. In December, Tim Blanchard became President of the ORS Board.
The Orcas Island School District saw many changes this fall, starting in September with:
- New K-6 Principal Kathy Page, who introduced the Tardy Queen program, decreasing tardy rates significantly from last year;
- New Middle/High School Principal Kyle Freeman, who has been the K-8 Principal for the past four years;
- Increased enrollment, from the 744 projected last April when the 2013-14 budget process began, to over 850 (head count) in September, holding steady since then;
- Superintendent Barbara Kline’s announcement that she will retire as of June 2014. The School Board has been selecting a search firm and community input to inform the selection of a new superintendent.
Meanwhile, work progresses on the school renovation approved through a $11 million bond vote, under the direction of project manager Liz LeRoy. Bids are planned to go out in January 2014.
Inititave 502 Passes: The initiative legalizing possession of up to one ounce marijuana took effect in 2013 after passage by 68 percent of island voters, and a majority vote of 56 percent statewide. Although possession of up to one ounce became legal in 2013, purchase of the product was not yet implemented. The Washington State Liquor Board spent the majority of 2013 working out the rules and regulations for growers, processors, and retailers, along with top-level communications with Federal officials (as the new law is contradictory to federal law), as well as public forums across the state. A strict set of guidelines was established and state began to take applications in the fall. Applications for those licenses closed on December 20, 2013. As of the closing date, one retailer, three processors, and five producers from Orcas had made application with the state.
Washington State Ferries Falter: A collision involving the motor yacht Tasya and the Washington State Ferries (WSF) vessel Hyak on Sept. 13 was due to human error, WSF concluded in its investigation. The sole occupant of the Tasya was rescued by a nearby vessel and taken to Orcas Island.The Captain and the second mate on the Hyak at the time of the collision were placed on paid administrative assignment. Earlier in the year, it was determined that the cause of the failure Walla Walla’s engine drive motor was due to human error — not following the procedure for repairs. The ferry was out of commission for five months.
Community Foundation Expands Philanthropy: The Orcas Island Community Foundation made optimal use of the internet to expand its philanthropic mission. In March, OICF expanded its “Partners in Philanthropy” so that anyone could contribute to grant applications vetted by the OICF Grants Committee, headed by Colleen O’Brien. In May, over $136,000 was awarded through the traditional grants cycle. In the late fall, OICF introduced “Orcas Opportunities,” an online gifts catalog to benefit important programs in our island community. Donations to the online catalog are welcomed in any amount.
CenturyLink Cable Break Causes 10-day Emergency, Internet Outages: On Nov. 5, a CenturyLink submarine cable break between Lopez and San Juan Islands announced the start of a 10-day break in emergency and internet service throughout San Juan County. OPALCO and Rock Island both offered assistance in temporary solutions; CenturyLink was able to fully restore services on Nov. 15. In a meeting of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission in December to investigate the event and response, local business people, government officials and internet providers roundly criticized CenturyLink for its failure to inform the public and its own customer service personnel about the situation.
Orcas Food Co-op signs the lease to operate in the store formerly occupied by Homegrown Foods in Eastsound on December 3. The lease was the culmination of an effort to establish a member-owned and -controlled community food source. Ken Katz (VP board member) said, “Having a co-op in our community will provide access to high quality, local, organic and GMO free foods and goods. By buying local, islanders keep more money in the local economy, re-investing back to members, paying employees living wages, buying from local farmers, and strengthening the economic community.”
Plans are to open the Orcas Co-op’s doors in the spring of 2014, after cosmetic and structural changes to the space. “This space has a rich history,” said future co-op manager Learner Limbach. Before entering into a lease contract the Co-op’s Board of Directors set certain benchmarks for securing memberships and start-up capital. The minimum goals prior to signing the lease were to have 250 founding members signed up and that they would have at least $200,000 pledged in the form of loans from members.
Those goals have been met. Board President Lisa Byers said, “We’ve reached a big milestone, … we still have a long way to go, but … we are at a very important midpoint which is really exciting.”
Please let us know other stories that were or critical importance to you and comment on our article to let us know the numbers of the stories you first found–and followed–on Orcas Issues this year!
