A look back at the year, by the staff of The Journal and SanJuanJournal.com
As a community member, potential neighbor to the Beaverton Valley Road site, and avid SWAC meeting attender for over three years, I am writing this in response to the latest SWAC meeting — the last meeting before the SWAC recommendation goes out to the County Council for the proposed site of the new transfer station to be built at the Beaverton Valley property. Please educate yourselves to a seldom-printed portion of the history and background of this project by reading my response below.
Islanders have suggested these ways to show care to Beth Hudson, who is recovering at Harborview Medical Center from injuries sustained in a vehicle collision Dec. 21 on Portland Fair Road.
The San Juan County Solid Waste Advisory Committee may recommend to the County Council that a new solid waste transfer station be built on Beaverton Valley Road. A site on Daniel Lane was rated second; the current site on Sutton Road was voted least favorable.
It’s a tough time to be in the ferry business. Facing an increased demand for service as ferry-served communities continue to grow — yet held back by a tight budget, limited vehicle carrying capacities and aging terminals and vessels — the state Department of Transportation Ferries Division released its draft long-range plan for services and investments through 2030.
An arctic storm brought a big freeze to the islands. Our school district faces a $717,000 deficit. Our community and state are caught in the national recession. Businesses are struggling to hold on as islanders tighten their purse strings. It’s easy to be grumpy, what with having to navigate icy roads while worrying about the economy and that IRA and/or 401K. But a neighbor said something to me the other day that set me on a path of realizing just how fortunate we are.
Scientists call it “non-point pollution,” meaning it emanates from sources that aren’t specific or readily identifiable. Oil leaks from automobiles and chemical treatments on lawns are two good examples, swept as they are by rainwater through ditches and storm drains and into the waters of Puget Sound. Another example: the septic systems of shoreline homes, which over time send untreated waste oozing out to contaminate our waterways.
Undoubtedly, the financial situation that the 2009 state Legislature deals with when in goes into session in January will be far more difficult than when those legislators announced their candidacies for office in spring and summer 2008. With the state in a recession, Gov. Christine Gregoire is looking at cutting several billion dollars out of the state budget. The budget deficit could reach $6 billion, some reports stated last week. Education must be a priority, not just for the Legislature but for all of us.
Accounts have been established at Islanders Bank and Key Bank to help defray Beth Hudson’s medical expenses. Hudson is recovering at Harborview Medical Center from injuries sustained in a vehicle collision Dec. 21 on Portland Fair Road.
Mary Hammond’s dog, Coco, is missing. He is a 13-year-old Husky mix, black with gray face. He’s very friendly and has tags on his collar.
Thursday is Christmas Day. Churches on San Juan Island have special events and services planned
It’s Christmas Eve. Santa Claus is on his way. And you can track him, thanks to the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
A redesigned County News page went into service this week on San Juan County’s Web site, www.sanjuanco.com/news. The former news page was more oriented to print news releases and offered documents in PDF file format.
