On Tuesday, June 8, 2010, the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) presented their recommendations to the County Council for the 2011 Lodging Tax fund allocations. It was recommended by the LTAC that the San Juan County Fair Department receive $25,000. This sum is a reduction from past years’ allocation by $20,000 or 44 percent.
Soon we will have the chance once again to flex our “voting muscles” and elect those who will be guiding us in the future of our government. I don’t normally get on my political soapbox, but I feel the upcoming election is important so I wanted to share my viewpoints.
I write to express my extreme dissatisfaction with the inefficient operation of our dump. We pay the highest dump rates in the state for a Public Works Department that provides the worst service in the state. There are long lines the three days the dump is open to the public, yet no lines the days the dump is open to commercial vendors.
The Community Band’s participation in this year’s Fourth of July Parade could not have happened without a lot of help.
To those speaking out against a downtown farmers market location, I’d like them to consider the following: As residents of an island, we have few buttons to push to encourage economic start-ups here. The existing farmers’ market has been just such a small business engine. Several successful town businesses began at our Saturday Markets – e.g.: Market Chef, Café Demeter, Bakery San Juan and now Pablito’s Taqueria.
The sun shone for most of the time, the bands played, the dancers danced, faces were painted, eggs were tossed, sandwiches, hot dogs and pies were eaten, and by the end of the day nearly 2,000 attendees had strolled the grounds of the San Juan Historical Museum for this year’s Fourth of July Pig War Picnic.
I was a friend of Dana’s growing up, though I haven’t talked to him in a long time. I met John briefly, and knew of him as Sabien. I sympathize greatly with every one affected by this tragedy (including Dana Kempton). Sabien was a really nice guy. I only met him several times but you could tell he was very kind and meant well. Dana is the same way. Unfortunately, from growing up in Friday Harbor (in the same class as Dana), I understand the reasons behind this tragedy more than most people. The drug and alcohol problem is out of control on San Juan Island. Until now, I’ve never been mature enough to say that myself.
San Juan Unified Development Code (UDC) section 18.70.060, regarding most land use divisions in resource, conservancy and rural designations, says that “at a minimum, 60% of the area to be divided shall be maintained as open area …“. Provided other design criteria are met, this then allows a developmental footprint of better than 87,000 square feet on a five-acre parcel.
Congratulations to King’s Market manager John McBride and others, for working to discontinue the use of styrofoam in his operations. Hopefully many others in San Juan County and beyond will follow his example.
Mike Kaill, president of Friends of the San Juans, seems to support “Big Dumb Buffers,” and he is spending time criticizing Citizens Alliance for Property Rights San Juan and Island County for not embracing blanket buffers. CAPR San Juan will continue to look for exceptional ideas and ways to protect our island environment.
Operation Gratitude is asking knitters to make scarves to be included in 60,000 care packages being sent to our military overseas for the winter season ahead. Spread the word for those that enjoy knitting. The instructions are easy and you can get the yarn and instructions at the yarn shop opposite King’s Market in town.
Stop, read no further if you require modestly restrained “thank you” notes with wilting roses. What follows, shortly, is nothing short of an unrestrained geyser of adoration and love. This letter is an unstopped spigot of “thank you” and “hallelujah” for the San Juan Island Library.
In response to this story (“3-year-old bitten in face by dog on First and Spring,” page 24, June 30 Journal): A dog in new and unnerving surroundings tied to a bench so humans can go shopping and leave a nervous dog unattended … a 3-year-old left unattended while her parents shop, leaving her to entertain herself. Who knows if she knows how to be around dogs?