It is a basic tenet of American citizenship that the circulation of news and ideas is indispensable to our community’s strength and integrity. Orcas Island is particularly blessed with responsible, informed and caring residents. Bullwings maintains strict standards in its reporting and editorial comment, and is appreciative of the many Community Contributors who provide news and opinions to our local, online news service.

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Alternatively, community journalists can continue to submit news stories, comments and opinions to margiedoyle@orcasissues.com

To paraphrase a recent article in Nation magazine, a free people can govern themselves only if they have access to independent information about the issues of the day and the excesses of the powerful. Nation is not the first to observe that a renewal of one of America’s oldest foundations — the promise and the reality of a free press — is now transforming the way we gather and disseminate news and information.

Established newspaper publishing corporations, both local and national, recognize that retail’s advertising support or foundation grants are unlikely to “sustain journalism’s responsibilities to present news and information worthy of the community’s character and sufficient to meet its needs.”

Bullwings: Orcas Issues, News and Views, provides the local news and information service 7 days a week, year round. This service may average two hours a day, although some articles and reporting consume up to 8 hours of work to provide comprehensive and accurate coverage, always with background information and often with a call to action.

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Geddes Martin, chef at the Inn at Ship Bay Restaurant, knows how to make more than 300 kids, parents and teachers smile: serve them herb roasted chicken, mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy, carrots and plum crisp with fresh whipped cream on Celebrity Chef day at the public school cafeteria.

This once-a-month Farm to Cafeteria event during the school year has become a real favorite.  It has bolstered the number of students eating in the school cafeteria as well as the community’s involvement and excitement about the Farm to Cafeteria Program as a whole.

Although patterned after Lopez Island’s Harvest Meals where Island chefs prepare dinner for the entire community at their school cafeteria once a month, our Celebrity Lunch Day is not a fundraiser.  It has, however, increased the school’s food service revenues.  Normally, a school cafeteria is a drain on the school’s budget which is why many schools are considering dropping food service altogether.   By using more local organic foods, practicing scratch cooking methods and raising the overall quality and nutritional value of school lunches, it is possible for the cafeteria to actually become self-sustaining because more students, teachers and parents are opting to buy lunch at the cafeteria rather than go off campus or brown bag it.

So far this school year, we have increased the number of students, teachers and parents having lunch in the school cafeteria by almost 23% – from an average of about 190 to 230 per school day.   Ideally, we would like to serve an average of 300+ a day, but that is no small task, especially for our small cafeteria kitchen staff, kitchen, equipment and prep areas; but, at that number and with a slight increase in the cost of lunch, profitability becomes possible.

This school year, the Farm to Cafeteria Program, along with the full support of Kyle Freeman (K-8 Principal who is also in charge of the school food service), Barbara Kline, the incredible kitchen staff and virtually all school personnel, has been able to further its purpose to provide our public school kids with not only nutritious and delicious food in the cafeteria, but enrich their knowledge of where food comes from, how to plant and harvest, and even how to cook.  Mandy Randolph’s Farm to Classroom for grades K-4 has planted many experiential seeds that have grown and blossomed into an enthusiasm about food…an enthusiasm many kids never thought they would have.  It spills over into the cafeteria resulting in less food thrown away and more wholesome items served in school lunches.  Who would have thought we’d run out of beets in a half hour or kids would be scarfing up rhubarb, zucchini and cabbage!

What is apparent and important is that school lunches have definitely improved, and our public school is dedicated 100% to embracing local food sources and meals we are proud to serve.

Sometimes we choose how to spend our money, and sometimes the government the majority has chosen decides how we spend our money. Sometimes it’s a mixed bag, as in levies and bonds and assessments and fees, when citizen input is considered, but government decides.

And sometimes we choose to make an end run around government and appeal to the community directly to maintain a lifestyle we believe in. On a grand scale, this is called revolution, and it tweaks my economic curiosity to consider that the American Revolution from England was prompted by the cry of “No Taxation without Representation,” when colonists were taxed, in large part to pay for the French and Indian War that preceded the American Revolution. That was what moved the “Sons of Liberty” to declare independence, wage war and constitute a new government.

But for today’s purposes, I’m talking about the end run that Orcas Rec is forced to make in order to provide services for the coming spring and summer seasons.[intlink id="8202" type="post"](See Guest Opinion of March 27)[/intlink]

The County Government has run out of funds for the Orcas Island Recreation Department. Period. No argument. We saw this coming, and formed the Orcas Island Park and Recreation District – with no funding. That’s coming for sure, probably in the November election, and we can choose then if we want to keep this recreation program going.

But right nee now Orcas Rec, the orphan of the County Parks and Recreation Department, needs $5,000 from us by the end of March – they have already raised the additional funds needed to keep the program running.

They make the point that small contribution add up to a “touchdown” — $10, $25 is not too little to keep Orcas Rec open until the new Orcas Park and Rec District can assume the programs that have kept island kids and adults happy, active and involved with each other for a generation now.

Every time you leave your house between now and Thursday, April 1, every time you start up your car, every time you check your email or kiss your kids, ask yourself if maybe you could give $1 to Orcas Rec. And get it there by next Wednesday, or “Orcas Rec Forced to Close” may be an April Fool’s Joke that nobody thinks is funny.

Orcas Island Rec Program
PO Box 1644
Eastsound WA 98245

The County Parks Department has allowed the Orcas Island Recreation Program to continue in 2010, based on the idea that donations, user fees, and grants would cover our operating costs.

However, donations are down significantly. Last week the San Juan County Parks and Rec Commission, along with Parks Director Dona Wuthnow, discussed the financial issues and determined that Orcas Rec cannot continue without a large influx of private funding by the end of March.

Closing Orcas Rec will happen as soon as the end of April if we cannot find donors. All programs will be cut including favorites such as Fall Soccer, Swimming, 3-6 year old camp, the Steve Braun Memorial Triathlon and British Soccer camp. This is especially unfortunate because all of these programs have already been arranged, and our Summer Program flyer is about to be mailed.

We need your donation and we need it now. Every dollar counts! The majority of our 2009 donations were under $100; many were for $25 or $50 and altogether last year we raised $46,000! This proves that the Orcas Island community supports a healthy youth recreation program.

Unfortunately we are not in the clear for 2010 and we need your continued support until a bond can be passed by the Orcas Island Park and Rec District.

We have a fundraising goal of $10,000 by the end of March and we already have $4,500 pledged towards this goal. If you believe in the Orcas Rec Program please show your support by sending your tax deductible donation to:

Orcas Island Rec Program
PO Box 1644
Eastsound WA 98245
Thank you!

Orcas Rec Staff

Joe Gaydos
Bob Phalan
Kevin O’Brien
Valerie Harris
Keenan Phalan (student representative)

A conversation and presentation featuring new technology from Amega Global Energy will take place on Wednesday, March 31^st at two times at  Heartwood House at 70 Langell Lane in  Eastsound.

The Afternoon Gathering will meet from 2 to 4 p.m., and the Evening Gathering will meet from  5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. To RSVP, contact Gretchen Krampf at 360.317.8220.

The sessions will be presented by Phyllis Goodrich, M.Ed. and Dana Pellegrini, LMP. Their biographies follow:

Phyllis Goodrich, M.Ed., CBP, Visionary
A background in Education Administration, Banking, Management Consulting & Natural Products led to becoming VP of a biotech company in 2001 where she worked with an award-winning biological scientist.  After she learned how energy facilitated the body’s healing ability she went into private practice in 2002 becoming a BodyTalk practitioner and hosting her own radio show.  Her company, Intentional Youthing, has employed everything from nanotechnology to quantum physics to establish a ‘state of the art’ protocol for well being.

Her true dream was to put herself “out of business” by providing people powerful   tools to enable them to heal themselves.  This dream has been realized with Amega Global , a company with the same vision, employing 25 years of R&D  to provide a technology of astonishingly effective quantum energy  tools.  Finally, the ‘Field’ that Einstein discovered in 1913 is available for home use.  Her mission is to help birth a global ‘Self-Care Revolution’  by  providing the safest and most powerful quantum tools  available on the planet : Zero Point Energy.

Dana Pellegrini, LMP
“My healing journey formally began with entrance to Seattle Massage School in 1997. I have been a Massage Therapist for 11 years, am a Reiki Master, BodyTalk Practitioner, yoga teacher and currently teach a class called Manual Ligament Therapy or MLT. MLT uses the ligaments of the body to instruct the brain to turn off muscle tension instead of using deep tissue force. The founder of MLT and I are empowering large numbers of LMP’s to stay in the profession and have a greater impact on creating positive change for patients with less effort from the practitioner.

“I am the former Director of Bellevue Massage School where I taught Massage Theory & Practice, Energy Medicine, Aromatherapy & Flower Essences and Ethics. I was the Regional Hiring Coordinator for Massage Envy for a year and recently ended that appointment. I was the Executive Director of Find Touch until February of this year, an organization created entirely for the massage community to enhance the flow of communication around job opportunities. Currently, I am strictly teaching MLT and sharing the Amega Self-Care Revolution with my community.”

Monique Mead with the Early Morning K-4 string players salute the power of music. Photo courtesy of Richard Steinhardt.

Contributed by Victoria Parker, Executive Director, Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival

Violinist Monique Mead’s presence was a burst of spring energy on Orcas Island during the week of March 22-26. The Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival (OICMF) Spring 2010 IM: In Music Musician-in-Residence for Orcas Public School, island strings and music students and community musicians drew enthusiastic response from the music community and island families.

Now in its 4^th year of IM: In Music, the Chamber Music Festival hosted Monique Mead, returning as the season’s visiting artist. Ms. Mead worked with the music students of Pamela Wright of the elementary school music program and Lizz Hanks, high school and middle school music teacher, as well as students receiving private instruction. Master Classes for both students and adults inspired a wide range of skill levels and ages to participation in the one-on-one critique with Mead. To a person the mutual appreciation was palpable.

Pictured are Pamela Wright’s Early Morning Strings students raising their bows with Monique. These students gather on Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30AM. The Hight School Orchestra meets five days a week at 7:15 AM! Throughout this academic year both Wright and Hanks are making good use of OICMF’s Technique Coach, Matthew Olson.  Mead serves as the Teaching Artist Guide for Olson who began to join the teachers and students in their classrooms in November. Before leaving the island on Friday she will visit Children’s House, Kaleidoscope, Montessori and Salmonberry preschools for a musical conversation about spring. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is the topic!

Ms. Mead received Bachelors and Masters degrees in violin performance from Indiana University in Bloomington. In 1990 she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Lubeck, Germany. Several collaborations with Leonard Bernstein at music festivals in Tanglewood and Schleswig-Holstein influenced her decision to focus her career on nurturing audiences and musicians. From 1992-1995 Monique held positions as Associate Instructor for Violin at Indiana University and Director of the Indianapolis Academy of Music. Monique is also a frequent artist guest of the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival summer concert series.

IM: In Music is funded through OICMF’s generous 2009-2010 sponsorships by Mimi and Slim Sommerville (spring) and Valerie and William Anders (Technique Coach funding). For additional information Victoria 360.376.6636.

Orcas Golf Team – all 18 members — plays Friday Harbor at the San Juan Country Club at 2:30 p.m.

Rollerskating at the Old Gym — the final rollerskating night for this year. The theme will be “Beach” and/or “Hawaiian. Break out the Hawaiian shirts, leis, or even swimsuits, snorkels, etc.  There will be cookie coupon prizes for everyone who dresses-up. 6 p.m. beginning skaters, 7 p.m. all skate. $2 per person includes skate rentals.

Xul Solar plays live at the Doe Bay Café. Named after the Argentinean surrealist painter of the same name, this band is the “progeny and nascent project of The Subcons. The steel guitar sounds will steal your breath away as its ethereal tones envelop you.”  7:30 p.m. Come to Doe Bay to see the show, but be sure to call in advance to reserve your table.  376-8059.

Saturday, March 27

Funhouse Science Fair The entire community is invited to attend this exciting  9th Annual SCIENCE FAIR event where students from all over the San Juans display their scientific creativity! So grab your family, friends, neighbors, and come see what it’s all about! From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 376-7177

Student Musician Showcase to benefit American Music Therapy. With Orcas High School musicians Mackie Blackburn, Cameron Smart and Robin Gropp and others. 6 p.m. at the Black Box at Orcas Center. Entry by Donation

Sunday, March 28th

Poetry Workshop at Doe Bay Resort Join Artsmith for a special poetry workshop with Seattle poet Judith Roche, whose third book Wisdom of the Body (2007) won the American Book Award.  Roche be offering a 3-hour workshop which is open to all experience levels from 1 to 4 p.m. Call 376-2291 for more information

Please, I encourage every one on the island to complete your census for and get it mailed in.  Many of you may not know how important this is.  Based on the demographics of our island and other communities across the United States, the census results determine the amount of federal funds to be allocated to those communities.  They also use the numbers to determine which programs are to be funded, and may reallocate the number of representatives delegated to each district, existing or recreated.

This is important information to be used for the next ten years.  The only way we can truly benefit from the results of the census is to have everyone complete and mail their forms in.  Especially you, Seniors.  If you have questions or need help with your form, call the Senior Center at 376-2677 and ask for Linda.  We’re here to help.  That’s our job.

Linda Tretheway
Senior Services Coordinator
Orcas Island Senior Center