March 2017 Journal of the San Juans
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Like us on The NEWS | 2015 rape case re-opened [2] COMMUNITY | A ordable housing forum [3] SCIENCE | FH places second National Ocean Sciences Bowl [9] ARTS | Heart band members go on Journal tour [16] Wednesday, March 8, 2017 VOL. 110, NO. 10 75¢ Boost for business Free trades training available for islanders By Hayley Day “It can be easy to find jobs Reporter here,” said EDC Director Victoria Compton. “It’s hard to find There was a time when poten- careers.” tial employees would line up out- It’s a trend across the nation; side an island business looking as Baby Boomers retire, skilled for a job. labor jobs are going unfilled. “Ten, 15 years ago, workers had According to the U.S. Bureau of the ability to do any kind of work Labor Statistics, electrician jobs, we do,” said Mike Ahrenius, San for instance, are projected to grow Juan’s Albert Jensen and Sons Boat 14 percent by 2024 — double the Yard and Marina shipyard presi- projection for total U.S. occupa- dent. “Today, you don’t have that.” tions. It’s labor gaps like these that It’s no different in San Juan the San Juan County Economic County. A 2015 EDC sur- Development Council wants to vey showed training for skilled fill by offering free trades train- employees to be a top concern ing courses for county residents. for county business owners who Two three-month courses will be participated. offered this year, with additional “We get calls, all the time, ones over the next five. from contractors and plumbers The program kicks off in April who can’t find employees,” said with a marine maintenance tech- Compton. nology course, offered at the According to local pub- Skagit Valley College’s Anacortes lic schools, about 10 percent of campus. Up to 20 participants will Staff photo/Hayley Day Friday Harbor High School stu- receive free tuition, class materials Josh Compton repairs the hull of a boat at Albert Jensen and Sons Boat Yard and Marina on San Juan Island. Compton dents remain on island after grad- and ferry and shuttle transporta- has worked for the shipyard for six months, after moving on island from Everett. uation, a little less than 10 percent tion thanks to a state grant the of Orcas High School graduates EDC secured in late February. es. Paid internships, funded by to use the tools, we’d hire them,” stop due to the lack of applicants and 15 percent of Lopez High The course covers repair and state programs, will be available said Ahrenius, who could use one with the high-level skills needed School graduates. maintenance for marine engines, at eight maritime businesses in more employee for his current for that work. It’s those youth, who don’t gears, alignments and rudders, as the county after students complete workload. Globalization and the rise of obtain secondary educations and well as equipment aboard vessels the course. About four years ago, the ship- technology have helped to move may be underemployed or unem- like heating, air conditioning and “If we could find someone who yard repaired extensively damaged ployed, who Compton wants to refrigeration. owns a toolbox and knows how boats, said Ahrenius, but had to See TRADES, Page 4 match with understaffed business- Journal deadlines Display advertising: Around town | Parks, planning, people Friday at noon By Hayley Day meeting, five spoke in favor of the town’s Staff will return the edited plans to council for Classified advertising: Reporter preliminary plans to add a roundabout with the March 16 or April 5 meeting. About 140 Monday at noon painted signs. The paint, said Town Clerk Amy people completed an online survey about the Legal advertising: Want to know what is going on in town? Taylor, allows the town flexibility in signage. roundabout before the meeting, said Taylor, Thursday at noon Check out these recaps of plans, parks and “It’s paint, so it can always come off,” said and another survey will be posted next week. orca whales: Taylor. Press releases, Letters: One person spoke against the plans, ask- Park plans Friday at 3 p.m. Around about ing, for instance, how large semi-trucks would The Town of Friday Harbor may be over use the cramped space. Council members If the intersection of Argyle Avenue and 100 years old, but a Spring Street park is How to reach us Spring Street confuses you, you’re not alone. made a few edits to the plan, like adjusting At the March 2 Town of Friday Harbor Council crosswalks and eliminating unnecessary signs. See TOWN, Page 5 Office: 378-5696 Fax: 1-888-562-8818 Editor: editor@sanjuanjo- urnal.com 20 — Wednesday, March 8, 2017 The Journal of the San Juan Islands | SanJuanJournal.com Heart beats Two original members of Heart to ‘go crazy’ on the San Juans By Hayley Day impersonator Randy Hansen on guitar and Reporter swap Chicagoan Lizzy Daymont for Nancy Wilson and northwesterner Somar Macek The original Heart lineup no longer for Ann. tours, but your ears might say otherwise at “Somar happens to have that same timber San Juan Community Theatre’s March 11 in her voice and that power,” said Fossen. show. Original members Steve Fossen and “There’s something about her voice where Michael Derosier use the same formula in you immediately hear sincerity in it.” their new band, Heart by Heart, as they did It was Fossen who founded the group in before – two girls, a few guys and the same the late 60s as a Seattle high schooler, under hits from albums “Dreamboat Annie” to the name Army. He played on island around “Bad Animals.” then, at a high school, he thinks. That was The 90-minute show focuses on the era before the Wilson sisters joined and their Fossen and Derosier were in the band – original Canadian success crossed the U.S. think 1970s Heart, before the perms and fog border. machines, when their Zeppelin-inspired, At a Canadian nightclub in 1976, recalls stacking guitars bled through vinyl. Fossen, the band was fired for the first time. “Heart has a different take than us,” said Right afterwards, their manager called – Fossen. “They modernize songs a little and the band Faces, with Rod Stewart, wanted we try to recreate what it was like to see Heart as an opener. Heart in the late 70s and early 80s.” “After we played our first song ‘Magic Today’s Heart lineup, which includes Ann Man,’ the crowd erupted in applause,” said and Nancy Wilson, plays “Alone,” only on Fossen.“We didn’t know if we were popular the piano, said Fossen, while Heart by Heart to them, but apparently they had heard our uses the full band. songs. It was a goosebump moment for the “Like you remember from the 80s,” he b an d .” said. From there they went on to play with the Contributed photo/Heart by Heart Except, this time, add Seattle Jimi Hendrix Doobie Brothers to ZZ Top, sell over 35 Clockwise from top: Heart’s original two “Magic million albums and, in 2013, were inducted Men” perform old classics in their new band, Heart by Heart. • Founding Heart guitarist into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Fossen AT A GLANCE Steve Fossen plays in Heart by Heart. • Original and Derosier still keep up with the other Heart drummer Michael Derosier co-wrote • What: Heart by Heart members, like the Wilson sisters — meeting “Barracuda.” • When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 11 backstage, after Heart concerts — and gui- tarist and keyboardist Howard Lesse, who • Where: San Juan Community Theatre “We knew another classic rock band Whittier Theatre often tours with Bad Company. Who knows, islanders might even “go It’s the band’s first theater appearance, would be perfect,” said Ryan. crazy” on the band. • Tickets: $20 for adults, $10 for Fans will recall radio staples, from the students, $5 student rush at the door which Executive Artistic Director Bobby “It will be a fun show,” said Fossen. “You galloping guitars of “Barracuda,” to one of can relive the 70s and 80s and see some • Info: sjctheatre.org, 378-3210 Ryan booked after last year’s sold-out Pink Floyd cover band. rock’s early ballads, “Dog and Butterfly.” quality musicians.” Be careful driving in snowy road conditions Submitted by Orcas Fire too slowly. Driving signifi- properly aimed. Misaligned as seeing. Daylight running of the road and using it as a nals. Just because we live in Rescue cantly under the speed limit headlights blind other driv- lights are only 60 percent steering guide. a rural community doesn’t Driving on our rural can cause those behind you ers and reduce your ability power. At night, you need And one final thought: mean you can check safe roads has unique dangers to slam on their brakes, tail- to see the road. the full strength of the please use your turn sig- driving habits at the door. – like deer waiting to leap gate or pass you. Of course, • Avoid smoking when headlights as well as the tail in front of you and bicycle if it’s pouring rain, icy out you drive. Smoke’s nicotine and marker lights. riders weaving into traffic. or the roads are covered and carbon monoxide ham- • Reduce your speed and Answers to this week’s puzzles So don’t make it harder in slush, going the speed per night vision. increase your following dis- on yourself by practicing limit might not be safe. The • If there is any doubt, tances.