Sounder The Islands’
Solstice Parade
Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County
WEDNESDAY, June 20, 2012 n VOL. 45, NO. 25 n 75¢
This weekend
– PG 9
www.islandssounder.com
Graduates shine on their big day Future
of state parks remains murky
by COLLEEN SMITH ARMSTRONG Editor/Publisher
“Always remember where you came from ... we will always remember you.” Senator Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, imparted these words to the Orcas High School graduating class, after administration honored him for securing $1 million in capital funds for improvements to the school. “You are the sons and daughters of Orcas Island,” he said. It was a sentiment echoed by Orcas Fire Chief Kevin O’Brien, who gave the commencement speech. He graduated from the school in 1984. “I can tell you, as graduates of Orcas Island High School, you feel special – and that’s because you are,” he said. Among his advice to the students: have personal accountability, make good decisions, devise a plan, give to others and thank your parents. Friends, family and community members cheered on the 21 graduates during the ceremony on June 16. The crowd enjoyed music by the high school band, speeches from valedictorian Sofie Clure Thixton, cosalutatorians Christopher Ghazel and Huxley Smart and class speaker Robin Gropp and a slideshow/video of the class members. This was the 90th graduation celebration for the school district. The students received $50,000 in scholarships during a Celebration of Success the previous day. For a full list of who won scholarships, go to www.islandssounder.com.
by Cali Bagby Staff reporter
Chris Gill/WestBoundary Photography
The Orcas High School class celebrates after receiving their diplomas on June 16. The seniors were: Macklin Samuel R. Blackburn, Randall J. Boetger, Christopher Owen Ghazel (co-salutatorian), Jacob A. Griffith, Robin Patrick Gropp (class speaker), Tyler Kekoaokekai Jensen, Elijah A. Jones, Ashley Lyn Klein, Katrina Joy Lindgren, Abigail Lynne Lucas, Mikail Alexi Van Maren, Susanne Elizabeth Mietzner, Claire Liane O’Neill, Robert Emanuel Padbury, Keenan James Phalan, Aubrey Rose Freida Piaget, Aubrey Cosmos Schermerhorn, Huxley Ann Smart (co-salutatorian), Sofie Clure Thixton (valedictorian), Kathryn L. Tidwell and Kelsey McLucas Whitaker.
The truth about tent caterpillars
Cali Bagby/Staff Photo
Above: The white spot on this tent caterpillar looks like an eye but is actually a fly egg that will eventually hatch and devour its host.
by CALI BABY Staff reporter
Madrona Murphy has lived in the islands for 31 years and this year is the worst tent caterpillar outbreak she has ever seen. “People keep asking us what to do about them,” said Murphy, a botanist at the Lopez-based laboratory Kwiaht. More specifically, people want to know how to kill them. The western tent caterpillar, with its orange and black markings, is an unpopular visitor. Periodic caterpillar outbreaks result in defoliation, minor branch dieback, and in some cases, tree mortality, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The peaks or “outbreaks” are cyclical, tend to occur every six to 11 years and can last up to four years. These eruptions are generally regulated by weather and temperature. “After an outbreak the population collapses and there are years in which the caterpillars are hard
to find,” Murphy said. This insect, which is four to five centimeters long, gets its name from the “tents” it spins on the tips of branches. Eggs hatch in early spring, and then larvae begin feeding. Young tent caterpillars usually eat all of the leaves on one branch before moving on to the next. They spin their cocoons in mid-June, and the adult moths emerge in seven to 10 days. Murphy said this year some caterpillars hatched late and may keep eating until July. “We don’t know if it is due to changes in the climate, but it looks like the tent caterpillar season may be longer this year than normal,” she added. The good news is that caterpillars do not transmit diseases to humans and do not bite, according to Sharon J. Collman of Washington State University’s Extension Master Gardener Program in her article “Biology and Control of
See tent, Page 5
On sunny weekends Moran State Park is a flutter of activity with tents filling campsites, families hiking and cyclists huffing and puffing up Mt. Constitution. While on the surface the park looks picture perfect, underneath it continues to suffer financially. On June 9, instead of playing in the sun, islanders turned out in force at the Eastsound Fire Hall on to talk about the situation. “The meeting was awesome and amazing because so many people showed their concern for the parks on a pretty day to talk about strategies and the park system in general,” said presenter Daniel Farber of Washington State Parks. The core of the meeting, hosted by Friends of Moran, was to discuss whether state park systems
See MORAN, Page 6
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