Other News
Apr 11, 2024: Community Meeting: Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Outer Bay and Agate Beach Areas on Lopez Island
Mar 11, 2024: Queers in Unexpected Places: Searching for (and Finding) Gender and Sexual Non-Conformity in the Rural and Early PNW
Mar 7, 2024: DRAFT Richardson Marsh Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Dec 5, 2023: County Council Member Jane Fuller and Senator Liz Lovelett to Host Public Meeting on Lopez
Nov 3, 2023: County and Town Send Open Letter to State Officials Regarding Impacts of Poor Ferry Service
Sep 29, 2023: Conservation Land Bank Announces Special Meeting to Discuss Watmough Bay Preserve Addition
Sep 14, 2023: The mobile dental van is coming to Lopez! // ¡La camioneta dental móvil ya llega a López!
Aug 22, 2023: San Juan County Adopts 32-Hour Work Week in the Name of Fiscal Health, Recruitment, and Islander Wellness
May 25, 2023: Recap of Lopez Neighborhood Meeting Regarding the Relocation of Public Works Facilities
May 23, 2023: District 3 Councilmember Jane Fuller Opens Office on Lopez and Hosts Community Conversation
Apr 17, 2023: Give Lopez Starts April 17th - A two week fundraiser benefiting 15 Lopez Island Non-Profits
Sep 22, 2022: Interim Watmough Preserve Addition Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Lopez Island Italian Arum Eradication Project
Sep 26, 2020
By Dixie Budke
The Italian Arum identification and eradication project has concluded after a successful season.
As we mark the autumn equinox and our summer winds to an end, we reflect on the challenges and inspirations’ brought to us by a global pandemic. Lopezians pulled together, as is often the case when things get tough.
Volunteer groups mobilized to do everything from growing and delivering food to making masks for neighbors and visitors alike. Lopezians built coalitions to identify and address immediate and future needs and gaps in our island’s systems. We rallied behind our local business and farm communities and sincerely thanked them for their flexibility and creative responses to take care of all of us.
Some activities flew under the radar, but still moved forward without a hitch. The Lopez Island Youth Conservation Corps (LIYCC) continued to provide noxious and invasive plant removal. These plant species continue to plague our island and spread regardless of other public health, economic, or social issues. To them, it’s simple. Water, sun, soil, and grow. And grow they did. So the LIYCC and a cadre of volunteers focused on identifying and eradicating one of the hardiest invasive plants we have on Lopez Island - Italian Arum.
Volunteer citizen scientists - dubbed Aruminators - have been hard at work for over a year squaring off with this plant. No doubt, you have received the postal mailing and seen posters throughout our community.
The purpose of this communication is twofold:
• Thank and honor the LIYCC and the volunteer citizen scientists - Aruminators - for their dedication to the health of our islands ecological system,
• REMIND Lopezians that it is not too late to pick the red berries on the plants and dispose of them - separately - at the Dump. If you tell the staff at the Dump, you have Italian Arum or other noxious weeds, and you can dispose of it cost-free UNTIL OCTOBER 1st.
The Italian Arum identification and eradication project has concluded for this season but will return in January to search for new plant shoots. Join us!
For more information about how to join our Aruminator team - contact Dixie Budke at dixiebudke@gmail.com
Until then - stay safe, work together, be kind. Remember that we live on an island, and we are all in this together.
With Gratitude.
Jim and Birte Falconer
Dixie Budke
Volunteer groups mobilized to do everything from growing and delivering food to making masks for neighbors and visitors alike. Lopezians built coalitions to identify and address immediate and future needs and gaps in our island’s systems. We rallied behind our local business and farm communities and sincerely thanked them for their flexibility and creative responses to take care of all of us.
Some activities flew under the radar, but still moved forward without a hitch. The Lopez Island Youth Conservation Corps (LIYCC) continued to provide noxious and invasive plant removal. These plant species continue to plague our island and spread regardless of other public health, economic, or social issues. To them, it’s simple. Water, sun, soil, and grow. And grow they did. So the LIYCC and a cadre of volunteers focused on identifying and eradicating one of the hardiest invasive plants we have on Lopez Island - Italian Arum.
Volunteer citizen scientists - dubbed Aruminators - have been hard at work for over a year squaring off with this plant. No doubt, you have received the postal mailing and seen posters throughout our community.
The purpose of this communication is twofold:
• Thank and honor the LIYCC and the volunteer citizen scientists - Aruminators - for their dedication to the health of our islands ecological system,
• REMIND Lopezians that it is not too late to pick the red berries on the plants and dispose of them - separately - at the Dump. If you tell the staff at the Dump, you have Italian Arum or other noxious weeds, and you can dispose of it cost-free UNTIL OCTOBER 1st.
The Italian Arum identification and eradication project has concluded for this season but will return in January to search for new plant shoots. Join us!
For more information about how to join our Aruminator team - contact Dixie Budke at dixiebudke@gmail.com
Until then - stay safe, work together, be kind. Remember that we live on an island, and we are all in this together.
With Gratitude.
Jim and Birte Falconer
Dixie Budke