Original, inciteful, energetic: the items offered here are high value added excursions into centripetal lands. Welcome!

Grampa "Grampa" looks at the present from the vantage point of the future. The setting is a grandfather repeating a favorite story to his grandchildren. The story looks at the evolution of understanding of the human impact on the Earth. Click the "Grampa" link (above) to access the story. No Price

Potholes in Paradise Potholes in Paradise (210 pgs, 6x9 paperback) is a humorous, heartfelt and at times heart-rending exploration of the people, places and ideas that comprise Orcas Island, "Gem of the San Juans", located north of Puget Sound in Washington State. Complete and insightful, Potholes in Paradise serves as another example of the forces that make, change and can irrevocably alter any community, giving life to Joni Mitchell's lyric: "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone." Written by Joe Symons, a local who has lived on Orcas for almost 4 decades, Potholes in Paradise invites the reader into the life of a pristine rural island community experiencing the changes brought about by growth and technology. Full of anecdotes, Potholes captures the Orcas Joe loves, complex though that love affair may be.  The book is for “people who love Orcas, people who are curious about Orcas, and people who are curious about what it is like to live on an island." Potholes in Paradise also serves as a case study for those interested in environmental conservation, land trusts, and how to begin to protect small town life from growth pressures. Other gateway communities (e.g., Nantucket, Aspen, Bozeman) experience similar pressures to consume rather than conserve. Land Use planning is the battleground for creating a sustainable and livable community—Potholes in Paradise touches on the challenges of maintaining one of the best places to live. To learn more and/or order a copy, click on the photo of the book cover or the Potholes in Paradise title above. $17.95

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