Veterans from around North Whidbey have come out in strong support of the controversial touch-and-go operations at Outlying Field Coupeville….
The Oak Harbor City Council’s early review of chamber of commerce funding is “absolutely politically driven,” Mayor Scott Dudley said Thursday.
While the $72,000-a-year contract is usually renewed in December, Dudley said he thinks the council moved the decision to its Sept. 17 meeting to ensure the funding is approved before the Nov. 5 election.
“The council is extremely supportive of the chamber,” Dudley said. “But some are concerned we may see a change in council members.”
Four of the council’s seven seats are up for election in November.
The Oak Harbor City Council passed a six-month moratorium on the opening of both recreational and medical marijuana businesses.
Neither measure affects existing medical marijuana dispensaries.
Development Services Director Steve Powers recommended the six-month moratorium on both medical and recreational ventures to give city planners time to study the issue.
The Element’s liquor license was officially revoked Wednesday, Sept. 4 by the Washington State Liquor Control Board effectively ending business at the troubled night spot.
Citing specific incidents of over-serving alcohol and serving to minors, the owners of the Oak Harbor night spot must surrender their liquor license paperwork within 30 days, according to court documents.
“It was never the objective to close the business down,” said Oak Harbor Police Chief Ed Green. “Businesses need to prosper. But there are laws that need to be followed, and when they started to deplete city resources, we need to look at how we can do things better.”
The Megan McClung Marine Corps League bade farewell to Michael McClung, former commandant of the league bearing his daughter’s name….
The Navy said this week it will conduct an Environmental Impact Statement for Outlying Field Coupeville and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station on North Whidbey.
While the Navy states that EIS plans have been in the works for some time, members of a Coupeville-based citizen group claim the decision is the result of a federal lawsuit they filed in July against the Navy.
A national retirement publication has listed Whidbey Island in its book entitled “America’s 100 Best Places to Retire.”
Published by Where to Retire magazine, the book is now in its fifth edition.
“We believe that retirement locale scouting is fun,” said Annette Fuller, managing editor of Where to Retire and co-editor of the book. “This volume helps the process with its well-researched profiles of 100 cities that retirees love. Where to Retire magazine has been dedicated solely to discovering these destinations since 1992, so the knowledge in the pages is deep and wide. It takes you on a coast-to-coast trip like no other book can do.”
Matt Fikse became a third-generation gemologist last month keeping with family tradition.
Grandson of Gerald and Janet Fikse, founders of Gerald’s Jewelry on Midway Boulevard in 1958, Matt Fikse said he plans to take over the family business after his parents Dave and Jane Fikse retire.
“I’m so proud to be a part of what my grandparents and parents have built,” Matt Fikse said. “It will be an honor to carry on the tradition they have been known and respected for.”
Former Whidbey News-Times owner Wallie Funk donated a sculpture to the City of Oak Harbor to preserve the memory of four great teachers.
“It’s in recognition of the impact they had on Oak Harbor High School students during their tenure there,” Funk said.
Funk unveiled a rendering of the artwork at the opening ceremony of the Oak Harbor Music Festival Friday, Sept. 30. Mayor Scott Dudley was there to accept the piece on behalf of Oak Harbor.
Oak Harbor’s second annual music festival brought music lovers from all over the world to enjoy the sights and sounds of Puget Sound.
Oak Harbor Music Festival president Margaret Livermore said attendance more than doubled from last year, drawing more than an estimated 6,000 people.
“The weather was gorgeous,” Livermore said. “We’re all exhausted, but it was well worth the trouble.”
More than 2,000 people from Seattle and the surrounding areas will be traversing a route through Skagit and Island counties to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis Sept 7-8.
Among those pedaling will be Phil Keoghan, host of TV’s reality show “The Amazing Race.”
Keoghan is founder of No Opportunity Wasted and an advocate of MS research who is working with the tandem cycling organization called Together in MS.
Whidbey Island has been a regular destination each of the three years of the event.
When Whitey Kirschenmann took over management of the Habitat Humanity Store in Oak Harbor six years ago, it was a sleepy business run by eight volunteers.
Since then, the store has increased its revenue by five times and is run by an army of 107 volunteers.
Paired with the income from its sister store in Freeland, Habitat for Humanity of Island County has built 36 homes on Whidbey and Camano islands.
Democratic candidate Karla Jacks of Camano Island says she will run against Island County Commissioner Kelly Emerson for the District 3 seat.
Emerson’s district, which comprises Whidbey Island north of Oak Harbor and all of Camano Island, is not up for election until 2014, but Jacks said she is a “newby” who wants to get a head start on fundraising and learning the ropes.
“This way I can walk my way through the whole political process,” Jacks said.
“There’s a learning curve.”
