Editor,

After seeing the disgruntled group of Outlying Field Coupeville protesters pictured on the front page of a Seattle newspaper on Dec. 23 and reading a myriad of letters on the OLF topic, I wish to express some views of my own. It has become abundantly clear that the major issue is home values and not “noise.” Folks who bought homes in Admiral’s Cove did so because of a couple of reasons, very affordable prices as opposed to other areas and the great view of the Olympics and the sound. When my wife and I first moved here in 1980, one of the first areas we considered was Admiral’s Cove —  very affordable, nice homes, great views. But our realtor said that it could be a very noisy area in that there is a Navy airfield nearby and to “come down here when the planes are flying.” The realtor told us that the home we were interested in had a $5,000 “bounty” she would be paid by the seller if she sold the home, apparently for that very reason, noise. Just the other evening I had a friend and former realtor tell me that one of the people that is always complaining in the Whidbey News-Times about the noise was in the process of buying a home in Admiral’s Cove in 1985. This realtor advised him that it was very noisy down there (around OLF and surrounding area), but the person bought a home there anyway because of the price and said “the noise wouldn’t be a big deal.” Apparently he has changed his tune.

The fact is that these same folks are the same type who buy near a major airport, train tracks and gun ranges and then complain about the noise. They’re not kidding anyone, they bought because of lower home values. The same idea goes for the people who got the Kettle’s Trail built and then complained about the seasonal hunting there. They refuse even to stop using the trail during the short hunting season and then using it the other major portion of the year. No, they wanted hunting banned all together. (No, I am not a deer hunter.)

Additionally how does one group get off calling itself “Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve?” Isn’t that Federal Park Land and how many actually live on that land? One comment has been made about the Commissioners “throwing us (COER) under the bus?” No, not true at all, for you stood in front of the bus and got run over because you didn’t do your homework like the rest of us. We bought in Dugualla Bay; yes, another “noise zone” but our realtor gave us a map showing the area and what we could expect from plane noise. We made an informed decision, and bought based on all the facts.

As for noise, our Navy aviators are training so you will not be subjected to the noise of enemy bombs dropping, rockets and bullets flying into your home. Yes, and roadside bombs can be quite noisy as well. Never heard one but they are quite loud.

And you say “We are not against the Navy.” You say you are not, but if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it probably is a duck. So don’t say you are not against the Navy because you sure sound like it since you have filed a lawsuit against the Navy. It would seem to me that you should be making a case against your realtor who ill advised, or worse, didn’t advise you like mine did back in 1980, against buying near OLF. Go Navy … but not from OLF.

Fred Stilwell

Oak Harbor