Feedback
In response to the June 4 editorial, “Urge folks to recycle,” I’d like to clear up a few misunderstandings.
Curbside co-mingled recycling is something many people on Whidbey Island have been requesting for years. It makes even more sense now with gas prices going through the roof! If every household on Whidbey had to drive to their respective recycle centers themselves, it would burn a lot more fossil fuels than curbside and probably cost each homeowner at least as much as the curbside pick up service proposed last winter.
For some it may be easy and fun to stop by the recycle centers and chat with friends. It might be on your way to work or not far from home. But for most people with busy lives, working, commuting and taking care of a home and family, it’s hard to find the time to separate the stuff into various groups, load up the stuff and drive to the center while it’s open and walk each box or bag to the different dumpsters for disposal.
The recycling rate for Island County has been dropping steadily in recent years. The big picture is that Island County’s recycle rate was 29 percent in 2006, below the national rate of 32 percent, or Washington’s rate of 47 percent. Seattle’s single family rate is over 64 percent, and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station’s recycle center has an awesome recycling rate of over 82 percent!
We know recycling can save money, energy, preserve our natural resources, reduce pollution and the size of our landfills. Think about the big picture. Would you rather see the whole county recycling, or just you and that small percentage of county residents who are willing to separate, store and haul recyclables to a center?
Most people consider co-mingled, curbside recycling convenient, which is what will get more recyclables recovered. For most people it probably won’t cost any more than hauling it yourself and will increase our county-wide recycling rate to something we can actually be proud of.
Maribeth Crandell
WSU Waste Wise volunteer
Arts Center helps students
This year the Coupeville Arts Center was thrilled to be able to present the first annual Art Student Collegiate scholarship in the amount of $500 to a Coupeville High School senior to further her art education. Laura Olson was the recipient of this first scholarship that was generously provided by three local members, Nan Leaman, Paul Menzel and Gabrielle Thurman. Sue Symons, executive director, awarded this scholarship at Awards Night at CHS on June 2. Laura was nominated by art instructor Kim McWilliams and plans to attend Shasta Junior College in California this fall.
The Arts Center was able to further support a budding artist by awarding Oak Harbor High student Timothy Hazelo. Timothy will be taking a workshop this summer to further his arts education. The summer Youth Art Scholarships were sponsored by the Carol Peralta, Elise Older and Kawpaws Tip Fund Grants. Timothy plans to attend the Art Institute in Seattle upon graduation.
The Coupeville Arts Center applauds the efforts of these two students who have shown talent and scholarship.
Lisa Bernhardt
Assistant Director
Coupeville Arts Center
4-H’ers to the fore again
On Saturday, May 31, Barbara Buchanan wrote a letter to the editor titled, “Honors tracked back to 4-H club.” We were humbled and tearful when we read it! As she stated, two of the five receiving the Skagit Valley College President’s Awards were Colonial Critters, namely Rob Nelson and Annie Southard.
Earlier, in the May 14 Whidbey News-Times, an article entitled “Five go to nationals,” related how five Coupeville High School students winning at state “History Day” are going to nationals in Washington D.C. Two of these five are Colonial Critters also: Toni Clark and Laura Harkins.
On Saturday, June 14, we attended the Skagit Valley College graduation at OHHS. Four of the graduates being honored and graduating Phi Beta Kappa or with high honors were Colonial Critters: Rob Nelson and Annie Southard, who had already received the SVC President’s Award, plus Anna Skurdal who is also a Colonial Critter. Additionally, a Colonial Critter mother, Loriel Karluck, graduated from the nursing program with many, many honors!
When Lois and I started the Colonial Critters 4-H Club in 1997, our goal was to inspire the “leaders of tomorrow.” We are gratified to know our dream is coming true. Congratulations to all those Colonial Critters making us proud to know we are succeeding in our goal.
Gary and Lois Fisher
Oak Harbor
Ignorance is no excuse
According to the June 4 article in the Whidbey-News, the CPO Club has violated their own policies and has not had a problem with it since they were NOT caught. I think this is a true picture of what is happening in our society. We will do as we please as long as we don’t get caught. What a very sad state of affairs.
Now on to Mr. Rossi. Does it matter if Rossi did his “typical stump campaign speech?” Does it make it any less of a violation? If Rossi’s campaign officials had no idea that the speech violated any kind of DOD guidelines, is this the kind of people that you want running our state of Washington?
As far as the Navy’s excuse, I guess it’s the old “don’t ask, don’t tell” story. I really do not hold the Navy, MWR or the CPO Club responsible since they say they were unaware. Shame on you, you were aware. I personally called the CPO club on May 16 (which was the Friday prior to Rossi’s appearance) and told the manager. She said she would check with the base command. Well, so much for that!
Since other political candidates have been allowed to campaign at the CPO club in the past, I guess continuing to disregard the guidelines are acceptable. Mr. Rossi and his campaign are the one to be held responsible. Have we changed the law, where ignorance of the law makes it acceptable? I don’t think so, only the chosen few. Also, a man wanting to be governor of this state cannot afford to be ignorant of the laws. He and his campaign people must have known that they were in violation, they just chose to disregard the law.
Jan Helwig
Oak Harbor
Vote yes on Coupeville Library
Please help the Coupeville Library expand and upgrade so it can continue to be a hub of community activity. A strong and free nation requires an informed citenzry. Libraries are, have been, and will continue to be a pillar for keeping “we, the people” knowledgeable.
Help our library keep up with the needs of our community. It needs more space for books, for information access, for children, for staff work areas and for people to meet and discuss ideas, plans, projects and issues important to them, our community, our nation and our world.
Your vote is important. For the cost of less than one hardback book a year, $21, an owner of a house assessed at $300,000 can help our community have a library that will serve us well for many years to come. If you can save the purchase of one book a year by making better use of the library, you will come out ahead.
For more details on the proposals, go to www.votyescoupevillelibrary.org.
Chic Merwine
Coupeville
Make our free library better
Andrew Carnegie (industrialist, 1835 to 1919) said:
“There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the free public library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.”
All of us on Central Whidbey have an opportunity to vote yes to expand the space and services of our own busy, vital Coupeville (free) Public Library. Vote yes for more space for children’s programs, book club meetings, and computers for patrons’ free Internet access. Many of the library’s free evening programs lack space for chairs and are standing-room-only. Vote yes to provide patrons with a quiet place for research or to read the free newspapers. In addition to the books, more space is needed to meet the growing requests for free movies and music CDs.
We’re sure voting yes on Aug, 19 for the expansion of our community’s free public library, and urge you to also.
John and Wendy Moon
Coupeville
Culinary students widely supported
We would like to thank you for supporting the Oak Harbor High School Culinary Team. You made it possible for us to participate in the 2008 National ProStart Student Invitational. Along with a $1,500 donation from The Washington State Restaurant Association Education Foundation, raffle tickets sponsored by the Elks, and personal donations, raised the rest of the money we needed to be able to travel to San Diego to compete.
We were very proud to represent the City of Oak Harbor, Oak Harbor High School and the State of Washington. Thirty-four states and Guam participated, we are very proud of our 7th place finish.
Congratulations to Bruce and Sharon Nicholson for winning the Fraser’s Gourmet Hideaway raffle, and to Shelli Trumbull for winning a gift certificate for a one night stay at The Compass Rose Bed and Breakfast.
We want to extend a special thank you to the following businesses and people for their donations: Whidbey Island Bank,
Susan and Jerry McClung, North Whidbey Lions Club, Dan and Patricia McCutcheon, Oak Harbor Rotary, David S. Weisbrod, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Shuart, Sandra Oehring, Jim and Marsha Phay, Rick Almberg, Chris and Debbie Skinner, Gordon and Linda McLean, Vern and Dani Fowler, Bayview Embroidery’n Print, Whidbey SeaTac Shuttle, and everyone who purchased a raffle ticket!
We also want to say thank you to our coach and mentor, Chef Scott Fraser – we couldn’t do it without your skill and knowledge. Your contribution of time and talent is priceless!
Louise Reuble, teacher
Tatyanna Thompson
Jackie Palmer
Jan-Rachelle Angel
Alena Stapel
First graders visit the farm
On Monday, June 9, the first grade classes from Hillcrest Elementary went on a field trip to Hummingbird Farm. The owners, Lee and Lori Spear, had graciously invited us to come use their farm as an outdoor classroom. Our students had a wonderful and educational time.
Olivia Forte-Gardner, the Agriculture Sustainability and Land Stewardship Program Coordinator from the Island County WSU Extension, taught the students about soil.
Judy Feldman, the 4-H Program Coordinator from the Island County WSU Extension, taught the students a lesson about seeds.
Janet Hall, the Island County WSU Extension Waste Wise Coordinator, taught the students a lesson about composting and worm bins.
Renee Smith and Jenny Brown, members of the Education Committee of the Whidbey Audubon Society, taught the students about local birds.
Lee Spear, owner of Hummingbird Farm, helped students look through the farm?s compost pile to see what they could discover.
It is fantastic to have such great educational resources locally. Our visit to Hummingbird Farm was a wonderful experience for all of our students. Many parents took time out of their busy schedules to help make the field trip possible. Thanks to all who helped with this learning opportunity for our first graders.
The Hillcrest Elementary First Grade Teachers:
Kathy Ridle
Lynn Nickerson
Tristy Nielsen
Val Jones
