City accepts Neil sculpture

Oak Harbor will officially accept a sculpture donated by Dorothy Neil in a special ceremony at 3 p.m. ,Thursday, July 4, in front of City Hall.

Neil, the legendary local historian and columnist for the Whidbey News-Times, gave the city the work of art that had been sitting in her front yard for years. Titled “The Journey Home,” it was created by her son Doug who lives in New Zealand. The heavy sandstone object was moved from Neil’s house to its new location just across the street on Monday, using a piece of city-owned equipment.

Once moved, the object, which looks like a cross-section of a log with a hole in the middle, was draped in black plastic. It will be unveiled at Thursday’s ceremony. Neil jokingly called it her tombstone when it was in her front yard.

Mayor Patty Cohen invites all citizens to the dedication. The object now sits among three Garry oak trees previously donated by Neil.