By Eileen Brown

It’s a blank canvas, the empty lot across from the new Walgreen’s. Haul off the asphalt, add a few benches, native plants and a young Garry oak and you’ve got a green space. I like the sound of that.

But we are getting ahead of ourselves. The property’s future has yet to be decided and that could take months. Meanwhile, North Whidbey Island residents revealed what they would like to see on the former Frontier Ford lot.

MARY LAWSON, Ace Hardware office manager, and her assistant IRINA PETERSEN spoke in unison, “Olive Garden!”

LES PACKARD liked the idea of a park. “Like when the lot in front of Safeway was cleared. I liked that.” That space is now home to Safeway’s self-serve gas station.

DAVID HARMON is married to a Navy woman. They have two children. “It would be a great location for a skate park or bumper cars, and video games inside the building.” He doesn’t think there are enough recreation opportunities for local kids.

BETSY ZICK at Island Drug called for a new Olive Garden. JO ANN MARTINEZ would like to shop at an Oak Harbor Kohl’s or Target. WENDY THOMPSON and HEATHER BREWSTER also want an Olive Garden. Are we seeing a trend here?

OMER LUPIEN wants something for the kids but says, “It’s downtown, so they’ll probably put a business in there.”

Physical therapist STEVE HARADA said his wife CATHY would like a Target, Fred Meyer and every now and then, dinner at Olive Garden without having to drive to Burlington.

His work stood out

We met years ago at NAS Whidbey Public Affairs. I was just learning the ropes and he was headed out to another duty station. If they had covered a wall with black and white photos from the Navy Photo Lab without identifying the photographer, it would still be easy to pick out his work. It grabbed you by the collar and spoke to you.

RANDY EMMONS, the retired Navy Photographic Officer I just spoke of, is also a talented watercolorist. Eighty paintings were selected to show out of 333 that were submitted for juroring at the Northwest Watercolor Society’s 2008 Open Exhibition April 1 through 29 at Seattle Center’s Northwest Craft Center and Gallery. The exhibition of 333 pieces was juried by nationally renowned artist Pat Dews.

Not long ago, Sen. MARY MARGARET HAUGEN took three of Randy’s watercolors to hang in her office in Olympia. Last summer, he took third place at the 2007 Art Show at the Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival.

Randy’s vision would be valuable to any company needing creative direction or an image makeover. He currently exhibits at the Penn Cove Gallery in Coupeville. He will also be displaying paintings for one evening at Greenbank Farm’s First Friday Event, March 7 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Join the rest of us

Not only are these shopping accessories fashionable, they speak of your good taste in controlling waste in the environment.

Eventually, most of us will convert to reusable cloth bags so popular in the late 1980s. Being asked “Paper or plastic” will fade away to be replaced by “BYOB,” Bring Your Own Bag.

Seems those “biodegradable” plastic bags with handles do not break down as well as once thought.

On North Whidbey, Albertson’s, Safeway, the Navy Commissary and Ace Hardware are selling attractive reusable cloth bags for customers to buy (they run about $1) and bring with them on return trips.

In case you forgot

The yearly Boys and Girls Club of Oak Harbor fund-raising grand auction and banquet is set for Saturday, March 8. You may still buy tickets at the door for $60 per person or pick them up at Friday’s free open house to view the garden displays designed and donated for auction by local nurseries, landscapers and designers, artists and community businesses.

The Roller Barn puts on the Ritz for Saturday’s event that features many donated items, shows, excursions and table displays to be auctioned throughout the evening.

Call the B&GC at 240-9273.

From muck to marvelous

Last winter, LEE and LORI SPEAR promised us spring and they are ready to deliver. Their annual Spring Open House and Garden Stroll at Hummingbird Farm Nursery and Gardens arrive on Saturday, March 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

They will serve refreshments and have specials in the gift shop and nursery and door prizes. Call 679-5044.

See you back here on March 12. Meantime, call me at 675-6611 or email lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com.