Mail from Coupeville reads:
“Hello! My name is Sherry Roberts. I am the daughter of Rick and Gloria Bonacci and the granddaughter of Gerald and Dorothy Darst.
When I was born (31 years ago) you wrote a small article in the paper noting my birth and that I was the seventh generation born of Whidbey pioneers.
Last year on March 14, 2001, I gave birth to a little girl, Lindsey Christine Roberts, who arrived four and a half weeks early.
Lindsey just celebrated her first birthday with family and friends on March 14. She is an eighth generation of the Whidbey pioneer family as follows:
l Frances and Grace McCrohan
l Captain Edward Barrington and Christina (McCrohan) Barrington
l Christian and Sibella (Barrington) Fischer
l Glenn and Madeline (Fischer) Darst
l Gerald and Dorothy Darst
l Richard and Gloria (Darst) Bonacci
l Jon and Sherry (Bonacci) Roberts
l Lindsey Christine Roberts
As I am sure you know, our family settled in Oak Harbor during the early 1850s.
P.S., for your information, Lindsey’s other set of grandparents are Sandy and Susan Roberts of Coupeville.”
We wish Lindsey Christine a most happy first birthday on the island her family has called home for so long.
Adolph and Doloris Meische have had their daughter Rosanne visiting with them from Las Vegas for the past few weeks.
A former Oak Harbor resident, Ruth Spurling, who after the eighth grade moved with her parents to California, has come back to live in Oak Harbor. The home of the Rev. John Wilkins and Ruth Wilkins in L. and M. Acres. The Rev. Wilkins is a retired minister with the Covenant Ministries. When Ruth’s family lived in Oak Harbor, her father worked near Deception Pass as a logger, and they lived in what was the “Izett” house.
Herm and Mary Eerkes write from Arizona that they have been enjoying the 70 degree weather. Jim and Sandra Phillips, who are also there, have been keeping them busy, showing them the sights. Their daughter, Amy, and her family joined the Eerkes for the final week in the sunny south.
An open house birthday celebration for Dick Kingma’s 90th was held Feb. 24 at the Mount Vernon Community Center. Kingma was born and raised on Whidbey Island.
Although he has spent a year in his kennel at the Coupeville shelter, Brutus remains upbeat and happy whenever he gets out for a walk or play time. But, he needs to find a home! Hopefully, someone reading will have room and the time for this big, boisterous boy. Listed as a pit bull mix, many people that meet him believe he’s more of a Great Dane mix, or a Plott Hound mix with some Labrador retriever. He doesn’t really get along with some other dogs, but he loves people, and he enjoys fetch. If you can help Brutus find a home, call the shelter at 678-5816 and help make Brutus a happier than ever dog!
The Army has some new local recruits!
Michael A. Lopez, the son of Rayette R. Higgins of Oak Harbor and Steve A. Lopez of Whittier, Calif., is a 2001 graduate of Oak Harbor High School. William J. Carroll is the son of Nimfa Q. and Robert C. Carroll of Oak Harbor, and is a 2001 graduate of Oak Harbor High School. Both men recently left for basic training at Fort Benning, Ga.
Congrats go out to some local Navy men!
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Allen E. Torgerson, son of Bessie J. and Frederick A Torgerson of Oak Harbor recently received a letter of appreciation while assigned at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kekaha, Hawaii. Torgerson was recognized for his “superior performance, displaying remarkable dedication and initiative.” Torgerson is a 1979 graduate of Hawaii Baptist Academy of Honolulu.
Navy Ensign Michael D. Skyta, son of Kathy M. and Dayle P. Skyta of Oak Harbor, recently received his commission as a naval officer after completing Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Naval Aviation Schools Command, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla. Skyta is a 1996 graduate of Snohomish High School, and graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2001.
Need a light?
Admiralty Head Lighthouse is open for the season.
The lighthouse can also be rented for small weddings and special events and volunteers.
The lighthouse is open weekends in March and will add Thursday and Friday in April.During the summer months it will be open Thursdays through Monday. The lighthouse is open from 11 a.m to 5 p.m.
The lighthouse is open to the public through a cooperative agreement between Fort Casey State Park and the Island/County WSU Beach Watchers and Waste Wise Volunteers. The upper floors of the lighthouse will host a display on sustainable living and the main floor currently has a display on the history of Fort Casey. There are plans to change the main floor exhibit to include the history of the lighthouse.
The lighthouse was built in 1903 and in the Spanish style, with white stucco siding and red roof. It is located in Fort Casey State Park.
For more information, call Gloria Wahlin, Admiralty Head Lighthouse coordinator, at 679-7391; e-mail her at gloriaw@wsu.edu.
Langley notes: Applications are available for the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts 2002-2003 Local Artist Series. “We have only to look in our own backyard for some of the best talent around,” said Stacie Burgua, WICA’s executive director. “This series was initiated to encourage local artists to perform at WICA.” All box office and building rental fees are underwritten by sponsors. Performers market their show and receive all proceeds from ticket sales. Applications from all performance art disciplines are considered, and applications are juried by a committee. Four applicants will be chosen to perform between September 2002 and June 2003.
Please call WICA at (360) 221-8262 for more information or to request an information packet. Completed applications will be accepted through Friday, May 1. You may also go to www.wica.org for information
