Navy property belongs to us | Editorial
The city of Oak Harbor should get over its apparent fear of the U.S. Navy and proceed with plans to locate its new sewer plant on “Navy property.”
February 21, 2012
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Paul’s biblical writings on homosexuals doubted | Sound off
This gay marriage thing is one of the most emotional issues here since Prop.1. It redefines marriage in a way that obviates millennia of traditional concepts of normality. Estimates of homosexual population range from 2 percent to 20 percent which is more than most of us thought. It apparently is endemic to all races, ethnic groups, and families, as well as in the animal world as cited by a Supreme Court decision. Moreover, growing indications are that it isn’t a choice so much as it is a deep integral part of a person determined by genetic specificity and perhaps influenced by environmental experiences.
February 19, 2012
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Voter education key to next levy | Editorial
The Oak Harbor School Board is doing a good job demonstrating the school district’s needs before deciding on a levy dollar amount to present to voters in 2013.
The board has led a series of monthly workshops dealing with specific needs. The most recent was Monday, when special education teachers and parents described the difficulties caused by recent cutbacks and how additional local levy dollars would help.
February 18, 2012
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Look Ma, the sky is empty | Editorial
Oak Harbor has boldly tread where Whidbey Island’s two other towns have feared to go: Burying its ugly downtown power lines, pretty much regardless of the cost.
February 14, 2012
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A good year for a caucus | Editorial
Washington residents usually sit back and watch while presidential candidates are picked because the process is pretty much over by the time our political caucuses are held. No so this year, and that should make the Island County Republican precinct caucuses the place to be for conservative-leaning islanders on Saturday, March 3.
February 10, 2012
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A matter of life and death | Editorial
Lives may well depend on the outcome of the levy hike increase requested by Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue. The mail-in election has been in progress for two weeks and culminates on election day Tuesday, Feb. 14.
The fire district is asking for a property tax levy increase to $1.34 per thousand of assessed value, up from the present $1 per thousand. The additional tax on a $300,000 house would be $102 annually, or $8.50 per month.
February 7, 2012
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Golf cart laws evolve | Editorial
The simple golf cart demonstrates the complexity of living in modern times.
State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, got a law passed last year allowing people to drive golf carts in properly established golf cart zones. The idea was hatched by people living around the now-defunct Holmes Harbor Golf Course in Freeland, where roads have such names as Fairway Drive and Chip Shot Lane. All they wanted to do was legally drive golf carts around the neighborhood and on the short stretch of county road that divides the golf course and houses.
February 4, 2012
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One physician’s gone from Whidbey, don’t lose another | Sound Off
This letter is in response to your article, “Doctor Quits Whidbey General Hospital Over Web Furor” published Jan. 11. I would like your readers to understand that the Whidbey General Reformers (WGR) website is full of misleading and inaccurate information shedding an undeserved bad light on a physician that deserves more respect.
February 3, 2012
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Ferries run out of money | Editorial
Department of Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond fired a warning shot across the bow of the good ship Washington State when the Legislature convened early this month.
In simple language, Hammond told legislative leaders that the ferry system is simply out of money. Using its present sources of revenue, it will fall short by $1.3 billion over the next 10 years, or $130 million per year.
January 31, 2012
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Hello? Is anybody home? | Editorial
The Oak Harbor City Council still shows little interest in obeying the Washington state Open Public Meetings Act, having violated it again at a special meeting Monday night.
The full council met in closed session to consider the qualifications of nine candidates seeking to be appointed to the vacant council position. After deliberation, the council members returned to public session to say they had decided on four finalists. End of meeting.
January 27, 2012
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A gift worthy of remembrance | Editorial
Whidbey Camano Land Trust, with a lot of help from property owner Beatrice Morgan, enjoyed another success last week when it announced the 90-year-old, longtime Oak Harbor resident has donated a quarter mile of beach property to the land trust for public use.
January 24, 2012
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