Articles by Nathan Whalen
Comments sought for Parker Road highway project near Coupeville
Comments sought for Parker Road highway project near...
By Nathan Whalen • August 23, 2013 12:09 pm

Officials from the Washington State Department of Transportation want residents’ opinions on how a proposed construction project will affect Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.

Plans currently call for the closing of the intersections of Old Smith Prairie Road and Parker Road with Highway 20. Traffic on Parker Road would be funneled over to Morris Road where it would intersect with the highway. The three intersections are located between Island Transit’s headquarters and Outlying Field and are within the confines of the reserve.

A public meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 27, in the Commons at Coupeville Middle and High School.

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Hospital General Hospital leaders take informational route concerning bond
Hospital General Hospital leaders take informational route concerning...
By Nathan Whalen • August 23, 2013 12:05 pm

Whidbey General Hospital leaders are taking steps to ensure employees follow state laws during an election season where voters will decide whether to approve a $50-million bond that will finance an expansion and updating of the hospital’s campus.

That bond is appearing on the November ballot and needs to pass by a 60 percent supermajority.

Trish Rose, spokesperson for Whidbey General Hospital, said during a recent hospital commissioners’ meeting that she sent information to staff about how they can inform people of the proposal.

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Group forms to promote Whidbey General Hospital bond
By Nathan Whalen • August 23, 2013 12:03 pm

Volunteers promoting a ballot measure for a bond to finance an update and expansion of Whidbey General Hospital are focusing their efforts on North Whidbey Island.

The Friends of Whidbey General Hospital, a volunteer group tasked with promoting the $50-million bond, recently formed and conducted a campaign kickoff at Coupeville Town Park. Around 30 people came together to gather signs to post throughout the island, learn specifics about the bond and answer questions.

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Comstock Barn in Ebey’s Landing gets a new...
By Nathan Whalen • August 23, 2013 11:52 am

A historic barn in the heart of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve is getting a much-needed facelift thanks to the help of a handful of college students and volunteers.

Students participating in the University of Oregon’s Pacific Northwest Field School visited Ebey’s Landing last week to install a cedar shake roof on the Comstock Barn, which is located off Engle Road south of Coupeville.

Shannon Sardell, director of the Pacific Northwest Field School, said the barn is a significant part of the reserve’s historic landscape and, until recently, was at risk for demolition.

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Port of Coupeville seeks new executive director
Port of Coupeville seeks new executive director
By Nathan Whalen • August 19, 2013 4:20 pm

Leaders for the Port of Coupeville are looking for a few good applicants.

The port formally started looking for someone to replace Jim Patton after his contract expires at the end of this year.

The taxpayer-supported entity, which oversees the Coupeville Wharf and the Greenbank Farm, needs a new director to serve on a part-time basis. Compensation is negotiable.

Patton said that the commissioners have some flexibility in how the new position would be configured. His replacement could be hired as a regular employee or work on a contract basis.

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Port seeking new director
Port seeking new director
By Nathan Whalen • August 16, 2013 6:28 pm

Leaders for the Port of Coupeville are looking for a few good applicants.

The port formally started looking for someone to replace Jim Patton after his contract expires at the end of this year.

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Chieftain draws volunteers from across country
By Nathan Whalen • August 16, 2013 6:27 pm

David Haney, who recently retired from the Los Angeles County sheriff’s office, came up with an interesting way to kick off his retirement. He is spending the summer volunteering as a deckhand on a tall ship that visited Coupeville last weekend.

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Dozens mark anniversary of Orca Capture
By Nathan Whalen • August 16, 2013 6:21 pm

After spending years organizing protests calling for the freedom of orca Lolita, Shelby Proie got to see the marine mammal’s original home for the first time Aug. 8. She participated in a ceremony organized by the Orca Network that commemorated the Penn Cove Orca Capture.

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Oak Harbor pool director has six months to sink or swim
Oak Harbor pool director has six months to...
By Nathan Whalen • August 15, 2013 2:09 pm

Bill Walker has six months to change some minds.

That’s the deadline set by the North Whidbey Park and Recreation board of commissioners for deciding whether to terminate his contract as director of the publicly-funded district that operates John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool.

Two commissioners wanted to end Walker’s employment, effective Sept. 31. Commissioner Allan McDougall made the motion to terminate the contract and it was seconded by Kirk Huffer.

McDougall brought forward the motion during a special meeting Aug. 7, during which the commissioners evaluated his performance.

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Island Transit’s former hq gets rubble-ized
Island Transit’s former hq gets rubble-ized
By Nathan Whalen • August 10, 2013 9:00 am

Island Transit Executive Director Martha Rose achieved a dream last month.

She got to take the first swing to demolish the transit agency’s former headquarters building.

Rose manned an excavator in mid-July to kick off the demolition for the building that had been emptied now that the new headquarters building is pretty much complete.

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