Articles by Nathan Whalen
Ferry service on Whidbey may be cut back
Ferry service on Whidbey may be cut back
By Nathan Whalen • September 25, 2012 5:59 pm

As the state budget process gets rolling, reductions on Whidbey’s ferry routes are being considered.

Washington State Ferries was asked by the governor’s office to come up with $5 million in budget cuts for the upcoming biennial budget. Ferry officials announced their proposed reductions last week.

Officials are proposing to reduce two-boat ferry service to one-boat ferry service on the Port Townsend-to-Coupeville route for four weeks in the spring and four weeks in the fall. They also propose eliminating late-night service on the Mukilteo-to-Cinton route.

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Nathaniel Talbot
Young farmers develop organic seeds for Whidbey Island...
By Nathan Whalen • September 25, 2012 5:58 pm

Amid the work training farmers for a life in agriculture is a project that could be a boon to organic farmers on Whidbey Island.

The Greenbank Farm is home to an Agriculture Training Center that teaches farmers the ins-and-outs of the field. As part of their studies, several students and teachers are developing varieties of organic seeds catered to thrive on Whidbey Island.

Sebastian Aguilar, training director, said there is a huge need for organic seeds in many varieties and in large quantities.

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The racks stand awaiting solar panels at the Greenbank Farm
More Greenbank solar panels soon to be installed
By Nathan Whalen • September 18, 2012 6:00 pm

Organizers of the latest community solar project are one investor away from being able to start installing panels on the last part of the arrays at the Greenbank Farm.

Hans Fredrickson, owner of Fredrickson Electric, is rounding up 16 Puget Sound Energy customers to invest in the latest community solar energy project at the publicly owned farm. He visited the Greenbank Farm during the Farm Tour last weekend to convince potential investors. He said he hopes to have the last one on board in the next day or so. Once that is finished, installation of the panels can begin.

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North Whidbey park district holds Olympics for dogs
North Whidbey park district holds Olympics for dogs
By Nathan Whalen • September 14, 2012 6:49 pm

Oak Harbor was the home recently for a different kind of Olympics.

The North Whidbey Park and Recreation District last week held the first “Doggielympics” at the Clover Valley ball fields on Ault Field Road.

The light-hearted event drew six dogs that competed in three events – an obstacle course, a sprint and a fetch contest. In addition, several spectators watched and several passersby stopped to watch when they noticed the event.

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Several Oak Harbor charities‚ North Whidbey Help House
Figalgo Avenue pig roast raises $12,000 for charities
By Nathan Whalen • September 14, 2012 6:48 pm

Thanks to the help of thousands of barbecue fans, several Oak Harbor-based charities received a shot in the arm this week.

Proceeds from the Fidalgo Avenue Block Party and Pig Roast that took place last month raised $12,000 that will benefit the nonprofits based in the area of Fidalgo Avenue.

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Emergency personnel prepare to whisk away a woman to the hospital after she rolled her car Monday morning on Highway 20 south of Coupeville.
Injured woman arrested after rollover accident on Central...
By Nathan Whalen • September 14, 2012 3:23 pm

An Anacortes woman was arrested before being airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after a one-car accident on Highway 20 south of Coupeville.

At approximately 8:30 a.m., a 46-year-old Lisa Rogers was driving a 2001 Lincoln Continental southward on Highway 20 past the turnoff for the solid waste transfer station when she veered off the road, overcorrected back over the road, hit a berm and rolled, said J. Greene with the Washington State Patrol.

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A herd of goats helping a property owner eliminate blackberry bushes from a property near the intersection of Gould and Front streets in Coupeville broke free from their pen and visited a church parking lot blocks away.
Renegade goats flee, but ‘repent’ at Coupeville church
By Nathan Whalen • September 12, 2012 10:00 am

A herd of small goats took a break from their job Saturday night to tour part of Coupeville.

Dozens of goats and one llama brought in to tackle a weed problem escaped their portable pen near the intersection of Gould and Front streets sometime between Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

By the time they had been discovered, they were blocks away in the parking lot of Coupeville Community Bible Church on Otis Street.

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