A drive-in movie theater that’s been in operation for more than 50 years needs help entering the 21st century.
The Blue Fox Drive-In, located south of Oak Harbor on Monroe Landing Road, has to convert to digital projection in order to continue offering first-run movies.
A Coupeville-based home schooler recently earned a national award for efforts documenting an aspect of Native American history.
More paperwork is coming for groups and organizers looking to the Port of Coupeville for financial support.
The port will develop an application process for nonprofit groups and organizers seeking dollars for events that jibe with the port’s mission of economic development or facilitate events that celebrate local history and culture.
In addition, the port will outline how much money will be available each year that can be doled out to nonprofit groups.
Leaders for the Port of Coupeville hope another layer of environmental protection for the Greenbank Farm will soon be complete.
During a port commissioners’ meeting last week, Pat Powell, executive director for the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, outlined the work that has to be done on the conservation easement for it to be finished by the end of December.
The sinking of a crab boat in Penn Cove turned into an unexpected windfall for the Port of Coupeville.
People will have to plunk down cash if they want to reserve a spot on the Coupeville-to-Port Townsend ferry route.
Washington State Ferries is implementing a reservation system and riders can start reserving spots immediately for sailings from Keystone Harbor that begin Sunday.
The new system, called “Save a Spot,” requires a deposit that equals the senior/disabled vehicle fare. For the Port Townsend route, riders will have to pay an $11.20 deposit while the driver/vehicle fare is $12.70. The new system offers several different accounts that riders can set up depending on need, ranging from businesses who will be billed for their ferry use to occasional riders.
A project will take place this summer that will eventually save the Coupeville School District thousands of dollars in energy costs.
A big change in the way Washington State Parks is funded is prompting leaders to ask the public for input regarding how the system should operate.
Public meetings to acquire input about how the parks should operate will take place next week, one in Port Townsend and one in Burlington.
Washington State Parks had to undergo significant funding changes resulting in staff cutbacks in the wake of a funding crisis at the state level. Tax dollars the park system received were slashed and the Discover Pass was implemented as a substitute. The Discover Pass costs $10 per day use per car or $30 per year.
After nearly a year of negotiations, work to add more protection to a publicly owned farm may start to move forward.
Leaders from the Port of Coupeville are approaching Island County with a list of development rights that could be surrendered when a conservation easement at the Greenbank Farm is worked out. This comes on the heels of a recent meeting port commissioners held to sort out issues that have stalled talks on the conservation easement.
A popular event that attracts both human and canine swimmers will be put on hold for one year.
The annual dog swim at the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool has been canceled for 2012. It is expected to take place in 2013.
Leaders at the North Whidbey Parks and Recreation District decided to delay a maintenance project for one year. Pool officials were able to hold the popular dog swim only because they would drain the water after the event so the pool could be painted.
After a search failed to yield a new superintendent for the Coupeville School District, leaders this week decided to hire a temporary one.
The school board Tuesday evening named Karen Koschak as interim superintendent. She will hold the position for one year while a search is conducted a permanent replacement for Patty Page, who left for another job.
Koschak was most recently superintendent of the Granite Falls School District. She had retired from that position in 2011 after three years on the job.
While Coupeville’s Memorial Day celebration offered a light-hearted parade and a community picnic at Town Park, it also offered a somber ceremony to remember veterans who sacrificed their lives for their country.
“We are fortunate to be surrounded by a community like Coupeville whose people are willing to give of their time and energy to ensure we never forget Memorial Day,” said Cmdr. Michael O’Leary, commanding officer of VAQ-136 at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. He spoke during the ceremony in front of an audience that included Pearl Harbor Survivors, at least one former prisoner of war and hundreds of local residents.
Months after a commissioner for the Port of Coupeville expressed concerns about comments the executive director made to the press, the divided three-member board decided to stick with the status quo.
The commissioners rejected a proposal brought forth by the board’s newest member, Laura Blankenship, by a 2 to 1 vote. That proposal would have named the board of commissioners president, Marshall Bronson, as the media spokesperson.
