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Taci Belisle holds her 3-year-old son Ryder at a fundraising event, “We Believe in Ryder,” at The Loakal Public House in Oak Harbor Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. The benefit was organized by Oak Harbor’s Brandy Ledesma, who plays Mrs. Claus at the Pacific Winds Farm during the holiday season. A silent auction, raffle and bingo took place to help support the Belisle family of Sedro Woolley and in particular 3-year-old Ryder Belisle, who suffers from a rare terminal disease Sanfilippo Syndrome, which is like an Alzheimer’s for children. Photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times

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Sedro-Woolley family touched by Oak Harbor benefit

Acts of kindness can have a profound effect on people.

Farmers working to relaunch ‘Whidbey Island Grown’ campaign

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Farmers working to relaunch ‘Whidbey Island Grown’ campaign

At a time when innovative marketing ideas were taking root in surrounding areas to promote local agriculture, a…

The Coupeville School Board gave Superintendent Jim Shank and excellent review and extended his contract another year during a school board meeting Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. File photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times

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Coupeville school board extends superintendent’s contract

Superintendent Jim Shank received an “excellent” annual review by the Coupeville School Board, extending his contract with the…

Smelt fishers getting jiggy this time of year

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Smelt fishers getting jiggy this time of year

On a chilly overcast afternoon, Dean Bannister slid his bucket to the other side of the dock, took…

Nicholas Wasik and drama club students from Coupeville Elementary School rehearse for the musical ‘James and the Giant Peach” Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017 in the school’s multi-purpose room. Photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times

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Coupeville Elementary prepares to tackle ‘James and the Giant Peach Jr.’

Wendy Wasik couldn’t be more proud of her little earthworm.

Whidbey Playhouse actor Ron Wilhelm has been reunited with his missing Christmas bells. Photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times

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Actor reunited with Christmas bells

It took some determination and a little extra digging for the case of the missing Christmas bells to…

Kathleen Anderson has dedicated much of her life to education. She’s served 22 years on the Coupeville School Board and 15 on the Washington Board of Education. “I feel so strongly if you have good schools, you’ll have a strong community,” she said. Photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times

Life

‘Iowa farm girl’ devotes life to education

Onawa is a small rural town in western Iowa that has a history of thinking big.

Sherrye Wyatt of Freeland has joined the board of directors with Washington Filmworks. Wyatt serves as the public relations and marketing manager at Whidbey Camano Islands Tourism and is the film liaison for Island County. Photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times

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Island County film liaison picked for Washington Filmworks board

Board members with Washington Filmworks have already known about Island County and its potential for scenic backdrops.

Michelle Oakland, left, worship pastor at Life Church in Oak Harbor, and administrator Laura LeBeau are coordinating “Night to Shine,” a prom night catered to people 14 and older who have special needs. The event in Oak Harbor is Feb. 10. Photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times

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Oak Harbor church prepares for one special prom night

Aside from being a worship pastor at Life Church in Oak Harbor, Michelle Oakland also is a mother…

Paul Decker sorts though some tangled wiring while standing in front of a pile of debris at the Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship outside Coupeville Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. Decker, a woodworker, has volunteered his time at the institute to lead a salvaging project to reduce debris and repurpose wood and other materials he finds. Photo by Ron Newberry

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Woodworker turns piles into possibilities

The voles that take up residence in the debris piles around the Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship…

Utility workers work to restore power on Terry Road in Coupeville Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017.

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Power outage untimely for Seahawks fans in Coupeville

Before the Seattle Seahawks’ season faded to black Saturday, several television sets around Coupeville beat them to it.

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Deception Pass park manager cautions visitors to stay off icy lakes

Park rangers at Deception Pass State Park have posted “danger” signs, warning people to stay off the rapidly…

Immanuel McLaurin, a senior at Oak Harbor High School, stands before one of his all-time favorite hangouts, the Boys & Girls Club of Oak Harbor. McLaurin, who volunteers at the club, was selected as the club’s Youth of the Year. Photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times

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High school senior makes lasting impact at Oak Harbor club

In Norrie Perreault’s years at the Boys &Girls Club of Oak Harbor, she’s heard her share of pouts…