By Eileen Brown

I had no idea statistically how many impaired drivers were in cars coming at me on the road, either under the influence of prescription or over-the-counter medicine, illegal drugs or alcohol until I talked to her.

And we’ll never know how many of us are alive today because of her tireless work. I propose we declare an official JO ANN HELLMANN Day for her dedication to the work of the Impaired Driving Impact Panel of Island County for almost a decade.

First, Hellmann points out, it’s not entirely accurate to call it a “panel.”

“It doesn’t properly describe the moments of interaction between the speakers, such as police officers, physical therapists, local residents and audience members,” Hellmann said. “Listening to them work through their own personal or work-related experiences is like the punch you never saw coming. It can shake you that way.”

These panels are not just for offenders or alcoholics. They are open to all and free to everyone. There is a one-time fee of $35 for court-ordered clients.

“Every driver’s ed student on Whidbey Island will eventually attend because they are required to by Munro’s, ‘How’s My Driving School’ and South Whidbey High School’s driving instructors. They must bring their parent, a first in our state.

“Panels are dramatically different from those a few years back,” she said. “Now we open with a fast-paced PowerPoint with images and videos that give each audience member the vicarious experience of being both a DUI victim AND offender,” she said. “Many attendees use the word ‘eye-opener’ to describe the experience.”

Thirteen people attended IDIPIC’s first panel on Nov. 2, 2000. Half were offenders and half were guests. Now up to four panels are held each month, plus eight a year at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The Navy discovered IDIPIC a year ago when Pacific Fleet and Navy Northwest reps, here for a site visit, came to a panel. They asked for an increase in base panels from quarterly to bi-monthly and offered to provide funding.

Last summer, the DUI/underage drinking prevention organization welcomed its 10,000th panel attendee during a safety presentation to Fleet Readiness Center Northwest at NAS Whidbey Island. At the last panel, IDIPIC neared the 13,000 mark.

Besides the Navy, funds have come from other partners in prevention like the Oak Harbor Soroptimists, Officers’ Spouses Club of Whidbey Island, individual donors, grants and offender fees. Everything you need to know about IDIPIC is at www.IDIPIC.org or call Hellmann at 675-8397. The next panel is on Monday, Feb. 25, at Hayes Hall 137, Oak Harbor Library, 1000 SE Regatta. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.

Farm tour

wants to know

Will you attend the third annual Whidbey Island Farm Tour this coming Oct. 4 and 5?

Tour chair KAREN KRUG hopes you can and asks that you sign up early. Before the tour committee can decide which combination of farms will most effectively get the community excited about what local farmers do, they need to know how many will attend.

Krug said the primary goals of the tour are to educate the community about our farms and the good stewardship practices used by Whidbey farmers to promote benefits of locally-grown food, fiber and other products, and to assist local farms in their sustainability, marketing and publicity effort.

Applications are available at Skagit Farmers Supply, ACE, Bayview Farm and Garden, the Whidbey Island Conservation District, the WSU Extension Office or online at www.whidbey

farmtour.com. Call 679-7328 for more details.

Make it Thai

I’m anxious to try the food at “Sweet Rice Thai Cuisine,” now open where the former Erawan Thai restaurant was located. They advertise family recipes using only the freshest ingredients.

If you’ve never tried Thai because you hear it is highly seasoned or too hot for your taste, ask your server to point out the milder dishes. Some restaurants use the check mark system: 1 check for mild, 2 checks for medium and 3 check marks for people who either are showing off or use hot sauce at every meal.

Call them at 679-8268 or come to 885 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor.

See you on Feb. 20. I’d love to get a call or note from you. Write to lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com or call 675-6611.