NEWS BRIEFS Nov. 28, 2001

News for your information

Sno-Isle notifies parents of policy

Parents of minors who hold Sno-Isle Regional Library cards will soon receive a letter explaining the library system’s Internet access policy.

Effective Dec. 1, children under the age of 18 will automatically have filtered access to the Internet. However, unrestricted access will be available with parental consent.

The policy grew out of public hearings earlier this year in which some parents expressed concern about the viewing of sexually explicit images on Sno-Isle Library computers. As a result, the new policy for minors was adopted. Adults will continue to have unrestricted access to the Internet.

Parents who want their children to have unrestricted Internet access should contact their local library, according to Mary Kelly, Sno-Isle’s community relations manager. Or, fill out and return the form included in the letter being sent to 75,000 households this month.

In Island County, Sno-Isle operates libraries in Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland, Langley and Clinton.

Give yourself the gift of health

On Nov. 29 and 30, Coupeville Lions Health Screening Unit will be open from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Coupeville High School. Health professionals and trained volunteers will staff the 65-foot center. Visitors to the unit can elect to have a specific test or all the tests available including: vision loss, hearing loss, glaucoma, diabetes and high blood pressure. The free tests are simple and non-invasive. When test results aren’t in normal ranges a recommendation will be made to seek further testing and/or treatment.

All about travel by land or by sea

Most islanders travel by land and by sea, but either way they’ll be interested in a meeting today, Nov. 28, at 10 a.m. in the Oak Harbor Public Library, 1000 SE Regatta Dr.

Speaking will be Doug MacDonald, Washington State Transportation Secretary, who will be accompanied by Terry McCarthy, Washington State Ferries’ Chief Financial Officer. Both will address subjects of interest to Island County residents.

The occasion is the semi-annual joint meeting of the Skagit/Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization Policy Board which serves as a forum to address local transportation issues. Today’s meeting is open to the public.

Student choir stirs patriotism

Students at an Oak Harbor elementary school want to help raise patriotic spirit in the community.

Children in Sandy Pease’s youth choir at Broad View Elementary School will put on a musical performance entitled “Sing Me a Song of the Land I Love,” beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29 at the school at 473 SW Fairhaven Dr.

The children will be attired in red, white and blue. Community members are encouraged to attend, wear patriotic clothing, and to sing along.

Pease’s youth choir made the news last spring when it was selected to appear in a video, shown nationally on PBS.

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