The year 2009 is in the history books, and it was another event-filled one on North and Central Whidbey Island. Here are some of the highlights, ranging from the county’s budget struggles to the return of the PBY Catalina to the Navy’s Seaplane Base in Oak Harbor.

January

The Mystic Sea passenger boat arrived at Keystone while the car-carrying Steilacoom II was put in drydock for a month to undergo scheduled maintenance.

The Navy confirmed that four squadrons of P-8A Poseidon jets, totaling 24 aircraft, will start arriving at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station no later than 2016.

The Whidbey News-Times adopted the smaller tabloid format after more than 100 years as a broadsheet publication.

A new era began in Island County as two women, Helen Price Johnson and Angie Homola, were sworn in as county commissioners.

A controversial “McMansion” proposed for Ebey’s Prairie was withdrawn after much public debate.

Smiley, the controversial pound pooch, was proven by DNA testing not to be a pit bull.

Searchers on North Whidbey found a missing 11-year-old girl who spent five hours outside in the dark and wind.

Ousted Island County Commissioner Mac McDowell lost a bid to continue representing the county’s interests in Washington, D.C., for a nominal fee.

Oak Harbor school supporters launched the campaign to continue the maintenance and operation levy, and add a math and technology levy.

Whidbey Island Bank received $26.38 million in cash from the federal government, as part of the Capital Repurchase Program.

Whidbey Island classrooms tuned in to the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the nation’s first African American president.

Jeff Tate, Island County planning director, announced his resignation for family reasons.

February

Judge Vicki Churchill spared the life of Smiley, the pound pooch scheduled for euthanasia.

After cutting 31 jobs, Island County officials found another $1 million hole in the budget.

Waste Management brought more than 100 new jobs to Oak Harbor with the opening of a call center.

Keith Higman, health director, was named the county’s interim planning director.

Someone stole Smiley from protective custody, setting off a media frenzy centered around the pound pooch.

A 57-year-0ld Snohomish woman jumped to her death from the Deception Pass Bridge.

Legendary Wildcats cheer coach Pam Headridge stepped down after 18 years at the helm.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen said Oak Harbor should receive about $2 million in federal economic recovery money.

A woman got a 3-month jail sentence for stealing loot from Wal-Mart and hiding it under her baby.

March

Several Central Whidbey homes were evacuated after a truck driver sneezed, causing him to lose control of his truck containing 2,500 gallons of propane.

State ferry chief David Moseley was greeted with catcalls by islanders when he proposed a reservation system for the Clinton to Mukilteo route.

Oak Harbor voters said yes to continuing the school levy, but no to adding a new levy to boost math instruction.

Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue Chief Joe Biller stayed on the job after “retiring,” until a replacement could be found.

Island County Tourism proposed in Olympia that the Penn Cove mussel be named the “official state mollusk,” but didn’t garner the necessary support.

Controversy arose in Coupeville when the owner of the historic Libbey House proposed its demolition.

The huge Garry oak tree on Fidalgo Ave., Oak Harbor, was spared a controversial pruning when development plans for the lot fell through.

April

Island County went to court to prevent disputed Greenbank beach access from being taken over by a private party.

A 44-year-old Puyallup man jumped to his death from the Deception Pass Bridge.

Island County’s unemployment soared to 8.2 percent, up 3.1 percent over the last five month. Before the year ended it eventually pegged out at over 9.2 percent.

Island County Sheriff Mark Brown said he would have to lay off two deputies-in-training at the Police Academy, due to budget shortfalls.

More than 1,900 competitors entered the Whidbey Island Marathon.

Smiley the pilfered pound pooch was found and secreted away by the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

The Navy and Puget Sound Energy announced it will test Whidbey waters for tidal energy.

Oak Harbor High School’s new $7.7 million Career and Technical Building opened to students.

The Island County Health Department shut down a car lot contaminated by methamphetamine.

In a cost-saving move, Island County Auditor Sheilah Crider said no voters’ pamphlet would be published.

Oak Harbor School District Superintendent Rick Schulte announced no layoffs would be needed, despite the economy.

Unemployment rose to 9.1 percent in Island County.

More than 100 “Tea Party” protesters gathered in Oak Harbor and rallied against big government.

Pranksters hung a marijuana banner from the Deception Pass Bridge.

The county cut 22 jobs to finalize the budget.

“Small Miracles” was formed to help Central Whidbey residents with medical expenses.

Mayor Jim Slowik cut the ribbon on the Oak Harbor’s Waterfront Trail, A gray whale killed by a ship underwent a necropsy at Polnell Point.

Sno-Isle Library System announced it would ask taxpayers to cover part of a $2.5 million deficit.

May

The Whidbey Camano Land Trust working with the Freeman Boyer family preserved 80-acres of farmland and woods on Central Whidbey.

Island County Health Officer Dr. Roger Case predicted swine flu would eventually hit Whidbey Island.

Rep. Rick Larsen told a skeptical audience in Oak Harbor that politicians “want to be loved.”

More than 40 applications were received for the job of Island County planning director.

A girl, 12, reported a man tried to abduct her while she was jogging along Waterfront Trail.

Oak Harbor loosened up its sign code to allow electronic reader boards.

The crew from TV’s “The Deadliest Catch” attracted a big crowd in Oak Harbor’s Seabolt’s Smokehouse.

Longtime downtown Oak Harbor fixture Oak Harbor Motors survived a scare when Chrysler announced it would not cancel the dealership.

Thirty Oak Harbor residents lost their homes when the M&M Mobile Home Park was closed to allow construction of a pet crematorium.

The community launched a campaign to buy a peanut-sniffing dog for Logan Gonzales, 7, who has a severe peanut allergy.

Island County announced it would have to seek a taxpayer bailout to avoid cutting service by up to 34 percent.

A 12-year-old Oak Harbor boy was the first resident of North Whidbey to be diagnosed with the swine flu.

Island County closed off public parking under the jets’ flight path at the Navy’s Outlying Field near Coupeville.

Central Whidbey’s first Hearts & Hammers event fixed up 17 homes belonging to needy people in the area.

The loud-voiced AHAB early warning system was tested in Oak Harbor by Emergency Services.

June

Judge Alan Hancock was lauded for service 20 years on the Superior Court bench.

A disc golf course opened at Fort Nugent Park.

Debbie Skinner announced she would construct a new building at Dock Street and Pioneer Way, the first new downtown building in decades.

Coupeville school administrators and bus drivers agreed to forego raises due to the budget crisis.

Nellie Williams, who gained fame as the Whidbey News-Times proofreader, died at the age of 100.

The city Oak Harbor tried painting some grass green to save water, to mixed reviews.

Seattle resident Joel Eisenberg claimed ownership of the Oak Harbor airport. which he rechristened the A J Eisenberg Airport.

The Smiley saga ended when the famous dog got a new home in an undisclosed off-island location.

July

The city of Oak Harbor painted tree scenes on two water tanks, using dedicated art funds.

The “Whidbey Island Grown” brand was adopted to promote agricultural products.

The Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce joined the political fray by coming out against the Island Transit sales tax increase.

The county decided to charge people double who decide to build without a permit.

A dead calm killed the first day of Oak Harbor Race Week, but the wind picked to to make the rest of the week exciting.

The Oak Harbor City Council, prompted by Mayor Jim Slowik, decided to purchase the Whidbey Island Marathon for $50,000.

North Whidbey Fire and Rescue hired Joe Biller, retired chief of Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue, as its new training officer.

An unusual amount of Navy practice flying resulted in noise complaints from the Coupeville area.

Whidbey Island suffered through a heat wave with temperatures in the 90s.

Oak Harbor hired 14 young adults for Public Works training, using federal stimulus dollars.

In a ceremony at Boeing’s Renton plant, the Navy’s new P-8A Poseidon was unveiled.

After a lengthy search, Tom Tomasino was hired as Whidbey General Hospital’s new CEO, even though he wasn’t one of the three finalists for the job. The board went in-house to make the selection.

August

A League of Women Voters-sponsored debate on health care attracted an overflow crowd to the Coupeville Rec Hall.

The audience applauded when the Oak Harbor City Council awarded a contract for $715,900 for phase one of the marina redevelopment project.

The community mourned after 20-year-old Oak Harbor resident Cameron Groberg died in a car crash on Fakkema Road.

Voters approved a sales tax increase to keep Island Transit operating without making major cuts.

The Crescent Harbor salt marsh was restored when an old dike built by Dutch farmers was breached. The Navy project will help juvenile salmon.

Oak Harbor lost its General Motors dealership when the troubled car company cut ties with Frontier Chevrolet, ending a decades-long relationship.

Coupeville lost its last video store with the closure of Videoville.

About 165 Oak Harbor kids changed schools after two were listed as “failing” by the federal government.

September

Whidbey General Hospital opened its $2.5 million Emergency Services south facility, to house paramedics.

A new business featuring life-sized fiberglass animals opened in Greenbank.

History was relived when a PBY Catalina flew into the Seaplane Base for the first time in some 65 years.

Navy and Coupeville officials announced a flight path agreement aimed at reducing noise complaints.

More than 130 people attended a forum in Coupeville to complain about the county’s new septic system regulations.

The county commissioners sparked controversy by increasing the public defender’s budget by 50 percent in the midst of a budget crisis.

Sheriff Mark Brown told of his frustrating efforts to capture Camano Island serial criminal Colton Harris-Moore.

October

Electronic Attack Squadron 132, the Scorpions, was the first EA-18G Growler squadron certified as safe for flight operations, in a ceremony held at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

Whidbey General Hospital announced it would become a smoke-free campus in one year, with nowhere for smokers to take a drag.

Whidbey Camano Land Trust teamed up with several property owners to preserve 249 acres of agricultural land in Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.

An era ended when the Koetje Agency in Oak Harbor merged with Whitfield’s United Insurance Agencies, bringing to an end the careers of octogenarians Hank and Al Koetje.

City officials started meeting with interest groups over the controversial proposal to make Pioneer Way a one-way street.

The county established a way for residents to “adopt” county parks.

Coupeville cancelled a football game due in part to the ravages of swine flu.

November

Scott Dudley beat Gerry Oliver in the only race for Oak Harbor City Council.

Voters approved a property tax increase to shore up the finances of the Sno-Island Library District.

The Oak Harbor City Council did away with its “breed-specific” animal ordinance, which targeted pit bulls.

Health officials closed the Acorn Motor Inn in Oak Harbor due to meth contamination in a room and hallway left behind by drug users.

Patricia Terry was named the new Island County clerk, replacing the retiring Sharon Franzen.

Commissioners slapped a $5 per parcel fee on landowners to fund the conservation districts.

A “bomb” at a Coupeville bank turned out to be a piece of plastic pipe.

Ed Hartin, from Gresham, Ore., was selected as the new chief of Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue.

The Squi Qui was proposed as the name for the new Keystone ferry under construction. No decision has been made.

The free Thanksgiving dinner in Oak Harbor served a record 5,313 individuals.

December

The Oak Harbor City Council voted 4-3 to transform Pioneer Way into a one-way street eastbound as part of a revitalization project.

A new orca baby named “Star” brought the population to 87 in the Salish Sea. Star was the fifth newborn this year.

After a hand-recount, Jerry Goen was named the winner of the North Whidbey Fire and Rescue board seat. He beat incumbent Larry Morse by 3 votes.

Oak Harbor High School’s new auditorium opened to rave reviews.

Some downtown merchants organized to overturn the City Council’s vote to make Pioneer Way a one-way street.

Island County Sheriff’s Guild deputies announced they would picket a commissioners’ meeting, hoping to avoid cuts to patrol deputies.

An old house at the Navy’s Outlying Field was slated for demolition, but the Coupeville community organized to save it at the last minute.