HAMS are growing …

It’s easy to spot amateur radio operators by the assorted antennas attached to their vehicles. They can talk to anyone, anywhere in the world, about everything from the the weather to emergency traffic and, of course, HAM radio.

There are about 300 HAMs on Whidbey, and 100 of them belong to Island County Amateur Radio Club. They are gearing up for the Whidbey Island Marathon April 10 that starts at Cornet Bay and ends at Coupe Park in Coupeville. ICARC will handle radio communications from 7 a.m. to around 3 p.m. About 2,000 runners are expected this year and that means they need at least 35 operators to fill all the positions. If you’d like to man a water station, write to brian@promotionevents.com.

ICARC’s biggest event of the year is the Annual Field Day June 25 and 26, set for County Park on Maxwelton Road. Antennas are set up on Friday night and it’s all run on emergency power. This is their practice to sharpen their skills in case of an actual emergency. They are on the air for 24 hours from Saturday morning until 11 a.m. Sunday. Take a look at what amateur radio is all about and ask about becoming a HAM.

The club also covers the Penn Cove Water Festival, assists Holland Happening Parade HAMS, the July Fourth parade, Pony Trials in July and the August triathlon in Langley.

The August meeting will be held a week early this year to tie in with the Lighthouses on the Air weekend Aug. 20. They will set up at Fort Casey Park and make as many contacts as possible commemorating the Admiralty Lighthouse.

There’s a lot of camaraderie in this group and they enjoy their hobby more by providing a valuable public service. Call (360) 279-8002 or go to www.w7avm.org or e-mail info@mail.w7avm.org. New members are always welcome at the monthly meetings. The next one is Saturday, March 26, at 9 a.m. in the County Annex Building in Coupeville. An interesting program follows the meeting.

Under fire …

An Oak Harbor High School graduate is the proud wife of a U.S. Army Bronze Star winner. JENNIFER (HOLBERG) McCHRYSTAL, Class of 1999, was on hand recently at Fort Lewis when her husband, 1st LT. ROBERT McCHRYSTAL, received the Bronze Star with Valor from MAJ.GEN. JAMES COLLINS, deputy commanding general of I Corps at Fort Lewis.

McChrystal and 34 other soldiers from the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, received awards for acts of valor in Iraq. McChrystal was part of a successful evacuation of the crew of a downed helicopter after an hours-long battle with insurgents. The OH-58 Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance helicopter crashed in Tal Afar, Iraq, on Sept. 3. The helicopter was downed by an enemy rocket-propelled grenade. McChrystal led the Scout Platoon that rescued the pilots under intense enemy fire and kept the helicopter from falling into enemy hands. The McChrystals are living in Yelm. Jennifer is the daughter of THUY and PAT HOLBERG of Oak Harbor.

Seven generations …

When SHELBY MICHELLE LANG was born to BRENT and KRISTIN LANG last Nov. 2, she became a seventh-generation Whidbey Islander.

Her ancestors go all the way back to CHARLES and ANNA NIENHUIS, who came to Whidbey Island from Michigan in 1895. Next in line came ELDERT and JENNY NIENHUIS, followed by CLIFFORD and MINNIE NIENHUIS, ELEANOR NIENHUIS, STEVE and PATTI LANG, and BRENT and KRISTIN LANG.

Even BARNEY BEEKSMA’S mother was a Nienhuis and there are several listed in the phone book.

Kitchen queen …

When I stopped in to say hello to EILEEN DOVE at Eileen’s Creative Kitchenware next to the Big Cup coffee shop, I spotted a 30-something man in jeans and a ball cap holding a piece of cutlery in his hand as though it were the Holy Grail. Seems he is building a collection and buys a piece each payday. “See you next time,” he called as he stepped out onto Pioneer Way.

It’s a treasure chest for cooks of all ages, including kids going to culinary school. I did a double-take at the price tags; items that cost more off-island are tagged much lower here. Looking for something special? Call 675-6894. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Look for Sunday openings in the summer.

Tune in next week for details on the Irish Wildlife Society’s plans for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration honoring Dorothy Neil. Write to me at lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com or call me at 675-6611. See you on March 9.