I am writing this letter in regards to John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool and North Whidbey Park and Recreation District commissioners.

I swim daily at the pool, and have done so, for several years now. I also am a registered voter, and I will most certainly remember the shabby way that the commissioners treated the former director, Mr. Shulock.

Many improvements were made during Mr. Shulock’s tenure:

1. The ancient boiler was replaced, and we had a warm pool again.

2. The showers were fixed.

3. The contract for the upgrade to the ventilation system was negotiated.

4. The circuit breaker panels were upgraded.

5. The automatic door — so handy for disabled patrons — was installed.

6. The ozone system for the pool was installed.

7. The new hot tub was installed.

In short, many significant improvements were made while Mr. Shulock was the director. Unfortunately the commissioners did not renew his contract after giving him a good evaluation. This does not make sense unless politics or personality conflicts were involved. He got the job done.

It is my strong belief that the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District commissioners have lost touch with just how important a pool is to our community. For many of the elderly and/or disabled, it is the only form of exercise that they may participate in to improve their lives. People with rheumatoid arthritis, strokes, back problems, and other physical problems can, and do, swim. For example, there is an older lady with multiple sclerosis who can hardly walk, even with a wheeled walker, but she is a regular at the pool and swims as best she can. She, like other patrons working to overcome physical problems at the pool, has a lot at stake in the pool. They are the ones who have a lot to lose here. The commissioners don’t have their physical mobility dependent on daily exercise at the community pool. The older lady with the multiple sclerosis has shown more personal courage, commitment, and determination than some of the members of the Park District, particularly in the way Mr. Shulock was treated.

Perhaps if the commissioners were to come join us at the pool in between board meetings, they would see how much we appreciate having a pool to exercise in. Also, if they don’t feel the pool is getting enough use, may I suggest that they come try to swim laps when swim school is going on in the evenings. They would be lucky to find a parking space, and they would find the pool crammed full of children learning to swim!

It is an important thing that the children have an opportunity to go to a pool to learn how to swim, for even one drowning death from a boating accident is one too many.

Susan Bradley

Oak Harbor