Tuesday Jan. 28, a small group from Greenbank Farm visited Olympia to advocate the farm’s capital project which was included in Gov. Locke’s budget. The Executive director was accompanied by the vice president of Greenbank Farm Management and owner of Whidbey Island Winery and Jan Gunn, owner of Whidbey Pies Cafe and a wholesale pie business. They met with Democratic leadership in both House and Senate to urge support for their project to create commercial space from two existing barns for new local businesses. Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen hosted an informal lunch meeting in her office for the Whidbey Islanders. Rep. Barbara Bailey was an invited guest.

“We had a great time. We were three tired Islanders returning that evening but we felt we had represented the farm well. We put a face on the farm for them, so it won’t be just another line item in the budget.” Blankenship said.

There will be many trips to Olympia over the legislative session. Commissioner Mike Shelton and Farm Boardmember Tom Baenen will join forces with Blankenship Feb. 13 to visit with Republican legislators.

The members of the PBY Memorial Association met at the CPO Club the last Tuesday in January. Memorial Board elected the following officers for the year: Win Stites, president; Ron Wallin, vice president; Troy McElvey, treasurer; Jim Vannice, assistant treasurer; and Doloris Meische, secretary.

Stites told the membership of the PBY Plane at Moses Lake, a plane that needs some work done to it. Stites plans to visit the plane, along with a visit to the Pensacola Flight Museum. Bill Jones spoke at the meeting, telling about the history of the PBY and its part in World War II.

Present at the luncheon was Gay Hill, who wore her “Rosy the Riveter” shirt sent to her by her niece who is sailing around the world from San Francisco. Hill worked as a riveter during World War II.

Loretta B. Ferguson visited Oak Harbor recently, looking for family records. She was born April 4, 1946, as Loretta Ann Burris, and lived with her parents when her father, Lt. Cmdr. J. A. (MC) USNR and Lt. (J.G.) M. Slattery, NC had duty here. Anyone knowing anything about her family can contact her at: 2230 South Piney Point, 204 Houston, Texas 77063.

Fall semester 2002 dean’s lists are out, and islanders are making the grade at colleges and universities all over the country.

Carrie Vander Stoep of Oak Harbor was named to the dean’s list at Northwest College in Orange City, Iowa. Vander Stoep is a freshman mathematics teaching major. In addition to being named to the list, Vander Stoep received collegiate scholar distinction, having earned a semester grade point average of 3.75 or above.

Oak Harbor native Heather McDougal was named to the dean’s list at Howard Payne University. Students must earn 3.65 – 3.99 average for the honor.

Amber Walker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jefferey Walker of Oak Harbor, has been named to the Grove City College dean’s list. Walker is majoring in international business at the private Christian college located 60 miles north of Pittsburgh, Penn. In addition, Walker is one of 300 students named to the dean’s list of presidential scholars, earning a 3.85 – 4.0 grade point average.

Stephanie Hunter of Oak Harbor has been named to the deans list at Northwest Nazarene University. To be eligible for the academic honor, students must earn a minimum 3.5 grade point average while taking at least 12 credit hours of classes. Northwest Nazarene is a Christian comprehensive university located in Nampa, Idaho.

Michelle Martin of Oak Harbor is listed on the fall dean’s list for the University of Portland. Martin is a junior and majoring in life science. Students need at least a 3.5 grade point average to make the dean’s list at the University of Portland.

Erin Nicole Gamble has been named to the dean’s list at Iowa State University. Gamble is a pre-business major at the school located in Ames, Iowa. Students must earn at least a 3.5 grade point average for the honor.

Ryan Richards of Coupeville, a sophomore at Juanita College studying peace and conflict study and history, was named to the dean’s list. Richards is a 2002 graduate of Armand Hammer U W College / West. Juanita College is located in Huntington, Penn.

Lyndsey Suzanne Meyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Meyer of Oak Harbor, was named to the dean’s list at Montreat College. Montreat is a Christian liberal arts college located 15 miles east of Asheville, N.C., in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

And we have a recent graduate too.

G.T. Wolfe, a 1990 graduate of Coupeville High School received his masters of business administration degree from Pacific Lutheran University Dec. 14, 2002. He is the son of Terrie Wolfe-Davidson of Oak Harbor.

And good news to Islanders in the military.

Marine Corps Pvt. Sarah E. Dugger, daughter of Lisa A. and Rick C. Dugger of Coupeville, recently completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. Dugger is a 2002 graduate of Coupeville High School.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd class Thomas M. Stanalonis, son of Luz. M. Stanalonis of Oak Harbor, recently departed on a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf while assigned to the USS Donald Cook, home ported in Norfolk, Va. Stanalonis joined the Navy in February 1997.