Dear Editor: This year the citizens of Oak Harbor have the opportunity to improve the leadership we have on the City Council greatly. Instead of… Continue reading
Welcome to my column. For those who missed my introduction in the Sept. 22 edition, I am R.J. Benner, the new publisher for the Whidbey… Continue reading
The Public Records Act is based on the concept that the government should be transparent.
We all wish COVID-19 was over, don’t you? Eighteen months into this pandemic, we are eager, more than ever, to get back to “normal.” Unfortunately,… Continue reading
In my three years in office, I’ve spent a lot of time listening to law enforcement officials, constituents, and communities of color about improving public… Continue reading
Workers simply need a livable wage, not just a living wage.
The pandemic in America would be over if everyone had gotten vaccinated. Instead, mask mandates are back, hospitals are overfilling, the economy is taking more… Continue reading
More money could be spent on long-term, concrete investments related to tourism.
One of the benefits of this urge for me was recalling what I miss about our Rock while far from it.
One of the few silver linings of the pandemic has been the increased access to local government as meetings are livestreamed so anyone with internet… Continue reading
Two suicides at Deception Pass Bridge in July have reignited a community conversation about placing nets on the structure to prevent such tragedies. Indeed, the… Continue reading
Oak Harbor could use a big landmark, something people recognize and talk about when they visit.
The latest federal stimulus plan, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, distributed huge sums that local governments didn’t ask for and, in cases described… Continue reading
After a year marked by fear, divisiveness and distancing, attending the Whidbey Island Fair is the perfect way for the community to get together and… Continue reading
During sunshine, we are outdoors walking our trails, wandering our beaches and tending our gardens.
Over the last year, giant hulking figures emitting low, intrusive rumbles have appeared in Holmes Harbor. These massive container ships have impacted the lives of… Continue reading
It’s time for the days of mandatory social distancing to come to an end and the summer of social gatherings to begin. Since the CDC… Continue reading
