In Winter I get up at night,
and dress by yellow candle-light.
In Summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
— Robert Louis Stephenson
Earlier this month, our island community suffered another tragic loss when two young Navy men drowned while kayaking off the West side of Whidbey.
Each year, the Coupeville Lions Club gathers items for its annual garage sale.
And when you think garage sale, it’s not just a few items people are looking to get rid of.
Wearing blackface is offensive to any reasonable person.
When the person wearing the blackface is a political candidate, the act is doubly offensive.
When the candidate is oblivious to the fact that blackface is offensive — well that’s just ignorance beyond imagination.
David Sponheim, a candidate for state representative, says his video depicting President Barack Obama in blackface wasn’t intended to be offensive.
As Coupeville High School’s Class of 2014 make their way into the world, there are a few things graduating seniors should keep in mind.
The Michael Crichton book “Jurassic Park” and the movie based on the best-seller presented what might happen if scientists were able to clone extinct dinosaurs, bringing them back to life. While nothing like that is possible at this time — a good thing when you recall the mayhem the dinos caused in the world Crichton conjured up — sometimes scientists surprise themselves in breathing new life into old organisms.
For me, nothing is more emblematic of a Northwest garden than the rhododendron.
Well, except for maybe stinging nettles and Himalayan blackberries. But for now, let’s put those two out of our minds and think only happy thoughts, shall we?
Whether the rusty, barnacle-encrusted anchor gingerly raised from the swift waters off of Whidbey Island is truly a relic of Captain George Vancouver’s expedition remains to be seen.
Nonetheless, the anchor’s recovery is a story of dedication, determination, mystery and adventure.
In summary, it contains all of the elements of an engaging story.
Parents, relatives, teachers and classmates will shower 2013-14 Oak Harbor and Coupeville high school graduates with advice and words of inspiration.
Most of those words will follow along the lines of …
• Take advantage of your education.
• Don’t settle for second best.
• Follow your heart.
• Make your mark in the world.
• Serve others before yourself.
• Remember, this is only the beginning.
The Island County Historical Society is hosting a 50th anniversary dance party in honor of the first 50 years of the Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival 7-11 p.m. Saturday, June 7 at the Coupeville Recreation Hall.
My friend Bill Dyer died recently, just shy of his 88th birthday.
