The Exchange focuses on cycling
South Whidbey has an active cycling community and the island’s natural beauty lends itself to the sport.
The next Exchange, a series of talks sponsored by The South Whidbey Record, will focus on bikability on Whidbey.
Wheels on Whidbey, a new island-wide bicycle advocacy group, is gathering a group of panelists from the Bicycle Alliance of Washington and Island County to talk about how to make Whidbey a bike-friendly environment.
The forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17 in the Front Room at the Bayview Cash Store.
The event is sponsored by The South Whidbey Record, Wheels on Whidbey and Goosefoot. For information, call Sherry Mays at 221-5300.
Port to meet Wednesday night
Port of South Whidbey commissioners will meet tonight to discuss their recent powwow with the Langley City Council on the marina project.
Also on the agenda, the Whidbey Island Sea Kayakers association will present ideas to improve access at Possession Beach Waterfront Park.
The port meets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland.
Waterfront is topic at meeting
The Langley City Council will pick up the waterfront discussion Wednesday during its regular meeting.
The council will review waterfront regulatory options prepared by the city planning staff.
The council will meet at
6:30 p.m. at city hall.
Board talks about summer activities
Spring and summer programs for kids and adults are on the park district’s agenda this week.
The latest entries for the South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District activity guide will be covered at the district’s next meeting,
7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Community Health Services building, at
5475 Maxwelton Road in Langley.
District to hold planning forum
The South Whidbey School District will hold a community forum next week.
The forum will cover planning within Navigation 2020, operations and finance. District teachers, staff, parents and community members are invited to attend.
Topics will include salary percentages, utility costs, tax revenue and funding issues related to enrollment.
The forum is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 in the commons at South Whidbey High School. Light food and child care will be provided.
For information or to reserve child care, contact Sue Terhar at 221-6198, ext. 2245 or e-mail
keycommunicators@sw.wednet.edu.
Businesses hit with fraudulent checks
Freeland businesses have reported a number of bad checks in the account name of Robert J. Simmons, according to the Island County Sheriff’s Office.
The checks were from an account at Pacific Northwest Bank, a bank no longer in business.
The fraudulent checks, signed by “J R Simmons” or “R J Simmons” have been returned unpaid by the depositor’s bank.
In each case, three different and incorrect Washington state driver’s license numbers have also been written on the checks and the account address on the checks is 204 SW Terry Road in Coupeville. Police said the checks have also been used as far north as Oak Harbor.
The account originally belonged to Robert J. Simmons, who is in prison in another state.
Anyone with information on the checks can call Det. Rick
Felici in the Island County Sheriff’s Office at 360-678-4422.
Beaver found
dead in Greenbank
One of Greenbank Farm’s beavers was shot and killed near the beach, a Port of Coupeville worker said last week.
Mark Fessler told Port of Coupeville commissioners Wednesday that one of the two beavers that had been introduced to the wetlands had been killed. Fessler is responsible for much flora and fauna at the farm.
“He probably got booted out after the kids were born and wandered into somebody’s garden eating their rhodies,” Fessler said. “We think that’s who shot him.”
The beaver was rushed to an Oak Harbor veterinarian but help came too late.
Port commissioners wanted to know if the beavers had been a good addition to the farm or if they had been trouble.
“The beavers do everything that was recommended in the 1998 wetland report — for free,” Fessler said.
The good news is that the female beaver survived and has been spotted with some young, he added.
HOPE training sessions coming
Training sessions for the HOPE Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program will be held next week in Langley and Oak Harbor.
Volunteers ages 11 or older can lend a hand with riders and horses with the HOPE program. Each volunteer will help improve lives with every ride for children, adults and families that are experiencing challenging circumstances.
No experience is necessary, just the desire to impact the lives of others and have fun.
Volunteer trainings are scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 15 at the Island County Fairgrounds in Langley and 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17 in Oak Harbor at Skagit Valley College Room 137 for introductory training.
Hands on training is set for
3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 22 at the Island County Fairgrounds and 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday,
April 24 in Oak Harbor at
2226 Hastie Lake Road.
For information, call 221-7656 or e-mail hope@whidbey.com.
