County to gather input about logos
Island County Public Works and the Whidbey Scenic Isle Way Steering Committee will hold a meeting from 5:30 to 8 p.m. tonight.
The meeting will be held in the commissioners hearing room in the Island County Annex.
Last year, the county hosted a call for logos from the general public. Island County and its consultant received more than 50 logo entries, to which were categorized into six areas, including Whidbey Island shape within a circle, island shape alone, Deception Pass bridge, Madrona landscape, ferries and Ebey’s Landing.
The steering committee will present the logo options and gateway concepts to the public for comment and input, and after the input is gathered, the designs will be further refined.
Later in the year, the byway logo signs will be installed along Highway 20 and Highway 525.
Gateway monuments will be constructed in Clinton, Keystone and in the vicinity of Deception Pass State Park — the three portals to Whidbey Island.
The purpose of the byway logo signs is to reinforce the byway’s identity to visitors and Island residents and to serve as a “wayfinding” element to guide travelers along the byway.
For information, call 360-679-7331, e-mail mikem@co.island.wa.us or allisa.carlson@otak.com.
Lawmakers address Central Chamber
State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen and Reps. Norma Smith and
Barbara Bailey will give a wrap-up of the just-finished session to the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce at its next membership meeting.
Each legislator will give an update and there will be time for questions.
The chamber meets at 7 p.m.
April 10 at the Methodist Church,
608 N. Main St., Coupeville. Come at 6:30 p.m. for coffee and networking.
The meeting is open to the public and people are encouraged to attend.
School board to check building sites
The South Whidbey School District school board will hold staff listening sessions on the recommendations made by its long-range facility use planning committee during site visits in April and May.
The board will meet at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, at the Intermediate School; at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday,
April 23, at Langley Middle School;
2:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at Whidbey Island Academy behind the high school; 2:45 p.m. Wednesday,
May 7, at South Whidbey High School and 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at the Primary School.
American Legion cancels auction
The American Legion Post Ladies Auxiliary has canceled the annual
benefit auction that was planned for
April 12.
The post appreciates the support received from local merchants and will be contacting them regarding their donations.
Solar panel workshop planned at school
South Whidbey High School is hosting a two-day solar panel workshop in April.
The primary project involves installing a grid-tied photovoltaic system to the roof of the bleachers at Waterman Field; organizers hope to transfer generated electricity back into the school’s power grid.
Also on the agenda is the installation of an electric vehicle charging station.
Classes will cover inverter technology, system design, transportation issues, costs and the future of alternative energy.
The workshop runs Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12, at the football field. The cost is $100 for community members but the sessions are free for those 18 and under.
Call Jay Freundlich at 221-4300,
ext. 5210 for details.
Rockhoppers open mic night goes high tech
Rockhoppers owner Rene Schlangen will demonstrate the online streaming capabilities that musicians and writers who attend the weekly open mic sessions at the coffeehouse are using to get their work onto the Internet. The coffeehouse also has a private conference room where writers’ critique groups can meet on other nights.
Writers are encouraged to drop in every Tuesday evening to participate in open mic or to share or critique their writings.
To learn more about the Whidbey Island Writers Association and the classes and workshops mentioned here, visit www.writeonwhidbey.org and to see the Rockhopper’s online stream of artists’ presentations visit www.ferryfolk.com.
Call Donna Hood at 341-1860 for info.
Host family needed on South Whidbey
A host family is needed for a foreign exchange student who will attend South Whidbey High School for the 2008-09 school year.
Students who want to come here to study include a girl from Germany who loves basketball, volleyball, riding horses, reading and plays the piano and saxophone; a boy from Hong Kong who loves biking, basketball, bowling, cooking and family activities; a girl from Sweden who enjoys cooking, movies, photography, shopping and snow sports; and a boy from Thailand who likes music, raising animals, biking and is interested in zoology and aviation.
Students come with good English skills, their own insurance and spending money coupled with the desire to be a member of an American family. Host families do not need to have teenagers; young families as well as empty nesters are excellent hosts this year.
For information about the students and the program, call Jamin Henderson at 360-661-0552 or visit www.intoed
ventures.org.
Soroptomists sponsor heart health program
Whidbey General Hospital Foundation received a $10,000 gift from the Soroptomists International of South Whidbey to establish a voucher program for Whidbey General Hospital heart program services.
The Soroptomists International of South Whidbey “Heart of A Woman” program provides free heart screenings and other selected services for South Whidbey women at the Whidbey General Hospital Life Center for Essential Wellness.
The South Whidbey Soroptomists were galvanized into action in response to learning that cardiovascular disease is the largest cause of death for women worldwide.
“More women than men die each year from cardiovascular disease and it claims the lives of one in four women,” said Marti Murphy, program chairwoman for the Soroptimists. “Because symptoms for women are sometimes vague and different from those in men, women often die of their first cardiac event.”
The Heartwise screening sessions normally cost $50 to $65. Medicare and private insurance do not cover these services.
“We realized we could improve women’s chances by increasing access to services that might otherwise be unaffordable,” said Kim Allen, Soroptomist president. “Funding the hospital’s Heartwise screening appointments ensures that money will not be a barrier for South Whidbey women. We feel we are helping to save lives.”
In the first two months of the voucher program, 20 women have been served. The Heartwise screenings and programs are offered at the hospital in Coupeville and at sites in the community by appointment.
Women living in the South Whidbey zip codes 98236, 98260, 98249 and 98253 can call the Life Center at 321-7656 ext. 2130, to request a free screening appointment. The program is funded through June 30.
