In an area that many believe is in its economic death-throes, one new business is on the verge of celebrating its one year anniversary.

Meet MAKE Whidbey Market, a small-town shop nestled between Cozy’s Roadhouse and Cadée Distillery in the heart of downtown Clinton. According to owner Janae Cameron, the business didn’t just survive the tricky first year, it’s growing. In fact, she’s reporting increased sales for the past two months as a result of adding a wider variety of products to their storefront.

And she’s not an isolated success story. Sixteen new businesses have come to town in the past 18 months, and another — a noodle bar — is slated to open this summer. So if Clinton is supposed to be dead, what gives?

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Nearly 100 people and Island County government officials gathered at the South Whidbey High School commons on May 19 to address property crime issues facing the South End.

Organized by the Island County Sheriff’s Office, the meeting began as a calm informational session on new resources available to the public and what residents can do to secure their possessions, but became a heated and open discussion once questions started rolling in from community members.

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Clinton resident Dale Kerslake and her timid 4-year-old poodle, Keiko, anxiously step up to the starting line as they await the signal to search. Keiko makes no attempt to interact with people nearby, instead cowering by Kerslake’s leg. But when the signal is given, Keiko suddenly leaps into action to lead her owner through the course, confidently sniffing her way through every nook and cranny.

The game is nose work, a fast-growing dog sport that teaches owners to develop their canine’s natural scenting ability. Individual pups are tasked with sniffing out scents left in designated areas by a nose work instructor, with owners often unaware of the scents’ locations at the higher skill levels.

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The Exxon Valdez oil spill will be forever burned into the memories of many. With large amounts of oil constantly moving through Puget Sound, the prospect of a similar catastrophe in our waters is a frightening possibility.

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While the boys are being boys by running in circles, laughing hysterically and occasionally stopping in their tracks to watch their daily dose of cartoons, mom looks on with a smile. Even as the wilder boy, 9 year-old Liam, wields a boomerang seemingly out of nowhere, mom giggles.

It’s fun having boys. As crazy as it can be, it’s fun, according to Johnna Dow, the mother of 11 year-old Bugsy and 9 year-old Liam.

“It’s important to spend time with the boys,” Dow said. “They grow too fast!”

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