To the editor:

I found Mr. VanDerford’s recent article entitled “Island time discourages Whidbey shoppers” lacking on facts, completely one-sided and, frankly, very mean-spirited. As a 20-year Langleyite and new gallery owner, I agree that coordinated regular business hours and being open one evening in downtown would be a great idea. However, I take issue with the overt suggestion that the reason businesses have suffered in Langley is because the merchants are on “island time.”

The merchants of Langley are a professional and dedicated group. Being downtown now, I witness that dedication every day. I especially take issue with the references made about Lowry-James Rare Prints & Books. Priscilla Lowry is a mother of teen boys, a spouse and shopkeeper. She is an incredibly hard worker and is often in her shop till 6 p.m. or later. Priscilla has personally organized several events around books in Langley that bring people from off-island to our city. To suggest that Priscilla is a slacker is ridiculous.

The merchants in Langley deserve to be treated with the courtesy of a phone call before a reporter slanders their business. Making assumptions like those stated in the article is not only poor investigative journalism, it is almost character assassination of a business. Is Mr. VanDerford aware that now when Googling Lowry-James his article will pop up? Now that’s the kind of publicity we all can do without.

I think the reason for the downturn in some businesses in Langley is because of the dismal economy, not the lackadaisical shopkeepers. This economy has been brutal to main streets across the country. However one would hope that in such a time a community’s media would try to be supportive. This kind of sensationalized journalism is devastating to people who have given it their all to build successful businesses.

The merchants in downtown Langley have appreciated the outpouring of support as locals shopped locally. Looking for ways to help the situation, rather than beating down this hard-working group of merchants, would be a great way for the media to start the

New Year.

Rene Neff

Langley