To the editor:
I have never endorsed moving the carved cedar “Welcome to Whidbey” sign. It is not a good idea. It is in a protected place on the hillside, welcoming all to our island. It was placed there by all who worked on it as a gift to the community, and we need to take care of it right where it stands.
The vegetation on the hillside was not a factor in the damage to the back of the sign. Plywood that caused the rot problems there was removed two years ago. Now the wood there can “breathe.” The sign, otherwise, is in excellent shape, but not good enough to move. It needs additional repair on the back.
This week, two wood restorers from the National Parks Service working at the historic Ebey’s Reserve examined the sign. Their conclusion was that “moving it would cause problems, it is easily fixable in place and cost effective.” As you know, there are many talented woodworkers here on the island. A number of them are ready to roll up their sleeves and help out.
Last week, I pruned the blackberries behind the sign in exactly one hour. This needs to be done twice a year.
The new metal sign being fabricated off the island hasn’t been started yet. It should be placed at the Campbell Road location with “Welcome to Clinton” on the back, welcoming people from both directions. There is a slab poured there already, near the bus stop. The steel will be strong and can handle the high winds and rain there.
There was a spirit of community that created the sign, and now we need that spirit again to keep the welcome sign in its place on the hill.
Two local filmmakers volunteered to create two short three-minute videos about the sign. One film speaks for me and is very informative as to the history and condition of the sign and what needs to be done about it. The other short film is the assessment by the National Park Service. You can view them at http://www.screencast.com/t/dd1lXJkDXN (history) and the other is the assessment by the NPS restoration experts: http://www.screencast.com/t/ka7Ow9ZSkU01.
Pat McVay
Clinton
