NEWS BRIEFS: New bill provides funding for vets

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen has secured an 11 percent increase in funding for the Veterans Administration, including $3.8 billion in funding for mental health, post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury care.

The Military Construction and Veterans Administration Appropriations Bill for the fiscal year 2009 passed the House Friday by a vote of 409 to 4.

The legislation also increases gas mileage reimbursement rates for veterans traveling to get health care at a veteran’s facility from 28.5 to 41.5 cents per mile.

The bill includes $6.16 million for a new fire instructional facility at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

“A new, permanent fire instructional facility will help servicemen and women at NAS Whidbey train to fight fires and be ready for any contingency,” Larsen said. “I will continue working in Congress to support the men and women serving at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and Naval Station Everett.”

The funding for NAS Whidbey would be used to replace the current, temporary facilities with a new, permanent 4,600 square-foot academic fire instructional facility. Any crew member who deploys from NAS Whidbey must be trained to put out fires on aircraft.

The legislation passed by the House Friday has been endorsed by major veterans’ organizations including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Health officials say outbreak subsiding

The recent outbreak of pertussis, or whooping cough, appears to be subsiding on Whidbey Island, according to county health officials.

A total of 74 cases has been documented since the onset of the outbreak in late April. Normal incidence for Island County is two to four cases per year over the past six years. Most of the cases —60 of the 74 — have come from Coupeville and South Whidbey.

Island County Chief Medical Officer Roger Case is withdrawing his recommendation for unimmunized and under-immunized children to avoid attending group activities where they may be exposed to active cases of the highly contagious disease.

“The directors of such activities are advised to continue to observe participants for coughs, and to recommend to parents of identified children with coughs to have them examined by their physician before permitting continued attendance,” he said.

Sept. 4 is the first day of school on South Whidbey.

“The back-to-school activities are coming up, and this is a good time to make sure all children are current on their immunizations, as is required by school regulations,” Case added.

Parking at the fair will be tricky

There will be less parking available at this year’s Island County Fair due to construction and the loss of parking at the new site of the fire station.

However, there will be more parking available at the Langley Middle School as a fundraiser for the South Whidbey High School Booster Club. The Boy Scouts parking lot will be back on the corner of Camano Avenue and Edgecliff Drive. The Whidbey Children’s Theater will be providing parking at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.

Free parking close to the Fair is available on Langley Road between Maxwelton Road and Sandy Point Road, and at the CMA Church on the corner of Sixth Street and Cascade Avenue.

Handicapped parking is available at the school ballfield parking lot.

Island Transit drops off and picks up right at the fairgrounds on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Island Transit is running an extended schedule during the fair, including evenings and Sunday service for the entire island.

Fairgoers can catch a bus from South Whidbey Intermediate School on Maxwelton Road or the Nos. 7 and 8 buses on weekdays and No. 1 bus on the weekend.

City of Langley officials recommend visitors review the new fair parking guide and expanded Island Transit bus service at the at www.islandcountyfair.com. Click on the “Bus Service/Parking” on the left.

Sustainability class is at the institute

The Whidbey Institute invites everyone to spend a summer day in rest, reflection and renewal. As the seasons change, people experience many transitions. But there is always the possibility that beyond a transition, a person can experience a transformation.

In August, the institute welcomes the challenge and blessings of summer’s transforming fire, which is a symbol of spirit.

Sharon Daloz Parks, an author, teacher and a member of the staff of the Whidbey Institute, will facilitate this first session, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11.

Dianne Shiner, executive director of the Whidbey Institute at Chinook, will share the meditative movement of Shibashi—a form of Qigong—in the meadow.

Lunch, art supplies and a private room for solitude and rest will be provided. The fee is $45 for the day.

Space is limited. For details, call 341-1884.

Walk with rangers at Ebey’s Landing

A new walking program has begun for locals and visitors to Whidbey Island. Throughout the summer, guided walking tours led by a National Park Service ranger will offer a look at Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.

“Roam with a Ranger” walks are held every day at three different locations around the reserve.

The walks are held at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. to give visitors a variety of times to choose from, but each covers a different venue.

At 10 a.m. a ranger will meet walkers at the kiosk at the beach at Ebey’s Landing. For an hour, walkers will hear about the history and geography of the area while taking in the views of Ebey’s Prairie, Puget Sound and the distant snow-capped mountains.

Daily at noon, a walk departs from the prairie overlook just across from the Sunnyside Cemetery. Walkers can enjoy the Bluff Trail and a close-up look at the Jacob Ebey House currently under restoration.

At 2 p.m., walkers meet in historic downtown Coupeville at the entrance to the wharf for a history-filled walk down Front Street.

For details, call 360-678-6084 or visit www.ebeysforever.com.

Dance is coming to Bayview

The next Second Saturday Dance sponsored by the Bayview Community Hall Association will be 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 at the hall, 5642 Bayview Road. DJ Bob will provide the music. Admission costs $10, which benefits the hall, owned by residents of the South Whidbey School District. Call 221-2201 or e-mail tetrimbath@whidbey.com.