Summer begins with Memorial Day weekend

"Summer unofficially is in progress as Whidbey Islanders and visitors are in the midst of enjoying the three-day Memorial Day weekend.Washington State Ferries was busy well into Friday night bringing visitors to the island, and will be on holiday schedule Monday taking them away. The holiday schedule adds extra sailings from Clinton at 8:55 p.m. and 9:50 p.m.Many islanders will be enjoying fare from the beaches this weekend as tides will be ideal for gathering clams, mussels and crabs, where legal. The low tide today is minus 2.7 feet at 1 p.m. and tomorrow it's minus 2.2 at 2 p.m.Weather prognosticators on Friday were predicting partly sunny conditions today with a high of 72 while Sunday will be a cooler 66 with a possibility of showers.Monday will offer Memorial Day services at the Clinton and Bayview cemeteries. For a rundown of Memorial Day activities please turn to Page A-9 of today's South Whidbey Record.Island Transit buses will not run on Monday because of the holiday. All libraries in the Sno-Isle Library System will be closed Monday, as will most state and local government offices.Not all government workers will be off duty, however. Washington State Troopers and Island County Sheriff's deputies will be on the highway and roads reminding drivers to obey the speed limits.Last year statewide there were five fatal collisions over the Memorial Day weekend, according to the State Patrol. So far this year this year, as of May 22, there have been 204 fatalities reported, two more than in the same period last year. The year 2000 ended with 632 fatalities which was a a 37-year low. "

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