Many support basketball kids

To the editor:

I would like to thank all the volunteers who took their time to referee, coach, score keep, and others who helped in various capacities during the girls and boys South Whidbey Parks & Recreation youth basketball program. Their desire to help the youths in this community is admirable.

Without their time and commitment, nearly 200 girls and boys would not have been able to develop their basketball skills and attain the lifelong skills associated with sports: sportsmanship, team work, commitment and so on.

I would also like to give a very grateful acknowledgement to all the people who refereed and coached throughout the season: Richard Parrick, Jim Russell, TJ Russell, Bill Eckert, Rick Workman, Erin Mackie, Nate Ratcliff, Theresa Pope, Mark Papritz, Jason Hunt, Erik Jokinen, Jon Chapman, Don Heggeness, Cliff Bjork, Julie DeMers, Michael Barenburg, Meggan Lubach, Karyle   Kramer, Tom Donnelly, Kathy Gianni, Nicole Graham, Beth Smith, Lauren Coleman, Nancy Ricketts, Pati Schuller, Brent Friedman, Karen Jaegar, Garth Heggenes, Blane Hezel, Jeff Hanson, Paul Thompson, Chase White and Tim and Heather Collins. These fine volunteers worked hard to provide a fun and exciting, structured recreational activity. Thank you for your time and effort.

The following businesses were also a tremendous support to the youth basketball program through team sponsorship and deserve to be recognized: Mukilteo Coffee, Scooters Floors, China City, TMI Land Surveying, Star Store, Rich’s, Pignataro Volkswagen, Boren Construction, Linds Pharmacy, Useless Bay Animal Clinic, Davido Consulting Group Inc., Porter Whidbey Insurance, Payless Foods, Hanson’s Building Supply, South Whidbey Assembly of God, Jeff’s Painting, Clinton Food Mart, Prima Bistro, Bayview Vision Clinic, Tara Property Management, Matt’s Import Haven, Pacific Landscapes, Summit Financial Group and Gemkow Construction LLC.

I would also like to give the South Whidbey School District a special thank you for allowing us to use its facilities, without which we would not be able to offer this fantastic program to the youths of South Whidbey.

Again, I would like to thank all the dedicated people who made an effort to get involved in the lives of the youths of this community.

Matt Antetomaso

South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District

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