Editor,

As all of the staff here at WICA come up for air, and before the opening of our theatre season this weekend, I wanted to thank everyone in this amazing community for their incredible hospitality and opened-armed welcome to the musicians and “Djangophiles” who descended on Whidbey for our 18th celebration of DjangoFestNW.

I’m new to the island and am the newly appointed WICA executive director. What I witnessed as a first-time observer and attendee during DjangoFest was an astonishingly generous, friendly and hospitable community that opened their homes, their businesses and their volunteer spirit to help us pull off a world-class musical extravaganza in a little “Village by the Sea.”

From the bottom of our collective hearts, thank you from all of us here at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.

Verna Everitt

WICA executive director