Editor,

Memorial Day weekend to the end of Labor Day weekend: a 100-day period that embraces vacation time, travel time, and nice weather. Seen from another angle, lots of folks are driving — and some of the drivers are impaired.

Do not add to the traffic or mortality statistics for 2016. Do not put yourself through the hell of knowing you endangered your life and the lives of others needlessly. Do not initiate a ripple effect that will inject more suffering, pain, and anguish into a multitude of lives.

For more background information on impaired driving, please go to the Impaired Driving Impact Panel of Island County (IDIPIC) website: http://idipic.org/

This year IDIPIC hopes to once again raise awareness and funds through our annual fundraising effort, and we call it: Keep It a Safe Summer (KISS) .

On our website there is a long list of Island County sponsors, our Partners in Prevention. Our operations, panels, staff salaries, and outreach, are ALL furnished by donations from you, the public. We’ve been doing this work for 16 years and believe we are saving lives.

If you wish to participate in IDIPIC’s mission or this campaign, please contact IDIPIC at 672-8219 or by e-mail: idipic@idipic.org. Donations made to IDIPIC now through Labor Day will be matched by Island Thrift, up to $5,000 and can be mailed to:

IDIPIC, POB 358, Oak Harbor WA 98277.

We will acknowledge every donation we receive; or you can stipulate to have your donation remain anonymous.

Here’s to Safe Roads all the time!

Regards,

MIKE DIAMANTI

IDIPIC director