LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Sound Waters was a big success

Editor, Sound Waters is a one-day conference designed to bring together experts and citizens across Island County to share how we can live in harmony with our marine environment. Celebrating its 20th year on Feb. 7, more than 600 people attended this event held at South Whidbey High School. Beach Watchers sponsors this annual event, under the auspices of the Washington State University Island County Extension program with support by the Lighthouse Environmental Programs.

February 27, 2015 7:17 pm

Editor,

Sound Waters is a one-day conference designed to bring together experts and citizens across Island County to share how we can live in harmony with our marine environment. Celebrating its 20th year on Feb. 7, more than 600 people attended this event held at South Whidbey High School. Beach Watchers sponsors this annual event, under the auspices of the Washington State University Island County Extension program with support by the Lighthouse Environmental Programs.

Beach Watcher volunteers work for one year to organize this event. On behalf of the 24-member Sound Waters Team, thank you to everyone who attended and made the day a big success — Dr. John Delaney, keynote presenter, and the 85 other session presenters and 40-plus exhibitors who shared their time and expertise without compensation.

South Whidbey High School provided an excellent venue and thanks to The Midnight Kitchen for catering lunches. We appreciated the hard-working student volunteers from Oak Harbor High School Ecology Club and South Whidbey High School Green Team, Key Club, and Honor Society and the Island County 4-H Club.

Supporters of Sound Waters and those contributing funds toward Beach Watchers included:

• Puget Sound Energy

• Deception Pass Sail and Power Squadron

•Puget Sound Partnership

•Whidbey Telecom

•Whidbey Weekly

•South Whidbey Yacht Club

•the Town of Coupeville

•Windermere Real Estate

•Useless Bay Coffee Company

•Star Store Market

•The Goose Community Grocer

•Payless Food Store

•Senior Services

•Whidbey EcoNetwork

•Mary Ellen O’Connor, T-shirt designer

Special thanks to the Extension Office and WSU for continued support of the Beach Watcher program.

Thanks to everyone for making this an almost waste-free event. WSU Waste Wise program collected a total of only seven pounds of garbage (for 600 people), 42 pounds of recyclables, and 140 pounds of compostables.

Sound Waters Team members deserve a sincere thank you for giving so generously of their time to make this such a successful event.

Save Feb. 6 for Sound Waters 2016!

Sincerely,

LINDA ADE RIDDER

chairwoman

Sound Waters 2015