School board meets tonight
The South Whidbey School Board will get an update on WASL scores at its meeting tonight.
The board will meet at
6:30 p.m. today at South Whidbey Intermediate School on Maxwelton Road.
Three students from the Destination Imagination program will also be honored at the meeting, and the emergency preparedness committee will provide results of a study done to see if the school district is ready for a disaster.
Island Transit honors employee
Island Transit has announced that Cherie Kane is the agency’s “Employee of the Half” for July to December, 2007.
The bi-annual award honors an employee chosen by fellow employees.
“Cherie sets a standard of excellence that others strive to achieve. With all her hard work and dedication, Cherie is absolutely deserving of this award,” said Island Transit spokeswoman Meghan Heppner.
Sailings canceled due to low tides
Washington State Ferries has canceled sailings on the Keystone-Port Townsend route due to low tides and ebb currents.
Sailings from Keystone have been canceled for the runs at 7:15 a.m. Saturday, May 3;
7:15 and 8:45 a.m. Sunday,
May 4; 8:45 a.m. Monday, May 5; 8:45 and 10:15 a.m. Tuesday,
May 6; 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, May 7; 10:15 a.m. and noon Thursday, May 8; and noon
Friday, May 9.
Sailings from Port Townsend are canceled for 6:30 a.m.
Saturday, May 3; 6:30 and 8 a.m. Sunday, May 4; 8 a.m. Monday, May 5; 8 and 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 6; 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 7; 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. Thursday, May 8; and 11:15 a.m. Friday, May 9.
Sailings have been added to the Keystone run at 10:35 a.m. Tuesday, May 6 and 12:10 p.m. Thursday, May 8.
Sailings on the Port Townsend side have been added for
9:55 a.m. Tuesday, May 6 and 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 8.
Hospital gets a clean state audit
Whidbey General Hospital received a perfect review from the state Auditor’s Office in an audit issued last week.
The report, which centered on a review of the hospital district that operates Whidbey General, covered the years 2004 through 2006. The state said the hospital complied with all state laws and regulations, as well as the district’s own procedures and policies. The hospital also had good safeguards in place to protect public assets, said the report, which was released
April 14.
The hospital district, which had a budget of $53 million in 2006, is audited every two years.
During the state’s last audit, in 2005, the state auditor criticized the hospital district after a newly elected commissioner tried to influence other board members into approving an EMS contract the commissioner had with the district.
The hospital district later resolved the issue by adopting a conflict of interest policy.
Council looks at sewer financing
The Island County Council of Governments will meet in a special session this week to talk about Freeland’s bid for millions of dollars in county sales tax to pay for new sewers in Freeland.
Also on the agenda: an update on the Keystone ferry.
The council of governments will meet at 8:30 a.m. in the Oak Harbor Council Chambers, 865 SE Barrington Drive, Oak Harbor.
County has new health director
Island County Commissioners have appointed Keith Higman as the county’s new health department director.
Higman’s appointment fills the void left by Tim McDonald, who recently left to take a position with the Snohomish County Health District.
Higman, who has worked with Island County since 1993, will take over as director on May 2. The appointment became official on April 14.
In 1994, Higman transferred to the county’s health department as an environmental health specialist and in 1998, he became the environmental health director.
Langley to clean up the downtown
Bring your gloves and gardening tool and join the Langley Community Club Annual Street Cleanup at 8 a.m. Saturday,
April 26.
The group will meet on
Second Street in Langley to work on cleaning up Langley’s downtown area.
Organizers anticipate that all work will be wrapped up at
10 a.m. There will be coffee and goodies to celebrate the kick-off the city of Langley’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor action grant
project.
The Langley Community Club is sponsoring the funding of action grants up to $200 per project. The goal of the action grants is to inspire Langley neighbors to work together to improve some aspect of their neighborhood.
Projects can be anything from planting flowers, painting mailboxes, building a park bench or creating an emergency plan for your street.
Stop by the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Langley table anytime during the clean-up and find out how you can get your idea funded.
For more information on the Neighbor-to-Neigbhor Action Grants, contact Kathleen Landel, Special Assistant to the mayor, at 221-4246, ext. 21 or assistant@langleywa.org.
Port moves on marina project
Following the recent meeting with the city of Langley, the Port of South Whidbey is moving forward with plans for the South Whidbey Marina.
At their Wednesday, April 16 meeting, port commissioners approved contracts to engineering firms Art Anderson Associates and GeoEngineers to get permits for the marina overhaul project from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the city.
The permits are needed so the port can start building Phase I
of the marina. Costing about
$3 million, the phase will add seven extra transient slips to the 35-slip small boat harbor.
The plan begins with marginal changes to the uplands area. It also includes moving Phil Simon Park and more parking.
There will be new gravel roadways and a revamped boat ramp with a floating dock to provide safe access. The 400-foot breakwater will be permanently moored so small cruise vessels can tie up.
A small boat center for seven vessels and a new dive staging area will be added — the current marina palisade will remain.
Job fair coming
to Oak Harbor
The WorkSource Whidbey
Job Fair will host a job fair
next month and more than
35 employers are expected to participate.
The job fair will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 22 at the Elks Lodge, 155 NE Ernst Ave., Oak Harbor.
Janicki Industries is sponsoring the event, which includes employers such as Boeing, Schwan’s, New Leaf, Whatcom County Corrections and Aviation Technical Services.
Employers will have the opportunity to meet applicants, hand out applications and interview on-site. More than 270 job seekers attended the last job fair and participation is free.
WorkSource Whidbey has two job fairs each year in May and October. Employers interested in meeting qualified potential employees should call
360-675-5966.
Group to hold bowling fundraiser
Big Brothers Big Sisters is holding its 10th annual bowling fundraiser this month at Freeland Lanes.
In an effort to help more than 100 kids who are waiting for placement with community mentors, the organization is hosting a Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraising event on Saturday, April 26.
Donations from “Bigs,” “Littles,” donors, corporations and other community members have helped children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that have a measurable impact on youth.
The bowling event will offer food, bowling and fun to thank teams of volunteers who spend the months leading up to the event raising awareness and funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County.
For information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County, Bowl for Kids’ Sake contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County at 360-279-0644 or
e-mail bbbs@whidbey.net.
Blood drive comes to South Whidbey
The Puget Sound Blood Center will visit Freeland next month for a blood drive.
The center will be taking donations at Trinity Lutheran Church from 1 to 7 p.m. May 5.
Donations are always needed. Each unit of donated blood has the potential to save three lives, according to the blood center.
