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Council OKs Kraken By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
Members of the Oak Harbor City Council had no reservations about unleashing the Kraken downtown. Last week, the council unanimously approved a $33,000 contract with an Oregon-based sculptor to create an eight-foot metal octopus-like monster attacking the Nautilus submarine. Councilwoman Tara Hizon and Councilman Bob Severns were absent. The unique thing about the work of art will be tentacles. Two sets of tentacles will appear to emerge from the pavement and wrap around walk signals on either side of Pioneer Way at the Southwest City Beach Street intersection. Cac Kamak, senior planner, explained that the 2011 Pioneer Way remodel project included four sites for arts projects. They were originally supposed to all be installed immediately, but funding issues caused the arts purchases to be spanned out over time. The art projects are funded through a 0.25 percent utility tax on water, sewer and garbage in the city. The
Island County law library struggles to remain open By JANIS REID Staff reporter
Photo contributed
Sculptor Bill Hunt’s wife created an illustration of the Kraken piece he’s creating for Oak Harbor. balance in the arts acquisition fund is about $54,000. Three projects are already in place Moon Maves, Stumbly Ducklings and the mermaid. The Kraken will be the final piece planned for downtown. Kamak said the members of the Arts Commission wanted a bold piece for the intersection because of all the other “competing elements” at the location. The members also liked the idea
of a piece that would span across the road. They approached artist Bill Hunt with ideas and the Kraken was born. “This would be unique enough to attract attention and bring people downtown as well,” Kamak said. Hunt said the Kraken will be based on the giant Pacific octopus, which lives in the waters surrounding Whidbey Island.
REPLENISH YOUR MIND, BODY SPIRIT
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Wednesday, February 26, 2014 • Whidbey News-Times
The county’s law library is asking the county to grant them $3,200 to cover a 2013 deficit and approve an increase in filing fees from $17 to $20. Librarian Tom Karras has also offered to reduce his hours by five per week, which would reflect a savings of $4,000 per year in the library’s budget. In previous years, Karras accepted a cut in pay to assist the library. “It was really the librarian that saved the day,” said Island County Superior Court Judge Vickie Churchill, who chairs the Law Library board of trustees. Churchill told the county commissioners during a work session Wednesday that the law library’s budget declined in recent years because of a decrease in the number of filings, and an increase in the number of people asking for fee waivers. The library has already cut down on a number of books and resources over the years but has reached a point where they don’t feel more should be dropped, Churchill said. The library would like to retain the Westlaw book collection at a minimum, she said. State law requires that each county with
a population of 8,000 or more have a county law library. For counties the size of Island County, the required five-member law library board of trustees consists of the chair of the board of county commissioners, one of the Superior Court judges and three members of the county Bar Association. The board of commissioners agreed that the measure should move forward to a regular meeting, but staff was directed to research how the fee increase might affect other budgets connected with the statute. The law library is open for the public and the legal community to access materials for legal research. Legal materials must be used in the library and are not available for checkout by the public due to the small size of the library collection. Library staff can assist visitors with locating materials but cannot give legal advice. The library also offers three computers that are available for legal research databases. Churchill mentioned that it has been a number of years since the technology in the library has been updated and the fee increase, coupled with the librarian’s hours decrease, may allow the board of trustees to build up a reserve for technology improvements in the future.
CORRECTIONS The 2014 Whidbey Island Almanac contained an incorrect date in the events calendar. The Penn Cove Water Festival is Saturday, May 10. An article on page 29 of the 2014 Whidbey Island Almanac contained an incorrect fact. The current owners of the Greenbank Store & Grille are Brian and Nancy Cedar. We regret the errors.
A Service Guide For Health & Wellness On Whidbey Island
Alterations & Tailoring WHIDBEY INSPIRATION
Seamstress and Jewelry Designer 810 SE Pioneer Way, #102 Oak Harbor
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Alterations and Tailoring Custom Design Jewelry Custom Embroidery Gift Shop
360-240-1024 www.whidbeyinspiration.com
Massage Therapy ROXANNE FAIRFAX, LMP
Balancing Body - Mind - Soul Relaxation and deep tissue massage. Most insurance accepted for injury treatment. For more information, please contact me. 161 SE Barrington Dr., Oak Harbor 360-682-5491
Midwifery Greenbank Women’s Clinic and Birth Center
Full scope midwifery care. Annual exams/birth control services for women of all ages Serving Whidbey Island for over 20 years. All Major Insurance, Tricare Accepted
360-678-3594 or 360-222-0122 www.greenbankbirthcenter.com
OB/GYN ISLAND WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE DR. ROBERT J. BURNETT, MD, FACOG DR. MELISSA S.CHINN, DO, FACOG Board Certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology
SARAH MEYER, CNM, ARNP 201 Birch St., Coupeville, WA 98239 360-678-0831
Physical Therapy Oak Harbor/Freeland/Clinton FAMILYCARE PHYSICAL THERAPY
Traditional Tai Chi & Medical Qigong Slow, yet invigorating movements, focused on increasing oxygen to brain & organs. Improves mental stability, opens neural pathways, builds core strength & muscles around arthritic joints, balance, BP. Relieves pain, depression. Mind and body energized yet calm. Leaves one relaxed with a sense of strength and well being. Weekly Classes - Morning & Evening ··Coupeville and Oak Harbor·· FREE Quarterly Workshops, “Intro to Traditional Tai Chi & Medical Qigong”, Sat., March 29, 2:00 - 4:00 Whidbey Gen. Hosp., Coupeville. Call teacher to register for workshop or classes. Missed some of the information? Attend again!! Jill Vulcano-Reed, Cert sifu, 6th dan 43 yrs exp Member of U.S. Martial Arts Association First Class Free … call 360-675-1464
Island Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc.
80 N. Main Street • Coupeville 360-678-4700 WWW.ISLAND-PROSTHETICS.COM
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