WHIDBEY
OPINION Page A6
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Wednesday, May 21, 2014 • Whidbey News-Times
IN OUR OPINION Cut in athletic fees a welcome step by Oak Harbor schools It’s not often you hear that fees and costs are going down, but that’s exactly what’s happening in the Oak Harbor School District. Starting next school year, a number of athletic fees will be dropping, many of them significantly. The decreases, approved by the Oak Harbor School Board, reverse fee hikes that became necessary over the past few years because of the poor economy and budget cuts. For student athletes, this is very good news. At Oak Harbor’s middle schools, fees are currently $75 for the first sport played, $50 for the second and $25 for the third. Those fees will be descreasing to $25 for the first, second and third sports. At the high school, the $100 fee for the first sport will drop to $80, the second sport will drop from $75 to $55 and the third sport will go from $55 to no fee. “This is just bringing our fees back down to the level they were prior to our fiscal challenges over the last few years,” said schools Superintendent Lance Gibbon. Meanwhile, athletic participation is increasing among middle school students, according to Gibbon. That’s a positive thing. Sports encourage participation and teach teamwork, both important attributes graduates can carry into the work force. School sports can also build self esteem and confidence, valuable life skills. It is imperative for school age children to have access to sports and games, according to Theodore Hesburgh, author of “The Importance of School Sports and Education.” Sports can motivate students, pushing them to earn better grades, especially in schools where maintaining a grade point average is a requirement of participation, according to Hesburgh. Studies back up those claims. In August 2007, “Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise” found that students who were active in sports like soccer, football and even skateboarding performed 10 percent better in core subjects such as math, science, social studies and language arts. By reducing the athletic fees, hopefully more students will be turning out for a sport next school year. We applaud the school district’s steps to make those sports more affordable and accessible.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Pioneer Way
Ideas for bringing new life to downtown core Editor, There has been talk about how to revitalize the Pioneer Way shopping. People seem confused as to why shoppers aren’t coming down there to spend time and money. I have traveled to a few tourist towns in my life, partly the product of being and staying married for 32 years. Let me provide some insight into the problems and potential solutions: The architecture – create a zone around Pioneer Way that could only have Dutch style architecture. This would apply to new construction and as old buildings are replaced. This has worked for towns like Solvang and Leavenworth. You must have a distinctive sepa-
ration from the commercial part of town for this to work. You need to deal with the panhandlers. Whether it is through tougher laws against the practice or providing services or housing, it is an issue that must be addressed. Unless, of course, this is something we want to celebrate. The farmers market needs to be moved to Pioneer Way if it is to remain a once-a-week event. I am reminded by one of the best farmers markets located in San Luis Obispo. They shut down Higuera Street on Thursday evenings and the street fills with vendors, restaurants with their barbecues a blaze, and musicians hired to play at intersections. It has turned into a giant event and gathering. There needs to be a committee that approves what type of business can open in the Pioneer district. I don’t go to tourist towns to look for tattoo parlors or bars that I can’t see through the windows. More touristy shops and better
restaurants/delis are needed. The fifth issue is to celebrate the pulse of Oak Harbor – the U.S. Navy. The PBY Memorial Foundation wants to set up its museum on Pioneer. Instead of just setting up shop somewhere, the city should create a building with Dutch architecture down on the vacant lot at Pioneer and Midway down by the water. This museum should be something every Oak Harbor citizen should be proud of and something tourists would like to visit. However, if none of these work, I have one more trick up my sleeve — close Deception Pass Bridge to vehicle traffic and turn it into a bicycle/walking bridge to tie together Deception Pass State Park.Rather than a town that you drive through to get somewhere, Oak Harbor becomes an end of the road destination. People always want to drive to the end of the road — dont’cha know? Thomas Kosloske Oak Harbor
Executive Editor & Publisher........................................................................................ Keven R. Graves Marketing Representatives.........................................................................Phil Dubois, Debbie Leavitt Associate Publisher..............................................................................................................Kim Winjum Creative Manager................................................................................................................. Connie Ross Co-Editors........................................................................................ Jessie Stensland and Megan Hansen Lead Creative Artist...........................................................................................Michelle Wolfensparger Reporters.............................................................Michelle Beahm, Janis Reid, Ron Newberry, Jim Waller Creative Artists............................................................................................. Adine Close, Jennifer Miller Administrative Coordinator............................................................................................Renee Midgett Circulation Manager...................................................................................................... Diane Smothers Senior Marketing Representative...................................................................................Teri Mendiola Circulation Assistant........................................................................................................ Liam K. Graves IDENTIFICATION STATEMENT AND SUBSCRIPTION RATES The Whidbey News-Times (ISSN 1060-7161) is published semi-weekly by Sound Publishing on Wednesdays and Saturdays for $19 for 3 months, $29 for 6 months, $45 per year and $75 for 2 years delivered by carrier in island county from North Whidbey Island to Greenbank; $20 for 3 months, $32 for 6 months, $52 per year and $94 for 2 years delivered by in county mail from Greenbank to Clinton; $35 for 3 months, $65 for 6 months, $105 per year mailed out of county. Payment in advance is required. It is published by The Whidbey News-Times PO Box 1200, Coupeville, WA 98239. Periodicals rate postage paid at Coupeville, WA and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Whidbey News-Times, PO Box 1200, Coupeville, WA 98239. Copyright © 2014, Sound Publishing ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENTS: FRONTIER MEDIA, COASTAL FARM AND RANCH, TRACY’S FURNITURE, GEICO, JCPENNEY, FRED MEYER, SEARS, BIG 5
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