Examiner The Whidbey
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Thursday, August 4, 2016
VOL. 21, NO. 52
EIS request brings town confusion By Megan Hansen Co-Editor
Photo by Ron Newberry
Coupeville Marshal Rick Norrie, left, clocks a speeding belt sander with a radar gun while race official Patrick O’Neill looks on during the first Belt Sander Races held at the new Frontier Building Supply store in Coupeville last Friday. O’Neill also serves as the store manager.
Need for speed Racers get out their belt sanders for first Coupeville event By Ron Newberry Staff Reporter
The wheels inside Gary Wray’s belt sander hadn’t even cooled before a new challenge came from the crowd. “Next week, you’re going down!” Ken Green said. The smell of wood dust in the air can do that to Green and other building professionals around Whidbey Island this time of year. Green was among a throng of contractors who came to either watch or compete in the first belt sander racing event at Frontier Building Supply’s Coupeville store last Friday. Wray, who owns a siding company in Coupeville, captured the first title in his hometown to earn a chance to compete for the building supply company’s grand champion honors this Friday that pits five store winners in Anacortes. Wray won the whole thing three years ago but almost didn’t get a chance to compete this
year. He was supposed to take it easy after a hernia operation, but tried to enter the Freeland store races three weeks ago. “My wife got wind of it,” he said. With Frontier opening a new Coupeville store earlier this year, Wray seized the opportunity, toting an old Porter Cable he bought at a pawn shop several years ago. Attached to long extension cords, belt sanders line up side by side in drag racing fashion, then power down a 50-foot wooden track once the starter flips a switch. It’s a tradition that’s taken place for decades at Frontier Building Supply, borrowed from a zany idea that started on the East Coast in the late 1980s. Frontier Building Supply provides a free lunch and prizes for participants. Wray earned a $300 gift certificate after his sander outraced one belonging to Coupeville’s Ryan Georges of Red’s Construction. Georges received a $200 gift certificate while Jim Short, who took third, got $100. “It’s just a lot of fun,” said Chuck Posey, Frontier Building Supply’s general manager. Patrick O’Neill, Coupeville’s store manager, served as starter and race judge as he stood not far from Coupeville Marshal Rick Norrie, who used a radar gun to clock the power tools’
speed. Wray’s sander turned in a top speed of 14 mph. “It’s just plain fast,” Wray said. Green, who came only to watch, was taking mental notes. “His races real smooth,” Green said. Green was crowned Oak Harbor champ two weeks ago and, like Wray, also has his name etched on Frontier’s grand champion trophy and a place in the company’s Belt Sander Hall of Fame. He won it all in 2014. “It’s a hoot,” said Green, owner of Oak Harbor-based Green’s Custom Woodworks. “You get to hang out with people you know, especially here. This is good to see a new yard open up. This is a treat here. I didn’t want to pass it up.” Green said racing power tools is all about having fun, but added that there’s a competitive spirit as well. The winner of Friday’s showdown in Anacortes gets a $500 gift certificate. “There’s money on the line,” he said with a laugh. “If there was a ribbon, I couldn’t care less. When there’s money, it’s a competition. Don’t be feeble man.”
Members of the Coupeville Town Council said they could not provide comment on a portion of the Navy’s Environmental Impact Statement without further clarification. The council met during a workshop last week to discuss how to prepare a response but found themselves stumped by what exactly the Navy was requesting. Mayor Molly Hughes received a letter requesting comment on how the Navy defines the area of effect in regard to jet noise on historic structures near Outlying Field and Ault Field. The request was not for comments regarding jet noise as a whole, but for comment on a very specific part of the EIS, Hughes said. Provided with the letter were maps showing the current area of effect using
See CONFUSION, page 3
PSE holding energy blitz Aug. 9-10 By Cassandra Calderon Staff Reporter
Field staff from local utility provider Puget Sound Energy will canvas the Coupeville area next week, visiting about 600 homes in just two days to inform customers of PSE’s newly branded Home Energy Assessment Program. The representatives will determine which households are eligible for the program and offer to schedule an assessment during the door-to-door blitz, which will take place on Aug. 9 and 10, between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. According to Program Manager Luke Giustra, the free program has been around
See BLITZ, page 3