Whidbey News-Times, August 10, 2016

Page 1

Vol. 126, No. 44

News-Times Whidbey

WEDNESDAY, August 10, 2016

WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | 75 CENTS

Olympics bid ends for Malloy ... page 9

Your hometown newspaper for 126 years

Pigfest, car show ready for crowds By RON NEWBERRY

rnewberry@whidbeynewsgroup.com

It’s a crapshoot to guess what might be the lasting image from one of Oak Harbor’s biggest weekends of 2016. Will it be a sleek vintage automobile, a roaring hydroplane, or a 15-foot pink inflatable pig? Organizers for all three of the city’s big events this weekend — the North Whidbey Lions Car Show, Hydros for SEE PIGFEST & CAR SHOW, A8

Hydro races to bring on noise Photo by Debra Vaughn/Whidbey News-Times

By JIM WALLER

jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com

Hydroplanes will thunder across Oak Harbor Bay this weekend, doing their part in an event-filled weekend that will stimulate the senses of attendees. The roar of the boats will fill the ears of the viewers, who can also take part in the aroma and taste of the PigFest, the sights of the Car Show and the feel of the wares of the Coupeville Arts and Crafts Fair. About 50 boats are expected to attend Hydros for Heroes, said race director Craig McKenzie.

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island sailors work on a P-3C Orion last week in hangar 9. Workers are busy renovating hangar 6 to accommodate the new P-8A Poseidon, which is too large to fit. The first P-8s are expected to arrive this fall.

A game changer

NAS Whidbey prepares to bring in P-8, phase out venerable P-3 By DEBRA VAUGHN

N

dvaughn@whidbeynewsgroup.com

SEE HYDROS, A8

A&C Fest gives back to the community By MEGAN HANSEN

mhansen@whidbeynewsgroup.com

Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival organizers are finalizing last-minute details before one of Whidbey Island’s largest events of the year gets underway Friday. “It takes a lot of volunteers to put this festival on,” said festival President Mike Dessert. “Last year we had 285 documented volunteers.” SEE A&C FEST, A5

Photo by Debra Vaughn/Whidbey News-Times

Capt. Brett Mietus is the commander of the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island’s Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Ten during the transition.

aval Air Station Whidbey Island is preparing to become the primary home on the West Coast for the Navy’s newest maritime patrol aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon. The federal government is spending millions of dollars on construction on base as well as moving three P-3C Orion squadrons from Hawaii to Whidbey, consolidating operations with the four P-3 squadrons and one EP-3E squadron here. Already, personnel from Hawaii and their families are arriving on Whidbey, and more

are expected to arrive in the fall. The Navy also is in the midst of transitioning from the aging P-3 turboprop to the P-8, a military version of the Boeing 737-800 built for sub-hunting, surveillance and surface ship attack. NAS WHIDBEY is perhaps better known for being the home of the Navy’s tactical electronic attack squadrons flying the EA-18G Growler. But the base has a long history of maritime patrol and reconnaissance, stretching back to the PBY-5A Catalina that flew from the Seaplane Base during World War II. “People aren’t going to look at a P-3 and think it’s as sexy as a SEE TRANSITION, A24

25% FF STOREWIDE!

*

• Diamond Jewelry • Bridal Jewelry • Gold, Platinum, Silver Jewelry • Colored Stone Jewelry • Vintage and Estate Jewelry • Repair Work • Custom Designs • Consignments • Layaway • Independent Appraisals

We are always purchasing gold, silver, coins, diamonds, flatware, and estate jewelry.

830 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor 360-679-3700 Tues-Fri 11-5:30, Sat 10-5

*Excludes consignment jewelry. Good through August 31, 2016.


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.