Examiner
I Love Coupeville: Community pages ... 4-5
Vol. 22, No. 6
THE WHIDBEY
Coupeville sports ...3
Fall season begins
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • WWW.WHIDBEYEXAMINER.COM • 50¢
Mayor to give State of the Town Tuesday
Loganberry Festival
By Megan Hansen Co-Editor
With eight months under her belt as Coupeville mayor, Molly Hughes will give her first State of the Town Address next week. Tickets are on sale now for the event, which is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20 at the Coupeville Recreation Hall. Hughes said she plans on having a wellrounded presentation covering a variety of town topics from staffing and budget to completed and upcoming projects. Her presentation will include staffing changes she’s made throughout the year and an update on the Town Marshal’s Office. “It will be my impression of what a great staff we have,” Hughes said. While discussing projects completed this year such as Madrona Way improvements, Hughes will also highlight projects the town will be working on in the coming year like updating the comprehensive plan.
See ADDRESS, page 2
Two honored for roadside CPR efforts By Ron Newberry Staff reporter
While driving home to Coupeville along State Highway 525 one afternoon last month, Chris Tyau could see a bike rider climbing a hill in the distance and felt a strange premonition. “Something just told me to keep an eye on him,” Tyau said. “Right when I had that weird thought, I just saw him fall over.” Tyau’s mind raced. He hoped the man’s bike had possibly struck a pothole, and he would dust himself off and be OK. But as Tyau approached and saw no movement from the man lying in the shoulder, he got out of his truck and recognized the situation was far more serious. “I shook his shoulders and said, ‘Hey, are you all right?’ and just got that thousand-yard stare,” Tyau said. “He wasn’t responding. When I noticed he wasn’t breathing or responding, I just called 911 right there.” The actions taken by Tyau over the precious next few minutes might’ve saved the man’s life.
See CPR, page 2
Megan Hansen photo
Eye on the pie Jemma Kukuk, 6, of Clinton, pauses during the children’s pie eating contest Saturday because she has pie in her eye as brother Jace Kukuk, 8, continues on to victory. The contest was held both Saturday and Sunday during the Loganberry Festival at the Greenbank Farm. The event was brought back by farm managers, the Port of Coupeville, due to community demand. The event also coincided with the 20th anniversary of the community saving the farm from development. The two-day event included live music, an adult pieeating contest, food and a beer garden.
Festival takes to skies this weekend By Kate Daniel Staff Reporter
The skies above Fort Casey will be aflutter with color this weekend during the Whidbey Island Kite Festival. The festival takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17-18 at the Camp Casey Conference Center. The annual event is composed of several family-friendly activities. Each day will kick off with single line challenges, and sportkite competitions will take place throughout the day on the main field. At 12:30 p.m. each day, the skies will fill with kites during a mass ascension. Each day will also include kite demos, lessons and kids’ activities like kitemaking, the Running of the Bols and the ever-popular Teddy Bear Drop, as well as a raffle for kites, kite accessories and other items.
A highlight of the festival is the Saturday evening indoor kite-flying competition at 7 p.m. in the Coupeville High School gymnasium. During the competition, kites will be propelled without wind, using only the power and deft control of their fliers who will perform routines set to music. The Central Whidbey Lions Club will once again be serving up hot dogs, chili and soda, while Kaffee Haus Espresso will serve coffee, smoothies and waffles. Lisa Root, festival co-chair, said a forecast
of fair weather bodes well for attendance. She anticipates about 2,000 spectators—about that of last year — and 10-12 competitive teams, including the Whidbey Rev Flyers and Island Quad. Though competition entry is closed, anyone is welcome to fly a kite in the non-competitive festival events. n For more information, including a full schedule of events, visit www.whidbeykites.org or call 360-678-5434.