NewsTimes
Residents shaken by shots fired near protest
By JESSIE STENSLAND jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com
A man firing shots on property near a large, April 19 protest at Bayview on South Whidbey alarmedmanyparticipants,including families with children and an 81-year-old woman who dove for coverwhileshewasvideorecording the rally.
Outrage over the incident grew afterward, especially after Susan Jensen posted her video online and a TV news station ran a story on the incident. Jensen and others feel that the man shot the gun in an attempt to intimidate the antiTrump protesters.
“It was terrifying,” Jensen said.
Name of fire victim released
By JESSIE STENSLAND jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com
The name of an Oak Harbor man who perished in an April 15 apartmentfirehasbeenreleased.
Danny Slater, a 62-yearold military veteran, became entrapped in his apartment during the fire and died from smoke inhalation, according to the Island County Coroner’s Office.Theman’sfamilyhasbeen notified of the tragedy.
Oak Harbor Fire Department responded to the report of a structure fire at the Northwest Rigging Street apartment building at about 12:46 a.m. Callers reported seeing flames coming through the roof of the building, according to a press release from the fire department.
Uponarrival,firefightersfound a fierce fire in the second-story apartment.
“Crews acted swiftly to conduct searches and evacuate the remaining three units in the building,”thepressreleasestates.
“Due to the intensity of the fire in the originating apartment, an initial search was not possible.”
Firefighters from the North WhidbeyFireandRescueandthe Navy fire department responded as mutual aid.
After the fire was brought undercontrol,thecrewsearched the apartment and discovered Slater’s body.
No firefighter injuries were reported, and all evacuated residents from adjacent units were safe.
“While it’s hard to prove intent, the intent was obvious — to scare the protestors—whodon’tscareeasily since the protest continued. The Trumpsigninthewindowisindicative of that, and after the shots were fired,hecameoutsideandstaredat us.”
While the incident may not result in any legal action against
the shooter, to the consternation of many residents, it could be a catalyst for a renewed look at gun laws inthecountyaswellasarallyingcry thatmaybringevenmorepeopleto participate in protests.
The property where the shots came from is co-owned by George Henny, the co-CEO of Whidbey Telecom. He said he takes the matter very seriously and strongly believes that “everyone has the right to gather, assemble, rally and demonstrate in a peaceful and safe environment.”
“We are discussing the matter with professionals,” he said. “In our position, we have to determine
Ignite, douse, repeat
New fire academy takes on live burn
By LUISA LOI luisa.loi@whidbeynewsgroup.com
On a bright Saturday morning, KrisSkrivsethandhisfamilysaton the porch of their Swantown Road home, entertained by the sight of firefighters gradually reducing a dilapidated farmhouse on their property into a mass of carbonized rubble.
At the same time, a reporter knee-walked into the dark room where North Whidbey Fire and Rescue firefighters torched a pile of wood. Amid the cacophony of voices, crackling flames and relentless beeping, Jobie Gause’s verbal instructions struggled to pass through the layers of fabric protecting the reporter’s ears from cooking.
While staying close to the ground where the smoke and heat weren’t nearly as intense, the reporter squinted her eyes and moved closer to the other end of the room, not sure if the tall shape infrontofherwasapersonshewas
supposed to get near to.
Suddenly, the battalion chief’s voice thundered, ordering the trio of first-timers to get out at once. Theydidn’trealizedathicklayerof black smoke overhead obscured a drop ceiling in flames.
All those years of avoiding the gym finally hit the reporter’s legs as she knee-ran her way out of the door, weighed-down by the heavy gear. In the rush, she tripped over Samantha Jackson, a Home Depot employee and fellow guest at the training, who was completely unaware that her suit had partially caught fire and that a piece of ceilinghadfallenonher—atestament to the toughness of the firefighters’ suit and helmet.
Gause and the group left the one-story house unharmed and ecstatic as the fire academy’s students stormed in to put down the flames. Chris Whiteman, a welding and engineering teacher at Oak Harbor High School who had been invited to attend, said he was surprised at how fast the
fire rose, but he didn’t feel afraid.
The lighting and smothering of the fire continued in cycles, with investigators walking in to assess the scene and firefighters taking breaks to refuel with pizza and donuts.
The firefighters could frequently be seen shaking and shifting on their feet to turn off the personal alert safety systems attached to their breathing apparatus harness. These devices, also known as “PASS,” have a high pitched alarm that goes off from lack of movement, signaling that the wearer may be incapacitated and in need of immediate assistance.
With so many people around, it sometimes took a heads up to realize the beeping was coming from one’s own device. Perhaps as a punishment for frequently forgetting to shake, the sound hauntedthereporter’smindasshe attempted to fall asleep that night.
While offering old buildings to the fire department can be a cheaperalternativetodemolishing
for local property owners, it also provides new firefighters and trainees an opportunity to put the knowledgeandskillstheyacquired into practice in a controlled environment.
“This is the best way our firefighters, especially our new firefighters, can learn about fire, the growth of the fire and fire patterns and how to put a fire out,” said DeputyChiefRayMerrill,whowas oneofmanyexperiencedfirefighters keeping an eye on the scene.
Thislevelofsafetyalsoallowsfor a few select non-firefighters to get a taste of what entering a burning building is like — which is nothing like what glamorous TV shows try to show you, except for the wholesome camaraderie and dedication firefighters bring to the job.
After seeing a growing interest in joining the field, the department launched its very own Fire Academy following a few years of training students in collaboration
By KIRA ERICKSON kerickson@whidbeynewsgroup.com
to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault is in danger, bracing itself to lose one-third of its funding. Citizens Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse, also known as CADA, has been impacted by recent federal funding cuts to the Victims of Crime Act, which slashes the nonprofit’s budget by
during the COVID
cacy
and a
in community outreach, as Executive Director Andrea Downs sharedduringaworkshopmeeting with Island County commissioners earlier this month. It will also mean staffing will be cut in half.
The main office was recently relocated from Oak Harbor to Coupeville as a cost-saving measure. StartingJuly1,whichiswhenthe new fiscal year begins, CADA will have just $536,692 in its budget, down from $861,663 previously. Downs said Monday that CADA is able to weather this storm, though any further federal funding cuts would chip away at staffing levels.
PHOTO BY JOHN FISKEN Firefighters and trainees got to put their skills to the test at a house offered by North Whidbey resident Kris Skrivseth.
the right and fair thing to do for all concerned. We did not authorize or condone the presence or firing of weapons of any kind on our rental property. We are taking the matter up with the tenant. We can’t comment at this time on what actions are being considered.”
Whidbey residents conjectured online, in emails and phone calls that the man who fired the shots broke the law, although deputies from the Island County Sheriff’s Office who responded to the scene concluded that the subject living in a nearby house “appeared to be lawfully shooting in his backyard,” according to a press release.
Sheriff Rick Felici said that the man’s actions showed “poor judgment” but do not appear to be illegal, based on initial information he received from a detective. Under state law and county code, target practice is allowed in most unincorporated areas of the county during the daytime if the property has a safe backstop to stop bullets.
In this case, the property has a dirt berm set up for shooting, the sheriff said. The man who fired the shots also claimed he didn’t do it to threaten or alarm anyone.
Felici said misunderstandings about state laws can cause confusion. People often point to WAC 332-52-145, for example, for gun laws, but the administrative code is part of a section about the Department of Natural Resources and only
applies to state-owned lands.
Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said a decision hasn’t been made about the case.
“Based on the oral summary we received, we didn’t believe we could prove that a crime had been committed,” he said in an email.
“But, we haven’t seen a law enforcement investigation report yet. I understand there were videos of the protest and that witnesses and the shooter were interviewed.
“I would never make a decision on a case without reviewing the reports first. We expect to receive something from the police soon.”
Nonetheless, many people, including Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon, have called on the sheriff and prosecutor to take legal action against the man.
CORRECTION
The story “Campaign to reenergize historic Clinton Community Hall” that ran in the April 19 issue of the South Whidbey Record and the Whidbey News-Times incorrectly stated that Kicking Gas helped fund the hall’s solar project. It was in fact Whidbey Climate Action’s Whidbey Climate Fund, in partnership with Whidbey Community Foundation. We sincerely regret the errors.
“Shooting a gun in the vicinity of a crowd is a terroristic act,” Bacon said. “I think he should be arrested.”
In addition, Bacon has vowed to take a look at county laws regarding firing weapons to see if more restrictions are needed. She pointed out that the county is more crowded than it was 20 years ago and that target practice on private land may not be as safe as it once was because of the proximity of so many neighbors.
“I think this whole thing needs to be looked at,” she said, adding that she realizes it will be a very controversial subject.
Twenty years ago, county commissioners held public hearings on proposals to regulate hunting and the discharge of guns on county-owned land. The meetings
CADA
“At this point in time we are not having conversations about closing our doors, which is a great place to be in,” she said. For survivors like Lauren, help from CADA made
drew large and vocal crowds made up of people on both sides of the issue.
An estimated 450 people attended the protest centered at a park-and-ride lot on Highway 525 in Bayview on April 19. Jensen said the area has been a site of peace rallies and protests since she came to the island more than 20 years ago. She helped organize both the April 5 and 19 rallies in Bayview to protest the Trump Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency — also known as DOGE.
On the morning of April 19, she was delighted to see the large, peaceful crowd and decided to memorialize the event. She started video recording the scene with her phone when the shots rang out. Her video captures the loudness of the
all the difference. Out of concern for her safety, Lauren declined to disclose her last name.
Lauren shared her story with county commissioners at the April 9 meeting. A former resident of Park City, Utah, she moved to Whidbey just over a year ago for a fresh start, escaping an
shots and her confusion over what was happening.
Alec Cole wrote in an email that he, his wife and their two young children attended the event, which he described as a League of Women Voters rally. The family was planning to go to an Easter egg hunt scheduled “next door” when the shots were fired.
“This was a family event - attendees brought their kids. There was chalk and bubbles,” he wrote. “Other attendees were seniors. I saw two men at least in their 70s hit the ground when the shooting started.”
Susan Cyr was at the protest and recalls hearing the series of “very, very loud” gunshots.
“I walked swiftly away from the sound which was coming from that property and got in our car as I was very afraid,” she said. “As I walked, I saw a gentleman hit the pavement, belly first. Once the dozen or so shots ceased, I stuck my head out of the car to see if he was OK. He told me he had dropped for his own safety, as he was a combat veteran. I left soon after.”
The sheriff’s office reported that multiple people called 911 at about 10:44 a.m. to report that shots were heard near the large crowd. No injuries were reported and “at least one caller stated they thought someone was shooting into the air,” according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.
Deputies located the man who lives nearby, spoke with him and concluded that he was lawfully shooting in his yard, the press release states.
The Record was unable to contact the man accused of firing the gun.
abusive marriage.
Even with a no contact order in place, she dealt with relentless stalking from her ex-husband, who found her on Whidbey after just two months. Lauren’s oldest daughter had told her about CADA, which she contacted.
An advocate met with her immediately, helping her to obtain a taxi, hotel room and even groceries as the situation with her ex escalated.
Now, Lauren and her 5-year-old, her youngest daughter, are in transitional housing and look forward to securing permanent housing, which Lauren has heard they are next on the list for.
“I’m really excited for that next chapter,” Lauren said Monday.
She added that she will forever be indebted to CADA.
“CADA kept us safe,” she said. “I had met with them twice before (the incident) because I had a lot of concerns.”
Downs told the county commissioners that it’s important to put faces to the work that CADA does, since so much must be kept confidential. She asked the commissioners to keep CADA in the back of their minds for future opportunities, whether it’s funding or conversations about supportive housing or behavioral health.
Downs said there is a
variety of ways volunteers can get involved, including keeping the main office staffed, answering the crisis line or teaching prevention classes at elementary schools, among other things.
Commissioner Melanie Bacon was distressed to hear about the funding cuts.
“This is public safety and it’s being treated like it’s another one of those women’s issues, that the women can just go solve it by having bake sales,” Bacon said, the outrage palpable in her voice.
Downs agreed with this sentiment, acknowledging that fundraisers alone cannot get CADA out of this crisis.
“We continue to advocate at a state level,” she said Monday.
Another challenge she highlighted during the meeting was the lack of services and support for men who are impacted by domestic violence. CADA has a contract with Naval Air Station Whidbey Island to provide emergency shelter services and support for the advocacy needs of people living on base.
This past fiscal year, CADA served 433 clients on Whidbey, with 97 of those being repeat clients. A total of 377.55 hours have been spent helping survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
PHOTO BY BARBARA WOLF TERAO
A large group of protesters lined the highway during the event Saturday.
Work parties to tackle invasive Scotch broom
By KIRA ERICKSON kerickson@whidbeynewsgroup.com
A group of ambitious weeders are seeking the community’s help in eradicating an invasive species of plant on Whidbey Island.
The St. Hubert Catholic Church Green Team, in partnership with the Knights of Colombus, Goosefoot Community Fund, Whidbey Climate Action and WhidbeyHealth, is sponsoring two upcoming work parties for the removal of Scotch broom. To join the fun, come to the Bayview Corner area 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Friday, April 25 or Saturday, April 26.
To register, visit sthubertchurch.org/ broombust-signup
Every spring, highway drivers are sure to notice the pretty – and pernicious – yellow petals of Scotch
broom as the plant blooms. According to the state Noxious Weed Control Board, Scotch broom “displaces native and beneficial plants, causing loss of grassland and open forest. It aggressively spreads to form monocultures, replacing desirable forage grasses and young trees.” The seeds also happen to be toxic to livestock and horses.
Seth Luginbill, Noxious Weed Program Coordinator for Island County Public Health, said the earliest record of Scotch broom that he could find on Whidbey shows up in the 1950s in the Penn Cove area, though herbarium records show collections in King County and other surrounding counties around the late 1920s and 1930s.
“This would seem to match closely as far as assisted migration patterns
with the initial introduction of Scotch broom to California sometime between the 1850s-1900s,” he said.
Gary Olson, a member of the church’s Green Team organizing the work parties this week, said weeders will tackle the plant with loppers and weed wrenches. As he explained, you can’t mow, as the stems and shoots will come back. The best thing to do is to cut the stems off low during this time of year, before the seed pods fully mature and germinate. This will cause the roots to die.
“It’s partly a symbolic effort; it’s doing a little good in your own corner,” Olson said.
Disposing of the plant is another challenge – put it in the landfill, and it will create methane gas as it decomposes. Instead, Olson said, the group is looking at shredding the
material. This will likely be the first of many work parties.
Luginbill said it’s great that there are invested community members who are eager to help reduce the population and impacts of Scotch broom, which is a long-term effort that requires consistent control over the years.
“With a seed lifespan that can surpass 60 years and plants that can live up to 25 years old this can be a challenging, but not impossible, task,” he said, adding that the act of removal and associated disturbance will often encourage the dormant seeds to germinate sooner than if left to its natural timeline. This exhausts the seed bank in a much shorter timeframe.
Or as Olson put it, “One square inch at a time as we conquer this noxious weed.”
Explore Langley with April 26 scavenger hunt
By KATE POSS Special to The Record
The public is invited to explore and learn about the Village by the Sea with a free scavengerhunthostedbythe Roots of Wellness program of Healing Circles in Langley. The April 26 event takes place between 1 to 3 p.m. at HealingCircles,534Camano Ave.
Healing Circles was founded by Diana Lindsay and her late husband Kelly Lindsay, each diagnosed with cancer. Discovering practices which helped them through their illness, they found one of the best approaches was talking with others in a circle. They opened the center in 2015, and it has since expanded itsfocustoincludeprograms
such as Village Prenatal Circle, Caregiver Support CircleandRootsofWellness.
Roots of Wellness classes include Balance Gym with Sue Taves, Tai Chi with Stan Hiserman, Strength and Restoration with Sarah Birger, and Song Bath Sanctuary with Deborah KoffChapin. These classes are held at the Soundview Center at 432 Third Street. Elin Waldal, director of Healing Circles, spoke about Roots of Wellness and Healing Circles in a recent phone call.
“I’m always asking what is ours to do,” Waldal said. “Create a sense of welcome in a time of crises. Someone to listen. An event bringing people together. Our Roots program serves the
intergenerational aspect for our community. We have a few different community events we run through the year.”
ThisyearRootsofWellness is hosting its second annual Scavenger Hunt, collaborating with the South Whidbey Historical Society and Langley Main Street Association. The community is invited to pick up a map and enter a raffle for gift certificates donated by local businesses. The map leads sleuths to various Langley locations and asks them to find answerstoquestionsregarding, for example, the Whale Museum, Langley Library and Moonraker Books.
Healing Circles is a nonprofit supported mainly by the community’s
Laurie Wells A SkagitOriginal RunsthroughJune1st.
pioneeringworkdesigningDeGoede’s ChuckanutGardens,staging oftheoriginalSkagit ValleyFlowerShowsandhisnumerous paintingsofSkagit Valleyscenes.ThisexhibitcelebratesLaurie’s life andart.
17508MooreRd.Mount Vernon, WA 98273 SessionsStart@ 2pm AdmissionFREEforthisseries. SponsoredbyHumanities WA
Hours:Thursday-Sunday11am-4pm www.skagitcounty.net/museum 3604663365
501S.4thSt.LaConner
ThisprojectreceivedfundingfromSkagitCounty
generosity and grants. Its webpage calendar offers a menu of what is offered as regular classes and as standalone programs.
“We have lots of circles,” Waldal said. “The home page has tabs across the top. Wespotlightwhat’sgoingon. Langley happenings, highlights of what’s happening now. The best way to view it is to go to the month — the tabonrightsideofthecalendar shows all the different happenings.”
Circles also include talks about perimenopause, women over 50, women in the middle, men’s circles and music.
“One of our most popular is ‘Coming Together Mondays’ from 10 to 11:30 a.m. — a great entry point
to come in and experience something that doesn’t have an agenda,” Waldal said. “If you’relookingtotryone,this is a good start.”
Have something on your mind? Visit Healing Circles MondaythroughFridayfrom 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A volunteer inside will listen to what’s in yourheartandonyourmind.
“We’re not therapists,” Waldal said. “Someone with their own life experience skilledatlisteningvolunteers during the week. We find people come in with a high levelofanxiety.Whenthey’re offered that their words will be held close to the vest, they talk and share stories. You can see the calm come over them. No one imposes advice or judgment. We work off a set of agreements,
pillars that make Healing Circles really special.”
The pillars include treating one another with kindness and respect, listening withcompassionandcuriosity, not presuming to advise, fix,orsaveanother—honoring someone’s perspective; holding what is said confidential, and relying on our inner wisdom and and the power of silence to access it. The next communitywide event is planned Sept. 15, following Langley’s annual Soup Box Derby. Roots of Wellness hosts a “Soup-Nic” picnic at the Healing Circles campus. St. HubertCatholicandLangley United Methodist churches will provide soup. Games include bubbles and cornhole games.
To learn more about Healing Circles and its Roots of Wellness offerings, visit healingcircleslangley. org/2024-calendar
PHOTO BY GARY OLSON
Virgil Knackstedt takes out some Scotch broom with loppers. Cutting at the very base of the stem, flush with the ground, is most effective and won’t disturb buried seeds.
OPINION
Congress should add cancer test to Medicare coverage
By GARY RENVILLE
For cancer patients and their families, time is among the most precious resources.
As both a health care professional and a caregiver to my mother during her battle with pancreatic cancer, I’ve witnessed firsthand how crucial early detection is in the fight against this devastating disease. Now, Washington’s congressional leaders have a historic opportunity to transform cancer screening and detection for millions.
The Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act represents a pivotal advancement in our nation’s approach to cancer care. This legislation would ensure Medicare beneficiaries have access to revolutionary multi-cancer early detection, or MCED, tests; a breakthrough technology that can detect
Navy’s outreach over Growler study limited
Editor,
On behalf of the Sound Defense Alliance, we want to thank all who attended the Navy’s three public meetings on April 1, 2 and 3, held in response to the Navy’s 2025 Draft Amended Analysis to the 2018 Environmental Impact Statement for EA-18G “Growler” Airfield Operations at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
As the Draft Amended Analysis was publicly released on March 14, the timeline was tight for local groups and our organization to share information about these meetings. Additionally, the Navy only held two in-person open houses, both on Whidbey Island — despite Growler jet training impacting at least seven counties across the region. The third public meeting was virtual and required the submission of questions well in advance.
This limited opportunities for in-person comment submission and interactions by people in the San Juan Islands, Skagit County, Port Townsend and other locations on the Olympic Peninsula impacted by jet noise. These areas should have been provided with equal opportunity to respond and participate in public involvement for the Draft Amended Analysis. In response to questions regarding the tight turnaround, the Navy has responded that due to the federal judge’s May 1 deadline for the completion of Amended Analysis, they were not able to provide more time for the public involvement. In this explanation, the Navy failed to include that the judge had set a one year time-frame for this work to be completed but due to the Navy’s (eventually dropped) appeal, they delayed their own start time.
The consequences of this left the public approximately one month for analysis of the document — a time period that was much too short to give a proper review of its limitations. Additionally, the Draft Amended Analysis was, in our opinion, not an adequate response to the issues which Judge Jones required the Navy to address with further study, research and analysis.
You can review the document and submit your comments in
dozens of different cancers through a simple blood draw, often before symptoms appear.
According to the American Cancer Society, over 13,000 Washington residents will die from cancer this year alone. Moreover, the National Cancer Institute has found that persistent poverty is linked to an increased risk of dying from cancer. For patients like my mother, who navigated her cancer diagnosis and treatment process while experiencing financial hardship, catching her cancer earlier would have saved countless hours, reduced expenses and potentially improved outcomes.
Through my work at Project Access Northwest, I’ve seen that my mother’s experiences were far from unique. Many families, particularly those lacking insurance or dealing with financial hardship, face the same daunting
obstacles to timely and affordable cancer treatment. Despite committed and caring medical teams, the process of scheduling specialist appointments, navigating insurance coverage and handling the high cost of care can be overwhelming and disheartening. It doesn’t have to be this way. When detected early, the five-year survival rate for many cancers exceeds 90%. And while traditional cancer screening methods such as mammograms and colonoscopies remain our best tools for detecting cancer early, they only exist for five types of cancer. This leaves numerous other cancers, including deadly ones like pancreatic cancer, without recommended early screenings. MCED tests would fundamentally change this landscape, empowering doctors to detect dozens of cancers simultaneously, when treatment is
most effective and less invasive. Under current Medicare policies, however, these groundbreaking tests remain out of reach for seniors who need them most. Medicare’s outdated coverage framework lacks a clear pathway to cover new screening technologies like MCED tests after they’re approved by the FDA. That’s why legislation is needed. Fortunately, there is broad consensus among our elected leaders in Congress that the law must change, which is why the bill has garnered unprecedented bipartisan support. Washington’s own Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, along with Reps. Adam Smith, Marilyn Strickland, Rick Larsen and Suzan DelBene, have supported the bill. Now, as lawmakers work toward a budget agreement for the remaining fiscal year, they have an opportunity to ensure this broadly
response to this analysis, which must be postmarked or submitted online by April 28th. See details on comment submission by visiting the project website at www.nepa. navy.mil/growler.
Thank you for your involvement in this process to hold our Navy accountable to keeping our communities safe and being a good neighbor.
Anne Harvey Sound Defense Alliance
Langley sewage treatment is miraculous
Editor,
I’d like to give a shout out to the Langley Wastewater Treatment Facility and Mr. Robert Durr, who asked if I’d like a tour of the facility. Who could refuse that?
The LWTF is kind of a public infrastructure miracle. Nothing delivered there is trucked away; all the vegetative and human waste is carefully and fully processed to make a rich compost free of viruses, dangerous-to-us bacteria, and pharmaceuticals. According to Mr. Durr, the daily tested measures
of the compost come in far below what is required by our Washington Department of Ecology.
So I backed up and started shoveling away. As I did so, I heard a spaceship landing nearby; just a Tesla truck backing in. The owner said he had been coming for years. Having formerly worked in pharmaceuticals, he confirmed what Mr. Durr had told me, and that he can grow anything in that compost. I went back five more times.
Who knew? But now I do.
Thanks for the tour, Mr. Durr. John Seyfried Bayview
Trump defies “Veritas,” acts as a dictator
Editor,
My alma mater, Harvard University, has a motto of “Veritas”— Truth. It is difficult to perceive and define, but Truth is the essence of democracy. In our democracy, various factions, parties, and viewpoints engage each other, and usually some kind of consensus or compromise emerges. The process of “Truth Finding” was a
fundamental democratic process founded in our Constitution. The Trump administration challenges “Veritas”/Truth and democracy on a daily basis. When Trump challenges Truth, Veritas and Harvard, he denies our Constitution, our democracy and our heritage. We should all be outraged by this chilling would-be dictatorial behavior. David S. Sullivan BA, Harvard 1965 cum laude Oak Harbor
Trump offers ‘miracle-like’ cures for all
Editor,
It’s so simple. And just think, only one person can do it. Our country’s president confirms that he is that person.
Yes, he was for sure elected –though it was kinda close! He offers next-day results and rapid-fire, miracle-like remedies for us. He says he is doing it just for us. What a relief and we like that he sticks to the basics.
An obvious basic thing we need to do are the tariffs on trade with other countries – make other countries pay. These other countries are our enemies – pure and simple
supported legislation becomes law.
To our federal leaders across Washington state: The time to act is now. By passing this legislation, you can help save countless lives and reduce the devastating burden of cancer in our communities. For families like mine, time truly is everything. And this legislation is our chance to grant countless others the precious time they deserve.
Gary Renville is the president and CEO of Project Access Northwest, working to serve those uninsured and under-insured by providing specialty medical, dental and mental health services, alongside essential support for housing, food and other critical social driver of health needs in the Pacific Northwest. He is also a board chair for Pacific Medical Centers and Communities Joined in Action.
– they take advantage of us. If our president uses strong remedy, it is because he’s spotted that these countries are so much worse than anything we do to them.
So many people are unfair to the USA. His ability to recognize enemies tells you why we pretty much need to declare war. The benefits, for us, will be almost immeasurable. Historical and legendary, actually. Need fewer immigrants or parasites collecting benefits? Make ‘em disappear. There’re many kinds of drain holes, and our president seems to have found one with a really good one-way travel valve. You know, we have not seen people disappear quite like they do in El Salvador.
How about our biggest national expense, Social Security? Can’t mess with that program. It is our money. Well, easy remedy. Reduce the number of offices and staff who are sending out all those payments. Same as shutting down a program, but the program looks like it’s still there.
Quick now, who keeps their government job? Easy. If they are loyal, they stay. If they aren’t loyal, they disappear. This applies to generals too. It’s “his generals” or they gotta go!
Tally all the results by counting heads and stacks of dollar bills. Laws and due-process – don’t go there; you save lots of time and money. Stick to the bottom-line — no people stories, at all. No talking about the public servant who was so loyal to her work. No talking about fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, citizens, friends and fellow townsmen. Don’t go soft on the process. We’re talking about millions and billions of results! It’s so simple, if you believe – really believe. Yes, we finally have one person who can turn this country around from what earlier Democratic and Republican administrations did. Government! There’s no need to look down your road at consequences. Just do it. Look, private enterprise will step in and pick up any loose ends. The best people survive and besides, they’ll make an honest fortune while they’re at it. It’s so easy. It’s like what we decided in the election. One person can do this. We gotta use this magic wand because otherwise … life is just too complicated, unsafe and totally mixed up. Thank goodness we have this one person.
Yeah right.
Lee B. James Coupeville
safely releasing heat and smoke and allowing firefighters to intervene.
with the Central and South Whidbey fire departments, Merrill said.
Saturdaywasthefirsttime students practiced with a house.Gause,who leadsthe academy, said they all did a good job.
Among some of the risks rescuers might encounter in a house fire, there are two particularly dangerous phenomena trainees learn to watch out for.
A flashover happens when the objects and materials in a room reach ignition temperature and catch fire almost simultaneously, Merrill said. Heated objects tend to smoke shortly before combusting, though it can happen so suddenly that many firefighters get injured, he said.
“Allofsuddenyougofrom having hardly any flame, to the whole house or the whole room being on fire at the same time,” he said.
Another dangerous event is what is known as backdraft, which occurs when a room that is depleted of oxygen explodes the moment a window or door is opened, letting in oxygen that causes an immediate explosion.
To identify the potential risk for backdraft, firefighters must look for signs like blackened windows and smoke coming out of the walls, Merrill said. To defuse it, firefighters ventilate the room from its highest point,
Still, Gause said, these scenarios are less likely to happen in structures that have been cleaned up and cleared of their furniture, which was the case for this training.
There are other techniques taught at the academy that trainees got to use.
Earlierthatday,theplywood panel that acted as a makeshift window burst open as water gushed out. According to Chief Chris Swiger, firefighters were applying what is known as hydraulic ventilation, which consists of shooting a water stream out of a window to draw the smoke outside.
The students have two more months of preparation before they can graduate, but some might not make it to the end. When the academy started in early March, the class counted 21 students and had dropped to 10 by Saturday, Gause said.
Drop-outs are common and may happen for a variety of reasons. According to Merrill, some students may be Navy sailors who have to transfer to a different base, or workers with busy schedules.
On top of committing to training and attending classes three days a week, some students may realize the job takes a greater mental toll than they had expected.
With first responders showing high suicide rates due to the stress and trauma
that are associated with the job, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gause said the training is meant to prepare trainees for what they might encounter in an emergency.
As of Saturday, Navy sailor and firefighter trainee Steven Richmond was among the 10 remaining students. While finding the training to be physically and mentally challenging, he enjoys the idea of serving and being a part of the community — a key
motivator for first responders, Gause said.
Volunteer firefighter and EMT Dylan Van Rensum, a 29-year-old who has been with the department since he was 16, would like to see more people join.
“It’s not a safe job, but it’s one of the most rewarding jobs,” he said in an interview afterhekeptthereporterout of trouble in a second round of burning.
As the reporter ached from the weight of the selfcontained breathing apparatus on her shoulders, Van
NavalAirStationWhidbeyIslandDrinkingWater
ElksLodge 155NEErnstSt,OakHarbor,WA98277
TheU.S.Navywillhostfourpublicmeetingstoinformthecommunityabout itsrecentandongoingeffortstotestdrinkingwaterwellsinsamplingareas nearNavalAirStationWhidbeyIslandforcertainper-andpolyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS).Thesesubstancesmaybepresentindrinkingwaterwells duetopastuseoffirefightingfoamorotherPFAS-containingmaterials onbase.Themeetingswillfeaturedetailedinformationaldisplaysabout drinkingwatersamplingneartheArea6Landfill,AultField,andOutlying LandingFieldCoupeville.
TheNavyisworkingwiththeU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency, WashingtonStateDepartmentofEcology,WashingtonStateDepartment ofHealth,andIslandCountyPublicHealthDepartment.Representatives fromtheseagencieswillbeavailabletoanswerquestionsand provideinformation.
Ifyourdrinkingwatercomesfromawelllocatedinthesamplingareasand theNavyhasnotpreviouslytestedit,oryoureceivedaletterrequesting toresampleyourwellduetopreviouslaboratorylimitations, theNavyis requestingtosampleyourwellatnocosttoyou.
Youmayscheduleadrinkingwaterwellsamplingappointmentatanyof thepublicmeetings,bycallingandleavingamessageat1-844-WHI-PFAS (1-844-944-7327),orbyemailingnaswi.pfas@jacobs.com.Please include yourname,samplepropertyaddress,andphonenumber. WearecommittedtokeepingthepublicinformedoftheNavy’sdrinking watersampling.Formoreinformation,pleasevisitourwebsite at: https://pacific.navfac.navy.mil/NASWIPFAS.
Rensum described the feeling of working in full gear for long periods of time.
After two or three hours, he said, people may struggle to swing their arms while feeling like their legs are made of concrete. On top of that, they may have to carry out injured people.
Saturday’s training was John Fisken’s fourth or fifth appearance as a freelance photographer. While taking
photosinsidethebuildingin full gear, he knew what was going to happen as he was reminded of his own firefighting training back when he worked in the Navy. These experiences gave him a greater appreciation for what firefighters do and the risks they take.
“Ultimate respect for anybody that’s willing to run inside a burning building,” he said.
TheU.S.NavyhasinitiatedaTimeCriticalRemovalActiontoaddress per-andpolyfluoroalkylsubstances(PFAS)abovetheSeptember2024 DepartmentofDefense(DoD)PFASinterimactionlevelsforprivatedrinking waterwellsnearNavalAirStationWhidbeyIsland,includingAultField, formerArea6Landfill,andtheOutlyingLandingFieldCoupevilleinOak HarborandCoupeville,Washington. Theremovalactionprovidesanenduringsolutionforhomesservedby drinkingwaterwellswithPFASabovetheSeptember2024DoDPFASinterim actionlevelsforprivatedrinkingwaterwells.Potentialenduringsolutions includeanew,deeperdrinkingwaterwell,connectiontoapublicwater supply,orawhole-housefiltrationsystem.Theremovalactionhasbeen initiatedinaccordancewithSection300.415(n)(2)ofTitle40oftheCodeof FederalRegulations,aspartoftheNationalOilandHazardousSubstances PollutionContingencyPlan. PublicComment&AdditionalInformation TheNavyinvitesthepublictocommentontheActionMemorandum(AM). The30-daycommentperiodbeginsonApril12,2025,andendsonMay10, 2025.TheAMisavailableatthefollowingwebsite: https://pacific.navfac.navy.mil/NASWIPFAS. Commentsmaybeemailedtonavfacnwpao@us.navy.milormailedtothe followingaddress:Attn:PublicAffairsOfficer,NavalFacilitiesEngineering SystemsCommand(NAVFAC)Northwest,1101TautogCircle,Suite201, Silverdale,WA98315-1101
TheNavywillconsiderallpubliccommentsandsummarizeresponses inaresponsivenesssummarydocument,whichwillbeincludedinthe AdministrativeRecord.
Formoreinformation,contacttheNAVFACNorthwestPublicAffairsOfficerat (360)340-5592ornavfacnwpao@us.navy.mil.
Earth and Ocean Month events to explore AI, investing
A couple of upcoming Sip & Science events for Earth and Ocean Month take on complex issues.
Gary Piazzon will describe the machine learning revolution unfolding before us and what the consequences may be for vital resources.
Thankyoutoourvolunteers whodosomuch,including: •leadfieldtrips •teachclasses •plan,promoteand
•maintainourwebsite
Gather at Beaver Tales Coffee at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 to learn about Chatbots, Artificial General Intelligence, the differences between generative and predictive AI, their potential and limitations, as well as the chances for these machines to achieve consciousness and their
•seabirdand guillemotsurveys Getinvolvedinthe WingsoverWhidbeyBirdFestival May17,2025 whidbeyaudubonsociety.org/volunteers
509-906-1663•contact.us@whidbeyaudubonsociety.org
current and anticipated environmental impacts. Contact Piazzon at 360-7203331 so he can expect you. Beaver Tales Coffee is located on the Coupeville Wharf, 26 Front Street. Then learn about sustainable investing from Thomas Nowak,
who will give a brief presentation followed by questions and answers at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 27. This event also takes place at Beavers Tales Coffee. Nowak, CFP, is a local financial adviser. He changed careers after 30 years as a scientist. He is a member of the Forum for
Sustainable and Responsible Investment and the author of two books, “Low Fee Socially Responsible Investing” and “Low Fee Vegan Investing.” He is a member of the Greening Congregations Collaborative of Whidbey Island. Fore more info, go to whidbeyearthday.org
CWIFRisactivelyrecruitingvolunteerstoserveinavarietyof roles.Tolearnmorevisitourwebsiteorgiveusacall! www.cwfire.org(360)678-3602
www.cwfire.org
BigThanks!fromtheCoupevilleHistoricWaterfront Associationtoallofthevolunteerswhomaketheir eventslikeMusselfest,PracticallyMagicWeekend andRedTicketagreatsuccess!
Legal Notices
Trustee whose name and address are set forth below will provide in writing to anyone requesting it, a statement of all costs and fees due at any time prior to the sale.VIII.Theeffectof the sale will be to deprivetheGrantorandall those who hold by, through or under the Grantorofalltheirinterest in the above-describedproperty.IX. Anyonehavinganyobjections to this sale on any grounds whatsoever will be afforded an opportunity to be heard as to those objections if they bring a lawsuit to restrain the sale pursuanttoRCW61.24.130. Failuretobringsucha lawsuit may result in a waiver of any proper grounds for invalidating theTrustee’ssale.X. NOTICETOOCCUPANTSORTENANTS– The purchaser at the Trustee’sSaleisentitled to possession of the propertyonthe20thday following the sale, as againsttheGrantorunder the deed of trust (the owner) and anyone having an interest junior to the deed of trust, including occupants who are nottenants.Afterthe 20thdayfollowingthe sale the purchaser has the right to evict occupants who are not tenants by summary proceedingsunderChapter 59.12RCW.Fortenantoccupied property, the purchaser shall provide a tenant with written notice in accordance with RCW61.24.060.XI. SPECIAL NOTICE TO GUARANTOR CONCERNING LIABILITY FOR POTENTIAL DEFICIENCY JUDGMENT PursuanttoRCW 61.24.042:(1)Theguarantor may be liable for a deficiency judgment to the extent the sale price obtainedatthetrustee’s sale is less than the debt secured by the deed of trust;(2)Theguarantor has the same rights to reinstate the debt, cure the default, or repay the debt as is given to the grantor in order to avoid thetrustee’ssale;(3) The guarantor will have no right to redeem the property after the trustee’ssale;(4)Subjectto such longer periods as are provided in the Washington deed of trustact,chapter61.24 RCW,anyaction brought to enforce a guaranty must be commenced within one year afterthetrustee’ssale, orthelasttrustee’ssale under any deed of trust granted to secure the samedebt;and(5)In any action for a deficiency, the guarantor will have the right to establish the fair value of the
Legal Notices property as of the date ofthetrustee’ssale,less prior liens and encumbrances, and to limit its liability for a deficiency to the difference between the debt and the greater of such fair value or the sale price paid at thetrustee’ssale,plus interest and costs. THIS NOTICE IS THE FINAL STEP BEFORE THE FORECLOSURE SALE OF YOUR HOME. You may be eligible for mediation.Youhaveonly until 90 calendar days BEFORE the date of sale listed in this Notice of Trustee Sale to be referred to mediation. If this is an amended Notice of Trustee Sale providinga45-daynoticeof the sale, mediation must be requested no later than 25 calendar days BEFORE the date of sale listed in this amended Notice of Trustee Sale. DO NOT DELAY. CONTACT A HOUSING COUNSELOR OR AN ATTORNEY LICENSED IN WASHINGTON NOW to assess your situation and refer you to mediation if you are eligible and it may help you save your home. See below for safe sources of help. SEEKING ASSISTANCE Housing counselors and legal assistance may be available at little or no cost to you. If you would like assistance in determining your rights and opportunities to keep your house, you may contact thefollowing:Thestatewide foreclosure hotline for assistance and referral to housing counselors recommended by theHousingFinance Commission:Toll-free: 1-877-894-HOME (1-877-894-4663) or Website: http://www.dfi.wa.go v/consumers/homeowne rship/post_purchase_co unselors_foreclosure.ht mTheUnitedStatesDepartment of Housing and UrbanDevelopment: Toll-free: 1-800-569-4287 or NationalWebSite: http://portal.hud.go v/hudportal/HUDorfor LocalcounselingagenciesinWashington: http://www.hud.gov/offic es/hsg/sfh/hcc/fc/index.c fm?webListAction=searc h&searchstate=WA&filte rSvc=dfcThestatewide civil legal aid hotline for assistance and referrals to other housing counselorsandattorneys:Telephone: 1-800-606-4819 orWebsite:http://nwjustice.org/what-clearAdditional information providedbytheTrustee:Ifyou have previously been discharged through bankruptcy, you may have been released of personal liability for this
Legal Notices loan in which case this letter is intended to exercise the noteholders rights against the real property only. The Trustee’sSaleNumberis WA-24-997763-RM. Note:Thisformhas been modified to account for the loan type. Dated:12/20/2024 QUALITYLOANSERVICECORPORATION, asTrusteeBy:JeffStenman,PresidentTrustee’s Address:QUALITY LOANSERVICECORPORATION1081stAve South,Suite450,Seattle,WA98104Forquestionscalltoll-free: (866)925-0241Trustee SaleNumber: WA-24-997763-RMSale Line:916-939-0772or Loginto: http://www. qualityloan.com IDSPub#0225951 4/2/20254/23/2025 LegalNo.WNT1011335 Published:TheWhidbey NewsTimes April2,23,2025
Oak Harbor - Public Auction/LandlordLien ForeclosureSale– 4/25/2025at1:00p.m.– 1975KENTWOOD12x 36manufacturedhomeVIN:KW3325–OakHollowMobileHomePark, Sp.#61,1320N.Oak HarborSt.-Phone: (360)675-4228. LegalNo.WNT1011427 Published:TheWhidbey NewsTimes April16,23,2025
Oak Harbor - Public Auction/LandlordLien ForeclosureSale– 4/25/2025at1:30p.m.– 1970NASU60ST/12 manufactured homeVIN:NYB2FK65814685 –OakHollowMobile HomePark,Sp.#107, 1320N.OakHarborSt.- Phone:(360)675-4228. LegalNo.WNT1011425 Published:TheWhidbey NewsTimes April16,23,2025 PublicHearingNotice OakHarborCity Council NOTICEisherebygiven thattheOakHarborCity Councilwillholdapublic hearing on Tuesday, May6,2025at5:30p.m. attheCityCouncil RegularMeeting regardingthefollowing: • Ordinance No. 2021: Amendment No. 1 to the 2025-2026 Biennial Budget The meeting may be viewedviaFacebookor YouTubeorfollowingthe meetingonChannel 10/HD1090.Anyone wishing to support or oppose these items or provide other relevant comments may do so by attending the meeting in person, by writing in, or by submitting comments electronicallytotheCity Clerkatjnester@oakhar
Legal Notices bor.org(after5p.m.on theFridayprecedingthe meeting and prior to 4:00p.m.onthedayof the meeting). To ensure comments are noted properly, please include your name and address. If commenting in-person, please limit your commentstothree(3) minutes.
JulieNester,CityClerk LegalNo.WNT1012048
Published:TheWhidbey NewsTimes April,23,30,2025
PUBLICNOTICE
April1,2025 I,ElizabethSchermer, Owner, declare I have acceptedthedeedtothe DavidFranklin Grant/Homestead,recordedunderFile #4583924,Island County,Washington Recorder’sOffice,and occupy said land as my homestead. I have updatedtheLandPatent, claimingthe“Forever” benefitinFeeSimple/Allodium.Anypartyclaiming interest in this land must submit a lawful, documented claim in writingwithin60daysto: ElizabethSchermer, 84066thAve,Seattle, WA98117.Failuretorespondwithin60days barsclaims;90daysresults in default judgment. Contact(206)605-2506 orbeth@elizabethscher mer.com to view documents. LegalNo.WNT1011578 Published:TheWhidbey NewsTimes April5,9,12,16,19,23, 26,30,andMay3,7, 2025
PUBLICNOTICE
April1,2025 I, Irene Ingalls, Owner, declare I have accepted thedeedtotheMarshall BlinnGrant/Homestead, recordedunderFile #4583923,Island County,Washington Recorder’sOffice,and occupy said land as my homestead. I have updatedtheLandPatent, claimingthe“Forever” benefitinFeeSimple/Allodium.Anypartyclaiming interest in this land must submit a lawful, documented claim in writingwithin60daysto: IreneIngalls,807N. 36thSt,Seattle,WA 98103.Failuretorespondwithin60days barsclaims;90daysresults in default judgment. Contact(206)372-7246 or eyeturner@mac.com toviewdocuments. LegalNo.WNT1011576 Published:TheWhidbey NewsTimes April5,9,12,16,19,23, 26,30,andMay3,7, 2025
Legal Notices
PUBLICNOTICE
InaccordancewithRCW 36.77.070,Publicationof InformationonDayLabor Projects, notice is hereby given on the closure of those projects thatCountyforcesparticipated in for calendar year2024.Saidwork was performed by the IslandCountyPublic WorksDepartmentpersonnel. Project Name MiscR/WMinorSafety Improvements&Project DevelopmentCounty ForcesCosts $46,775.22 Datedthis7thdayof April2025 BOARDOFCOUNTY COMMISSIONERS ISLANDCOUNTY, WASHINGTON LegalNo.WNT1011778 Published:TheWhidbey NewsTimes April23,2025
• RetrievingCodes
• ResetCheckEngineLight
• Upto1HourDiagnostic
• 12month/12,000milewarranty
• CheckCompression
• Clean/ReplaceSparkPlugs &AirCleaner
• Inspect/ReplaceDistributor Cap&Rotor
• CheckChargingSystem
• Scope&Scan (RetrievingCodes,Reset CheckEngineLight)
• BrakeInspection
• TireRotation
• InspectBelts&Hoses
• InspectExhaustSystem
• CheckChargingSystem
• TestIgnitionCables
FlushesRadiator,EngineBlock, HeaterCore&Hosesto-35°below. BrakeFlush$89.95,ClutchFlush$89.95,Power SteeringFlush$89.95,FrontDiffFlush$89.95, RearDiffFlush$89.95.TransmissionFlush$89.95, TransferCaseFlush$89.95,FinalDriveFlush$89.95 ManualTransmissionFlush$89.95 startingat
• HRaybestosBrakeShoes
• RebuildWheelCylinders
• AdjustParkingBrake
• Bleed&AdjustSystem
•
• 3Yearor26,000mile
•
•
• RepackWheelBearings
•
• NewSeals
• Bleed&AdjustSystem
• RoadTestVehicle
• 3Yearor26,000mile
