RECORD SOUTH WHIDBEY
SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2012 | Vol.88, No. 6 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢
INSIDE: Quilting queen, People, A2
RIDING THE STORM OUT Worst storm of the winter buries island BY BEN WATANABE, BRIAN KELLY AND PATRICIA DUFF South Whidbey Record
A massive snowstorm hammered South Whidbey and left behind more than a foot of snow. It also closed businesses, halted bus service, shuttered schools and left many people stuck at home.
Worth the trip: A cup of joe to go People needed their coffee, even if it meant putting tire chains on to get it. The baristas and the owner of Southern Cross Espresso learned of the South End’s caffeine addiction during the recent snowstorm. “People have to have their coffee,” said Jill Sheler, Southern Cross Espresso owner. She said business has remained steady, though the number of customers has declined. “It’s definitely been slower, much slower,” Sheler said. Single cars pulling away with multiple drink orders increased, however. The Clinton stand on Commercial Street tried to keep its operating hours of 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. Getting the baristas there has been the most challenging part, as most of South Whidbey was covered in snow and ice. On some of the particularly snowy nights, the stand closed early to let the employees get home safely. “We’re open, it’s hard for some of the girls to get there,” Sheler said. “We are just trying to play it by ear.” Despite the sustained below-freezing temperatures, Sheler reported the best-selling drink, the iced mocha,
Brian Kelly / The Record
Dana and Dave Morphew admire an approaching storm cloud as they look out over Puget Sound from a bluff at Scatchet Head on Wednesday. Clinton received more than a foot of snow during this week’s wintery blast. was frozen in place. “Believe it or not, but some people still have to have their iced mochas, even if it’s cold outside,” she said.
Clover Patch keeps cooking Neil Colburn of Neil’s Clover Patch in Bayview said his main concern since Tuesday has been safety allaround. “Tuesday, we closed at 2 p.m.,” Colburn said. “I don’t want people driving in snow in the dark, either to come here or driving home.” The restaurant owner said he decided to ignore the weather reports, noting that weather forecasts are often wrong. Wednesday, he
Brian Kelly / The Record
An Island County snow plow works to clear Ewing Road late Thursday. County officials expect to declare a “state of emergency” on Monday. waited for the rain that was reportedly on its way. “Yesterday, we closed at 1 p.m. when we realized it was getting worse and worse.
Today, customers were paying by the honor system because I had to leave to go pick up the waitress and the cook didn’t know how to use
the cash register,” he said. Colburn made a taxi service out his four-wheel-drive vehicle for his employees, ushering members of his team from home and back from several locations, including Scatchet Head, where he picked up the waitress. “It’s still snowing now, so we’ll be closing at 2 p.m.,” Colburn said Thursday. Because Langley is set in a sort of bowl, he said people are hesitant to drive down the streets into town. In Langley, he noticed the pedestrian traffic seemed to be good and that Useless Bay Coffee Company was open, the Braeburn looked open, as were Mo’s Pub and Eatery and Prima Bistro. “People are getting cabin fever and it makes sense to
stay open for pedestrians. But if it doesn’t make sense to go out, then don’t go,” Colburn said. Colburn was looking forward to business rebounding with better weather. “We’re hoping to have a good weekend to make up for it,” Colburn said.
Snow problem, Linds delivers Over at Linds Pharmacy in Freeland, assistant Taylor Herring said deliveries were still going out to folks despite the snow. “We’ve made probably five or six deliveries today and SEE STORM, A8