Record South Whidbey
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2012 | Vol. 88, No. 16 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
Move terminal, ferry riders say
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO
Kramer Kramerisms
After 38 years of teaching and coaching, Tom Kramer has seen a lot.
“If you were like me in high and had no friends, your term paper would have been done long before the day before.”
The history teacher taught during the fall of the Soviet Union, the rise of personal computers, cell phones and more than a few wars. He coached tennis champions, including his daughter Karyle and fellow teacher Jennifer Gochanour. For all the things he’s seen, Kramer has never laid eyes on the anonymously created and highly unofficial Facebook page called “Mr. Kramer.” The Facebook page, which has 198 “likes,” was created by students who really would like to remain anonymous. They posted a disclaimer on Facebook that says the page is neither edited nor overseen by Kramer. The page is filled with Kramerisms, and the longtime teacher admitted some of them may be authentic. “My guess is that these are a collection over the last 20 years or so. I know kids in the past would write them down here or there,” Kramer said. “Somehow, they’ve made their way on to Facebook, which I’ve never been on, ever,” he added. The fake profile was created in December. The real Mr. Kramer said Facebook is “a waste of time and a waste of space.” “Well, obviously they don’t have much to do then, do they?” Kramer asked. “They must be bored silly.”
“You people need 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night. I have a bad feeling that is just not going to happen tonight.” “If you need a carburetor for a F-4 jet, you ain’t going to find it at your local Schuck’s.”
“Have a good break. Don’t do anything stupid.” “When you are drag racing and the steering wheel comes off ... that’s a bad deal.” “So the test will be on Thursday. I’ll give you one day to waste, one day to panic and one day to actually study.” “I remember my senior year and I had pretty much what I have on right now, a glorified T-shirt and a zip-up sweatshirt. It was 3 degrees.” “Yes, of course you can use your notes on the test tomorrow. Just kidding. I like to give you a glimpse of hope before I step on it.” “Things will get better until we realize we are running out of water ... But that’s not for another 10 to 15 years ... So don’t panic.”
“Christmas was declared a national holiday on June 28, 1870. That was a Tuesday.” “It was a white stretch convertible Cadillac with red leather seats. I mean, Elvis would have loved that thing.”
INSIDE: Senior moments, Sports, A10
“I have been waking up at 4 every morning for the last God knows how many years. I am more of a morning person.” “People, next time you travel to a Third World country be careful of what you eat and drink. And in terms of doing extremely risky things, just don’t do them.”
STORY AND PHOTO BY BEN WATANABE | SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD
Ivar’s in jeopardy if existing terminal is expanded BY Brian Kelly South Whidbey Record
CLINTON — Keep clam. Faced with four options for keeping the ferry terminal in Mukilteo, South Whidbey residents said they most liked an alternative that would move the ferry landing to the north. One option, however, inspired much opposition at Thursday’s public hearing. That $130 million-$140 million scenario for expanding the ferry terminal would keep the dock at the end of Highway 525, but the on-site expansion would mean the removal of Ivar’s Mukilteo Landing.
Officials with Washington State Ferries said it would be doubtful that the popular restaurant could be relocated nearby because of the lack of privately owned land. Whidbey residents found other options more preferable. Two of the four options being studied by the state would see the ferry landing moved farther north along the Mukilteo shoreline, to the Air Force tank farm property. Both alternatives would include a new passenger and maintenance building and an extension of First Street that would lead See ferry, A6
Fire district considers 15-cent levy increase BY Ben watanabe South Whidbey Record
FREELAND — South Whidbey Fire/EMS commissioners will soon consider a 15-cent increase to its maintenance-and-operations property tax levy. At a special commissioners meeting Thursday night, Fire Chief Rusty Palmer asked commissioners to review seeking the levy bump, and Liz Loomis, the fire district’s public affairs consultant, proposed putting the measure on the November ballot. Officials said the levy increase is needed to offset declining revenues from a drop in property values on South Whidbey. The fire district’s chairman likened the tax-funded budget to a family owning cars. “You can put off changing oil in the car for a while,
Ben Watanabe / The Record
Fire Commissioner Kenon Simmons: “We can’t keep leading like that, or we’ll pay the price for it.” you can even put off a new car for a little while,” said Commissioner Kenon Simmons. “The problem is down the road, all of a sudden, you’re replacing your car and your wife’s car. And you can’t take that in one year.” “We’ve kind of been doing that in the last year or two’s See levy, A7