INSIDE: Motorcycles zoom onto the South End, Island Life, A10
Record South Whidbey
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2012 | Vol. 88, No. 64 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
School board doth consider Shakespeare Festival proposal
City considers 180 on skating rules Langley council may ease up on skateboard restrictions By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
BY BEN WATANABE Staff reporter
Juliet may have an easier time looking for her star-crossed lover next year. He could be on the Langley Middle School field. Organizers of the Island Shakespeare Festival have proposed using the field behind Langley Middle School as the site of its productions in August 2013. The caveat being it will do the legwork of creating a stage, seating and possibly repairing the disused track. “That’s really a preliminary thing,” said school board member Damian Greene. “They’re open to suggestions or whatever, they know it may not even occur.” “Students and education come first,” Greene added. See Proposal, A6
Patricia Duff photo / Whidbey Art Source
The Island Shakespeare Festival may have a new home next August on the field behind Langley Middle School.
Skateboards, scooters, roller skates and any other humanpowered devices could become a legal means of transportation in residential areas of Langley under an ordinance change being considered by the City Council. Currently, no such devices are allowed on any public street, alley, park or sidewalk within city limits. The only exception to the rule is bicycles and they are only allowed on streets and alleys. The impetus for the rule change, which would legalize such uses only in residential areas, stems from Police Chief Randy Heston. Langley’s top cop has been researching municipal codes around the state in an effort to update and modernize the city code. So far, Heston has found a handful of antiquated laws he’s worked to have changed or repealed, such as a long defunct state requirement that motorists and boaters always have a litter bag in their possession at all times. One of his most recent discoveries was a strict ban on skateboards. He said it’s excessive, even compared to other municipal codes, and needs to be revised. “Do you really need to have an anti-skateboarding law city wide?” Heston said. “Personally, I’ve never seen a problem with it so I proposed to lift it,” he said. It will still be illegal, however, to operate or ride human powered devices or vehicles — excluding bicycles — in business and commercial areas. It was a point of concern voiced during the ordinances first reviewed by the city council on Monday. “What’s the argument against not including the rest of the town?” Councilman Jim Sundberg asked. Heston was not present at the meeting to answer questions, but
Jesse Portillo photo / jessepphotography.smugmug.com
Daniel Sage ollies in the ally behind the Red Apple in Clinton. The recent South Whidbey High School graduate skated in areas like this where skating was allowed, or at least not forbidden. Mayor Larry Kwarsick noted that the issue was sent to the city’s risk manager and attorney for review and they made their opinions on the matter crystal clear: no skateboards in busy areas.
Kwarsick said he would like restrictions on non-motorized transportation as well, but there is just too much risk for potential litigation, he said. “In concept, I support the direc-
tion you want to go,” he said. City Clerk Debbie Mahler agreed, saying cities need to be extra careful when it comes See Skating, A8