INSIDE: Court warriors ... Sports, A7
Record South Whidbey
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012 | Vol. 88, No. 87 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
Planners struggle with access to beaches
Ghouls, goblins, ghosts double Langley’s ranks
BY JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
Property rights advocates may be pleased with several possible alternatives to controversial sections of Island County’s shoreline rules update, particularly those that address public beach access. While some suggest cooperative approaches, such as incorporating financial incentive programs to encourage the creation of new public beach accesses, others reduce requirements for small-scale new subdivisions. One allows developers to dodge a public beach access requirement altogether by paying a fee while another would only require the creation of a community access, which would not be open to the public.
“You have to start somewhere.” Karen Stewart SMP Coordinator Island County
According to Karen Stewart, the county’s shoreline master program coordinator, no recommendations are being made to the Island County commissioners. Rather, the board is being provided a list of possible solutions to some of the concerns discussed during a series of public meetings on Whidbey and Camano Islands held earlier this month. “It’s sort of a menu if you will,” Stewart said. The board and the public will have a chance to discuss the proposed shoreline rules and the alternatives at a hearing next week. The meeting begins at 10:20 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5, at the Island County Commissioners Hearing Room in Coupeville. The shoreline master program is a long-range planning document that guides new and existing development within 200 feet of the ordinary high water mark over the next 20 years. The state requires all municipalities to have them and to do an update every eight years. The idea is to insure that they are packed with the latest See Beaches, A11
Justin Burnett / The Record
Michele LaRue, owner of Big Sister in Langley, peers through the front window display from her shop on First Street. Like many city merchants, she’s filling a candy bowl and decorating her store in preparation for trick or treaters this afternoon.
Trick-or-treaters invade Village by the Sea for Halloween goodies BY JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter Hordes of candy-bent ghosts and goblins are expected to descend on Langley tonight. City officials say the Village by Sea has become an increasingly popular trick or treating destination in recent years. If the trend holds true and the weather permits, police say they wouldn’t be surprised to see the city’s population nearly double with Halloween invaders. “If it’s a calm night and not cold, I expected upwards of 1,000 people,” Police Chief Randy Heston said. Northview is one of the neighborhoods visited the heaviest and with reason. Heston said it’s one of the safer places in town to walk around and residents tend to get into the spirit of the holiday. “I think adults handing out the candy have as much fun as the kids,” he said. Downtown is another must-not-miss area this year, especially for those with young children. Merchants have been busy decorating their stories and filling their candy bowls in preparation for this year’s Spooktacular Langley.
fun with the holiday. Some Sponsored by the even come to work with Langley Main Street costumes of their own. Association and the Whidbey Island’s main ferry portal “They love Halloween Langley Chamber is holding its own Halloween around here,” she said. of Commerce, the Trick or treating hours event aims to provide festival this afternoon. The Clinton Halloween Community Trick or Treat, are from 2:30 to 5 p.m. All a safe and friendly sponsored by a host of local business participating businesses will forum for families have a sign in their window. looking to have some people, welcomes trick or treaters from 3 to 5 p.m. The Clyde Theater will also Halloween fun. Little ghouls and princesses can have a pre-movie costume Downtown events parade in which all are are usually thrown to visit stores from the Ken’s Korner welcome. bring attention to the Mall all the way to Clinton and expect a treat. Businesses are Finally, Main Street business district, parproviding candy to costumed is doing something speticularly during the children for safe Halloween fun. cial this year at Thomas holiday shopping seaHladkey Memorial Park. son, but Spooktacular The old oak tree between is really about the children, said Marc Esterly, executive director the Doghouse and Brakenwood Gallery was recently decorated with festive winter lights for the chamber. and the switch will be flipped for the first time “The focus is for the kids; to have a safe between 6 and 6:30 p.m. place for them to come,” Esterly said. “I hope it looks good; it may look like a About 50 merchants or organizations are Charlie Brown Christmas tree, I don’t know,” expected to participate in this year’s event, laughed Janet Ploof, president of Main Street. handing out candy and good times. Some, The decorated tree is not meant to be a such as Michele LaRue, the longtime owner of Christmas decoration, rather the idea is to Big Sister, are feeling especially festive. bring about some winter-time cheer. Ploof “This year we went all out on a window disthanked Cato Smith, Dan Waterman and other play that is creepy and fun,” LaRue said. volunteers who were instrumental in getting She’s got a pretty big bowl of candy, too. the tree decorated. Although similar events in years past haven’t had the best attendance, LaRue said participating merchants tend to have a lot of See Ghouls, A11
Meanwhile, in Clinton . . .