RECORD SOUTH WHIDBEY
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2013 | VOL. 89, NO. 69 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢
Volunteers rally around $50 million hospital bond
Investing in health
Supporters look to Oak Harbor, Coupeville for support
SEE HOSPITAL, A28
Crossfit gym works out niche in Freeland By CELESTE ERICKSON South Whidbey Record
By NATHAN WHALEN South Whidbey Record With proven support on South Whidbey, volunteers tasked with promoting a bond to expand Whidbey General Hospital are focusing on the north end. The Friends of Whidbey General Hospital, a volunteer group tasked with promoting the public hospital’s proposed $50 million bond, recently formed and conducted a campaign kickoff at Town Park in Coupeville. Around 30 people came together to gather signs to post throughout the island, learn specifics about the bond and answer questions. “We need to bring this hospital up to a level that matches how good the doctors are,” said Brian Jones, an Oak Harbor resident who is part of the Friends of Whidbey General Hospital group and is coordinating the group’s speaking engagements. Freeland business owner Joe Mosolino, also an Oak Harbor resident and president of the group, said promotion efforts for the ballot measure will concentrate north of Coupeville. When hospital officials ran the bond two years ago, the majority of North Whidbey residents rejected the $50 million bond. He also noted that a majority of voters in the Langley area and along Saratoga Road also rejected the bond, though South Whidbey was overall supportive. In May 2011, 55.49 percent of Whidbey Island voters approved the hospital bond, which is short of the 60 percent supermajority required for approval. Hospital officials are asking voters to consider a similar proposal during the November general election. Voters will consider whether to approve a $50 million bond that will fund construction of a new wing, which will include 39 single-patient rooms. If approved, the
FAIR RESULTS ... SEE A7
Justin Burnett / The Record
With a little help from friends, Matt Young tosses the last bit of plastic sheeting over the top of Dorcas Young’s, his wife, new hoophouse at Tilth.
Hoop house raising lifts spirits, business prospects By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record With a few heave-ho’s of family and friends, Dorcas Young’s five-month effort to build a hoop house came to an end. The structure’s final piece — its plastic roof — was hauled into place Thursday morning at the South Whidbey Tilth Farmers Market off Highway 525. And like barn-raising projects of old, it was a
community undertaking. No paid workers, just volunteers wanting to help out a neighbor. “Oh my goodness, I don’t know how to thank everyone,” Young said. “I’m so humbled and thankful. People have such big hearts.” The Botswana-born Freeland resident built the hoop house, similar to a greenhouse, for her produce and African food business, but it was a bigger SEE GREENHOUSE, A7
Freeland has a new group of fitness enthusiasts. South Island CrossFit on Main Street opened Aug. 1 and now has 17 members. Owner and certified trainer Emmanuel “Manny” Rios, 32, started the gym because he wanted to help people with their athletic technique. He said at many gyms, trainers overlook the small details of technique and he’s looking to fix that. “I want to help people with the tiny flaws no one helped me with,” he said. Ron Nelson, executive director of the Island County Economic Development Council, said he is always excited when a new business opens. Small businesses have a mighty impact as a whole and are phenomenal at giving back to the community, he said. “Personally, I think it is good to provide opportunities for a retirement community who wants to stay active,” he said. A CrossFit workout includes four parts: a warm up exercise, a strength skill, the workout of the day and a cool down. The exercise lasts about an hour, but people can stay longer if they choose. The program is designed to be constantly varied to increase overall fitness and includes staples from weightlifting, gymnastics and cardio. Alex Bonesteel, 25, of Freeland has been to a few CrossFit gyms on the mainland and was excited for a gym to open here. He first tried the exercise three years ago and has since been hooked. Bonesteel said at this gym there is a big emphasis on form and technique with a lot of personal instruction. His favorite exercise is a “muscle up” which provides him with the biggest sense of accomplishment, he said. “CrossFit is the great equalizer for everyone,” he said. The exercise includes adjustable weights to scale to each person’s ability, said Jodi Buschko, 26, a certified SEE CROSSFIT, A28