Saturday, October 19, 2013 • Whidbey News-Times
www.WhiDBEYNEWSTIMES.com
Page A7
More letters to the editor only a small amount of due diligence on the part of those in charge. I am aware that this chapter is now closed and most of those involved in the administration at that time have moved on, leaving us, the citizens of Oak Harbor, holding the bag. Our current city administration is negotiating for an improved sewage treatment plant to go along with our beautifully restored and renovated downtown. However, rather than improving the one bright spot in our city, “beautiful Windjammer Park,” by removing the sewage treatment plant from the middle of our picnic area thereby making it a complement to our beautiful downtown and possibly attracting a few more tourist dollars, they plan to leave it where it is. I am not an engineer but it would seem to me that, at some point in the future, Oak Harbor will have increased its population and need to scale up it treatment facility again. That would be much easier to do if the facility were in a remote location and not in the middle of our beautiful waterfront park next to our beautifully restored downtown. After thinking about this I realized that, by the time any of this comes to pass, our current city administration will have moved on and will no longer be accountable for their decisions. We, the citizens, though, will again be insulted with an enormous increase in our utility bills to pay for the next fiasco. Robert E. Clark Oak Harbor
COER
Outlying Field safe, ‘state of the art ‘ Editor, In a paid advertisement appearing in the Oct. 2 Whidbey NewsTimes, Ken Pickard tries to get public support to kick the Navy out of Outlying Field Coupeville. He either spoke ignorantly when he said OLF Coupeville is “old” and “unsafe” as it is as materially safe, modern and as technologically up to date and state-of-the-art as any field anywhere, used for its purpose, or he knew this already but said it to confuse and confound readers into believing him. Unlike what he said, Ebey’s Reserve is not a “national park.” It is not understood why Victorianera homes were mentioned, but neither jets flying, or not flying, affects Victorian-era homes. The comment was made that “military flight operations over this sensitive area are destroying this national treasure,” but no support for this statement is made with any scientific studies — just COER’s blind thoughts and selfish feelings. Pickard’s statement said that “Navy operations are severely damaging the lives of thousands of people who live in and around Ebey’s Reserve,” yet, while only a few of these people complain, all of these people moved to that location decades after the Navy had begun operations at OLF Coupeville. Yes, the jets fly over Whidbey General Hospital ... so? So do the Medivac helicopters. Stop them too? Both do so without any prob-
Question
of the week:
“A Jedi. Oh yeah, definitely my favorite. James Nelson, Clinton
lems. A claim that “scientific testing” was done to show “human beings perceive the Growler as much louder than the Prowler,” but no empirical research was cited to show this. Aircraft using the OLF facilities only fly over Whidbey Island and water adjacent to it. It would be interesting to see Pickard name the four counties being damaged by flight operations at OLF? The advertisement claims OLF’s operation causes physical or mental health injuries. Any physical or mental health that is claimed to be compromised by way of operations at OLF has been caused by moving to a place where that alleged cause was preexistant. If living in the vicinity of flight operations causes physical or mental health, why would someone move to that area? Further, the claim is made of dropping property values. No property values in the area have dropped. To “drop” would mean they were higher earlier, then dropped because of Navy flight operations. Flights have existed since the 1940s and property values today in that area are 10,000 percent higher than they were then. This advertisement said: “This should not be a test of wills.” No. This must be a test as to whether an established arm of our national security should back down when a small group of self-centered people shout out their blind and selfish tantrums. Rick Widdison Coupeville
Mantra: Jets=noise Kathi’s Kitchen for ‘the rest of us’ Former restaurant Editor, owner remembered The signs are everywhere. Commissioners have it on their shirts. Yards sprout it. Mayors shout it. Council members approve it. Resolutions proclaim it. Jets = Jobs is the mantra. Nothing about freedom. Nothing about democracy. Nothing about hearing loss. Nothing about children’s health. Nothing about Navy safety. Nothing about health costs. Nothing about citizens’ rights. Nothing about the dumping of fuel. Nothing about tourists leaving due to noise. Nothing about residents moving due to noise. Nothing about lost property use and value. Nothing about being unable to talk. Nothing about being unable to sell your home. Nothing about being able to hear. Nothing about Navy folks preferring Anacortes. It is about money for Oak Harbor business owners. Jets = jobs = money. What’s wrong here? Money for who? Not me, I don’t own a business in Oak Harbor How about Jets = Money? Are you getting money? Or just noise? Jets = Money for a few rich Oak Harbor business owners. Noise for the rest of us. Michael Monson Coupeville
Editor, It is with a sad heart that I inform the many past customers of Kathi’s Kitchen of Kathi’s passing this past Aug. 18. Kathi was the lively and feisty owner of the beloved Kathi’s Kitchen, for many years a favorite eating spot in Oak Harbor. After their retirement and moving to Bullhead City, Ariz., Steve and Kathi enjoyed many adventures and good times with friends in the warmth of the sunny climate. Kathi took sick in late July and finally passed in August. I know that many residents join me in passing our sincere condolences to her husband, Steve, who remains in Arizona at this time. Should anyone wish to pass along personal well wishes, I will be happy to provide Steve’s address by email. We will miss Kathi’s smiling face and her wry wit, not to mention the best pies in town. Rick Bell, formerly “Rick in the Morning, KWDB” Montrose, Colo.
Election letters n To ensure fairness, the Whidbey News-Times will not publish letters relating to the general election in the two editions prior to the Nov. 5 election. Any political letters must be received by noon, Thursday, Oct. 24 to be considered for publication in the Oct. 26 edition prior to the election.
What was your favorite Halloween costume?
“I was a gladiator last
year.
Nate Cook, Oak Harbor
“Any kind of superhero.
I won’t be wearing one this year.
Art Quizmundo, Oak Harbor
“I was Waldo a couple of years ago. I should find that costume. Pepper Ringenberg, Oak Harbor
“I don’t have a favorite one. I was Pocahontas last year. Melanie Callaway, Oak Harbor