WHIDBEY
OPINION Page A6
WRITE TO US: The Whidbey News-Times welcomes letters from its readers. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Letters should be typewritten and not exceed 350 words. They must be signed and include a daytime phone number. Send items to P.O. Box 1200, Coupeville WA 98239, or email kgraves@whidbeynewsgroup.com WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 • Whidbey News-Times
Help bring local history to the pages of your newspaper PUBLISHER’S COLUMN
By KEVEN R. GRAVES
A community newspaper is a historical record. With every edition of the Whidbey News-Times, events are recorded for posterity. On a regular basis, as I unlock my office door, there is someone poring through the back issues of the newspaper, furiously taking notes. At times I fear it is forgotten — even by those of us in the newspaper business — that our responsibility goes beyond reporting the news of the day. In 1999, when I became the publisher of the newspaper in Yelm, I was horrified to learn that, several years earlier, as the sale of the newspaper was taking place, the previous owner opened his doors and invited the community to come in and take whatever photographs they wanted. Essentially, local history accumulated over nearly eight decades was scattered to the wind. I spent the next 13 years trying to locate some of that history and share it with the community by seeking photos to publish in the newspaper. Some photos undoubtedly fell into private collections. Others went to the local museum. While a museum will certainly preserve that history, it was a small organization run by volunteers. There was nobody dedicated to locating or identifying old photos, or who could regularly work with the newspaper to share them with the community. One of my objectives as editor of the Whidbey NewsTimes is to bring local history to life within the pages of the newspaper. After posting some historical photos on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/whidbeynews, it quickly became apparent people want to see more. I will be meeting with Peggy Darst Townsdin, author of the book “Oak Harbor,” to launch a new feature in the newspaper called “Looking Back.” Darst Townsdin has generously agreed to share some of her photos with the newspaper. I believe there are countless other photos out there that will help tell the story of our island communities, and I am hoping that others, like Darst Townsdin, will share that rich history. If you have photos from the 1960s and earlier that you believe others would like to see, please email me at kgraves@whidbeynewsgroup.com Let’s work together to bring local history to the pages of your community newspaper.
News-Times whidbey
Scan the code with your phone and look us up on-line! Keep the app and look us up anytime!
Published each Wednesday and Saturday from the office of The Whidbey News-Times 107 S. Main St, Ste E101 • P.O. Box 1200 • Coupeville, WA 98239 (360) 675-6611 • (360) 679-2695 fax On the Internet at www.whidbeynewstimes.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Island Transit
Vehicles should be ID’d as state law requires Editor, The concerns stated in your Jan. 11 opinion piece, “Concerns lay in response to audit,” are the same as mine. I have met with Island Transit Director Martha Rose for issues concerning the agency. Presently I am campaigning for a southbound bus shelter at Ledgewood Beach, which would serve the communities of Bonair and Ledgewood. During our meeting, she stated that there is $10,000 for the bus shelter. Building permits still need to be secured from Island County and the state Department of Transportation. The length of time taken by Island County to process a permit to me is unfathomable and WSDOT is the next major hurdle. What is also unfathomable is that this is the second time the state Auditor’s Office has found the same issues. We don’t need the state Legislature to enact an exemption for the identification of vehicles, which Rose is requesting. The vehicles should be identified
as state law requires. It gives credibility to the use of vehicles. The board of directors for the Island County Public Transportation Benefit Area should be looking at funding and service. Island Transit is the only public transportation in the state of Washington that does not collect a user fee. This model is fine for Island County, but brings it into competition with Skagit Transit, Community Transit and Everett Transit, which collect user fees. Let Whidbey and Camano continue with their funding model if that is what the voters want, but restrict the competition with other public transportation systems. Brian Martin Coupeville
Go Hawks
Can you hear? ‘Legion’ is bringing the boom Editor, If you can hear the 12th man roar and the “legion” is bringing the “boom.” That means another victim has wandered into the Hawks’ nest and
Executive Editor & Publisher.....................................................................Keven R. Graves Advertising Manager......................................................................................Teri Mendiola Assistant Editor .......................................................................................... Jessie Stensland Contributing Editor...................................................................................... Megan Hansen Reporters............................................... Janis Reid, Ron Newberry, Sara Hansen, Jim Waller Administrative Coordinator.........................................................................Renee Midgett Advertising............................................................... Nora Durand, Phil Dubois, Gail Rognan Creative Manager.............................................................................................. Connie Ross Lead Creative Artist........................................................................Michelle Wolfensparger Creative Artists..........................................................................Adine Close, Jennifer Miller Circulation Manager...................................................................................Diane Smothers Circulation Manager.........................................................................................Liam Graves
into the valley of doom. They try to run but they can’t hide. They try to pass but they’re denied. Our special teams are totally awesometo the ball they’re always flyin’; And these two put the foot in football; Hooray for Hauschka and Ryan! Our “D” line is relentless; they live in the Q.B.’s face. Our “Backers” steal their momentum and vanish without a trace. The offensive line blocks brilliantly for “Beauty” and the “Beast;” losing is not an option! The “Beast” runs on Skittles and pride and causes earthquakes on the side. Trying to tackle “Beauty” is like reaching for a hologram; there’s nothing there but air! The “Wizards of Awes” of the Emerald City is almost too good to be true. He’s the real 2012 rookie of the year Because there’s nothing he can’t do! So welcome to the “clink” - the house where the 12th man roars! False start after false start they’re all too big to hide. Welcome to the Pacific Northwestground zero for Seahawks pride!
Larry Brown Oak Harbor
IDENTIFICATION STATEMENT AND SUBSCRIPTION RATES The Whidbey News-Times (ISSN 1060-7161) is published semi-weekly by Sound Publishing on Wednesdays and Saturdays for $19 for 3 months, $29 for 6 months, $45 per year and $75 for 2 years delivered by carrier in island county from North Whidbey Island to Greenbank; $20 for 3 months, $32 for 6 months, $52 per year and $94 for 2 years delivered by in county mail from Greenbank to Clinton; $35 for 3 months, $65 for 6 months, $105 per year mailed out of county. Payment in advance is required. It is published by The Whidbey News-Times PO Box 1200, Coupeville, WA 98239. Periodicals rate postage paid at Coupeville, WA and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Whidbey News-Times, PO Box 1200, Coupeville, WA 98239. Copyright © 2014, Sound Publishing
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENTS: GEICO, FRED MEYER READER INFORMATION: ADMINISTRATIVE: The Whidbey News-Times is a publication of Sound Publishing, and is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, the National Newspaper Association and Suburban Newspapers of America. Advertising rates are available at the News-Times office. While the News-Times endeavors to accept only reliable advertisements, it shall not be responsible to the public for advertisements nor are the views expressed in those advertisements necessarily those of the Whidbey News-Times. The right to decline or discontinue any ad without explanation is reserved. DEADLINES: Display Ads–4p.m. Friday and 4p.m. Wednesday; Legals – Noon Friday & Noon Wednesday; Classified Ads – 4:30 p.m. Monday and 4:30 p.m. Thursday; Community News – Noon Friday and Noon Wednesday; Letters to Editor – Noon Monday and Noon Wednesday.