NEWS-TIMES WHIDBEY
ISLAND LIVING Broad View spells success again A9
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014 | Vol. 115, No. 25 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | 75¢
Mighty oak felled
Historical photo courtesy of Peggy Darst Townsdin
By JANIS REID Staff reporter
Members of the local American Red Cross chapter and the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Search and Rescue unit assisted with rescue and recovery efforts since a mudslide hit Snohomish County Saturday morning. “It was a good feeling to help rescue people caught up in the mudslide,” said David Scott, the crew chief aboard the Navy’s Knighthawk helicopter. “It was a bittersweet experience.” As of Tuesday, the death toll was at least 14, with well over 100 unaccounted for, according to the Everett Herald. Nine volunteers have been sent from the Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross
Keeping plans secret for weeks, city cuts down post office tree over weekend By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
Many in the community expressed outrage this week that the landmark Garry oak tree at the Oak Harbor Post Office was sawed down Sunday morning without prior public notification. The tree was determined to be 330 years old, based on the number of rings counted. Some people, including a former council member and a state expert on open government, question the secret way in which the city administrator chose to axe the beloved tree, and whether the issue was properly discussed with City Council behind closed doors. RICK ALMBERG “I’m in shock,” said Sheilah Crider, “We’ve had more former councilwoman and current executive sessions Island County auditor. under this mayor “They did it in the stealth of the than we had night. It is very regrettable.” Crider, who emphasized that she under Slowik’s was speaking as a private citizen, was entire term.” involved as a councilwoman in saving the giant oak tree in 2004 after city officials planned to cut it down over safety concerns because of a fungal infection; an expert in Garry oak trees was brought in who advised that the tree could be saved. Melissa Duffy, a naturalist educator, said she is “deeply saddened.” Duffy helped lead the effort to save the tree a decade ago; she contacted experts in Garry oaks who said the tree had at least a 100 years left of life. Duffy planted the gardens surrounding the tree and used to coordinate the volunteers who care for it; she said none of the people who loved and cared for the tree knew ahead of time that it would be cut. SEE FELLED, A5
Local agencies assist in Oso slide response
SEE LANDSLIDE, A5
Board hears base growth projections By MICHELLE BEAHM Staff reporter
Photo by Janis Reid/Whidbey News-Times
An Oak Harbor City staffer removes rope from around an ancient Garry oak removed Sunday from the corner of City Beach Street and Barrington Drive. The crew broke two sets of ropes attempting to the lift the stump in one piece.
SEE GROWTH, A5
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