Record South Whidbey
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SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2014 | Vol. 90, No. 40 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢
Two eye South End cannabis stores
Filing week yields several surprises Auditor fires challenger for “breaking trust” By JESSIE STENSLAND South Whidbey Record The election season turned a little ugly even before filing week was over. As of mid-day Friday, the candidate filing period yielded a number of surprises in both county and state races, not the least of which was in the race for Island County treasurer. Wanda Grone, the Island County chief deputy treasurer, filed to run against her boss, Ana Maria Nuñez, without letting her know. Grone is a Republican and Nuñez is a Democrat. In fact, the South Whidbey Record broke the news to a shocked Nuñez Tuesday afternoon. Since then, Nuñez said, she’s deliberated, cried and prayed over what to do. Thursday, she fired Grone. “The chief deputy position is one that requires loyalty. It’s someone who is the confidant of the elected official,” she said. “It’s someone I need to be able to trust.” Nuñez said that Grone’s decision to run against her and not tell her ahead of time broke that trust. Grone could not be reached for comment. The chief deputy is an atwill position, which means Grone serves at the pleasure of the treasurer. Nuñez said she hired her after coming into office. Friday after noon, Coupeville resident Christa SEE FILING, A14
Image courtesy of Richard Francisco
This concept design shows Richard Francisco’s vision for a residential-commercial building on First Street where Village Pizzeria now stands.
FIRST STREET GRAND PLAN UNVEILED “It’s not about me. ... It’s about the future.” — Richard Francisco By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record Langley property owner Richard Francisco has unveiled big plans for two new mixed-use, three-story buildings on First Street. After owning seven lots for two decades, Francisco said that right now is the right time to look at jumping into the fray of improvements in the city. “I’m seeing some great things in Langley,” he said, not-
ing the Second Street redesign, the expanded marina at South Whidbey Harbor and businesses like Useless Bay Coffee Company as adding to the city’s attractiveness. “For 20 years, nothing was really happening.” Francisco unveiled his plans, which he adamantly describes as being conceptual, at a special Langley City Council and Planning Advisory Board meeting May SEE FIRST STREET, A16
Rise of the tent caterpillars
Justin Burnett / The Record
Becky Bell, a Clinton merchant, makes a face as she picks off tent caterpillars from a tree at Ken’s Korner.
By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record Some think they’re cool, others say they’re gross. While opinions on tent caterpillars seem to vary, there is one
thing no one seems to dispute — the little buggers are everywhere. Estimated by experts to number in the billions, they’re wiggling and munching their way across communities throughout Western Washington,
and South Whidbey is no exception. Trees they plague, consuming leaves and coating branches like a moving SEE CATERPILLARS, A24
By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record A well-known Langley businesswoman may become the first person to open a retail marijuana store on the South End. Maureen Cooke, owner of Mo’s Pub and Eatery, filed an application with the Washington State Liquor Control Board to open the Whidbey Island Cannabis Company at a location in Bayview. Cooke hasn’t gotten the final OK from state regulators yet, but said she is “99 percent” through the review and qualification process. “It looks like I might be the very first licensee,” Cooke said. “I’m very excited about it,” she added. Unlike other communities where large numbers of applicants required lotteries to determine who would be considered, one wasn’t necessary on Whidbey Island. Island County has a quota of four retail pot shops — including one earmarked for Oak Harbor — and Cooke was one of four applicants who have made it through the criminal background checks, financial inspection and other aspects of the licensing process so far. The others include Freeland businessman Lucas Jushinski, owner of Island Alternative Medicine, and Herbs and Buds and W&L Holdings in Oak Harbor. Staff at Jushinski’s shop said he was out of the country this week and could not be reached for comment. According to his application with the state, Jushinski will operate the SEE MARIJUANA, A14