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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 | Vol. 90, No. 71 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
Lawmaker agrees to vet Sunny View pedestrian concerns By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record With ceremonial hardhats on their heads and golden shovels in their hands, six years of funding and permit hurdles seemed to melt away for a group of dignitaries at a recent groundbreaking ceremony in Freeland. Sunny View Village, Island County Housing Authority’s 26-unit affordable housing development, was finally and officially on its way. But when it comes to headaches, Sunny View has proven itself a gift that just keeps on giving. Public concern is again aswirl over the project, and this time it’s caught the attention of two state lawmakers and raised red flags among state auditors.
Jessie Stensland / The Record
North Whidbey resident Mathew Gordon smokes some “Old Toby,” a strain of medical marijuana he claims has extraordinary healing qualities.
Whidbey grower develops claimed cure-all strain
By JESSIE STENSLAND South Whidbey Record Mathew Gordon experimented on himself to perfect what he claims is a medicine that can cure everything from hepatitis C to bee stings. He calls it “Old Toby.” It’s a strain of marijuana he created by selectively breeding plants in small woodland plots near his North Whidbey home. It’s a project that’s taken a decade, but the amateur botanist and part-time philosopher said it’s paid off. He claims that his strain, named after the “pipe weed” in the “Lord of the Rings” books, is the first one bred specifically for its medicinal qualities.
Gordon and Old Toby have attracted national and even international attention from the large and growing worlds of medical marijuana patients and recreational weed connoisseurs. “ I actually created my own medicine to treat my own short-term memor y loss and i n the process have revolutionized the medical cannabis community,” he said after selfmedicating with his bud on a Thursday afternoon. Gordon and Old Toby
have appeared in 13 national and international pot publications, including High Times, the granddaddy of them all. “I love the flavor and aroma, but best of all, the instant feeling of wellbeing a n d euphor i a ! ” D a n n y
Danko wrote in a review published in High Times. Gordon said he entered Old Toby into the High Times “U.S. Cannabis Cup” competition and will have a
booth at the Sept. 6-7 event at the Comcast Arena in Everett. He regularly takes part in Seattle’s Hemp Fest and was on a televised panel discussion at the event with a couple of scientists. He has appeared on 50 cable access shows in Seattle to discuss pot. And he’s met Tommy Chong. He said one of the largest marijuana growing operations in Colorado is growing 400 of his plants, which will be ready around Halloween. He plans to start selling pills, chocolates, sublingual drops, suppositories and seeds to sick folks this fall. It’s strictly SEE POT, A9
It’s inevitable Responding to citizen-driven pedestrian safety concerns, Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, has agreed to facilitate a meeting this month to discuss access issues central to the new development. At the table will be Rep. Dave Hayes, R-Camano, state Department of Transportation and county road officials, Housing Authority and project leaders, Freeland Chamber of Commerce Director Chet Ross and at least two South Whidbey residents. One is adjacent property owner Jerry Stonebridge, and the other Rufus Rose, a Clinton man who is the impetus for the meeting. He believes Sunny View’s proximity to the highway will promote jaywalking by tenants and eventually lead to an accident. Once construction is complete and people move in, it will only be a matter of time, he said. “I believe it’s inevitable, especially in inclement weather and at night,” Rose said. Sunny View is located on the south side of Highway 525, across from Harbor Avenue and opposite of Freeland’s commercial core. Built by the Housing Authority, the project aims to provide workforce and low-income housing. Eighteen units are designated for families who make 50 and 60 percent below the area median income — about $36,000 at 50 percent — and seven units are reserved for homeless housing. One unit will house an onsite property manager. According to Rose, Sunny View residents will venture into town on foot, but many will be reluctant to make the trek to the closest crosswalk at Fish Road. Instead, they’ll take the quicker and riskier route of crossing in front of the new housing complex, he said. Rose is calling for a traffic light at Harbor Avenue, a cross walk and a bus shelter. Smith hasn’t made any promises, but she did call Rose’s concerns “legitimate.” She also said he’s not the only one worried about the traffic implications associated with the development. “It’s a legitimate issue and I’ve heard it from enough people in Freeland that I thought it was time to do some fact finding,” Smith said.
SEE SUNNY VIEW, A5