News-Times Whidbey
Nonprofit casts eye on N. Whidbey
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2015 | Vol. 125, No. 12 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | 75¢
WGH board names CEO
Tomasino departure to come sooner than originally planned By MICHELLE BEAHM Staff reporter
some day follow in his dad’s footsteps was the furthest thing from his mind. Now, the father-and-son team work together and share the same passion for giving back to their Oak Harbor community, particularly during one special day of the year. The Wezemans’ practice, Whidbey Avenue Dental Care, is offering free dental care to the public on Friday, Feb. 13, as part of the business’ 10th annual Dentist with a Heart Day. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Luke Wezeman, his father Tim
Whidbey General Hospital’s board of commissioners hired a new CEO Monday to replace Tom Tomasino this spring. Geri Forbes, one of the three candidates interviewed during an inviteonly luncheon with community representatives, will take over as Whidbey General’s CEO position in mid-April. Forbes touted the importance of transparency and openness during the community meeting last month. Tomasino, who served as CEO of the hospital for more than five years, FORBES turned in his resignation notice last year, effective in October 2015. Rather than stay on board to work with Forbes as originally discussed by the hospital board, Tomasino will be exiting the hospital before Forbes takes over. The hospital spokesperson didn’t respond by press time to a request for the terms of Tomasino’s earlier-than-expected separation from Whidbey General. TOMASINO Tomasino was receiving $261,000 per year in salary and benefits, according to the most recent information available from the state Department of Health.
SEE DENTISTS, A5
SEE NEW CEO, A5
Photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times
Tim Wezeman, left, and his son Luke Wezeman share a dental practice in Oak Harbor as well as a passion for giving back to the community. The father and son team will be offer free care Friday, Feb. 13, along with staff as part of ‘Dentist with a Heart Day.’
Filling a need
Oak Harbor office offering free dental work on Friday By RON NEWBERRY Staff reporter
Luke Wezeman attended junior high school across the street from his father’s dental practice, but the idea that he’d
Suspected mail, ID thief arrested, being held on $100,000 bail By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
Detectives are busy contacting 69 victims of a prolific mail and identity thief who was caught on North Whidbey two weeks ago,
according to the Island County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect, Daniel Lura, 25, of Oak Harbor, pleaded not guilty in Island County Superior Court Monday to residential bur-
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glary, possession of stolen mail and 13 counts of possession of stolen property in the second degree. Lura is being held in jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.
Early on the morning of Jan. 28, Deputy Robert Mirabal responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Green Road on North Whidbey. He stopped a vehicle driven SEE ARRESTED, A5
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