Record South Whidbey
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Class sniffs out fun with dogs See...A12
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015 | Vol. 91, No. 38 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢
Langley eyes funicular, walkway for marina access fix Eminent domain considered for shoreline property By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record From April’s charrette, Langley’s mayor and planning
chief are recommending the construction of a funicular and building a waterfront walkway that may require the taking of private property through eminent domain. Michael Davolio, director of Langley Community Planning, presented the city’s preferred options to the Planning Advisory Board on Wednesday. About 20
people, including Mayor Fred McCarthy and mayoral candidate Sharon Emerson, also attended the meeting. Davolio’s report followed an April charrette in which 130 people gave input on ways to improve access to the marina, from making use of golf carts and trolleys to building an elevator and bridge.
His proposed solution included an interim patch and a long-term project. Island Transit is considering the city’s request for bus service to the marina, which Davolio said was the short-term solution. The construction of a waterfront walkway and funicular were proposed as the long-term solution to
Langley’s marina access issue. Both projects were supported by McCarthy, who cited public support for the walkway and a last-minute idea of bus service to the marina. “They’re very creative and SEE ACCESS PROJECT, A5
Filing week yields new names for city council, parks, fire, hospital By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record
Jan Kocian photo
Jan Kocian, a Freeland resident, got this shot of Shell’s Polar Pioneer oil rig passing Useless Bay as it traveled from Port Angeles to Seattle Thursday. Arriving at Terminal 5, it was greeted by dozens of protestors in kayaks.
Sheriff’s office educates students on Internet, digital do’s, don’ts following school incidents By JESSIE STENSLAND South Whidbey Record Earlier this year, a 15-year-old boy at South Whidbey High School was caught allegedly taking photos up girls’ skirts with a cell phone. Around Christmastime last year, a
16-year-old Oak Harbor student wrote a message on Facebook, apparently as a prank, threatening to shoot up a dance at North Whidbey Middle School, according to court documents. Last fall, a boy at Langley Middle School got into trouble and ended up facing a criminal charge after allegedly
showing friends a photo of his genitals on a cell phone, according to court records. While technology has indubitably improved many aspects of modern life, it’s also making it easier for young people to get into trouble in ways unimaginable SEE TECHNOLOGY, A16
Several newcomers stepped forward for open public offices on South Whidbey this week. The Langley City Council, the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District and South Whidbey Fire/EMS all saw people file for open seats during Island County filing week, which ended at 4:30 p.m. May 15, after The Record went to press. Despite having three positions up for election, only one newcomer filed for Position 3, currently held by Councilman Jim Sundberg, who decided not to seek re-election. Ursula Shoudy is running for his position. The Langley City Council will likely see a pair of familiar faces next year. Councilman Bruce Allen is seeking his second term unopposed, as is Robin Black who is seeking to serve the remaining two years of the Position 2 term that was vacated by Margot Jerome midway through 2014. South Whidbey Fire/EMS has only one candidate for its open commissioner, Position 3: Frank Mestemacher, who has previously run for the fire protection district’s board. SEE FILING WEEK, A10