South Whidbey Record, July 22, 2015

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Record South Whidbey

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Renaissance Festival comes to Greenbank See...A9

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 | Vol. 91, No. 57 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢

State stings WGH for nurse law violation By DEBRA VAUGHN Whidbey News Group The state Department of Health cited Whidbey General Hospital for violating a state law designed to ensure nurses and hospitals work together to create nurse staffing plans that keep patients safe. The hospital didn’t implement a committee to develop and monitor a staffing plan, the chief executive officer didn’t review the plan, and staff didn’t have a chance to present and discuss staffing issues, according to a state investigator’s report. The investigator reviewed hospital documentation from 2013, 2014 and this year, interviewed employees and observed hospital units. “This omission may result in nurse staffing levels that do not support safe and effective patient care,” according to the Department of Health report. The investigation pertained to the nurse staffing committee and nothing else, according to hospital spokeswoman Trish Rose. “(Whidbey General Hospital) was found to have missed one of the two required annual staffing committee meetings. A corrective plan was submitted and accepted by the DOH and no further action is required,” she said in an email response to questions. The state health department investigation was in response to a complaint filed in May by the Washington State Nurses Association, which is in the midst of contract negotiations with the hospital. A nurses association spokeswoman said SEE HOSPITAL, A5

Shakespeare’s Rose Langley woman’s passion brings The Bard to life for sixth year

By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record

Outlying Field near Coupeville. COER claims that the noise from the EA-18G Growler is harmful to the health of those who live near the field. The judge did not make a ruling last week, but COER members said they hoped to have a decision within two weeks. The judge did not give a timeline. A win for COER would have a significant impact on training schedules at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, but it

Following a bumpy start to food trucks in Langley this past June, Mayor Fred McCarthy is recommending citywide review of mobile food vendor rules, legal review of the ordinance and a revised application. McCarthy recently wrapped up an investigation that examined the city’s role in the kerfuffle. Punishment or disciplinary action for city staff will not be pursued, according to the mayor’s investigation summary, which was presented to the city council at its regular meeting Monday night. “Lessons have been learned that should provide for improving the ordinance and application process and for a more thorough review and approval process for future food vans in the city,” McCarthy wrote in the report and later reiterated to the council July 20. The issue began with citizen complaints over rule violations of Langley’s first legal, licensed food truck. Once an official complaint citing several parts of the mobile food vendor ordinance was filed, the city’s planning department issued a desist business order to The Big Wierzbowski, owned by Joe Wierzbowski. The city council, by unanimous vote, approved a two-day stay of the order in a special meeting ahead of the Independence Day weekend. Later amendments were made by the director of Community Planning and approved by the council July 6, allowing the food truck to resume business the follow-

SEE OLF, A3

SEE FOOD TRUCK, A5

See page 10 for full story

Judge hears OLF noise complaint By JESSIE STENSLAND Whidbey News Group The U.S. Department of Justice and an attorney representing a group of Central Whidbey residents squared off in federal court last week in a battle over jet noise. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly heard from both sides in arguments over a preliminary injunction that the Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve, or COER, filed against the Navy in an attempt to halt aircraft touch-and-go practice at the

McCarthy proposes food truck rule changes following investigation


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