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Whidbey Xtra! WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016 | Vol. 1, No. 44 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | FREE

WWII novel chosen for 2016 Whidbey Reads program By RON NEWBERRY

rnewberry@whidbeynewsgroup.com

The appeal to a Whidbey Island audience seemed stronger the longer a group of reading enthusiasts looked at a novel written by a nearby author. Ultimately, the committee selected “The Wind is Not a River,” penned by Brian Payton of Vancouver, B.C., as the book for this year’s all-island Whidbey Reads program. The community-based reading program, around since 2003, involves all five Sno-Isle Libraries on Whidbey. Programming takes place in March and April and will include opportunities for the public to read and discuss the book and will culminate with visits to the island by the author. Kathy Bullene, assistant managing librarian at the Oak Harbor Library and this year’s Whidbey Reads chair, said that the selection committee was attracted to the book by a variety of factors. “It’s based on whether we think it has appeal to our audiences across the island and also — the reality is — author availability and price,” Bullene said. Payton’s novel, which was first published in December of 2013, is both a dramatic tale of survival and a love story.

Photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times

“The Wind is Not a River” was chosen as the novel for the 2016 Whidbey Reads program. “What intrigued us about this is it tells a very little known part of World War II history and the author is from Vancouver Island,” Bullene said. “We try to pick somebody at least on the west coast.” The story is set in the early 1940s in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, the site of the only battle of World War II to take place on American soil.

The tale is about a journalist from Seattle who is so troubled by his younger brother’s death in Europe that he seeks to investigate the Japanese invasion in Alaska. He accompanies a crew on a bombing run over the Aleutians and is shot down over Attu, one of two remote Alaskan islands occupied by Japanese. The story turns into a tale of

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survival in the harsh Alaskan wilderness and remorse by the journalist over his decision to hastily leave his wife against her wishes and investigate a segment of the war that the U.S. government was trying to censor from the public. “It goes into the whole survival story of ‘How do you survive on an Arctic island that’s occupied by the Japanese when no one knows you’re there,’ ” Bullene said.

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Bullene said the story also involves a PBY Catalina, the type of seaplane that was once based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. “We have that connection as well,” Bullene said. The love story endures in the book when the journalist’s wife sets out to learn the fate of her missing husband by joining the United Ser vice Organizations (USO) so she can travel to entertain troops in the Aleutian Islands. “The Wind is Not a River” was named both an American Booksellers Assocation IndieNext “Great Reads” pick and an American Library Association “Library Reads” pick. It also was selected as a “Best Book of the Year” by the Seattle Times and BookPage. Sno-Isle libraries in Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland, Clinton and Langley all participate in the Whidbey Reads program and will be stocking copies of the book, which comes in both paperback and hardcover. About 100 extra copies of the book will be purchased by Friends of the Library groups on Whidbey to be distributed island-wide. There have been requests for the book in print, digital and audio formats and in large type, said Leslie Franzen, branch manager at the Coupeville Library.

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Xtra!CALENDAR Wednesday Feb. 24

Whidbey General Town Hall-style Talks, 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, Oak Harbor Yacht Club. Representatives of WGH and Clinics will discuss matters such as the inpatient wing building project, introductions to new providers and information on healthcare services. A question-and-answer period will follow.

Ready Readers: Baby and Me Storytime, 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, Oak Harbor Library meeting room. Wiggle and giggle with your baby through silly stories, happy songs, rhymes and activities that inspire a love of reading. Play time will follow. For children age newborn through 24 months. Caregiver required. 360-675-5115.

AARP Tax-Aide, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, Coupeville Library.

Free tax return preparation and e-filing for taxpayers with low and moderate income, especially those 60 and older. Call 360-678-3000 to schedule an appointment.

Thursday Feb. 25

House of Hope NarAnon Meeting, 7-8 p.m., every Thursday at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church, 1253 NW 2nd St., Oak

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 • WhidbeyXtra!

LANGLEY MYSTERY WEEKEND: Langley Mystery Weekend. Without fail, every February someone commits a terrible crime in Langley and it’s up to YOU to figure out who-dun-it. Feb. 27-28, Langley. Amateur sleuths can help solve the mystery by picking up clues, interviewing suspects and entering their guess to win prizes provided by local merchants. Tickets cost $10 per adult; $8 for seniors and military. www.visitlangley.com

Harbor. The Nar-Anon Family Groups are a worldwide fellowship for those affected by someone else’s addiction. All that is required for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. karol@ whidbey.com Mystery Lovers Book Group: Jill Churchill, 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, Oak Harbor Library meeting room. Choose any of the Grace and Favor mysteries by Jill Churchill and join the discussion. 360-675-5115.

Ready Readers: Preschool Storytime, 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, Oak Harbor Library meeting room. Let imaginations run wild with fun books, sing-along songs and creative activities that prepare young minds for the adventures of reading. Play time or crafting may follow. For children age 3 to 5 years. Caregiver required. IDIPIC presents its next North Whidbey DUI/underage drinking prevention panel, 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, Oak Harbor Library meeting room. No late admittance. Open to all and required by local driving school for driver education students and accompanying guardians. 360-672-8219, www.idipic. org

Friday Feb. 26

Self-Defense for Girls, 1-3 p.m., Feb. 26, Coupeville Library. Learn the basics of self-defense and assertive boundarysetting in this free 2-hour

beginner’s class led by 5th degree black belt Michelle McVadon of Seven Star Women’s Kung Fu in Seattle. Open to girls ages 11-19. Class size is limited to 25. To register, lander son@sno-isle.org Oak Harbor Book Group: “Redeployment,” 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26, Oak Harbor Library meeting room. Check out a copy of “Redeployment” by Phil Klay and join the discussion.

Saturday Feb. 27

Oak Harbor High School Girls Basketball Club’s 2nd Annual New Mattress Fundraiser, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, Oak Harbor High School. Quality brands like Simmons Beautyrest and Restonic Mattress will be available for purchase at up to 50 percent off retail prices. http://bit.ly/ Beds4OakHarbor2

Sunday Feb. 28

Author and neuroscientist Dr. Marjorie Woollacott “Infinite Awareness: The Awakening of a Scientific Mind” book signing and discussion, 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, The Yoga Lodge, 3475 Christie Rd., Greenbank. http://marjoriewoollacott. com/books/infinite-aware ness/overview/

Monday Feb. 29

Ready Readers: Toddler Storytime, 9:30

a.m. Monday, Feb. 29, Oak Harbor Library meeting room. Jump and bounce into a magical world of stories, magic, music and movements that nurture the desire to read in toddlers. Play time or crafting may follow. For children age 2 to 3 years. Caregiver required. 360-675-5115.

Monday March 2

Ready Readers: Baby and Me Storytime, 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 2, Oak Harbor Library meeting room. Wiggle and giggle with your baby through silly stories, happy songs, rhymes and activities that inspire a love of reading. Play time will follow. For children age newborn through 24 months. Caregiver required. 360-675-5115. Wednesday Night with the Stars: “Max,” 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, Coupeville Library. Rated PG. Runtime 111 minutes. Popcorn provided. 360678-4911. AARP Tax-Aide, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, Coupeville Library. Free tax return preparation and e-filing for taxpayers with low and moderate income, especially those 60 and older. Call 360-678-3000 to schedule an appointment.

Tuesday March 3

Ready Readers: Preschool Storytime, 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 3, Oak Harbor Library meeting room. Let imagi-

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 • WhidbeyXtra!

WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM

Green at agreen@sno-isle. org or 360-678-4911 for more information.

Wednesday

first Wednesday of each month to continue efforts to sew quilts for veterans. The patterns are simple and easy to learn. Contact Anita M. Smith at mar gins@whidbey.com or 360321-8302 for details.

Sew quilts for veterans, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at the Deer Lagoon Grange. Quilters meet on the

Computer Frankenstein, 3 p.m. Friday, March 4, Coupeville Library. Teens are invited to give new life and purpose to computer parts. Contact Ashley

Whidbey Gardening Workshop, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Oak Harbor High School. Visit www.whidbeygardeningworkshop. org or call 360-240-5527 for more information.

nations run wild with fun books, sing-along songs and creative activities that prepare young minds for the adventures of reading. Play time or crafting may follow. For children age 3-5 years. Caregiver required. 360-675-5115.

20 percent of the population. Learn about the gifts and challenges associated with being an HSP. 360675-5115.

Gifts of Sensitivity: The Highly Sensitive Person, 2 p.m. Thursday, March 3, Oak Harbor Library. Highly Sensitive Persons make up nearly

March 4

Thursday March 5

Whidbey Playhouse Presents: Whidbey Has Talent, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 5, and 2-7 p.m. Sunday, March 6. The Playhouse invites children in grades K-12 to audition and showcase their talents in song, music, drama, dance and comedy in Whidbey’s first island-wide youth talent show. Applications and information can be found at www.whidbeyhastalent. com

GO LOCAL

Saturday Matinee at the Library, 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, Oak Harbor Library meeting room. “The Walk” is Robert Zemeckis’s cinematic re-creation of Phillipe Petit’s feat of walking between the World Trade Center towers. Rated PG. Free popcorn provided. 360675-5115.

This Weeks Featured Business

BUSINESS & SERVICES DIRECTORY

AUTO BODY REPAIR Central Collision 623 Industrial Ave, Oak Harbor 360-675-4949 AUTO PAINTING Central Collision 623 Industrial Ave, Oak Harbor 360-675-4949 AUTO RESTORATION Central Collision 623 Industrial Ave, Oak Harbor 360-675-4949 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Coupeville Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Info 905 NW Alexander St, Coupeville director@coupevillechamber.com coupevillechamber.com 360-678-5434

EQUIPMENT RENTAL Diamond Rentals 33650 SR 20, Oak Harbor diamondrent@comcast.net www.diamondrentals.org 360-279-0723 FLOORING Northwest Granite & Flooring 687 Mobius Loop suzette.nwgf@hotmail.com www.nwgraniteandflooring.com 360-675-4978 FURNITURE Hansen’s Furniture 916 West Division Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 office@hansensfurniture.biz (360) 424-7188

CONTRACTORS Waldron Construction 31640 SR 20 #2, Oak Harbor www.waldronconstruction.com 360-679-1827

INSURANCE Sue Blouin CIC, ACSR Koetje Leavitt Insurance 775 NE Midway Blvd, Oak Harbor sue-blouin@leavitt.com www.leavitt.com/oak harbor 360-675-5916

COUNTERTOPS Northwest Granite & Flooring 687 Mobius Loop suzette.nwgf@hotmail.com www.nwgraniteandflooring.com 360-675-4978

LANDSCAPING SERVICES Mailliard’s Landing Nursery 3068 N. Oak Harbor Rd, Oak Harbor www.mailliardsnursery.com 360-679-8544

REAL ESTATE AGENT Cheri English Broker, REALTOR®, SRES Windermere Real Estate/Whidbey Island Cheri@Ask4Cheri.com Agent4Life.net 360-320-9764 Elaine McDowell Managing Broker, REALTOR®, SRES Windermere Real Estate/Whidbey Island EMcDowell@windermere.com ElaineMcDowell.withwre.com 360-929-1500 Julie Kinnaird Broker, REALTOR®, SRES Windermere Real Estate/Whidbey Island JulieKinnaird@windermere.com JulieKinnaird.withwre.com 360-632-6619 Linda Earnhart, Managing Broker, REALTOR® CRS, GRI Windermere Real Estate/Whidbey Island Earnhart@whidbey.net WhidbeyIslandHomes.com 360-929-0922

NON PROFIT Pregnancy Care Clinic 670 SE Midway Blvd, Oak Harbor execdir@islandspcc.org www.islandspecc.org 360-675-2096 Boys and Girls Club 98 NE Barron Dr., Oak Harbor nbarone@bgcsc.org www.bgoh.org 360-240-9273 PAINTING Painter’s Alley 33650 SR 20, Oak Harbor diamondrent@comcast.net www.facebook.com/paintersalley 360-279-0723 SEWING MACHINE & VACUUM REPAIR Island Sewing and Vacuum 31570 SR 20 Ste 101, Oak Harbor customerservice@islandsewnvac.com www.islandsewandvac.com 360-679-2282

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