OLD Whidbey Life Magazine

Tag: Oak Harbor

Rock Bottom Line || Taxed by Taxes: Who Pays How Much on Whidbey?

BY HARRY ANDERSON
March 29, 2017

I’m not one to complain about the cost of our county government here on the Rock. In fact, I think it’s just short of amazing how much our government does for the relatively small amount of tax dollars it receives.

Island County is the second-smallest county in the state of Washington. Latest population estimate: about 80,500. Approved county budget for 2017: $85.7 million. Do the math. That’s about $1,065 for every person who lives here, and it has to cover public safety and law enforcement, roads and bridges, county courts, public health, parks and recreation, and a host of other services we all take for granted.

Compare that with our Lilliputian neighbor to the north, San Juan County — the state’s smallest county — with current population of about 16,250 and an annual budget this year of $23.3 million, or about $1,400 per resident. Or look at King County — the state’s largest county — with a current population of about 2.2 million and an annual budget this year of $1.6 billion, or $728 per resident. (Urgent plea to King County residents: Please don’t move here just to cash in on that $338 per person in county spending you don’t get. Come visit us and spend your tourist dollars; we’ll show you a really good time.)

The main sources of general income for our county government are property and sales taxes. Having lived in California and Texas and paid much more than I do here, I have been pleasantly surprised by how reasonable our local taxes are. I know others might disagree, but I’d suggest you do a little research before you whine about how “high” or unfair our local taxes are.

I also was surprised recently by a kerfuffle over whether some communities on Whidbey contribute more to the county budget — and, by implication, whether others get a free ride or at least an undeserved bargain. A couple of our esteemed county commissioners recently cast aspersions on Coupeville for not supporting “the economic driver” of the island, which to them, of course, has to be Oak Harbor with its huge naval air station pumping big defense dollars into the economy. Those impolite sentiments from Commissioners Jill Johnson and Rick Hannold came in the context of the smoldering debate over jet noise, so I’ll chalk them up to Johnson and Hannold’s own smoldering.

To be sure, Oak Harbor does have about 27 percent of the county’s population and it’s growing faster than other areas, thanks to the Navy. But, leaving aside the jet noise hot potato, the supposition that it’s our “economic driver” made me want to understand better where the collected sales and property tax revenues come from on our island. To find out, I did a little digging into arcane databases and spreadsheets.

Let’s start with sales tax for the third quarter of 2016, the latest available. Countywide, $273.1 million was collected — a healthy increase of almost 16 percent from the year before. Praise the Lord, our economy is growing! But where did that tax revenue come from? Langley, $13.4 million; Coupeville, $18.1 million; Oak Harbor, $105.5 million; and — drum roll, please — all the unincorporated areas of the county, $136.1 million. No question that Oak Harbor is a rock star in sales tax but the biggest sales tax star on the rock is actually “unincorporated.” Who knew?

Property tax is a bit more complicated but the broader picture is clear. Again, “unincorporated” generates the most revenue, almost twice what Oak Harbor generates. But to see if some get soaked while others skate, I decided to look at it in a different way to see where the burden falls. I divided the reported property tax revenue collected in each county area by that area’s estimated population.

Here’s what I learned: Oak Harbor pays about $79 per person in property taxes. What a bargain! That’s the lowest rate in the county by far, and it’s undoubtedly because Oak Harbor has many more children and more people living under one roof than most other areas. Meanwhile, “unincorporated” pays about $106 per person. Coupeville pays about $148 per person.

And — another drum roll, please — Langley pays a whopping $248 per person in annual property tax. That’s more than three times the per-person rate in Oak Harbor. Why? It’s simple. Homes in Langley tend to be much more valuable than those in Oak Harbor and, because the South End population tends to be older, there are fewer people living under each roof there.

I realize that numbers can be made to say just about anything you want. Arguments over who pays too much and who doesn’t pay enough are endless. And the numbers I cited don’t include taxes for schools, libraries, and hospitals, which is a whole separate column.

But my bottom line is this: Every one of us gets a lot for what we pay to our county government on Whidbey Island, no matter where we live.

Remember that on your next trip to America, while stuck in traffic on I-5 next to all those King County folks who get less from their county than you do.

Once upon a time, Harry Anderson made an honest living as a reporter, editor, and columnist at the Los Angeles Times. He now lives in central Whidbey where he spends his time gardening and ruminating on things that interest him.

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The views, opinions, and positions expressed by Whidbey Life Magazine bloggers, as well as those of the people who comment on their blog posts, are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or positions of Whidbey Life Magazine.

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March 29, 2017
Spreading the Joy of Music in Oak Harbor

BY KATE POSS
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
March 8, 2017

Inside a petite New Zealander is a whole lot of joy in music-making that she shares with other moms, their ukuleles, and the Oak Harbor community.

Mary Clarity, here in Oak Harbor with her Navy husband and family for a while, is from Hawks Bay in New Zealand. Her accented voice adds to the natural appeal and energy that flows easily into her friendly chatter and can-do-ness.

Mary Clarity and her daughter. Mary is the driving force behind the Ukuladies of Oak Harbor. (Photo by Kara Chappell)

On Mondays, she and a group of “Ukuladies” gather to practice music, get their kids together, and drink coffee.

We meet at Aisha Mayfield’s cozy home. Preschoolers run around playing with trucks. As we walk in, Mayfield announces that her mom’s scones are fresh from the oven and walks out of the kitchen with a plate of them. Buttery, flaky, warm. When Elizabeth Westfall walks in, Mayfield says, “You want your usual?” and Westfall does — a butter pecan iced coffee.

Elizabeth Westfall and Aisha Mayfield sing harmony while playing “Hallelujah.” (Photo by Kate Poss)

“Aisha’s got an awesome coffee machine,” Clarity says.

“This will change your life,” Westfall agrees, sipping her coffee.

“We’re all mums who enjoy getting together,” says Clarity. “It all began as a bit of a joke. You can’t get kicked out. We play our music for the joy of it. We throw cheese sticks and raisin boxes to the kids to keep them happy. We just started collecting songs, and now we’ve got a whole volume of them. There are creative people in our group and we naturally find the harmony.”

After coffee, scones, and greetings the ladies sit cross-legged on the floor, on couches, and chairs. They play “I’ll Fly Away,” and Mayfield’s dad Oliver joins in the singing while leaning against the kitchen doorway. Next, they sing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” and the preschoolers who were playing come and sit with their moms.

Mayfield sings high harmony while playing her ukulele, which is etched with spirals for the word peace in different languages.

https://vimeo.com/200834285

Playing ukulele together naturally creates friendships in this easy group and as a result, the ladies gather at Whidbey Island Coffee, the Roller Barn, and the Terrace Wine Bar and Bistro to play. “Every couple of months, we go to the wine bar and play and cackle and have the best interactions with the customers,” Clarity says.

Since she and her fellow Ukuladies have such a good time together, Clarity thought, why not make a video? “I get ideas, and they seem ridiculous and preposterous,” Clarity says. “My friend Amy Madson took the video.”

It’s called “Oak Harbor Love Song,” and is an ode to the whales, eagles, water, and friends having a good time, despite the fact that it takes a while to drive to Target and Costco.

Along with having fun, Clarity says, the goal of the Ukuladies is to teach parents to make music with their kids.

Jen Collins says that, although she went to college for vocal performance, after becoming a mom, she lost track of singing until joining the Ukuladies. The musical inspiration clicked, and she and Clarity collaborated to teach a parent and preschooler class, along with an intergenerational music class on Fridays at a retirement community in Oak Harbor called “Music Together.”

Jen Collins, a Ukuladies member, teaches an intergenerational class to share music with people of all ages. (Photo by David Welton)

Gathered around the fireplace last Friday were a dozen or so senior citizens waiting for the music to begin. They were soon joined by parents who walked in with their preschool children. Collins hosted the morning, playing her ukulele and singing good morning to the families and the gathered residents.

When the bell bracelets were brought out and the little people handed them to the seniors to join in, Telael Sibertang, a staff member at the retirement community said, “This is my favorite part. It gets the residents engaged.”

Children hand bell bracelets to residents, so they can participate in the music (Photo by David Welton)

Indeed. The singing and interaction with parents, toddlers and seniors was catching. After the bell song was over, Collins handed out colorful scarves and played a recording of “Twist and Shout.” Children and their parents danced with abandon and seniors raised their hands over their heads, grooving to the music.

Everyone sang to resident Linda du Brae to celebrate her birthday. “I love this,” she said.

At the end of each song, Collins sang about putting the instruments back in their boxes and baskets and gathered maracas, tambourines, and egg shakers for “When the Saints Go Marching In.” All were caught up in singing and playing and two residents sitting together on the couch tapped their maracas together in time to the music.

Staff member Telael Sibertang (standing) says she likes Music Together because it engages residents. (Photo by David Welton)

The 45 minutes passed quickly, and Collins ended the class by singing goodbye to everyone until the following week. A little boy named Oliver hugged her.

Resident Victoria “Tori” Hayden said she liked the music so much that she had to play some for herself and walked to the piano where she sat down and played some old tunes from her time.

“She reminds me of my grandma,” Collins said, watching Hayden play with abandon and certainty.

Another resident, Janice McCaffery, said she enjoys the visits each week. “Life gets away from us if we don’t take time to enjoy it,” she added.

Residents click maracas together during a Music Together intergenerational class created by Ukuladies Mary Clarity and Jen Collins. (Photo by David Welton)

Afterward, Collins said she uses songs from the seniors’ generation, 1940s songs, and some rock and roll thrown in when playing at the retirement community in Oak Harbor and at other senior centers in Anacortes.

“The residents are great,” she adds. “So many studies talk about the benefits of integrating preschool children and seniors. I grew up in the church, and have respect for the older generation. Mary is the epitome of a lovely free spirit, and I’m excited about what we do. You can do the Music Together curriculum for years and never repeat a song. It’s a wonderful world program.”

Kate Poss worked as a library assistant at the Langley Library until last June. She was thrilled to work for three summers as a chef aboard a small Alaskan tour boat from 2008 to 2010. She was a newspaper reporter in Los Angeles for many years before moving to Whidbey Island, where she likes “talking story,” hiking, hosting salons, and writing her novel.

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March 8, 2017
Islanders Take to the ‘Ice’ in Oak Harbor

PHOTO ESSAY BY MARSHA MORGAN AND MARCIA WESLEY
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributors
January 5, 2017

For the first time this year, the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce hosted outdoor skating the week after Christmas, and hundreds of people took advantage of the opportunity. The “ice” was synthetic and the snow came from a machine, but the smiles were real, and the event was so popular that organizers expect to bring skating back in 2017.

The Welcome Wagon for the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors Island Ice. (Photo by Marsha Morgan)

A view of the rink. (Photo by Marsha Morgan)

A little girl puts her trust in Dad as he swings her around the ice. (Photo by Marcia Wesley)

Best friends support each other as they skate around the rink. (Photo by Marcia Wesley)

Taking a tumble. (Photo by Marcia Wesley)

And all the cool kids skate… (Photo by Marsha Morgan)

It’s fun for all ages, including grandparents. (Photo by Marsha Morgan)

The “snow machine,” although tiny, produces a facsimile of snow and adds a festive air to the outside of the rink. (Photo by Marsha Morgan)

“I’ve got you.” (Photo by Marcia Wesley)

“Race you!” (Photo by Marcia Wesley)

“Don’t let go!” (Photo by Marcia Wesley)

“Can we come back tomorrow?” (Photo by Marsha Morgan)

Marsha Morgan and Marcia Wesley are WLM staff photographers.

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January 5, 2017
A Fall Hike at Deception State Park

BY MARSHA MORGAN
Whidbey Life Magazine Staff Photographer
October 19, 2016

When one thinks of Whidbey Island, the iconic Deception Pass Bridge and State Park often come to mind. Any time of the year, including Fall, the bridge and park offer nature at its scenic best.

For more about the Deception Pass area, read Dianna MacLeod’s article, “The Power of Deception,” in the new print edition of Whidbey Life Magazine. The article features photos from many of our island photographers and will be available by October 24 by subscription and at our local retailers.

Several excellent hikes begin underneath the iconic bridge. View the park map online at Deception Pass Park Foundation.

Bring your dogs – but don’t forget the leashes.

Oops, camo dog Zoe almost got left behind!

The trails are thick with native vegetation, evergreen trees, and arbutus.

After rains, mushrooms and fungus sprout.

There are beautiful views in all directions.

Our circle trail brought us back to the bridge and a view of this lone tree guarding the passage.

Marsha Morgan is a Whidbey Life Magazine Staff Photographer.

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October 20, 2016
Inspiration through Music at the Oak Harbor Music Festival Sept. 2 – 4

BY LARA DUNNING
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
August 24, 2016

For two years in a row, Whidbeyites have voted the Oak Harbor Music Festival as Whidbey Island’s best festival. The celebration of music happens every Labor Day weekend and attendance can fit everyone’s budget because it’s free.

The event takes place in historic downtown Oak Harbor from Friday, Sept. 2 through Sunday, Sept. 4 and includes 37 bands on two different stages, arts and crafts booths, food vendors and beer and wine gardens.

Penguin Prison is the festival’s headliner. (photo by Shervin Lainez)

“A very cool thing about our event is there is a whole lot of talent on Whidbey Island and the Pacific Northwest,” said Larry Mason, a musican himself and the Festival’s Director of all things musical. “But we also bring in musicians from outside the area that people wouldn’t get the opportunity to hear. It’s a very diverse line-up.”

Diverse indeed. The headliner is Penguin Prison, a New York based electropop band. Other musicans include L.A. Edwards, San Diego’s alternative and folk band; Jelly Bread, Reno’s desert-twang-meets-funk-and-rock band; and Olympia’s country rock band, The Olson Bros Band. And there’s plenty of opportunities to hear Whidbey Island-based musicans like folk and blues band, Broken Banjo; the swing-inspired SeaNotes; and the ska punk band, Simple Minded Symphony.

The music festival attracts all ages. (photo courtesy of the author)

Festival hours go from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4. For those who want an overnight experience, there are $25 RV and camping sites available. There’s no power or water and bathrooms are out-houses, but the sites are near the heart of the festivities.

The first Oak Harbor Music and Jazz Festival was held in 2012. The positive response was so great that the members intrumental in arranging the event decided to make it more offical. In 2013, they received their nonprofit 501(c)(3) status, and offically changed the name to the Oak Harbor Music Festival. Three years later, the festival continues to create a buzz about Oak Harbor and the power of music.

Over three days, bands of all musical genres perform (photo courtesy of the author)

The event’s motto is “to inspire the community through the power of music.” And inspire they do. Each year, the festival draws around 15,000 people of all ages to Oak Harbor, including out-of-state visitors from California, Oregon and our friendly neighbor, Canada.

With the free admission price, which is hard to find anywhere these days, it’s easy to encourage folks to indulge in their love of music. The no-cost admission is thanks to the help of all the sponsors, including Island Thrift, title sponsor; Island Trollers, stage sponsor; AlaskaUSA Mortgage Company and Hearing Health Services, beer and wine garden sponsors; and Saratoga Builders and LangCo Northwest, Inc., VIP backstage sponsors.

“Music is a language everyone can relate to,” Mason said. “This year, Island Thrift matched $12,000 in community funds. They’ve been a great supporter for the past four years, as well as the City of Oak Harbor and Island County.” And, there are donations from locals. “We have great community support and people will write a $500 check because they love our event.”

Cody Beebe and the Crooks with a fan from the audience. (photo courtesy of OHMF)

Raising money also means being able to provide music scholarships. This year the organizers gave out six $1000 scholarships to students from all three Whidbey Island high schools. Sometimes scholarship recipients, such as Kevin Silveira of Simple Minded Symphony, return to be part of the festival’s musical talent.

Music is the highlight of the weekend, but there are plenty of other creative outlets to keep attendees busy, such as perusing the more than 20 art and craft booths. One can indulge in sweets at Whidbey Island Fudge Company, get a temporary tattoo by Ryno Airbush Tattoos or find that perfect take-home gift made from local artisans. There are plenty of food options too, like tasty donuts from Dinky Donuts, Greek dishes at Athena’s and chicken and waffles from Vagabond.

Visit the Oak Harbor Music Festival website by clicking: The free annual http://www.oakharborfestival.com/home.

Lara Dunning is enthusiastic about small town living and you can read more about her discoveries at Small Town Washington. She has been published in The Crossing Guide, Explore Anacortes and Waggoner’s Pacific Northwest Boating. Her interests include young adult novels, history, hiking and locavore inspired food.

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August 15, 2016
Go Hiking on Whidbey: Multiple Options—and Even More Trails
BY DEB CRAGER
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
June 22, 2016

“The great thing about hiking on Whidbey,” said Sarah Boin, a longtime, avid hiker, is that you can’t get too lost; you’ll find yourself at the water or on a road.” She has hikes she affectionately calls “wood walks”—easy, relaxing and good training for her more rigorous 10-mile treks. Her favorite place to start out is Ebey’s Landing, where the view is spectacular and the trail connects with Kettle’s Trails. Other beginner hikes include Saratoga Woods or the trails at South Whidbey State Park.

Boin began hiking as a child with her family and has hiked all over the Northwest, both alone and with others. She said that Washington offers the most extraordinary hiking. There is something unexpected in hiking alone, she added, and says it’s a completely different experience when you can hear and see some things you might miss in a group.

Some of the Sons of the Beach (l-r): Bill Vogt, Dale Christiansen, Wayne Nehrlich, Paul Goldfinger and Dennis White (photo by Chuck Clark)

“My experience is exactly the opposite,” Roger Britt said, referring to solitary hiking. “People enjoy chatting and socializing in these groups.” Britt is a member of the hiking groups Meet Feet and Sons of the Beach. “We don’t want people in these groups walking alone….” he said “Many trails have numerous forks and we wait at the forks so people don’t get lost.”

Sons of the Beach (SOB), a hiking group that is now closed, began with seven hikers in 2008. Paul Goldfinger, a long-time hiker when he moved to Whidbey 14 years ago, was one of the founding members; he credits George Jackman, a fellow hiker, with teaching him the local trails. “George is a great source of hiking knowledge, both here on Whidbey and all over the Northwest,” Goldfinger said. They met in 2004 during a work party to reroute a trail in Putney Woods on South Whidbey and began hiking many of the island’s trails: Saratoga Woods, South Whidbey State Park, Possession Point State Park, and Fort Ebey State Park. Jackman wanted to start a hiking group; Goldfinger had heard of the long-standing Ladies of the Beach, and knew a men’s group could draw similar interest.

Jackman, here since 1987, said he’s always enjoyed hiking, although he’s slowed down a bit. “Some people golf; this is what I do, I hike,” he said. He enjoys the group, he added, and the fact that many of the trails offer a period of time when you can choose to be alone, something some members have told him they prefer. “It’s the safest way to hike,” Jackson said. “You’re alone, but someone is still around.”

Dennis White on the trail (photo by Chuck Clark)

The men’s hiking group has grown, with more than 100 hikers on the e-mail list, although only a dozen or so walk on any given week. Over a period of a year, they complete approximately 50 different trails. During the winter, the group meets for half-day hikes and then goes to lunch, or out for a beer. “Getting a beer is almost a requirement,” Goldfinger said. “We’ve debated calling ourselves the ‘Sons of the Brew.’”

During the summer, the SOBs occasionally go off-island, to areas such as Anacortes and Cranberry Lake, for longer, more challenging hikes. One of the most recent hikes was to Cougar Mountain in King County, with a distance of 6.4 miles and an elevation gain of 1,650 feet. The finale, according to Goldfinger, was a fine lunch at the Issaquah Brew House. The off-island hikes require coordination with ferry reservations and carpooling, but offer a more challenging trek. Goldfinger said he believes it’s the longer hikes that keep him fit.

Another hiking group with a long history is Meet Feet. Once called Whidbey Walkers, this group evolved into a coed group that gets together on Saturdays. During the summer, they sometimes schedule hikes on Fridays so members can be part of all the summer activity on Whidbey.

Trying not to get lost—Paul Goldfinger and Bill Vogt (photo by Chuck Clark)

Britt started hiking with Meet Feet before joining Sons of the Beach. He has developed websites for both groups that record the key points, often including GPS-generated maps. The websites (see below) list the hikes and offer information about past hikes—a wealth of information for those just beginning to hike.

Almost all the current hikers with Meet Feet are retired; some still work, however, so the Saturday times are convenient for them, and there has been some recruitment to get younger hikers involved. In addition, Meet Feet allows dogs on leashes, so one’s best friend can also exercise. Meet Feet is always open and the hikes aren’t complicated, from both a hiking and carpooling perspective.

Richard Renninger, also a member of both groups, was a hiker in Juneau, Alaska, where the hikes were typically four to six hours. He said he still appreciates the longer, harder hikes off-island. “There are lots of pleasant hikes on the island, which is wonderful,” he added, “but I’ve pushed for rigorous activity, so we can work at the Cascades and Olympics.”

Renninger said he finds a certain peacefulness in the silence, and he enjoys the times and places you can break away, depending on the hike. But he also enjoys the socializing too, and “if you’re with a group, you’ll be missed eventually!”

Hikers Paul Goldfinger and Dale Christiansen (photo by Chuck Clark)

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For more information on Sons of the Beach and Meet Feet, check out the websites created by Roger Britt.
- Sons of the Beach: http://www.maxxeon.com/sotb/ (closed group, check “maps” for routes hikers have taken in the past)
- Meet Feet: http://www.maxxeon.com/meetfeet/ (coed group, open; sign up for emails and check “maps” for routes hikers have taken in the past)
- For trail maps: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/PublicWorks/Parks/Pages/trails.aspx
- You’ll need a Discovery Pass at the state parks: $10 for one day or $30 annually. There are several free days during the year: http://discoverpass.wa.gov/136/State-Parks-Free-Days. To buy a Discovery Pass through the state’s website, go to: https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/wa/license/select.
Deb Crager is originally from the Midwest but has lived on the island for 25 years. She wrote the book “101 Things to do on Whidbey Island: for a Day, a Weekend, or a Lifetime,” available on iPad and Kindle Fire, with older copies in print from Amazon and eBay.

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June 22, 2016
Orange Madness Descends Upon Oak Harbor

BY LESLIE IRISH EVANS
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
April 27, 2016

Dust off your klompen (wooden clogs) and don your hul (bonnet)! It’s time for Oak Harbor’s Holland Happening. This annual event, organized by the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, features a carnival, parades, entertainment, a street fair and more. The theme for 2016’s Holland Happening is Gemeenschap, which is the Dutch word for “community.” The activities take place April 28 through May 1 at locations throughout the historic city’s downtown area.

This is the 47^th year of the event, which celebrates the city’s Dutch heritage. In the 1890s, Oak Harbor saw an influx of Dutch immigrants who helped the town to grow and to thrive. The celebration itself is based on the Dutch holiday of Koningsdag or King’s Day, which celebrates the birthday of The Netherlands’ currently reigning monarch. The holiday was originally called Koninginnedag or Queen’s Day, until 2013 when The Netherlands welcomed Willem-Alexander, their first king since the national holiday began. Traditional activities include street markets, a parade and wearing orange, the national color of The Netherlands.

The theme of this year’s Holland Happening is Gemeenschap, the Dutch word for “community.” (graphic provided by The Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce)

Over 8,000 people, both local and visitors, are expected to attend the Holland Happening. “It’s our biggest and most popular event of the season,” said Sooz Konopik, Events Coordinator for the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce. “Oak Harbor has a very strong Dutch community that’s very proud of its heritage.” Konopik stresses the inclusiveness of the event. “We celebrate not only Dutch heritage but all of the community members. It’s a really great get together.”

One of the event’s traditional highlights is the Grand Parade. “People dress in costumes,” said Konopik. “And we have street sweepers and town criers that start the parade. That’s a tradition in The Netherlands.” Parade entries are asked to display the Gemeenschap theme and a minimum of twelve tulips. This year, three trophies will be awarded for parade entries: Best in Theme, Best in Show and Best Kinderen’s (children’s). The parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 30 along Bayshore Drive.

The Oak Harbor Holland Happening celebrates the city’s Dutch heritage. (Graphic provided by The Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce)

Other featured events for the Holland Happening include a traditional Dutch dinner, children’s arts & crafts and Dutch-themed photoboards for fun photo opportunities. “We also have our own main entertainment stage with a diverse group of musicians,” said Konopik. “From Gypsy jazz to bluegrass and everything in between.” Attendees needing advice on what to do next can look for Oak Harbor Chamber members, who will be wearing Dutch-blue t-shirts and will be available as resources during the event.

Mark your calendar for Oak Harbor’s 47^th annual Holland Happening, April 28 through May 1. For scheduled events and details visit the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.oakharborchamber.com.

Leslie Irish Evans is a podcast host, Huffington Post blogger, and the author of Peeling Mom Off the Ceiling: Reclaiming Your Life From Your Kids. She lives in Langley, WA. Learn more about her at http://www.leslieirishevans.com.

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April 27, 2016
Oak Harbor’s Playhouse, an Ensemble Effort
BY HARRY ANDERSON
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
March 23, 2016

This article was originally printed in Whidbey Life Magazine’s Fall/Winter 2015/2016 print issue.

It’s a warm evening in the dog days of summer, but things are jumping and sweat is glistening on enthusiastic bodies inside the 93-year-old Whidbey Playhouse building on Midway Boulevard in Oak Harbor.

Sue and Jim Riney have been involved with the Playhouse for 35 years. (photo by Harry Anderson)

Director Allenda Jenkins is putting a troupe of actors through a vigorous rehearsal for “Godspell,” the 1971 musical that has been performed twice before at the Playhouse (in 1980 and 2004) and will be the opening production of the Oak Harbor community theater’s 50th season that runs September through June.

“Remember to stay in your places and keep your energy way up,” orders Jenkins, a former professional actress and Playhouse veteran who has performed in four productions and directed four others.

The troupe is running through the energetic “All for the Best” song-and-dance number from the now-classic “hippie musical” re-telling of the ministry of Jesus. Wollie Fowkes, a dynamic 14-year-old high school student from Oak Harbor, plays Jesus and, in an interesting bit of casting, his father John Fowkes plays Judas. Wollie’s mother Penny Fowkes is also in the ensemble cast.

Families such as the Fowkes acting together has been a common occurrence at the Playhouse, says Janis Powell, the business manager. “We are truly a theater community.”

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Coming soon to the stage:

“Lost in Yonkers,” April 2-17

For more information about Whidbey Playhouse and their upcoming shows, auditions and ticket information, please go to: www.whidbeyplayhouse.com.

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Meanwhile, just across the parking lot in the Playhouse’s Star Studio rehearsal space, a casting call is going on for would-be Henry IIs and Eleanors of Aquitaine in “The Lion in Winter,” the second production of the upcoming season and one that has also been done before—41 years ago, in October 1974.

“Because this is our 50th season, we bringing back some of the most popular favorites from the past five decades,” Powell says. The balance of the 2015-16 season will include “A Dickens’ Christmas Carol” (produced in 1997), “Moon Over Buffalo” (produced in 1998), “Lost in Yonkers” (produced in 1996) and “South Pacific” (produced in 1980 and 1988).

The day-and-night bustle at the Playhouse now is a far cry from its humble beginnings. Indeed, it has survived many ups-and-downs, shifting cultural tastes, actors and audiences that come and go with the Navy, a perpetual shortage of funds and even a devastating fire. And that makes its 50^th season, after 294 productions and more than 2,500 performances, all the more remarkable.

“Godspell” director Allenda Jenkins, putting her actors through a vigorous rehearsal. (photo by Marsha Morgan)

It began on a wintry evening in February 1966, as nine Oak Harbor residents gathered at Kathryn Johnson’s School of Dance on Midway Boulevard to discuss starting a local theater company. Most had been involved in church or school productions, but they dreamed of a community-supported theater of their own. They called themselves the Whidbey Players, and that June they put on two one-act comedies at Kathryn’s dance studio: “His First Shave” and “Madam President.” Tickets were free in advance, 25 cents at the door.

That fall they moved to the Oak Harbor High School auditorium for their first full-length play, “Everybody Loves Opal.” On opening night, a cat on stage in the first act was supposed to die in the second act, but the uncooperative feline continued to howl loudly backstage, eliciting unanticipated laughs.

Over the next several years, the Whidbey Players performed in schools, the basement of a credit union, a movie theater on the nearby Navy base and anywhere else that would have them. In the late 1960s, they leased an unused church auditorium, converted it to a theater and renamed it—and themselves—the Whidbey Playhouse. Then catastrophe struck: a suspected arson fire in 1973 destroyed the building and all the props, sets and costumes inside. Back to square one.

But then the “community” really did step in. A group of civic leaders, led by long-time Whidbey News-Times Publisher Wallie Funk, believed in the value of the Playhouse and decided that the old Christian Reformed Church building on Midway Boulevard, empty and for sale, could be a theater. The price was an astronomical (for the time) $249,000, which was even more astounding given the extensive repairs and remodeling needed at the church, built in 1922.

An offer was made in 1979. Frantic fundraising and anxiety ensued, but Funk’s connections and arm-twisting eventually succeeded. The debt was paid off in August 1983, after just four years, thanks to hundreds of private and corporate contributions. Funk’s News-Times trumpeted “The Miracle on Midway” on its front page, and the Playhouse finally had a home.

John Fowkes (left) and Wolly Fowkes, father and son, rehearse as Judas and Jesus in “Godspell.” (photo by Marsha Morgan)

Jim and Sue Riney proudly remember that moment and many others; they have been part of the Playhouse for 35 of its 50 years. Jim, then a Navy photographer’s mate, was transferred to Oak Harbor in October 1980, and the couple arrived here as newlyweds. Both had been involved in school or community theaters elsewhere.

“We saw a performance of ‘South Pacific’ a month after we got here,” Sue recalls. “After that, I immediately auditioned for their next production, ‘Finian’s Rainbow,’ and I volunteered Jim to do the lighting.”

The Rineys have now been involved with 82 productions, most recently as director/producers of the Monty Python musical “Spamalot,” a smash hit last fall. Sue served as the Playhouse’s executive director for 25 years until 2009, and Jim continues to serve on the board. Sue will co-produce the upcoming season’s production of “Lost in Yonkers” next April.

They remember the rough days, right after the Playhouse moved into the old church building. The stage—formerly the altar space—was considerably smaller. (Today, it’s eight feet wider.) There were 220 narrow, un-upholstered seats. “Peoples’ butts were smaller then,” Sue says. (Today, there are 128 wider, padded seats.) And, most inconveniently, the two restrooms could accommodate just one person at a time. “We had very long intermissions,” Jim says. (They have since been greatly enlarged.)

The Rineys and others recall the humorous gaffes and near disasters that have become Playhouse legend.
- In a 1981 melodrama, the villain tied up the damsel in distress and laid her on a table. The table leg collapsed and dumped the damsel into the lap of a one-legged man in the audience. He picked her up and lifted her back on stage.
- In “Guys and Dolls,” the actor playing a cop who breaks up the illegal dice game in act two decided to grab a beer at the nearby Oak Harbor Tavern before his entrance. But he didn’t get back in time, so director Jim Riney grabbed a cop hat and went on for him.
- In “Oklahoma,” the actor playing Jud Fry developed pneumonia the day the musical was to open. The director was about to cancel the performance when a young Navy sailor came in to buy a ticket. He happened to have played Jud in high school. They rehearsed all afternoon, taped the script of his spoken lines to a table in one key scene, and he went on successfully for several performances.
“These things happen in community theater,” Sue Riney says.

As a Navy town, Oak Harbor has a somewhat transient population, which both helps and hinders the Playhouse. Talent comes and goes, and so do audiences. Just last fall, one of the leads in “Spamalot” was transferred by the Navy in the middle of the show’s run.

Oak Harbor also has a reputation for being politically and socially conservative, which has some effect on what the Playhouse does.

“In the 1980s, if we did a play with cursing we’d get letters and cancellations,” Jim Riney says. “In one drama, the lead actress came on stage in a slip and some people walked out.”

But attitudes and tastes change over time, and Oak Harbor has changed with them. The zany antics in “Spamalot” included dancing orthodox Jews and a gay wedding. “We didn’t get a single complaint,” Sue Riney says. The Playhouse has not avoided challenging material for amateur performers—from Stephen Sondheim lyrics to Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. In 2013, it produced its first full-length Shakespeare play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

But musicals and comedies are what Oak Harbor audiences seem to want most. Dramas—unless they are well-known, such as “To Kill a Mockingbird”—don’t do as well. Older audiences want stories and music they know. Younger audiences are attracted to things with an edge and technological wizardry. For a community theater, it’s a delicate balancing act.

The Playhouse is trying to keep up with better lighting, sound and stage effects. It has an ongoing capital campaign to expand its lobby, green room and offices. It knows it’s competing for audiences with the Internet, malls, multiplexes and smart phones – none of which were around 50 years ago. And it knows it’s competing for donor dollars with several hundred other Whidbey non-profit organizations that didn’t exist in 1966.

For those involved, however, the play’s still the thing. “Godspell” director Allenda Jenkins is thrilled to have the Whidbey Playhouse as an outlet for her creative energies.

“I love what live performance gives me,” she says. “I feel almost like I’m preaching here. It makes a difference. It can change people’s attitudes and lives.”

Harry Anderson spent his 40-year career in journalism and corporate public relations. He worked for the Los Angeles Times, Paramount Pictures and Tenet Healthcare. Today, he gardens and writes for the sheer joy of it for the Whidbey Life Magazine and the Whidbey Examiner.

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March 23, 2016
Rock Bottom Line || WAY More Than 50 Shades of Gray on our Rock

BY HARRY ANDERSON
March 9, 2016

OK, I admit it. I’m old. Even by Whidbey Island standards. I’m not a millennial, or a Gen Y’er or a Gen X’er, or even a Baby Boomer.

I’m a War Baby. No, not the one in Iraq and Afghanistan, not the Gulf War, not Vietnam, not Korea, nor any of the other military mis-adventures through which I’ve lived. I’m talking the Big One. Dubya-Dubya-Eye-Eye. The Greatest Generation and so forth.

But enough of this. No reason to tell you my exact birthdate; Social Security and Medicare already know it.

What got me started on this age rant was some fascinating demographic information about our beloved Rock that I’ve examined recently as part of my seemingly endless quest for occasionally useful information. Much of what follows comes from a very good website called city-data.com.

Of Whidbey’s estimated population of about 78,500, the median age (half above, half below) is 43.2 years. For Washington State it’s 36.4 years and for the entire United States it’s 36.8. Dig a little deeper and it gets even more interesting.

LANGLEY

Mirror, mirror on the wall: Which Whidbey town is grayest of all? It’s Langley (aka 98260), of course, with a median age of 57. But Langley insists 57 isn’t old – it’s a good time, vigorous, still very active, productive, engaged. Believe it! No wonder so many Baby Boomers who were career-downsized in the past decade have fled to Langley to reinvent themselves and to find the creative bliss and passion of the second half of their lives.

COUPEVILLE

Coupeville (aka 98239) is our second-grayest town, with a median age of 51—a very limber, still-toned and hike-loving time of life. Believe that, too!

OAK HARBOR

And, no surprise at all, our Rock “baby” is Oak Harbor (aka 98277) with a peach-fuzz median age of just 29. That’s what happens when the sailors hit town.

Youth tips the scales on the north end of Whidbey. In Langley, just 15 percent of the population is under age 20; it’s no wonder that South Whidbey has empty schoolrooms. Coupeville isn’t much better with a bit over 18 percent who are under 20 years old. But Oak Harbor—bursting with kids and very short of schoolrooms—has a whopping 31 percent under 20.

At the gray end of the scale, a smidgen more than 42 percent of Langley’s population is over 60 years old and more than 9 percent is over 80. Coupeville’s over-60 crowd represents just over 36 percent of the total population and almost 11 percent is over 80. (Yes, the Careage of Whidbey nursing home skews that last number somewhat, but Coupeville still wins the geezer sweepstakes.)

In diaper-covered Oak Harbor, just under 14 percent of the population is over 60 and only 3 percent is over 80. (Those must mostly be the aging vets that hang out for coffee and war stories at the Navy Exchange every morning.)

There are benefits to having so many shades of gray on our Rock. Thanks to still-dependable pensions, our poverty rate is lower than the state average. In North and Central Whidbey, the number of people living below the poverty level is about 8 percent, and in South Whidbey it’s 6.7 percent. The state figure is 10.6 percent.

Langley, thanks in part to so many well-off retirees, has a higher median home value ($341,599) than the state as a whole ($287,700). Clearly, Coupeville ($256,969) and Oak Harbor ($246,050) will need to recruit more deep-pocket oldsters if they want to catch up.

Our Rock economy is also bolstered by older people who are still working. Almost 28 percent of the island workforce (not counting active-duty military) is older than 55, compared with almost 23 percent statewide.

And here may be the most intriguing element of all: More than 57 percent of our civilian workforce is female, a figure that has grown steadily in recent years. We all know that women live longer. Apparently, on the Rock, they also work longer.

Once upon a time, Harry Anderson made an honest living as a reporter, editor and columnist at the Los Angeles Times. He now lives in central Whidbey, where he spends his time gardening and ruminating on things that interest him.

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March 9, 2016
Memories Take Flight at the PBY Museum

BY DEB CRAGER
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
Photos by Matt Buchholz
September 9, 2015

A plane rests on Pioneer Way, waiting to be made whole again. Early this fall, the wings will be attached to the plane, known as a PBY, an aircraft that holds many memories for those who flew in it during World War II. Cross the street and step into the museum, a place that will take you back in history—not only of the history of the beloved plane and sprawling base—but of Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island.

PBY-5A aircraft built in 1943 awaiting wings

“We try to tell the story of our little town,” said Wil Shellenberger, president of the PBY Museum Memorial Foundation. Formed in 1998 to preserve the history of naval aviation on Whidbey Island, the Foundation garnered the support of several of the original Oak Harbor families, who donated funds and artifacts.

“We’re often asked how little Oak Harbor became the Naval base that it is today, and the museum tries to tell that story, including the dedication, the work and the commitment,” said Shellenberger. “But it also tells the story of Oak Harbor and the history of the Seaplane Base and Ault Field, a base that was built in 1943.”

In the entry, a visual history of Oak Harbor

During World War II, the Seaplane Base was closely tied with Seattle’s Sand Point as a place to refuel, to arm and set up planes so they could cover longer distances over the water. Although construction of the base was started before Pearl Harbor, it accelerated once the war began.

A history timeline stretches through the museum. As you enter, you can read the story of Oak Harbor in the early days, presented in newspaper clippings and photos. Many of the local residents were involved in overseas missions, and many of their families still live on Whidbey.

Different time periods within the museum

The PBY, an amphibious plane—and the focus of the museum—was designed to be a patrol bomber, a plane to attack enemy transport ships and disrupt enemy supply lines. But this “flying boat” proved to be more valuable in search and rescue, saving the lives of thousands of airmen shot down and stranded at sea. While several versions of the flying boats were employed by the Navy, the PBY was the most widely used and manufactured.

Charles Aus, an Oak Harbor resident and former radioman on the PBY plane, has vivid memories even after 60 years. “The PBY was a very stable plane,” he recalls. He also served as a tail gunner, manning the gun that dropped from the center of the plane. That stint of flying confirmed his desire to become an aviator, and he ultimately became a Navy pilot who traveled the world.

The museum is designed to include science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, fulfilling STEM educational requirements. Interactive displays appeal to everyone, including children; exhibits and story boards highlight local history makers. A gun turret—with room to put your shoulders inside—helps us understand how Aus might have felt as he took his place as a gunner.

Tail of a Super Constellation from 1960s

Visitors can see a maintenance shop and a cutaway of a PBY engine. Beaching gear, wheels on axles, and tail hooks tell more of the story. Two flight simulators reveal just how skilled the pilots had to be to fly in adverse conditions. Under construction is a “Night Vision Goggle” room, where you can try goggles on to experience the way darkness limits a pilot’s view. Included is a display of the Aleutian Islands, one of the places where planes were lost to weather more frequently than to battle.

P2V Pilot Flight Suit from 1960s

Uniforms line the walls: WWII uniforms, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) uniforms, Red Cross Volunteers, and flight suits. Other walls hold a variety of signal flags used to communicate with aviators and other ships.

Destroyers played a large part in the war, a role that Shellenberger knows firsthand, being a “blackshoe,” watching for subs and rescuing downed flyers. Chaplains always travelled with the crews, as did corpsmen and firefighters.

On display are pictures of the Salisbury Sound, a ship stationed at Whidbey Island for two years. Visitors can progress through the history of US wars fought in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan. One exhibit includes a tail fin from a Russian Mig brought back from the Afghan war by the VAQ-142 Gray Wolves; complete with signatures from the team, it occupies a place of honor.

VAQ 142 Gray Wolves tail fin of Russian Mig

Plans for the museum include expansion and the addition of a hangar to house the PBY plane and protect it from the elements.

“There’s a rich history of aviation, and we’d like to keep it all together on Whidbey Island before it flies away,” said Shellenberger.

Museum hours: Wed. through Sat. 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Sun. 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Cost of admission: $7 (discounts of $1 for seniors, active military, children, and groups of 10 or more)

Visit pbymf.org for more information.

Deb Crager is originally from the Midwest but has lived on the island for 24 years. She wrote the book “101 Things to do on Whidbey Island: for a Day, a Weekend, or a Lifetime” available on iPad and Kindle Fire.

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WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Linking is permitted. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

September 23, 2015