BY MARKY OLSON
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor March 30, 2016
How often does a gift unwrap itself, revealing benefits for everyone in Island County and all visitors to Whidbey Island?
A quiet moment for reflection (photo by the author)
Robinson Beach on Mutiny Bay in Freeland proved to be just such a priceless gift in 2013. The beach, which snuggles up to a boat launch, had been used with permission from owner Frank Robinson and loved by island residents for some time, prior to being formally gifted to the island in January of 2013. Frank Robinson, a South Whidbey native, went on to found the Robinson Helicopter Company in Los Angeles, where he currently lives. Robinson’s only conditions were that it remain as parkland, be named after the Robinson family and that the boat launch continue to be maintained.
When 300 feet of beachfront property become public, the incomparable feel of being close to the Salish Sea becomes a gift in perpetuity, offering unlimited visual, auditory and playtime possibilities.
Ernie, right, and “flat kid” soak up some rays. (photo by the author)
Robinson beach-goers enjoy midday sun on the west-facing beach, making the bay dance like sparkling diamonds. Children’s unique-to-the-beach sounds mingle with splashing waves and the cry of gulls, creating a meditative symphony.
The beach offers front row seating for cruise ships carrying passengers and beach-dreamers to Alaska. Larger-than-life container ships carry goods to ports in Asia, Europe or Africa.
If it’s sunny, it’s time to test the waters. (photo by the author)
Shore anglers line the beach, competing with resident eagles for salmon. Lone kayakers explore Mutiny Bay, even in winter.
Seeing sun-drenched Olympic Mountains staged by the sea rejuvenates even the moodiest of us. Sweaters wrap shoulders as the sun begins its descent. Nothing equals a beach’s ability to absorb daily stress, open hearts, heal wounds and create promise.
Even if it’s a grey day, Robinson Beach is a great place to “hang out.” (photo by the author)
Thank you, Frank Robinson and your family, from all islanders and visitors. Enjoying your gift will be easy. We vow to search its sand, salt air and waves for answers, and to listen to the messages. Then we will pass it to the next generation.
To enjoy the beach, take Fish Road out of Freeland. Turn left on Mutiny Bay and right on Robinson Road.
Marky Olson, a retired high school English and public speaking teacher, loves writing about and living on Whidbey Island.
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I call it that because—to me—it’s like going to another world. It’s always gorgeous, always different and almost always colored in blue. I find all colors alive there, but these photographs represent the blue of it.
Whidbey Islanders probably are familiar with the Reserve. For those who aren’t, it’s a unit of the National Park Service on Whidbey near Coupeville.
Jamie Whitaker likes to take photographs. It started 50-plus years ago when she received a Brownie camera as a gift. She likes to take photos but not to be in them, she said, so it has worked out great. She is inspired and fascinated by the animal kingdom and human nature and finds comfort and hope in the natural world.
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BY KATE POSS Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
March 23, 2016
Imagine standing in the spotlight telling your story with confidence and grace.
More than two dozen of Whidbey Island’s talented women took to the limelight for the Fifth Annual WOW! Stories held at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley on March 11 and 12.
Friday night’s speakers and coordinators end their evening’s event onstage. (photo by Tyler Raymond)
Musician Kristi O’Donnell, a bassist with the gypsy jazz band Trio Nouveau, opened the event with music the first night. Her band performed “Blues for Hildegard,” a piece O’Donnell composed based on the poetry of Hildegard of Bingen. “The song is about living the creative life and celebrates love from the stars and the beauty of the natural world,” she said. O’Donnell is also an artist and has a show at Prima Bistro through the end of this month.
The motto of WOW—an acronym for Women of Whidbey—is “inside every woman is a story worth sharing” (and often they are stories one might not expect). WOW! Stories grew from Diana Lindsay’s inspiration in 2012 while she was watching TED Talks (“Technology, Entertainment and Design”; learn more at https://www.ted.com/talks).
Why not organize a TED-like talk, she thought, for all the interesting Whidbey Island women. She shared her idea with friends and, within two hours, the women had agreed to make WOW a reality. Her can-do friends—Rene Neff, Lynn Willeford, Mary Fisher and Debora Valis—created Seriously Fun Productions and the first WOW! Stories event was held in 2012. Ticket sales supported Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) and Whidbey Island Nourishes (W.I.N.). Shannon Arndt and Heather Racicot joined Seriously Fun Productions in 2013.
Another speaker this year was Toni Marthaller-Anderson, an integrative nurse practitioner at Women to Wellness in Greenbank. A passionate advocate for promoting gut health, Marthaller-Anderson hosts regular workshops on healthy eating along with ways to nourish the billions of good bacteria that live in our digestive system.
“Well, I decided to participate in WOW because I had a gut feeling that I should,” she said. “The ‘Seriously Fun’ women are supportive, organized, energetic and simply awesome.”
Giving homage to our ancestors, Julie Glover sang three Celtic laments. “I chose to share these songs at WOW! because they give a rich sense of the lives of our ‘foremothers’—our ancestors upon whose shoulders we stand today,” Glover said. (You can hear “I Once Had A Sweetheart” here.
Kathryn Lynn-Morgen works in theater as a designer, actor and director and helped create Langley’s annual Pride Parade. She spoke about how, through the alchemy of theater, we can create our own worlds: “You can find yourself,” she said. “Suddenly you have a voice. You have ideas and beliefs. You recognize your own personal creativity and process. It is exhilarating. It is terrifying and joyous and heartbreaking and healing.”
Marilyn Main bought tickets for the second day of WOW! Stories and said she was brought to tears after hearing the story by Katy McGregor, who talked about her role as a surrogate mother. The original family, she said, eventually decided that they didn’t want the baby after all. But through an odd twist of fate, her baby became the balm for a bereaved couple who had just lost their young daughter.
Main said she was impressed, also, by professional boxer, Dakota Stone, who held the title of Top Ten Women Boxers of the World for a decade. Stone owns Solid Stone Boxing Gym in Clinton and trains women, men and youth in boxing skills, confidence building and physical and mental fitness.
The audience joins Saturday afternoon’s speakers following the event. (photo by Tyler Raymond)
Other speakers and performers at Wow! Stories included:
Barbara Dunn, PhD, LICSW, MT-BC, who is a musician and has produced four CDs. She is also a music therapist, social worker, psychotherapist and author of the books “More Than a Song” and “Exploring the Healing Art of Music Therapy.”
Chris Peterson, who traveled the world in the 1970s and then worked for a number of nonprofits in the housing, education and environment fields. She created the popular Public Radio show “BirdNote” (http://www.birdnote.org/shows) and has since retired as the show’s executive producer.
Carrie Whitney, an artist, teacher, mother, wife, and friend. She spoke about how she integrates her life into her art.
Claudia Walker, who sings, plays instruments, has taught music and works as a music therapist, integrating music and medicine for end-of-life patients.
Pam Schell, an avid supporter of local arts, who runs the Inn at Langley and was married to Paul Schell, former Seattle Mayor.
Trish Rose is a Major General with the Air Force. She is currently the highest-ranking openly gay member of the US Military.
Members of South Whidbey High School’s award-winning jazz ensemble call themselves “The WOW Sisters” — Annie Saltee, Katyrose Jordan, Mara Bush and Cat Ballestrasse (photo by Tyler Raymond)
Josh Hauser grew up in a dusty Texas town and owns and runs Moonraker Books in Langley—a decidedly undusty and green place. She’s owned the bookstore for more than 40 years.
Melissa Young once built cabinets. After getting involved with building a school in Nicaragua 30 years ago, she began producing social justice documentaries.
Brook Ott is a nurse practitioner at South Island Medical. She spent her early days on the island and now treats elder patients she knew as a young girl.
Elizabeth Guss currently works as a pastoral administrator at St. Hubert Church in Langley. She also worked as a major fundraiser for the Whidbey Camano Land Trust. Guss is a co-author of the book, “Whidbey Island: Reflections on People & the Land,” which celebrates the island’s history and explains its remarkable appeal.
Jeanne Strong is an educator known recently for her efforts in promoting peace in the war-torn African country of Burundi, where she is committed to educating its children. She is a guardian-ad-litem, advocating for children in foster care, and continues her involvement in schools as a consultant in helping to develop healthy learning environments.
Linda Good, founder of Island Strings, is a long-time strings teacher and musician of South Whidbey. She has taught hundreds of South Whidbey children to play the violin and to appreciate music
Erin Morgan, a self-described “strong and willful woman,” talked about fitness, nature, the power of family and rising above challenges.
Hannah Weatherford, a self-employed photographer, enjoys the outdoors. She teaches photography to young people, helping them creatively express themselves.
Cynthia Brix promotes healing internationally between men and women over sexual issues and taboos. She works with the interfaith Satyana Institute—bringing women and men together to confront gender injustice.
Martha Murphy started singing and acting as a child growing up in Dallas, TX. She created the Whidbey Children’s Theater 35 years ago as a way for Whidbey’s kids to learn the magic of theater.
“The WOW Sisters”—Mara Bush, Katyrose Jordan, Annie Saltee and Cat Ballestrasse, are members of South Whidbey High School’s award-winning jazz ensemble.
Kate Poss works as a library assistant at the Langley Library. 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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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.”
______________________
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.
______________________
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 50th 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.
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.
PHOTO ESSAY BY SUSAN SCOTT Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
March 16, 2016
When I’m able to go walking with no goal in mind except to see what there is to see, I’ll often drop into a state of being that feels like reverence. I call this experience “walking in wonder.” When I take my camera with me, these moments often become a way to celebrate nature’s artwork.
Early Spring blossoms
Birdbath reflecting pool
Nature’s artwork
Monkey tree’s spring bouquet
A recent ankle injury limited the amount of walking I can do, but I found that I can still savor those delightful moments by driving slowly through and around our island towns. From south to north, I let myself stop and enjoy whatever catches my eye—just as I did when walking. I was happily surprised to discover how much fun “wheeling in wonder” is.
Madrone and ivy
Hedge fence abstract
Eagles tending their nest
Driving gave me access to the pleasures of sighting the first signs of spring on the farmlands and fairgrounds, as well as several rural characters along the way.
Newborn on the farm
First sign of spring at the fairgrounds
Strolling along the roadside
Farmyard friendship
I am ever grateful to be living on Whidbey Island these past 20 years; I can’t imagine another place that is more generous with sharing its moments of wonder with us, whether we’re walking, wheeling, or just passing through.
Susan Scott, photographer and author, enjoys daily explorations of Whidbey Island and catching glimpses of extraordinary moments of ordinary life with her camera. www.susanscottphd.com. All text by Susan Scott.
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BY KATE POSS
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
March 16, 2016
Ever wonder why we feel deeply connected to certain places? Chuck Pettis, founder of Earth Sanctuary—a nature reserve and Buddhist retreat center in Freeland—wondered the same thing. His curiosity resulted in a lifelong quest to tap into energies that create positive resonance.
Pettis studied ancient concepts such as dowsing (a way to discover water, minerals or other material below the earth’s surface through use of a “divining rod).” In Seattle, he investigated “ley lines” (considered by some to be part of the grid of earth energies that circle the globe) and shepherded a project called the Seattle Ley Line Map. According to the website, “Sacred places located all over the world are generally located over various earth energies. These electromagnetic fields of energy emanating from the earth have the capability to improve the well-being of people as well as the earth as a whole.” The 1988 project was commissioned and funded by the Seattle Arts Commission.
Chuck Pettis of Earth Sanctuary, stands by a Tibetan stupa. (photo by Kate Poss)
Pettis brims with an unusual appealing energy and exudes a believable sense that anything is possible. My husband and I met up with him at the Taproom in Bayview last month and were impressed by his seemingly endless creativity and devotion to making the world a better place. He was inspired at an early age, he said, by Buckminster Fuller, an American architect, systems theorist, author, designer and inventor.
Mossy old maple tree along Earth Sanctuary Trails (photo by Kate Poss)
While getting a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Carnegie-Mellon University, Pettis studied Fuller’s writings and built a number of geodesic domes, including a series of large and small domes and inflatables for the first Earth Day in 1970. Inspired by Fuller’s stated vision to “make the world work for 100% of humanity,” Pettis began studies in the Design School at Southern Illinois University where Fuller was a professor and innovator; Pettis earned a Master’s degree in design and began a lifetime of serious meditation practice.
Like a bloodhound on a trail of clues, Pettis continued to pursue trails of higher consciousness, positive energy and human potential. He spent time studying the interfaith concepts held by the Foundation of Light in Ithaca, New York. This led him to the Rollright Stone Circles on the Oxfordshire/Warwickshire border in England. He felt something powerful there, he said. He recalled wondering, “whoa, what’s going on here? The place has a powerful psychological pull.” He began to study the impact of ley lines on design and placement, evoking special experiences in people. His awareness of the laws of prosperity and attraction grew. He realized he could make a difference in people’s lives and earn a living at the same time.
Pettis’ talent for creating socially conscious companies and making money through his brand consulting practice resulted in a stock windfall and his eventual purchase of 72 acres of wetland and forest along Newman Road. This led him to the creation of Earth Sanctuary, where a walk through its paths slows time and invites a look into the beauty and mysteries of nature.
Cottonwood Stone Circle (photo by Kate Poss)
At the entrance off Emil Road stands a stack of large balanced stones called a cairn. A series of colorful letters have been painted on the surface by Lama Migmar, resident master artist monk at Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. The words translate to “Om Mani Padme Hum,” a traditional Sanskrit prayer that invites one to transform impurities of mind, body and spirit into the pure mind, body and spirit of a Buddha.
Once inside Earth Sanctuary, the visitor is greeted by a Tibetan stupa, used for meditation and the amplification of prayers, and a row of Tibetan prayer wheels. Alders, maples, cedars and firs line the trails, along with ferns, salal and huckleberry. Shelf mushrooms decorate decaying trees.
An entry stone painted by Lama Migmar, resident master artist monk at Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. The letters translate to “Om Mani Padme Hum.” (photo by Kate Poss)
Another place of power is the Cottonwood Stone Circle, which contains pillars of basalt around a central circle of stones. Pettis said that the 12 pillars are placed to mark ley lines and water lines and connect the sacred masculine and feminine. “The columns are very yang—masculine,” Pettis said. “One technique of creating sacred space is using opposites. The complement of basalt is the turtleback stone…. Turtleback is super yin—female energy. They’re buried below each stone and come together in a power center. The conjunction of both powers holds strong emotion
A number of people who visit Earth Sanctuary have little experience in nature, Pettis said. “They see a deer and it doesn’t run away from them. They’re having an experience in a safe place.”
Most of the visitors to Earth Sanctuary, though, are what Pettis terms “cultural creatives.” “Cultural creatives think they’re alone,” he said, easily, as my husband and I squirmed inwardly. “They need to come out of the closet… speak up. They can’t let other loud voices say what is good and evil…. They keep their mouths shut because they don’t want to get into an argument.”
Neighbor Martin Payne regularly walks the paths of Earth Sanctuary, then takes advantage of possibilities for contemplation. (photo by Kate Poss)
At Earth Sanctuary, Pettis said, “We make nature the priority. The key to happiness is to make others happy. Earth Sanctuary evokes, motivates people to a higher state of mind, perhaps to meditate or pray. We can’t do that enough.” We need to get past the thought of good versus evil to be able to act like a high-quality person.”
A serene face lies along one of the paths at Earth Sanctuary. (photo by Kate Poss)
While Pettis promotes lofty ideas of becoming a quality person and ley lines and higher consciousness, he also is practical when it comes to maintaining the land. He charges visitors $7 each time or $35 for a year’s subscription. This request causes grumbling among some, yet Pettis is a pragmatist when it comes to providing a place for folks to rest and reset, balanced with the cost of running it. Earth Sanctuary was created with a vision to what the future will be like in 500 years. Pettis has planted over 15,000 native plants and 3,000 trees that he believes will thrive in the years to come as the earth’s climate changes.
“Earth Sanctuary is all about sustainability,” Pettis said. “The visitor fees and retreat fees sustain it. Even in the middle of winter the retreat house is three-quarters booked.”
Yup. There’s a sweet little house there that can be rented for a little while. Feral cats add character to the mystical feel of the place.
So, take a leap of faith and tune in to what Earth Sanctuary offers. It may change your life.
Kate Poss works as a library assistant at the Langley Library. 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.
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.
BY LESLIE IRISH EVANS Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor March 9, 2016
You’ve probably seen them. And if you haven’t seen them, you’ve heard them: A caravan of motorcycles roaring down State Route 525. While a large band of bikers might seem intimidating, there’s nothing to worry about here. You’re witnessing part of the Tulip Ride, and these folks aren’t here for trouble. More like flowers and puppies.
Every year hundreds of riders, most of them from Puget Sound but some from as far away as Florida and New Zealand, participate in this annual charity motorcycle ride that benefits the Seattle Humane Society. This year, on Saturday, April 16, riders will gather in the parking lot of Blazing Bagels in Redmond and ride to the RoozenGaarde Tulip Farm where they will enjoy a BBQ lunch and admission to the Tulip Fields.
Tulip Ride founder Jeff Henshaw poses with actresses Katee Sackhoff (left) and Tricia Helfer (right). (photo by Christopher Evans)
The riders will be joined by celebrities Tricia Helfer and Katee Sackhoff (best known for their work as “Caprica 6” and “Starbuck” on television’s Battlestar Galactica). The actresses will be available for photographs before and during the ride. Participants who donate at the VIP “Road Captain” level will also enjoy a guided return ride down Whidbey Island and a catered dinner with the celebrity guests that evening.
Tulip Ride founder Jeff Henshaw in the midst of the Tulip Festival (photo by Christopher Evans)
The Tulip Ride began 16 ago as a way for several Microsoft employees to escape the rigors of launching the original Xbox. On a whim, about a dozen of them rode to the Skagit Valley Tulip festival, which occurs every April in Mount Vernon. It was such a great event that it became an annual tradition that grew into the enormous charity event it is today. “Motorcyclists are some of the most generous people in the world, so it’s natural that the Tulip Ride benefits a worthwhile cause like the Seattle Humane Society,” according to founder Jeff Henshaw.
Generous, indeed. Last year over 350 bikers and their passengers raised $50,000 for the Seattle Humane Society, for which the organization is extremely grateful. “With $50,000 raised last year, Tulip Ride is the biggest grassroots fundraiser for Seattle Humane,” said Aileen O’Connell, Special Events and Corporate Relations Director at Seattle Humane. “We’ve been partnering with the Tulip Ride organizers and riders for many years to raise critical funds for animals in our care. They’ve also introduced Seattle Humane to the local motorcycle community, which has a tremendous love for animals,” O’Connell added. “It’s been really fun for us.”
How experienced a rider does one need to be for this event? Henshaw said the event is open to “absolutely anybody, on any type of bike, from any skill level. All we ask is that your bike be a freeway-capable motorcycle or scooter.”
“I know [sometimes] people are intimidated,” Henshaw continued. “But the Tulip Ride ends up being one of the best rides for a new rider. They’re surrounded by friendly faces and people who are willing to help them get up to the tulip fields safely. It’s an easy route. It’s not a fast ride. We mostly take back roads and we take them very leisurely.”
Tulip Riders’ motorcycles lined up in the ferry on the way home. Motorcycles are allowed to proceed to the beginning of the line of cars waiting for the ferry and they enter the ship before other vehicles. (photo by Jeff Henshaw)
When asked about the Whidbey Island add-on feature of the event, the enthusiastic and energetic Henshaw became even more so: “Whidbey is an amazing motorcycle route because it features slow, winding roads through rural scenes. We enjoy island farms, stretches along the Puget Sound waterfront and a ride aboard the Washington State ferries before returning to the mainland. It’s hard to imagine motorcycling getting much better than this.”
And what about the future? With 15 trips already under its belt, where does he see the Tulip Ride in another five years? “Every year the ride has grown in ways that surprise us,” Henshaw said. “I would be thrilled to see us continue our growth, both in numbers of people who participate and in the funds that we raise. If those are both on a positive vector, I couldn’t be happier. To me, the most important thing we can do is get more people riding and giving back to their community.”
Founder Jeff Henshaw with Tulip Ride support team members Janet and David Belanger. (photo by Aileen O’Connell, Seattle Humane Society)
Tulip Ride registration is $75 per rider and $50 per passenger. VIP Road Captain registration is $1,000. There are only 25 Road Captain registrations available.
For more information about the Tulip Ride or to register, visit http://tulipride.org/.
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PHOTO ESSAY BY DAVID WELTON
TEXT BY BETTY FREEMAN
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributors
March 8, 2016
Langley’s 32nd annual Mystery Weekend on Feb. 27 and 28 set an attendance record when amateur sleuths from all over descended on the Village by the Sea to help solve its yearly February crime.
This year’s hapless victim was Sir Laurence Burton, a famed Shakespearean actor and consultant to the Island Shakespeare Festival. On the morning of Feb. 26, he was found stabbed to death in Melson Alley off First Street. The motives could have been jealousy, revenge or simply a disagreement with Burton’s plan to open Hare Haven, a refuge for Langley’s burgeoning bunny population.
Ophelia Burton, grieving widow of the murder victim, suspiciously looks too happy as she is interviewed by amateur detectives.
The plot centered on Langley’s bunnies and those who have differing opinions about what to do with them. Suspects included an eco-activist group that wanted to let the bunnies roam free, a vociferous mayoral candidate who wanted to deport them, a gang of hunters who wanted to trap and sell them, either to Sir Laurence Burton for Hare Haven or to the Hasenpfeffer Incorporated restaurant chain. Throw in a troupe of Shakespearean actors and their patrons and you’ve got a muddle of motives for murder.
On Saturday, the “Let the Bunnies Roam Free” group led a rally along Anthes Avenue.
Rolf Skinner, left, is part of the Hasenpfeffer Incorporated group that wants to make rabbit stew, while Shakespeare festival patron Portia Romero wears her own furry friend.
Over 1200 people purchased clue maps and fanned out all over town to interview suspects, pick up clues and try to solve the murder for a chance to win prizes donated by Langley merchants. At the reveal on Sunday afternoon, detective I. B. Fuzz fingered the murderer as Joe Curr, who was owed money by his victim. He was promptly “arrested” by Langley Police.
This trio of amateur sleuths is also part of the Red Hat Society. Many visiting sleuths wear costumes of their own to add to the mayhem of Mystery Weekend.
Serious detectives take notes as the Coroner’s report is read at Langley Park on Saturday afternoon.
Eco-activists, led by Bugsy Bunie, confront 49er and would-be bunny trapper Daryl B. Mortacome.
Max Tramp, grandson of outspoken mayoral candidate Donald Tramp, uses his “Tramp” stamp to identify a supporter.
Detectives emulate Hercule Poirot’s magnificent mustache as they confront the 49ers, who want to trap Langley’s bunnies and sell them.
Chef Bruno Wilhelm shares his exclusive Hasenpfeffer recipe with admirers.
Wilie Bunie can’t believe anyone would think he’s a murderer. But he did change his allegiance from bunny protector to bunny trapper, so anything is possible.
Joe Curr is arrested by Langley Police after detective I.B. Fuzz identifies him as the murderer of Sir Laurence Burton. (He was later seen uncuffed and eating spaghetti at the Knights of Columbus Spaghetti Dinner.) | Photo by Betty Freeman
Georgia Gerber’s bronze bunny surveys the scene during Langley’s Mystery Weekend Feb. 27-28. As far as she’s concerned, Langley is the perfect home for bunnies.
Image at top: Visiting sleuths try to pick up clues at the “Scene of the Crime” on Melson Alley off First Street. The protest group “Let the Bunnies Roam Free” also left their calling card.
David Welton is a retired physician and staff photographer for Whidbey Life magazine.
Betty Freeman works for the Langley Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the annual Mystery Weekend.
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BY DONNA HOOD Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
March 2, 2016
…and so did nine Whidbey Island multi-genre artists who combined their talents, skills and treasures to put together the Creative Recycled Art Projects show happening at WICA’s Zech Hall. C.R.A.P. will be open to the public the first two Fridays and Saturdays of this month: March 4 – 5 and March 11 – 12. Friday hours are 5:30 to 7 p.m. and Saturday hours are 1 to 5 p.m. The first glass of wine is free at the Friday, March 4 opening night reception.
Lucky me—I got a sneak preview of a few of the pieces. As you can imagine, words cannot do justice to this eclectic and unique display of art; you’ll have to see it for yourself (if for no other reason than to totally agree with me).
First there’s the life-size “Kit the Caboodlenaut,” the poster child for the show. Kit is the creation of Janet Pheifer who told me she created the dazzling piece so Whidbey Islanders could see that “junk” in the right creative hands can turn into a showstopper. It certainly stopped me.
Janet Pheifer was one of 25 artists selected to adorn an astronaut’s suit for the 50th anniversary of The Museum of Flight. She painstakingly covered the suit with thousands of wine foils and other fun stuff. “By itself, junk is just junk,” Pheiffer said. “But in collage, it becomes texture, context, shape and color.” (photo by Marsha Morgan)
Next, my eyes are drawn to what just has to be a “Buffy Cribbs.” I’m no stranger to Cribb’s well-known and adventurous mixed-media work. The whimsical wood and metal sculpture has something to do with elephants – just what that is, is up to you.
Buffy Cribbs creates imaginative and whimsical 3-D pieces using collected objects from both found and manufactured sources. (photo by Buffy Cribbs)
Moving right along, I spy an intriguing handblown glass and metal sculpture. It’s by Katrina Hude who, according to the description card, has created this 2-foot long Red Truck to entice viewers into creating their own story about this cast-off piece of history. Hude hints that the truck may carry a payload or dispense with a burden. I’m grateful she helped me see some symbolism I might have missed.
Salvage, nostalgia, reclaimed treasure, off-cast and unwanted material excess are all opportunities for creative dialogue about social and cultural behavior. (photo by Katrina Hude)
When last I spoke with Kim Kelzer, she told me she was taking a break from making her trademark furniture. “Do we really need more stuff in our world?” she said. “My goal is to both re-purpose and elevate what we throw away. Found objects intrinsically carry a history that they can imbue in new work.” Well, the collage she calls “Standard American” certainly accomplishes her new objective. I can see a lot of conversation happening around this one.
Found objects intrinsically carry a history and are often inspiration for new work. In this collage, Kim Kelzer’s materials are more than decorative; they are also a comment on the world. (photo by Kim Kelzer)
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a screen of jewelry. I gravitate quickly. Now we’re talking my kind of art—functional. Sarah Primrose’s Rust Revival jewelry creations will be one of my purchases at the show. Primrose told me she’s always looking for found items or “treasures,” many of which she finds when she and partner Russell Clepper, locally known as the singing duo “The Muse and Eye,” go on their troubadour travels.
A line of jewelry Sarah Primrose calls “Rust Revival” features one-of-a-kind pieces made from rusted (and some not-so-rusted) discarded bottle caps and other metals. (photo by Janet Pheifer)
Moving on to Natalie Olsen’s art, a wry smile comes across my face. Loincloths. The last time I was in Olsen’s weaving studio, I couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you keep so much stuff besides yarn?” There were stacks of Diet Pepsi tabs, a box of wine foils, red onion skins, scraps, bark, used paper towels and some other things I didn’t recognize. Capacitors? Really? Loincloths? Really? (Wonder if Natalie’s husband, Earl, will be changing his wardrobe soon?)
Natalie Olsen used up some of her stash creating a few loincloths. This one incorporates soda tabs and wine foils. Another is made from used teabags and a flattened wire coil, decorated with capacitors. (photo by Earl Olsen)
Looking at the creations of Sara Saltee was an education for the not-too-deep-into-meaning art person that I am. What is an “assemblage artist”? I’m not sure, but if Sara is any example, they certainly create some thought-provoking objects.
Sara’s webpage describes assemblage as something that is “deeply grounded in reverence for things that are cast-off or left behind.” (Sounds a little like a definition for “junk,” but in a good way.)
Sara Saltee’s one-of-a-kind assemblages and collages use the flotsam and jetsam of everyday life, often alongside snippets of text, to express a poetic sensibility and a fascination with themes of identity, nurturance, and freedom. (photo by Michael Stadler)
Also intriguing are the creations of Johanna Nitzke Marquis. An impressive bio, telling us that Marquis was the first Director of Public Art in Washington and, later, a Seattle gallerist, prepares me to understand how her work reflects what she calls her political, personal and professional epiphanies. I translate that to mean that what I see before me demonstrates how vintage objects, combined artistically, can have meaning far beyond the vintage parts that create the art. Classic book covers and an old leather belt are much more than they appear.
Compelled to pass on the design qualities of old book covers, Johanna Nitzke Marquis makes books of just the covers, in collaboration with Suzanne Schlicke. (photo by Richard Marquis)
I didn’t get to see the works of Fritha Stand as she is madly completing them for the show. Guess you and I will just have to see them for the first time together.
Image at top: Janet Pheiffer and Kit the Caboodlenaut (photo by Marsha Morgan)
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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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