Letters to the Editor got an opinion? submit it to editorial@whidbeymarketplace.com

Dear Editor,
On behalf of the Island County Master Gardener’s, I would like to extend warm appreciations to the Whidbey Island Garden Tour and the South Whidbey Rotary for their generous donations. These donations are being used for the further development and improvement of the Island County Master Gardener’s Educational Gardens, located at Greenbank Farm.

One of the main purposes of the Master Gardener Program is to educate the public. We have many ways in which we have and continue to fulfill that purpose. The Whidbey Gardening Workshop in the spring, clinics throughout the island in the summer and our home garden calls throughout the year. We have always wanted a spot where we could concentrate an ongoing educational gardening project. Two years ago that spot was found at Greenbank Farm. Great things have been done and more projects are planned and will be completed with the help of these donations.

There is something for everyone in the gardens to learn or just view. Please stop by and see. Thank You.
Joann Hoover, 2004 President, Island County Master Gardeners

Dear Editor:
I am writing you to let your readers know that I have discovered an affordable marketing opportunity for Whidbey Island entrepreneurs who work from home. I work from home and have asked MacGregor if they would create a special Home-based Business section in their next Whidbey Island Guide and they agreed. I am not employed by MacGregor, nor will I receive any remuneration from them for this idea.

I did this because it is clear to me that in order for our island cottage industry to grow, all of us on Whidbey, including myself, who work out of our home, need to make it easier for others who want our services or products to be able to find us. A directory of home-based businesses would help. I hope you will be able to print this letter in order to let home-based entrepreneurs know that they could take advantage of this inexpensive opportunity to get listed in MacGregor’s Whidbey Island Home Based Business Directory in the upcoming 2005 Whidbey Island Visitors Guide. For $25 for an entire year, they will be listed in a special Whidbey Island Home Based Business Section and this fee also includes their same listing on the MacGregor plaidnet.com web site and a listing in the Plaidnet 2006 yellow pages!

I ask locals to let me know if they have other ideas about how we can help our on-island home businesses grow. Growing our cottage businesses can lead to the creation of more quality and interesting jobs for others. Growing our local businesses means that locals and visitors will spend more money on the island and that would help to build our tax base. Building our tax base helps to support our local services and infrastructure. Finally, the cottage business sector is an appropriate, low-impact and a sustainable fit for our large rural community.

I chose to donate my time to this effort after researching a variety of ideas about how to create a directory of home-based businesses and how to get it in the hands of a large number of people. I looked at all the ways business information is distributed (telephone books, internet, brochures, farmers markets, trade shows, word-of-mouth, etc.). In addition to these other marketing venues, this visitor guide made the most economic sense for those of us on a limited budget. For only $25 for the entire year, there will be 101,000 of them printed and distributed throughout the Puget Sound and 22,000 of these visitor guides will be placed on the Mukilteo/Clinton and Keystone/Port Townsend ferries!

I encourage others who work out of their home and who want and need more market exposure to get themselves listed in this special edition of the MacGregor Whidbey Island Visitors’ guide. List yourself the same way your telephone or cell number is listed. Pick a classification heading out of a yellow pages book or make a new category under which you wish to be listed and then provide a 45-character description of your product or service and list your web address or email address. You may need to apply for a business license if you don’t already have one if you are serious about growing your business. The guide will be more useful to locals and visitors if there are a good amount of home-based businesses represented. Contact me at (360)341-4486 or email me at valisgroup@earthlink.net if you would like a listing form. Payment is made directly to MacGregor Publishing.

We should all plan to have many copies of the 2005 Whidbey Island Visitors’ Guides to hand out and to keep around our home so that we can call local entrepreneurs for services or products that we may need instead of going off-island. I am sure many more of our locals and visitors would make the same choice if they only could find us! Sincerely,

RoseAnn Alspektor, Business Development Consultant, The VALIS Group, Clinton

Letter to the Editor:
Crossing the Rubicon: The decline of the American Empire at the end of the age of oil is a must read that gets to the innermost core of the 9/11 attacks. Michael Ruppert spent two and a half years researching and writing this book. Key points are: Vice President Richard Cheney is the prime suspect in the mass murders of 9/11, on the day of the attacks he was running a completely separate Command, Control and Communications system which was superseding any orders being issued by the FAA, the Pentagon, or the White House Situation Room. May 2001, by presidential order, Richard Cheney was put in direct command and control of all war games, field exercise training and scheduling through several agencies, especially FEMA. It also shows that the Israeli and British governments acted as partners with the highest levels of the American government to help in the preparation and, very possibly, the actual execution of the attacks. Catherine Austin Fitts, Assistant Secretary of HUD under President Bush, Senior wrote the forward that tells about $500 billion in fraud at US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) used to buy elections, banks and control of multiple media outlets.

With 39 pages of endnotes it is a great factual detective story. Truth needs to be told about the end of oil that so many more will not have to die and that we may make wise decisions for our future. A book was donated to each library on Whidbey Island and is available at Moonraker Bookstore.

A truth seeker,
Theresa Marie Gandhi, Clinton

Bits 'N' Pieces

Law Has Open Door of Opportunity For Students at SVC
Effective July, 1, 2003, Washington state law changed to allow certain individuals, who are not otherwise documented as United States citizens, to attend college and pay in-state tuition. To be considered for the residency rates, students must meet the following condition and complete an affidavit to show their qualifications:

Resided in Washington state for the three years immediately prior to receiving their high school diploma and completed their full senior year at a Washington high school, and continuously resided in the state since earning their high school diploma. Or, Completed the equivalent of a high school diploma and resided in Washington state for the three years immediately before receiving the equivalent of their diploma and who have continuously resided in the state since earning the high school diploma equivalent.

“Community colleges are the doors of opportunity in our communities,” said Linda Woiwod, Dean of Student Services. “As a result of HB1079, Skagit Valley College has been able to serve 72 students who would otherwise not have been given the opportunity to continue their education. We view this as an important benefit to our students and to our community.”

For more information about enrollment opportunities at any Skagit Valley College campus or center, contact SVC Admissions, (360)416-7697 or email admissions@skagit.edu.

[Submitted by Skagit Valley College]

It’s The Holiday Season, Time To Get Out The Dormant Spray!
Thanksgiving, Christmas and later, and Valentine’s Day are good markers to remind us to do something nice for our fruit and flowering trees, grape vines, berries, roses, and lilacs.

The Pacific Northwest with its mild, damp conditions is a wonderful place to garden. It is also the fungus capitol of the universe. These fungal spores over-winter in the crooks and fissures of bark and twigs, manifesting during the growing season as troublesome diseases.

Dormant sprays are compounds that assist us in controlling fungal diseases and many insect infestations, and are used during the winter season while the plant is in its dormant phase. (The plant is dormant, not the spray!)

There are three main categories of dormant sprays. All three of these common dormant spray materials are acceptable by organic certification standards. Although approved by the EPA for organic use, both lime-sulphur and copper sprays can be irritating to skin and eyes. Wear long sleeves, gloves and goggles when spraying, and avoid the windy days. As boring and tedious as it may be, always read the label and follow the directions. A special note to the manly types... more is not better. Under certain conditions, plants may be damaged by using a concentration that is too strong. Your wife will come into the garden center and complain about you if you do this.

Lime-sulphur – (calcium polysulphide) This is a natural compound available in a liquid form. It is a fungicide effective against infestations of black spot, powdery mildew, peach leaf curl, rust, shot hole fungus, leaf spot, and apple scab. Lime-sulphur is generally easier to use than the copper sprays, but it does smell like rotten eggs. This is a positive attribute, however, if you want an unwelcoming odor for rabbits and deer. It is important to note that lime-sulphur is toxic to apricots.

Fixed Copper – (copper sulphate) There are several varieties of copper fungicides available on the market. The liquid form is a bit easier to use but is not quite as effective as the wettable powder forms. This copper is a powder that needs to be mixed with water and agitated while spraying as it tends to settle out of solution. Shake it good. Newer copper materials are more effective than the old mixtures, known as Bordeaux sprays.

Dormant oils – (insecticides) These are special petroleum distillates to which plants have a tolerance. Dormant oil acts as a non-toxic smothering agent on over-wintering insect eggs and insects such as aphids, leaf rollers, scale, mites, pear psylla, and white flies. It is also showing some effectiveness in destroying tent caterpillar egg sacs.

Dormant oil, which is used to control insects increases the effectiveness of the copper or lime-sulphur fungicides by helping them to adhere to the branches more easily. It is good to use both the oil and the fungicide together. The lime-sulphur can be purchased with the oil already added and is the most convenient to use.

Dormant spraying is the most cost effective method of disease and insect control. It is essentially a sanitizing process performed when the plants are resting. Prevention is the key to success. The spray is applied to the bare limbs and twigs of the plant, thoroughly wetting down the bark, covering all sides until it drips.

The first spray, when done in late autumn or early winter is like putting a raincoat on the plant. Fungal spores blow around in the wind all winter in the maritime northwest. This spray applies a protective coating, which prevents these spores from getting a toe-hold in the bark of the tree or shrub. The second spray, done around Christmas time is an added bonus, but if you are going to skip a spray, this is the one to skip. In the event only one spray can be applied, this should be the Valentine’s Day or late winter / early spring spray. This is the spray that will control apple scab, which can be a serious pest on apples, crab apples and pears. This is known as a delayed dormant spray. Delayed dormant sprays are applied from the “green tip” stage to the “half-inch green” bud growth phase. When the leaf buds are just beginning to emerge and the plant is just starting to come out of dormancy is the time to do this spray. This is by far the most effective time to wipe out the apple scab spores and many newly emerging insects that have just pounced on the fresh green buds. Timing is critical as sprays applied after this can injure the young leaves.

It’s important for the spray to dry on the plant. If it rains within 24 hours of spraying... yup, that’s right... you need to get out there and do it again. So watch the weather report and wait for just the right timing.

No method of insect and disease control can substitute for good cultural practices in gardening. Healthy plants have their own mechanisms for fending off pests. Don’t forget about healthy soil, appropriate fertilization, adequate water, proper location, correct pruning, debris clean-up and a love for the wonder and beauty of growing things. And Happy Holidays!

[Submitted by Bayview Farm & Garden]

Conservation District Announces 2005 Native Plant Sale
Every year thousands of tree and shrub seedlings are sold at conservation district sponsored plant sales for wildlife habitat, reforestation, wind/visual screens and erosion control. The Whidbey Island Conservation District is currently taking orders for its Conservation Plant Sale. Available conifers include: Douglas fir, Grand fir, Western red cedar, Sitka spruce, Giant sequoia and Shore pine. Deciduous trees include Paper birch, Pacific madrone, Cascara and Big Leaf Maple. Shrubs for wildlife, erosion control and habitat include Mock orange, Nootka rose, Evergreen huckleberry, Oceanspray and many more. Order Forms are available by calling the district office at (360)678-4708 or online at www.whidbeycd.org. The sale is by pre-order only and orders will be taken until February 1. Order Early for best selection! Plants can be picked up on South Whidbey February 23, 2005 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the Farmers Market Pavilion at the Bayview Corner Cash Store Complex or on North / Central Whidbey February 24 or 25 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the Whidbey Island Conservation District Office at 404 Center Street in Coupeville. For more information, call (360)678-4708 or check our web site at www.whidbeycd.org.

[Submitted by Whidbey Island Conservation District]

A Smile Is The Same In Any Language
When people ask me about traveling with the Friendship Force, I tell them it is probably one of the most difficult ways to travel and one of the most rewarding. By this I mean, you are thrust into the lives of people you don’t know, into their homes, their customs, culture and their language differences and you are forced to make it work. And it does. What comes out of it is a close relationship between people that may last a lifetime, that would not develop otherwise.

The experience changes your life. Now, you have close friends you care about around the world. You learn that despite the differences in culture, race and religion, we are all the same wherever we are in the world. We want the same things, think the same thoughts and love our family and friends the same way. You also learn some things in America are wonderful and now you no longer take them for granted. Other things are truly better in other countries.

To be specific, Brazil was a perfect example. The first week, we were guests of people who spoke no English. I was forced to speak French (our common language) for an entire week. It was the first time I had spoken it for thirty years. It was stressful, hard work, but it was also lots of fun. Along with all four of us trying to communicate with each other, we were laughing and talking with smiles in our eyes and the touch of our hands. I loved the way my hostess and I walked through a craft fair holding hands. (Just think how that action would be taken in the US!) I knew she and I had become friends, no longer strangers, when one day a bunch of us were talking and the wife was giving me a back massage.

One hot night, in Campinas, after an even longer hot day, my hostess, my husband and I floated in the swimming pool and discussed the ordeal she was facing with her 23-year old daughter. It was a dilemma many parents face that knows no country’s boundaries. We talked intimately for three hours. My hostess and I became close almost immediately after we arrived. We found we were very much alike although our lives are very different and we live miles apart.

Visiting homes is also very special. Our evening of progressive dinners was wonderful. Not only did we get to meet and talk in depth with other hosts, but we got to see their homes. Of course, each house we saw was luxurious while in truth, few Brazilians live this way.

Another highlight was visiting the orphanage/farm for homeless children. Picturing the seven or eight-year-old girl holding the hand of a 2-year old boy, then lifting him onto her lap brings tears to my eyes. I can still see the anxious, overwhelmed smile of the young man who had just arrived at his new home as he stood next to the leader of the community.

Of course sight-seeing was nice too. You see things you would never have the opportunity to see visiting a country alone or on a regular tour. But what will remain in my heart will not be the sight of the beautiful church of Santo Angelo nor the unique symphony hall in Sao Paulo, it will be the friendships I have shared.

If you are interested in learning more about the Whidbey Island Friendship Force, please contact Steve Strehlau, President at (360)730-1357, Chris Williams, Vice President at (360)321-4027, or Pat Westling, Membership Chair at (360)321-6308. In 2005, our club will host two visiting clubs, one from Sapporo, Japan in September, and one from Christchurch, New Zealand in June. We will travel in April to Vietnam and Cambodia. Our Annual General meeting will be held at the Clinton Progressive Hall on Sunday, November 7 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Come and learn more about Friendship Force and join us to meet people, not just visit places.

[Submitted by Kathy Hornsby, Whidbey Island Friendship Force]

Friends of Freeland Needs You
Alethea Shinneman is heading up the 2nd Annual Freeland Fine Arts and Craft Sale and needs your help for our biggest event of the year. This fund-raiser is expected to raise about 25% of our annual funding. We need: 30 to 40 strings of white twinkle lights and volunteers to bake cookies, cakes, pies, etc. for sale at the event. We also need the following event volunteers:

Wednesday, November 17, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
2 people for two hours to set up display stands.

Thursday, November 18, 9:00am - 4:00pm
4 people to help decorate Freeland Hall, log in the artists sale items and set up all the displays. And from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, 3 people to assist at the special pre-event sale.

Friday and Saturday, November 19 and 20, 9:00am - 6:00pm
8 people to help with the sale event for 2-3 hours each during the day. As follows: 1 person from 9:00am to 11:00am; 2 people from 11:00am to 1:00pm and 1:00pm to 3:00pm; and 3 people from 3:00pm to 6:00pm.

Sunday, November 21, 9:00am - 4:00pm
4 people to help clean up Freeland Hall, take down all the unsold art, load the display stands in the trailer, etc.

If you can help, please contact Mike Dolan at (360)331-4845 or Alethea Shinneman at (360)331-2782 or by email at mjdolan@whidbey.com.

[Submitted by Friends of Freeland]

New “Country Fixin’s” At Eagles
Come check out the new cooks, Becky Dunbar and Sandee Dillrud, at the Whidbey Island Eagles located on State Route 525, south of Freeland. They call themselves “Country Fixin’s” and feel they serve the best and lowest priced fixin’s on the Island.

Dinners are every Wednesday and Friday nights from 5:00pm to 8:00pm and include soup or salad, entrée, veggie and dessert. Sunday breakfast is served from 9:00am to 1:00pm and includes a full breakfast menu. Their salad dressings, soups and desserts are all home made. For those of you with a lighter appetite they always offer a bowl of home made soup, salad, cornbread or roll, and of course your choice of one of the two offered desserts for only $6.95. Come try some of their Ribs. They are the talk of all those who have had them and they will be offered monthly due to popular demand. Don’t feel like cooking... just give them a call at (360)321-5636 and it will be ready for you to pick up and take home in 15 minutes or less. Banquets are available by calling (360)675-8768 or (360)929-8502. Book your Christmas parties early!

Public is always welcome so mosey on down to the Eagles and check out the low prices, superb food and friendly down home atmosphere. [Note: See menu in the Restaurant Directory in What’s Going On, along with a special offer.]

[Submitted by Country Fixin’s]

Additional Cast Announced For Holiday Comedy Inspecting Carol
Cast members for the Whidbey Playhouse holiday comedy, Daniel Sullivan’s “Inspecting Carol,” not previously announced include Elizabeth Baker Powell as M. J. (Mary Jane) McMann, a founding member of the Soapbox Playhouse who realizes the Company has hit bottom. Playing Bart Francis, a youth who does some acting and some backstage work for the Playhouse, is Matthew McLean.

Mix together a struggling theatre company, a tired production of “A Christmas Carol,” a really bad actor, and a visiting inspector for the National Endowment for the Arts and you end up with an off-the-wall holiday farce. Everything that could possibly go wrong does as a fictitious theater company struggles to mount their annual production of the holiday classic. Bad theatre has never been this much fun!

Inspecting Carol opens December 3, at the Whidbey Playhouse, located at 730 SE Midway Boulevard in Oak Harbor and closes December 18. Tickets are $12 and are on sale. Call the box office at (360)679-2237 or (800)606-PLAY for further information, show dates, group discounts, and reservations, or email at playhous@whidbey.net, or check the web site at www.whidbeyplayhouse.com.

[Submitted by the Whidbey Playhouse]

Nutcracker Tickets on Sale
Don’t miss out on a Whidbey holiday tradition full of magic and surprises. Tickets for Whidbey Dance Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” have gone on sale. There is an opening night price of $10 per ticket, along with great seats ($15 a piece) for all eight performances. Performances will run from December 3 through December 12.

This year’s matinees feature a special “fantasy photo” opportunity for kids to be pictured with favorite “Nutcracker” characters. For more details and to purchase tickets, call (360)221-2221 or visit www.whidbeydancetheatre.org. The box office is at Ken’s Korner Shopping Plaza in Clinton and is open from 3:00pm to 7:00pm, weekdays.

[Submitted by Whidbey Dance Theatre]

“Phone Home” Drive at The Clyde
As the holidays roll around, our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan will want to connect with the friends and families they left behind. That’s why The Clyde Theatre in Langley is sponsoring a “Phone Home” drive from now until Christmas Eve to purchase phone cards for servicemen in harm’s way. The Clyde will match those donations (up to $1,000 total) and pass them on to the USO’s Operation Phone Home.

Searching for a good way to support the reservists and full-time military risking their lives in these two hot spots, the owners of The Clyde, Blake and Lynn Willeford, talked to two local men who had already served there, and were told that the most appreciated items were phone cards, books, and beef jerky. Phone cards were clearly the lightest item to ship, but there was a problem. Many soldiers and sailors had apparently discovered that phone cards purchased in the States by friends and family were often not usable in the Middle East and Asia.

Fortunately, the USO has a program called Operation Phone Home that purchases and delivers the right kind of cards. A donation of $20 buys 100 minutes of phone time for a service man or woman in Iraq or Afghanistan, nearly two hours of talking to parents, spouses, children, and other loved ones over the holidays.

Patrons of The Clyde can drop off cash donations or checks made out to USO World Headquarters (with “OPH” on the memo line) at the snack bar of The Clyde any evening between now and December 24. If you’re not a movie-goer, donations can also be mailed to The Clyde at PO Box 199, Langley WA 98260. Contributions will be bundled, matched by the Willefords, and mailed off to the USO throughout that time period. The USO promises that 100% of the donation will be used on prepaid phone cards.

“Our goal is to collect enough money to enable at least 100 soldiers and sailors to talk to their families over the holidays,” Blake Willeford says. “Even though we were strongly against the decision to invade Iraq, we think it’s important to provide moral and material support to the men and women who have disrupted their lives and put themselves on the line to follow the orders of their Commander-in-Chief. They’re doing the best they can in a dangerous and difficult situation.”

[Submitted by Blake and Lynn Willeford]

Are You At Food Addict?
Food Addicts Anonymous is a 12-step fellowship for the treatment of the biochemical disease of food addiction. Some symptoms of food addiction are obesity, repeated and often failed attempts to try to control weight, and consumption of high amounts of high-carbohydrate and/or high-fat foods. Over time, if left untreated, food addiction gets worse and never better. Individuals with food addiction may have been able to control their eating and weight at one time, but are no longer able to do so.

Food Addicts Anonymous (FAA) meets Saturdays from 10:00am to 11:00am at the small white building on the corner of Second and Park Streets in Langley. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating addictive foods. There are no dues or fees. For more information, go to www.foodaddictsanonymous.org or call Jane at (360)221-8034.

[Submitted by Food Addicts Anonymous]

Need A Place To Meet This Winter?
The winter is here and the Coupeville Arts Center workshops are winding down. So if you, or your group, are looking for a space to meet, the Coupeville Arts Center could be the place you are looking for!

It does not matter whether you need a place for one day or one week, the Center is available November through January, and parts of February, for use by individuals or groups at a rate of $50 per day. The large classroom spaces are perfect for quilters, fabric dyers, painters, or whatever your interest. Now is the time to finish those unfinished projects started this summer in class, or practice new skills you have learned! If you need a place to spread out, the Center may be just the space you’ve been looking for.

To get more information or to schedule a time, call (360)678-3396 or email the Center at info@coupevillearts.org. The Coupeville Arts Center is a non-profit organization located at 15 NW Birch Street in Coupeville.

[Submitted by Coupeville Arts Center]

Island County Heritage Network Forming
Interested in Island County history but you wonder how to do research when there are so many organizations on the island? Wouldn’t you like to know the purpose of these various historical organizations and the scope of their collections? If so, then please join us at the November meeting of a new organization — the Island County Heritage Network (ICHN). This organization is being developed for groups and individuals interested in and involved with the total spectrum of Island County history and its’ neighboring areas. The purpose of the organization is to: learn about and from each other; to network through the sharing of ideas, success stories and publications; to increase internet awareness; and to discover and contribute to the many avenues of Island County history and heritage.

Meetings are held every 2 months at the home site of individual organizations. There are no dues, communication is by email, and if your representative attends the meetings, you are considered a member. The Island County Historical Society is assisting with the organizing, but the goal is for the Network to be self-governing. Current active members are: Daughters of Pioneers, Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, Friends of Admiralty Head Lighthouse, Genealogical Society of South Whidbey Island, Historic Marker Committee, Island County Historical Society and Museum, PBY Memorial Association, South Whidbey Historical Society, Sno-Isle Libraries, and Whidbey Island Genealogical Society. Those on the “keep me informed” list are Goosefoot, Greenbank Farm, Stanwood Area Historical Society, and Sunny Side Cemetery District #2.

The November meeting will be hosted by Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve; the date and time will be announced in a few weeks. Their office is located at 162 Cemetery Road, Coupeville. For more information, please contact Ruth Hancock, (360)675-4986 (North Whidbey), Joy Iverson, (360)678-2907 (Central Whidbey), or Laura Roetcisoender, (360)331-1077 (South Whidbey).

[Submitted by the Island County Historical Society]

2004 Platinum Chef Award
On October 12, West Sound Food, Beverage and Entertainment, held their Platinum Chef Competition at the Bangor Plaza, Naval Base Kitsap Bangor. The event was presented before a 100 fine-dining U.S. Navy clientele to sample hors d’oeuvres from whom they consider to be the top four chefs in the Seattle area. Hundreds of restaurants were chosen to participate, and four were selected for final competition. Diners sampled all dishes, and cast their vote for their favorites. After competition, diners enjoyed an award-winning meal designed by the previous winning Platinum Chef.

Local favorite, Chef Gordon Stewart, Jr. of Langley’s Edgecliff Restaurant walked away with top honors, the 2004 Platinum Chef Award. Gordon served up a delicious appetizer which was: Polenta with wild mushrooms, topped with Tiger Prawns wrapped in basil and proschiutto and a roasted red pepper cream. As well as having the honor of being the “Platinum Chef,” the “traveling trophy” he was awarded is a beautiful glass work of art by Dale Chihuly (internationally known glass artist from Seattle). The trophy will be displayed in the restaurant until the next competition, as well as a personal plaque for Gordon to keep.

Gordon has studied under great Washington chefs including: Alfredo Gonacias, Thomas Clay, Jim Douglas, Paul Clymer, Vidal Bitton, and Chuck Mallow. Gordon also expanded his culinary experience in Mazatlan, New Orleans. He was the executive chef at The Bistro in Arlington before opening the Edgecliff in Langley in June 2002.

Gordon is now presenting his award-winning appetizer at The Edgecliff. For reservations and availability call (360)221-8899. Be sure to check out the trophy while you are dining! For more information about the Platinum Chef, please call (360)535-5928. [Photo: Erick Rosenthal]

[Submitted by the Edgecliff Restaurant]

Work Party Volunteers Needed
Come one, come all. The South Whidbey Intermediate School Garden is having a revitalizing work party on November 11. Come help lay gravel, mulch, plant shrubs, weed, and otherwise spruce up our garden. If you would like to help, please call Jennifer or Mary at (360)221-4600. Bring you own shovel, gloves and wheelbarrow. The Intermediate School is located on Maxwelton Road between Langley and State Route 525.

[Submitted by South Whidbey Intermediate School]

Out Takes From The Oak Harbor Chamber’s Short Takes

Entertainment Books Are Here
The chamber has the North Puget Sound/San Juan Islands and the Greater Seattle/Eastside entertainment books available, they are $30 each. Get them while they last, they make great gifts!

New Chamber Directors
Congratulations to the newly elected members of the board of directors. Elected were Vicki Archer, Navy Federal Credit Union; Diane Gier, Arby’s; Leo Mitchell, Sears; Nora O’Connell-Balda, RE/MAX Acorn Properties; and Shelli Trumbull, Koetje Agency, Inc.-Insurance, to serve a three year term. We truly appreciate all of the candidates who were willing to serve in this role.

Help House Annual Food Basket
Help House is beginning preparations for their annual Thanksgiving and Christmas food basket distribution. You can donate food items, make monetary donations or bring an entire holiday basket. For more information call (360)675-0681.

Island Drug Has New Pharmacy Hours
For your convenience, the drive up window will be open at 8:00am starting November 1. We have installed new software that will speed up and enhance our service for your prescription waiting time. In order to get things up and running, you may experience a slight wait. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. We continue to work on ways to better serve you.

[Borrowed from the Greater Oak Harbor Chamber Of Commerce]