News-Times Whidbey
INSIDE: Jazz Festival causes clash. A13.
SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2012 | Vol. 113, No. 60 | www.whidbeynewstimes.com | 75¢
Law & justice tax refusal sparks turmoil Commissioner’s letter leads to hard feelings By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
The strained relationship between key lawand-justice figures and the Island County commissioners was evident at a charged meeting Wednesday that culminated when an administrative assistant was cut off while reading Commissioner Angie Homola’s letter to the board. “I don’t think it’s right for her to send a proxy in here to read a letter with the purpose of throwing the blame around,” Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said during the Law and Justice Council meeting. Homola is a member of the council, but didn’t attend because of an outof-town engagement. She sent an employee from the commissioners’ office to read a letter in her stead. The quarreling continued after the meeting in email exchanges among Law and Justice Council members which were critical of Homola. Some members of the county’s Law and Justice Council are frustrated that commissioners aren’t willing to place a measure on this year’s general election
Renee Faber, Soroptimist International of Oak Harbor member, works with fellow Soroptimist member Cheri English to decide on prices for clothing donated to Upscale Resale, which will sell gently used clothing to support Soroptimists’ community work.
ballot to ask voters to raise sales tax to provide extra funding to police, courts, prosecutors and other criminal justice functions. The issue became personal this week when Banks sent out an agenda for the Law and Justice Council including a statement decrying the “inflammatory remarks” made by a commissioner, as reported in the News-Times and South Whidbey Record. Banks, a Democrat, didn’t name the commissioner, but he was clearly referring to Homola, also a Democrat. During a board discussion about a proposed sales tax increase, Homola suggested that members of the council “have acted in a childish manner, and have been uncooperative,” See tax, A4
Soroptimists go Upscale with resale store By REBECCA OLSON Staff reporter
With many families are finding it difficult to make it from one paycheck to the next, Soroptimist International of Oak Harbor knew they could help. Upscale Resale, a store offering a wide range of gently used women’s and girl’s clothing, accessories, books, home decor and kitchen items, opens Wednesday, Aug. 4. A grand opening ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. Aug. 4 at the store, located at 31780 Highway 20 Suite 3 in Oak Harbor, near Applebee’s. Inside the shop, fancy coats, day and evening dresses and jeans hang, looking brand new. One room is devoted to a “boutique,”
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Rebecca Olson / Whidbey News-Times
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featuring brand name items, suit jackets and gowns, some adorned with hundreds of sequins. Some items cost only a few dollars, but every dollar counts toward Soroptimists’ goal of improving the lives of women and girls in the community. Soroptimist member Nancy Fey said she hopes the store will help local women, “and of course for us to earn money so we can do more for the community. We enjoy being able to help the community and this will allow us to do more.” Every year for the past 30 years that Soroptimist has existed in Oak Harbor, the nonprofit has offered scholarships to Oak Harbor See store, A8
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Rebecca Olson / Whidbey News-Times
Nancy Fey, Soroptimist International of Oak Harbor member, hangs up one of her favorite items from Upscale Resale’s boutique section.
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