South Whidbey Record, August 10, 2013

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SOUTH WHIDBEY

Holding on to history... Island Life, A10

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2013 | Vol. 89, No. 64 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢

Freeland fuel spill worries experts

Gianni, Bond advance to Nov. ballot

By JUSTIN BURNETT Editor An estimated 7,000 gallons of gasoline that spilled from a broken fuel tank eight years ago is now threatening Freeland’s water supply, state officials have confirmed. According to Louise Bardy, supervisor of the state Department of Ecology’s voluntary Clean up Program, recent monitoring has revealed contamination in the area’s sea-level aquifer, about 100 feet below the surface. The spill also appears to be traveling, very slowly, toward the Freeland Sewer and Water District’s wells, which are about 1,900 feet away and provide water to about 90 commercial business and nearly 400 residences. Bardy believes the danger is “moderate” but it’s not clear just how far the “plume” has spread. “We don’t know,” she said. “We’re trying to find that out.” Ecology officials plan to attend the district’s monthly meeting next week and give the commissioners a presentation, outlining what happened, what’s been done so far and future monitoring plans. The meeting will be held at 5:50 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12, at Whidbey Water Services, 5421 Woodard Ave. in Freeland. According to agency documents, the spill occurred in 2005 at what was formerly Whidbey Marine and Auto Supply on Main Street. The store, which also sold fuel, was in operation from 1967 until 2008. Records show then owner Marty Winn submitted a fuel inventory SEE SPILL, A11

By BEN WATANABE Staff reporter

Celeste Erickson / The Record

Eric Tunnell applies a tattoo on customer Kandis Jones. She traveled from Mill Creek, Wash. to get her tattoo done by Tunnell. He opened his shop in Langley.

Inking out a living

Tattoo artist bring color to Langley businesses By CELESTE ERICKSON Staff reporter For Eric Tunnell, tattoos read like a person’s life journey. They are a meaningful moment or experience important enough for a person to have as a permanent guide. “I don’t think anything in life is meaningless,” he said. “Tattoos bring

that to surface.” Tunnell, 41, is the owner of Dig it! Tattoo. He opened the shop in Langley more than a year ago and is finding success in the community. Tunnell worked out of his home on Maxwelton Road for 12 years before he decided to take it to the next level. He’s never been a fan of big tattoo shops, but he finds running his own

has been enjoyable. “So far it’s a good venture,” he said. “I’ve been received well by the community and I am grateful for that.” His is the only tattoo shop on the South End. Marc Esterly, executive director of the Langley Chamber of Commerce, SEE TATTOO, A11

Come November, Rocco Gianni and Betty Bond will face off for the first contested school board seat in years. More than 3,300 ballots were cast in the only primary on South Whidbey. Gianni, a 30-year physical education teacher at Langley Middle School who retired this year, led with a strong edge at 1,619 votes, about 47.9 percent of the total ballots returned. “I was completely humbled, probably the most humbling experience I ever had,” Gianni said. “When I saw that, I was overwhelmed and very grateful and happy that people remembered me and had confidence in me.” Bond, a retired teacher, finished second with 1,183, or nearly 35 percent. “I want to thank all voters who cast ballots in the primary race and I particularly want to thank those who have faith in my vision and abilities to help solve the issues facing the South Whidbey School District School Board,” wrote Bond in an email to The Record. She declined to be interviewed by phone. Miriam Coates, the only candidate with children who attend district schools, was bumped from the race having earned 580 votes or 17.1 percent. She also declined to be interviewed. The election was rife with intrigue and controversy, though the candidates never publicly engaged each other directly. SEE ELECTION, A9