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Examiner The Whidbey
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Whidbey Island’s Only Locally Owned, Independent Newspaper
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012
More cash sought for S. Whidbey fire response
VOL. 17, NO. 34
A taste of the ’50s
By Betty Freeman Examiner Staff Writer
South Whidbey Fire/EMS Commissioners and Fire Chief Rusty Palmer invited public comment at a recent board meeting on a proposed 15-cent levy lid lift to support volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). The proposed levy is being considered for the November general election ballot. The levy lid lift would cost an additional $3.75 per month for the owner of a $300,000 home, or about $45 per year. Currently, South Whidbey taxpayers pay 61 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for fire and EMS protection, or $15.25 per month. The new levy would raise the cost to 76 cents per $1,000 of a home’s assessed value. South Whidbey Fire/EMS District has eight paid employees, and 76 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians. In 2011, the agency responded to 1,900 calls, 80 percent of which were for emergency medical help. “We save approximately $1.1 million dollars per year by relying on volunteers to respond to emergency calls instead of full-time personnel,” Chief Rusty Palmer said. “The levy is designed to maintain the emergency response provided by our volunteer firefighters and EMTs.” Palmer said additional money would primarily be used to train volunteers, as well as maintain and replace the fire and medical equipment needed to respond to emergencies. He said it costs about $4,500 to train and outfit a volunteer firefighter. If the levy passes, it would be the first voter-approved funding increase for the fire district in more than 20 years. At the meeting, Langley resident Bob Wolters argued against the proposed levy lift. “This department is actually the pride of South Whidbey, but what you’re asking is beyond what our citizens can pay for,” he said. “The demographics of an aging population and economic realities are not going to change for a long time.” Wolters also questioned the number of stations on South Whidbey, and asked why the South Whidbey Fire District and See FIRE, page 9
Elisabeth Murray / The Whidbey Examiner
At the Blue Fox Drive-in before a Friday-night screening of “The Hunger Games,” Amber Wiles, April Walton, Alyiah Wiles and Lori Walton of Mount Vernon share a load of snacks from the concession bar. Amber said she is a longtime fan of the iconic outdoor movie theater, and brought her family along for their first visit.
Iconic drive-in eyes digital age Elisabeth Murray Examiner Staff Writer
R
unning the snack-stand cash register at the Blue Fox Drive-in Theater, owner Darrell Bratt knows that every penny he earns will matter when it comes to the day his operation has to make the transition from traditional film to digital. “This is a hard road to go down, but the reality is that if we don’t go digital, we are done,” said Bratt, who says purchasing a projector that can handle digital movies will likely cost him about $80,000. “That’s a heck of a lot of popcorn to cover the cost,” he said. The Blue Fox is among thousands of independent, familyrun theaters across the country that are being forced to purchase expensive new equipment to accommodate the movie industry’s
Kasia Pierzga / The Whidbey Examiner
See DRIVE-IN, page 6
Visible from Hwy. 20 south of Oak Harbor, the drive-in’s neon sign beckons outdoor movie fans.