Captain relives memories on trips past Fidalgo Bay

Anyone who would believe that the Enchantress is anything less than an outstanding view out over Fidalgo Bay must be a person who has little or no knowledge of the beautiful lines of a classic oceangoing tug of the Miki Class, built during World War II.

The Enchantress is one of the 60 sisters of the class and all proved to be outstanding for ocean towing for the military and after World War II for towing companies on the East, West and Gulf coasts.

For 17 years the Enchantress was owned by and towed for Foss Launch and Tug Company primarily in the Alaska and Pacific Coast trade. Her name was the Leslie Foss.

I first boarded the Leslie Foss as a crew member in 1957. We departed Seattle and towed a barge load of cargo to Long Beach, Calif. As captain I also made ocean trips with the Leslie in 1960 and 1961 to Astoria, Portland, New Westminster and other ports.

Commencing in April 1962 I made trips with the Leslie to Yakutat, Icy Bay, Cordova, Ketchikan and an open ocean beach landing of cargo by barge to Cape Yakataga. Every time I drive into Anacortes I eagerly look for the Enchantress (Leslie Foss) in Fidalgo Bay and past memories return.

I would like to see the Enchantress remain where she is, but if it is necessary to remove her for the sake of further waterfront development, I believe she should go.

I admire those who want to save her, including Bill Mitchell, but I believe she is too far deteriorated for movement or dry land public view.

I retired from the marine industry after 42 years and lived on Cap Sante for seven years before relocating to Bend, Ore.

Jack Wyatt
Bend, Ore.

ACT entertains and gives us cause to think

A good theater provides quality entertainment. A great theater also provokes thought. Anacortes Community Theatre, without doubt, is a great theater.

I have seen the opportunities ACT has brought to our town. Unknown shows found packed houses at ACT. Fledgling directors spread their wings with Fringe shows. ACT creates a varied, balanced season year after year. This year is no different.

“Stepping Out” was not intended to be a children’s show, hence its PG-13 rating. ACT has always been very honest with its patrons about the ratings of its shows. It has always balanced children’s shows with those for older audiences.

A theater that only presents children-friendly shows is only representing a fraction of its community. ACT appeals to the entire community. That’s how ACT sold over 1,000 season tickets.

“Stepping Out” sold out quickly, like most ACT shows. I was unable to attend, but I heard nothing but glowing compliments. This community is thrilled with its theater, which has been part of Anacortes for over 40 years, reminding me why we call it community theater.

ACT made our community what it is today. It is why Anacortes remains a town in love with the arts, with an amazing amount of talent. A town that is not afraid to think.
Neutrality does not encourage art, talent or thought. ACT actively promotes all three.

Perhaps Ms. Findlen should examine her own needs instead of lambasting a theater for doing what it does best: entertaining us while giving us cause to think.

Amanda McCartney
Anacortes

Our family friendly theater brings old, young together

I am writing in response to a letter written by Julie Findlen in last week’s Anacortes American.

In that letter she stated that ACT (Anacortes Community Theater) had offended her with innuendoes, rudeness, derogatory statements and political positioning in its most recent production, “Steppin’ Out.” She concluded that it is no longer a “Family Friendly” environment. Ms. Findle is certainly entitled to her opinion, so here is mine.

ACT has been a place of refuge for many. Oftentimes people endure substantial changes in life and have found common ground and acceptance at ACT.

ACT is a family friendly environment as it brings the young together with the not so young doing projects and classes, not to mention the great diversity of productions. All one has to do is get involved, and not stand on the sidelines.

Life is clean and sterile if one never gets in the game. It is easy to stay on the sidelines and make criticisms and judgments. If you really want to make an impact, then get involved, mix it up, get to know the people and learn from each other.

Ms. Findlen, ACT has been a sanctuary for me and I encourage you to see “Forever Plaid” this next month as they take you to the “Ed Sullivan Show.” I am Frankie, the leader of the Plaids. How much more family friendly can that be?

Jim Harker
Anacortes

Basketball broadcasts are better than ever

On behalf of all the parents of Anacortes High School girls and boys basketball players, we would like to thank The Whale (KWLE 1340) for their outstanding coverage — radio, online audio and video streaming — of high school basketball.

We are so happy to e-mail relatives as close as Mukilteo and as far as Florida and invite them to join a slice of Anacortes life via the computer to cheer on our daughters and sons and their teammates. Alumni are able to gather and continue the chant of “Seahawk Power!” despite the distance.

There are many stories of friends and family members having their first opportunity to experience the games live instead of hearing or reading a secondhand account.

Not only is the use of technology outstanding, the actual play by play, pregame show and game knowledge is excellent. Thank you to Bryant Johnson and Pic Howsen for quality work behind the microphones.

And to station owner Rob Uteda, welcome to Anacortes.

Go Hawks!

Jeff and Val Holtgeerts
Anacortes

Bond failure just one of our schools’ problems

The failure of two school bonds raises some questions that must be addressed before the bond promoters again ask for more money.

For the last 10 years the Wall Street Journal has reported the dismal standing of U.S. schools among the 20 leading industrialized nations: in the bottom 10 percent, number 18.

The most recent Journal feature, Feb. 29, asks the question, “What Makes Finnish Kids So Smart? Some quotes: “The school (featured) is a model campus, has no sport teams, marching bands or proms.”

“Finnish educators believe they get better overall results by concentrating on weaker students rather than pushing gifted students ahead of everyone else.”

“Finland has a high school dropout rate of about 4 percent, 10 percent at vocational schools, compared with roughly 25 percent in the U.S. schools.”

“Taking away the competition of getting into the “right schools” allows Finnish children to enjoy a less pressured childhood.”

“One explanation for the Finns’ success is the love of reading.”

These few quotes are but part of the Journal’s full-page feature. The test results noted in the article are from the Programme for International Student Assessment, or PISA. Finland’s combined scores put it in first place overall. U.S. schools rate in the middle of the 57 countries tested.

The state Legislature needs to address the following before the taxpayer is asked for more money:

1. Abolish tenure at all taxpayer-funded schools.

2. End union membership as a condition of employment.

3. Make superior performance the basis for salary.

4. Completely reorganize the teacher education departments of public universities. Teachers to be holders of bachelor’s degress in the major school subjects with one added semester of teaching methodology.

5. School principals to teach at least one class each week.

6. Separation of the sexes in high schools.

7. Uniforms of simple design at school levels, K through 12.

8. History of the United States to be emphasized outside of social studies. Every classroom to have a prominently displayed copy of the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights.

9. The curriculum must include basic economics, money and finance and a thorough explanation of why the free enterprise system has made the U.S. the wealthiest nation in the world’s history.

10. Join the other states in demanding the abolishment of the U.S. Department of Education as an unconstitutional function of the federal government and the source of monopoly influence in our schools.

Only local control of the schools, meeting a minimum state standard and adoption of the 10 items listed will make our schools competitive in the real world and possibly worthy of public support.

Robert Morgan Emerson
Anacortes

Symphony’s youth program has great support

The Skagit Symphony would like to thank the following youth program sponsors whose support contributed to the success of the orchestra’s pilot school concerts and annual family concerts.

The board and orchestra are grateful to Platinum Sponsors: Skagit Community Foundation and the Anacortes Noon Kiwanis Club; Gold Level Sponsors: Mount Vernon Noon Kiwanis Club, Soroptimist International of Anacortes and Soroptimist International of Burlington; and Silver Level Sponsors: North Cascade Family Physicians, Burlington Morning Rotary Club, Burlington-Edison Kiwanis Club, Halgren Orthodontics, and Mount Vernon/Skagit Rotary Club.

Assistance from these businesses and organizations enabled the symphony to bring 1,200 fifth-grade students from area schools to McIntyre Hall for the school concerts. Two performances of the symphony’s popular family concerts on Jan. 27 were also funded in part by these sponsors.

The concluding concert within the symphony’s Youth Program series will feature cellist Amy Buckingham. This concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17 at McIntyre Hall.

For more information about the Skagit Symphony, please call (360) 848-9336.

Linda Alvarado
Executive Director, Skagit Symphony

Tax-Aide program runs through April 15 at library

On behalf of the Anacortes Tax-Aide volunteer staff, I thank the Anacortes Public Library for its continuing support of the Tax-Aide program. This January the library provided a room to hold a six-day training for 25 tax counselors.

The Tax-Aide service will provide local residents with free tax counseling and information during March and up to April 15. The program works because people and local community institutions commit time and facilities.

Alberta Finley
Anacortes TaxAide
local coordinator

Bowling Bash a smash for March for Meals

I would like to thank everyone who helped make the second annual March for Meals Bowling Bash a huge success. Due to the support of so many in this community we were able to more than double the amount raised last year, bringing in over $4,400.

First of all, I’d like to thank San Juan Lanes for their hospitality, the great spread of food and refreshments they provided as well as sponsoring a team and donating door prizes.

Many thanks to team sponsors including Cline Construction & Design, Design Right Plumbing, Jerlyn Caba (in memory of Victor Bell), Jim Eberhardt, Puget Sound Rope, San Juan Lanes, San Juan Rehabilitation & Care Center, Scimitar Construction, Sebo’s, Skyline Marina, Windermere Real Estate and Wrestlers for Life.

Many thanks to local businesses who donated door prizes including Ace Hardware, Anaco Appliance, Car Quest, Carol Parks — massage therapist, Chocolate Factory, The Clamdigger, Donatello’s, Food Pavilion, Furin & Company, Gere-a-Deli, La Vie En Rose, Les Schwab, Papa Murphy’s, Piston Service, Pizza Factory, Reilly Family Chiropractic, Safeway, Skagit Auto Parts, Stork’s Restaurant, Strandberg Construction, Strawberry Bay Coffee, The Rockfish and T-Shirts by Design.

I would like to thank members of our committee and team members that went the extra mile, including Pat Tillman, Olene O’Doud, Reva Dugan, Jim McNally and the Wrestlers for Life, Carleen Bell, Shelley Johnson, Patty Dunn and Harry Hamasaki.

We thank the community for their support of this event and all of the March for Meals events to be held this month. We would not be able to provide Meals on Wheels at the level we do without the support of this very generous community.

Sally Hill,
Director
Anacortes Senior Center

Kids raised over $1,600 for heart association

Mount Erie Elementary has just completed Jump Rope for Heart, a fundraising event for the American Heart Association to further support the research and education of the AHA.

Over $1,600 was raised, and students learned the importance of heart health and picked up a few jump rope tricks along the way.

I would like to thank the Mount Erie PTA (in particular, Patty Luciano) for bringing Renee Bibaud to the school for an inspiring kickoff assembly. I would also like to thank Sherman Physical Therapy and Dr. Bill Bethards’ dental office for underwriting the cost of a pool party for the class that raised the most money. Together we can make a difference.

Valerie Holtgeerts
PE teacher
Mount Erie Elementary