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Archive for the ‘Not sports? Tough!’ Category

Coupeville whiz kids power robotics triumph

Posted in Not sports? Tough!, tagged , , , , on January 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Playing her trumpet or guiding a robot, Coupeville frosh Natalie Perera is a winner. (Photos courtesy Alison Perera)

Our robots are mightier than yours.

The Whidbey Island Robotics club, boasting team members from Oak Harbor and Coupeville High School working in tandem, devoured the competition Saturday at the FIRST Tech Challenge Interleague Tournament at Ridgeline High School in Liberty Lake.

Wildcat Robotics sent three teams to the royal rumble, with Team C besting foes from places such as Everett, Bellevue, and Redmond, to qualify for state.

That group features three Coupeville students — Natalie Perera, Orion Liedtke, and Wyatt Sylvester.

A fourth Wolf, Gabe Smith, was also involved in Saturday’s competition with a different ‘Cat team.

Looking spiffy.

Whidbey’s Team C survived a gauntlet to advance to state, having vied in 12 qualification matches prior to Saturday’s showdown.

With the frigid weather wailing outside, Whidbey went indoors and lit up the joint, making it through another five matches to qualify for the tournament playoffs.

Seeded #3 entering the semifinals, they upset the #2 team, then hung tough with the top seed in the finale, handing that team’s captain only their second loss this season.

Now it’s off to state for Whidbey, which will make its first-ever appearance at the big (robotics) dance.

Things go down Feb. 3 at the Amazon Doppler building in Seattle.

And punching a ticket to state wasn’t the only accomplishment for the Whidbey squad, which also received an award from the judges for its non-robot game performance, based on STEM education outreach and community service.

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Wolf Nation rallies for Shaw family

Posted in Not sports? Tough!, tagged , , , , , on January 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Bonnie and Audrianna Shaw

Two of Coupeville’s best need Wolf Nation to rally around them.

Former Wolf three-sport star Audrianna Shaw and her mom Bonnie have suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Michael Shaw.

Audri’s parents were married 21 years.

Michael Shaw was a proud military man and will have a veteran’s burial at a later date.

As the family deals with the unexpected loss, friends have launched a meal train to help Bonnie and Audri.

To sign up for that, or help in other ways, pop over to:

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/od4ow1

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It’s a bit breezy out there

Posted in Not sports? Tough!, tagged , , , , on January 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Mother Nature moves all the logs from the water to the land. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

The logs, my friends, are blowing in the wind.

Whidbey Island was buffeted by a winter storm Tuesday, and while it wasn’t an all-timer, don’t tell that to the folks living down on West Beach.

As seen in the pics above and below, coming to us from the waterlogged cameras of John Fisken, that area took the brunt of nature’s fury.

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Sirens of the deep come ashore

Posted in Not sports? Tough!, tagged , , , , on January 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

From the deep blue sea, they’ve traveled to the shores of Whidbey. (Photos courtesy Phoenix Da Costa-Ford)

From the watery depths they rise, bringing secrets of the deep blue sea with them.

A duo calling themselves the Mutiny Mermaid Pod have surfaced and will be working their magic at the annual Penn Cove Mussel Fest Mar. 2-3, and the first-ever Whidbey Ren Faire in late May.

The group, currently comprised of Phoenix the Siren and Corra the Heavy Metal Selkie, are sensory friendly and want to “create a positive atmosphere and spread kindness and fun throughout the community.”

“We want to welcome all regardless of who they are or what they look like,” said Phoenix Da Costa-Ford.

“What secrets do I possess? Come closer for the answer, if you dare.”

Want to welcome the Mutiny Mermaid Pod to your event?

The duo have very reasonable rates and can be reached at (360) 632-0600 or mutinymermaidpod@gmail.com.

 

You can also find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554474677484 or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mutinymermaidpod/

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CHS/CMS music director placed on administrative leave

Posted in Not sports? Tough!, tagged , , , , on January 4, 2024| 2 Comments »

Jamar Jenkins keeps the music flowing. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

For the first time in two decades, there’s a new person currently in charge of keeping the beat going at Coupeville High School and Middle School.

Jamar Jenkins, the school’s music teacher and band director since 2003, is currently on paid administrative leave.

Coupeville Schools Superintendent Steve King released a statement from CHS/CMS Principal Geoff Kappes Thursday afternoon, in a bid to offer clarity to rampant discussion on social media.

That statement:

“As many of you know Mr. Jenkins has not been teaching his classes over the past couple of weeks.

“In order to make sure you have accurate information I’m writing to inform you that Mr. Jenkins is on paid administrative leave while the concerns that were reported are being investigated.

“This leave is not disciplinary and the District has reached no conclusions regarding what personnel actions, if any, may be appropriate.

“We ask for patience and respect for the investigative process, as well as your understanding that we are not able to discuss further specifics of the concerns at this time.”

A graduate of the University of Washington, Jenkins has an extensive history as a professional musician, coming up through the Seattle funk scene in the 1970’s.

A guitarist and vocalist, he is one of the founders of the band Cold, Bold, and Together, originally known as Funk Experience.

Cold, Bold, and Together in their prime. (Photo property Light in the Attic Records)

That group, which later introduced the world to Kenny G, was together from 1971-1978 and opened for Canned Heat, Kool & the Gang, KC & the Sunshine Band, and Earth, Wind & Fire among others.

After band members opted to move on to different projects as disco swept the nation, Jenkins went to college, got married and fathered children, and moved into teaching music.

He had teaching stints in Tacoma and Los Angeles before moving to Whidbey Island, where his wife, Allenda, grew up in Oak Harbor.

Jenkins daughter, Janiece, is a member of the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, captured three medals at the state track and field championships in 2005, and held the school record in the 200 for eight years.

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