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They make the gym gleam

Posted in Not sports? Tough!, tagged CHS Wolves, custodians, Daniel Verduzco, OHHS Wildcats, SWHS Falcons on February 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Daniel Verduzco keeps the CHS gym gleaming while often surprising with his eclectic post-game playlist. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

They’re the true heroes.

Basketball players, wrestlers, and cheerleaders usually get the spotlight during winter sports, but things wouldn’t run the same without high school custodians.

The men doing the hard work at Coupeville, Oak Harbor, and South Whidbey deserve our praise as well.

If it wasn’t for them, we’d likely be watching our little games while buried under a pile of ever-growing trash.

So next time you’re in a Whidbey school gym, take a moment to tip your cap to their work ethic.

And then maybe pick up your dang trash and put it in the garbage can instead of leaving it up in the bleachers, you damn dirty apes!

Vik (left) and Cody Rikard are the best father-son duo in the clean gym biz.

South Whidbey’s unsung hero.

And his partner in … grime.

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Harada Physical Therapy closing Coupeville clinic

Posted in Not sports? Tough!, tagged business closure, Coupeville, Erick Harada, Harada Physical Therapy, Videoville on January 31, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Erick Harada and parents Steve and Kathy, part of a family which has given much to Whidbey.

One of the most prominent storefronts in Coupeville is hitting the open market.

After a successful run in what will always be “the Videoville building” to me, Harada Physical Therapy is pulling up stakes in Cow Town, while moving its clientele to its Oak Harbor location.

The Coupeville storefront in question is at 101 S. Main, right across from the elementary school.

In a letter to his clients, owner Erick Harada had the following to say:

As some of you may have heard, we will not be renewing our lease for the Coupeville clinic.

It has been a great 9+ year run in a town that holds a special place in my heart.

However, the ever-changing landscape of physical therapy that includes a nationwide shortage of physical therapists and insurance challenges have made it difficult to keep this location open.

We have started the transition of combining our staff into our Oak Harbor location where we hope to continue serving our Coupeville clientele.

For the time being, we will continue to operate under limited hours in Coupeville until our lease has run its course.

As a business owner, I am constantly balancing the economics of running a successful business, fairly compensating my employees, and being able to help as many members of the Whidbey community as possible.

I thank every one of you who have supported Harada Physical Therapy over the past 20+ years and appreciate your understanding while we continue to evolve and grow.

Your support allows us to do what we love best, which is helping others to live their lives to the fullest.

Thank you for trusting us with your health and we look forward to another great year on Whidbey.

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Penn Cove Brewing Company closes

Posted in Not sports? Tough!, tagged business closure, Marc Aparicio, Mitch Aparicio, Penn Cove Brewing Co. on January 19, 2024| 2 Comments »

Grab one for the road.

The Penn Cove Brewing Company, which was launched by Coupeville High School grads Mitch and Marc Aparicio in 2016, is closing in two days.

The closure affects all of the company’s locations.

The announcement:

Dear Penn Cove Members and Customers:

It is with a heavy heart that we share the unfortunate news of the closure of Penn Cove Brewing Co. as of the close of business, January 21, 2024.

After much consideration and a thorough evaluation of our financial situation, we have had to make the difficult decision to cease operations.

The decision was not made lightly, and we want to express our deepest apologies for any inconvenience or disappointment this may cause you.

As valued members of our Penn Cove Brewing Co. community, your support has been the backbone of our establishment, and we are truly sorry for any impact this closure may have on your experience with us.

We understand that Penn Cove Brewing Co. has been more than just a place to enjoy great beer; it has been a gathering space, a community hub, and a shared experience for all of us.

The decision to close has been a painful one, and we want to take a moment to express our gratitude for the memories, friendships, and moments we have shared together.

In the coming days, we will be working to facilitate the closure process, and we are committed to providing support and information during this transition.

Because of this closure there may be new opportunities for entrepreneurs and/or investors to buy part of, or the entire company.

If you have any questions about the prospect of ownership, or future partnerships, please feel free to reach out to me directly at marc@penncovebrewing.com for details.

We want to sincerely thank our Members and the Whidbey community for being a part of the Penn Cove Brewing Co. family.

Your presence and support have made a significant impact, and we are grateful for the community that has grown around our brewery.

While this chapter is coming to an end for us, we hope that the memories and connections made at Penn Cove Brewing Co. will stay with you.

It has been our privilege to serve you, and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Thank you for understanding,

Sincerely,

Marc Aparicio

Penn Cove Brewing Co.

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Coupeville whiz kids power robotics triumph

Posted in Not sports? Tough!, tagged CHS Wolves, Natalie Perera, OHHS Wildcats, robotics, state 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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