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“There will be a life after you”

April 9, 2020 by David Svien

Ja’Tarya Hoskins (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

With Washington state schools closed due to the spread of COVID-19, we’re offering all Whidbey Island students a chance to be heard and stay connected.

Ja’Tarya Hoskins, who wrote the following poem, is a senior at Coupeville High School.

 

Dear COVID-19,

Before you came,
The sun shone a little bit brighter
The air was soft and sweet
The moon congratulated us on a new day
The night was always bright and filled with life

Graduation was drawing close
Seniors got anxious but excited
They had waited their entire life for this one moment
One last season to compete for; one last hurrah

During your vacation,
The sun was clouded with dark clouds
The air was harsh and hostile
The moon insults us with the sorrow of another day
The night grew darker and mysterious filled with anguish

One by one rescissions of senior year
School was forced closed
Spring sports came to a halt
Senior activities were discontinued

After your demolition,
The sun peeked through the clouds
The air was blowing away the fog
The moon broke through the sorrow
The night regained the motion of life

Class of 2020 gathered together
Friends hugged and cried at the mess
The mess that destroyed everything
But everything happened for a reason

Once again, dear COVID-19
But remember
There was a life before you
And there will be a life after you

Signed,
The Class of 2020

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Light the night for senior athletes

April 9, 2020 by David Svien

Coupeville’s stadium will light up April 17 to honor senior athletes. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

UPDATE:

This event has been postponed at all sites until the Governor’s Stay at Home order is lifted.

 

The lights will blaze one more time for Coupeville High School senior athletes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced school closures and cancelled spring sports, but the Wolves and their counterparts across the region will still be honored.

And it’s going to come in a unique fashion, as schools plan to turn on their stadium lights Friday, April 17.

The event starts at 8:20 PM (20:20 military time), and lights will remain on for 20 minutes.

During this time, seniors and their families are encouraged to drive by and honk, while remaining in their vehicles at all times.

 

PS — If you leave your vehicle, CHS Athletic Director Willie Smith, wearing a Hazmat suit, will tase you, bro. 

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

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As COVID-19 cases grow, a look at the numbers

April 8, 2020 by David Svien

The Island County Health Department recorded 10 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 and a seventh death in its Wednesday update.

There are currently 155 cases in the county, with 122 on Whidbey and 33 on Camano. All deaths have come on Whidbey.

The health department also released a COVID-19 case summary for the month of March.

The county’s first confirmed case came March 9, and the report covers 114 positive cases between March 9-31.

The report shows Coupeville as the hardest-hit part of the county, though those numbers are greatly skewed by a cluster at Careage of Whidbey.

When the numbers from the care facility are removed, Camano has the highest numbers.

 

Confirmed positive cases in Island County March 9-31:

 

Gender:

Female – 77
Male – 37

 

Age:

0-19 – 1
20-39 – 26
40-59 – 30
60-79 – 31
80+ – 26

 

Location:

Careage of Whidbey – 46
Camano Island – 23
Oak Harbor – 16
Coupeville – 9
Freeland – 7
Langley – 5
Clinton – 4
Camano Island/Josephine – 3
Greenbank – 1

 

Reported preexisting conditions:

Asthma – 13
Chronic Lung Disease – 10
Diabetes – 10
Chronic Heart Disease – 8
Chronic Kidney Disease – 4
Renal Failure – 1

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Whidbey registers sixth COVID-19 death

April 7, 2020 by David Svien

Island County’s death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic has reached six.

The latest fatality was added to the county’s web site Tuesday afternoon, but other than acknowledging it had occurred on Whidbey, no other information was posted.

As of 3 PM Tuesday, Island County has 145 confirmed cases, with 112 on Whidbey and 33 on Camano.

All six deaths have occurred on Whidbey.

Washington state health officials have recorded COVID-19 deaths in 16 of 39 counties, with 8,682 confirmed cases and 394 deaths statewide.

Island County has the ninth-most deaths currently, with eight other counties having registered 10+ deaths.

King (226), Snohomish (59), and Whatcom (19) have been the hardest-hit counties.

 

For updates:

https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Health/Pages/COVID-19.aspx

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus

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Magic moments in time

April 7, 2020 by David Svien

Mason Grove rises up to deny a shoeless rival. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

I’m a writer, not a photographer.

So, it’s a good thing I have a whole ton of people willing to snap pics for me.

Looking back, here’s my choice for 20 of my favorite photos from the 2019-2020 school year.

They’re in no particular order, and not every sport is represented, but these are the photos which caught my eye today, a mix of action and reaction.

And, most of all, emotion.

Avery Parker (and her artwork) come out to support big sister Skylar. (Corinn Parker photo)

Maya Toomey-Stout gets medieval on the volleyball. (Brian Vick photo)

Maddie Georges slices to the hoop. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Ben Smith (in hat) and Sean Toomey-Stout share a final moment on the gridiron. (Deb Smith photo)

Avalon Renninger hangs out with her fan club. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Zoe Trujillo (front) and Maddie Vondrak get down with their bad selves. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Lyla Stuurmans brings the heat. “Oh, they’re gonna need that first aid kit when I get done with them!!” (Corinn Parker photo)

Emily Fiedler celebrates winning a cheer camp competition. (BreAnna Boon photo)

I said, “Sit down!” (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Brynn Parker gets congrats from cross country guru Elizabeth Bitting. (Morgan White photo)

Kai Wong claims the turnover belt after recovering a fumble. (Photo property CHS football)

A mid-match black eye won’t stop Scout Smith. (Charlotte Young photo)

Jada Heaton enjoys her time on the hardwood. (Corinn Parker photo)

Mica Shipley, cheer champ. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Middle school hoops stars show some love to high school hotshot Hawthorne Wolfe. (Morgan White photo)

Emma Mathusek is pumped up. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Natalie Hollrigel pies Shipley during a fundraiser. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Ty Hamilton splashes home a bucket. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The bright future of Wolf sports. (Sherine Wenzel photo)

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