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Gordon’s Fusion calls it quits

January 24, 2025 by David Svien

Coupeville’s restaurant business is taking a hit.

Gordon’s Fusion Cuisine, which has operated on NW Coveland Street in the building formerly occupied by Christopher’s on Whidbey, is closing as of Sunday, Jan. 26.

The restaurant released the following statement:

 

Dear Community,

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of Gordon’s Fusion Cuisine’s permanent closure, effective Sunday, January 26.

This decision was not made lightly and comes after exhausting every possible effort to continue serving you.

First and foremost, we want to express our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who have walked through our doors, whether as a loyal customer of Gordon’s Fusion or from our days at Blueberry Hill.

You have been the heart of everything we do, and it has been an absolute pleasure to serve this wonderful community through both bustling times and quieter moments.

Over the years, we have had the privilege of creating meaningful connections with so many of you. Whether it was a quick hello or a heartfelt conversation, these moments have been a constant reminder of why we do what we do.

Our goal has always been to provide a place where the island could gather to enjoy good food in a warm and welcoming environment, and we hope we have succeeded in that mission.

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts to navigate the increasing challenges of running a small business, we have reached a point where it is no longer sustainable to continue operating.

The financial pressures of these times have taken their toll, and in fairness to our amazing staff, we must face this reality with honesty and integrity.

To our loyal customers, thank you for your unwavering support and for allowing us to be a part of your lives.

To our dedicated staff, thank you for your hard work, passion, and commitment—you have been the backbone of everything we’ve accomplished.

While this chapter is coming to an end, the memories we’ve created together will live on in our hearts.

We are truly humbled by the love and support we’ve received from this incredible community over the years.

Thank you for everything.

Gordon’s Fusion Staff

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Furious JV rally falls just short

January 24, 2025 by David Svien

Mahkai Myles powers his way to the hoop. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

They almost made it all the way back.

Unfortunately for the Coupeville High School JV boys’ basketball team, a furious fourth quarter rally Friday night couldn’t quite save the Wolves.

CHS slashed a double-digit deficit down to a single bucket on Orcas Island, but time ran out, allowing the Vikings to escape with a narrow 46-43 victory.

The loss drops the Wolves to 4-2 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 5-5 overall, with three games left on the 2024-2025 schedule.

Coupeville came out cold, falling behind 19-5 after one quarter of play, which left it scrambling all night.

The Wolves trimmed the Vikings lead down a bit, pulling within 27-17 at the half, before trailing 37-26 through three frames.

CHS hit both of its three-balls in the fourth, with Mahkai Myles and Carson Grove draining treys to spur a 17-9 rally.

Unlike the varsity game, where Orcas spent much more time at the free throw line, Coupeville got the benefit of the ref’s whistles in the JV rumble but failed to convert.

While the Vikings were just 4 of 13 at the free throw line, the Wolves were 11-26, letting way too many shots slide off the rim on a night where a handful of points would have changed their fate.

Davin Houston finished with a team-high 13 points to pace CHS, with Grove knocking down nine and Riley Lawless powering through the paint for seven.

Myles (5), Khanor Jump (4), Malachi Somes (2), Easton Green (2), and Sage Arends (1) also scored, with Liam Blas bringing the heat on the defensive side of the floor for the Wolves.

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Wolf boys continue late season surge

January 24, 2025 by David Svien

Camden Glover rumbles in the paint. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Now it’s a true winning streak.

Holding off a feisty, free throw-friendly Orcas Island squad Friday, the Coupeville High School varsity boys’ basketball squad claimed its third straight victory.

Led by an explosive game from senior big man Hurlee Bronec, the Wolves escaped with a 52-47 triumph on the road and a season sweep of the always-tough Vikings.

Now 5-2 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 6-10 overall, Brad Sherman’s squad heads into a huge week, with clashes against conference leaders Mount Vernon Christian and La Conner up next on the schedule.

The Wolves, who won despite suffering a huge disparity at the foul line — Orcas hit 21 of 26 free throws to Coupeville’s 5-10 performance — led from start to finish Friday night.

Hurlee Bronec, who has been playing like a beast in the paint in 2025, poured in 11 points in the first quarter to spark CHS to an 18-15 lead.

From there, Coupeville used a 12-2 surge in the second — this time powered by the other Battlin’ Bronec Brother, one Hunter — to push the lead out to 30-17 at the half.

While Orcas cut the deficit down to 43-35 through three quarters, the Vikings were never able to catch the Wolves.

Hurlee Bronec and Chase Anderson combined for all 13 of Coupeville’s points in the third frame, while Malachi Somes netted a huge three-ball in the fourth to keep Orcas at bay.

Malachi Somes hit a huge shot in the win over Orcas.

The Wolves got big contributions from all eight players to hit the hardwood, with Hurlee Bronec leading the way with a game-high 21 points.

That pushes him to 199 points for his CHS varsity career, leaving him one point shy of becoming the 141st Wolf boy to crack the 200-point club for a program which launched in 1917.

Anderson banked in nine, with Hunter Bronec (8), Landon Roberts (4), Camden Glover (4), Somes (3), and Jack Porter (3) also scoring.

Johnny Porter rounded out the rotation, bringing intensity to a fired-up Wolf defense.

While Hurlee Bronec is on the cusp of joining the 200-point club, Anderson, currently in his junior season, continues to work his way up the career scoring chart.

He stepped on to the floor Friday as the #50 scorer in CHS boys’ history and departed it at #46, having passed Cody Peters (518), JJ Marti (520), and Gary Faris (524), while tying Brad Miller (526).

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Lions Club honors Wolf cheerleaders

January 24, 2025 by David Svien

Makenna Jonker-Chambers is honored by the Lions Club. (Photos courtesy Robin Bernardy)

Two cheers for the Coupeville Lions Club Students of the Quarter.

Both Pamela Morrell and Makenna Jonker-Chambers are key members of the CHS spirit squad, while also being top-notch students and community members.

The Lions Club honors two Wolf seniors each academic quarter, before picking its Students of the Year at graduation time.

Morrell and Jonker-Chambers, honored Jan. 13, are being tabbed for their efforts during the second academic quarter of the school year.

CHS staff and teachers vote on the awards, with students honored for “community service, effort, character, social relationships, scholarship, and sportsmanship.”

Along with her work as a cheerleader, Jonker-Chambers is on the Executive Board, a member of the National Honor Society, and a participant in the school’s Captain’s Club.

The daughter of Amy Jonker and Donald Chambers pulls down a 3.8 GPA, with her favorite classes including math, biology, and health careers.

Jonker-Chambers, who volunteers as a tutor and with a vacation bible school, plans to attend a four-year university, followed by medical school, with a focus on radiology.

Pamela Morrell

Pamela Morrell, daughter of Jennifer and Frank Morell, is a busy bee, devoting time to the Leo’s Club while also participating in numerous parades.

She works at Kapaw’s Ice Cream and Apple Orchard Daycare.

Carrying a GPA of 3.88, she enjoys her English and sports medicine classes, while balancing cheer, theater, the Captain’s Club, the Sports Medicine Club, and Skills USA.

A member of the National Honor Society, Morrell plans to attend Whatcom Community College, with plans to later transfer to Western Washington University.

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Wolves dazzle with metal and sugar

January 23, 2025 by David Svien

Cheer captain and artful welder, Kassidy Upchurch is a young woman of many talents. (Lincoln Kelley photos)

Their skills are many.

A batch of Coupeville High School students spent last weekend competing in area competitions with a focus on their work with both metal and sweet sugar.

Shepherded by CHS teacher Lincoln Kelley, the first group of Wolves visited Everett Community College Friday, Jan. 17, where they vied in the SkillsUSA Welding Sculpture, Welding Fabrication, and Technical Welding competitions.

Delanie Lewis, who displayed her project “The Nutty Giraffe,” placed twelfth in Welding Sculpture.

She had a busy day, taking part in an interview, showing her art piece, and taking a written knowledge test.

Meanwhile, Kassidy Upchurch claimed ninth in Technical Welding, where she demonstrated Oxy-Fuel Cutting, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, and the ability to construct a project from blueprints.

Jesus Madrigal and Danica Strong make the sparks fly.

Finally, the trio of Danica Strong, Jesus Madrigal, and Landon Roberts collected fifth place in Welding Fabrication.

The trio followed blueprints, measuring, cutting to length and various dimensions, fitting, and then welding together the pieces.

The result was a jet stove constructed from stock materials that had been provided.

Marz Halstead is on point in the kitchen.

After a few hours of downtime, Kelley was back on the road Saturday, taking Marz Halstead and Tenley Stuurmans to Arlington for a pastry and baking arts contest.

The duo baked a braided bread roll, two types of yeast rolls, a cherry pie, chocolate chip cookies, and biscuits, while also decorating a cake.

Get in my stomach.

Stuurmans placed ninth, with Halstead claiming eleventh place in a very close contest where the difference between first and ninth was less than seventy points.

While it was a long weekend, Kelley came away pleased with the skills shown by his young proteges.

“Great work by every one of our contestants,” he said. “They represented Coupeville very well.”

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