Shell takes part in Christmas parade

In addition to a parade of emergency response vehicles including fire engines, volunteers from the Shell Puget Sound Refinery count a couple of "big guys" among their ranks during local parades. This giant inflatable firefighter is a big hit, providing "low fives" and many photo ops.

Christmas Parade in Downtown Anacortes

Defroster time

For the second day in a row, I've had to engage the car defroster before heading to the Penguin. I think I recall hearing the words "watch for black ice" in an early morning conversation between wife and son. The good news? Did you SEE the moon last night and again this morning? Wow! And have you seen our snow-capped volcano (Baker)? Clear, crisp days for photo ops, and Christmas decorations are showing up all over, from neighborhoods to Commercial Avenue. To check weather from Anacortes Middle School (including web cam!), visit http://ams.asd103.org/weather.htm

Anacortes coin hits Seattle news

This community's "Anacortes coin" drew the attention of Seattle's King5 television station recently, resulting in the kind of holiday shopping exposure most local merchants can only dream about. A great promotion, and a great "lead" (opening) by reporter Rob Piercy! See video clip (look for local stars including Heather Miller, Anne Smith, Ria and Robin Kilburn) at http://www.king5.com/news/consumer/Merchants-find-way-to-keep-customers-in-Anacortes-NEW-73091537.html

PBY returns to Whidbey

Son-in-law Brian Tyhuis shot this video while I captured "stills" of the September 18, 2009 return of a PBY Catalina aircraft to Oak Harbor. The U.S. Navy flew such patrol aircraft out of NAS Whidbey in Oak Harbor during World War II. According to James Vannice (USN, retired), the amphibious aircraft played a critical role in the South Pacific and in turning the tide in the Battle of Midway. In a 2006 article Vannice said PBY crews "flew endless missions to the Aleutians, hunting for enemy ships and submarines." Like many PBY's, this aircraft was converted to use as a fire suppression plane. The crew flew in and out of the Seaplane Base near downtown Oak Harbor.

Whidbey Scenic Isle Way

A new sign went up this week at the edge of Pass Lake on Highway 20, on the Fidalgo Island side of Deception Pass State Park. Fellow photographer/blogger Ryan Mahoney reports that there is also a sign on the road to the Port Townsend ferry in Coupeville. A great tourism marketing idea. I'm thinking we need a Fidalgo Scenic Isle Way sign on the Whidbey side of the park! Check out the details at http://www.whidbeycamanoislands.com/parks_scenery/byway/g>

Note to U.S. senators

In regard to the tentative plan for a Saturday night Senate vote on health care legislation I respectively submit: Too much (too expen$ive), too fast (have you REALLY read this bill and answered to your satisfaction any questions you might have?). P.S. Please pass this note on to your peers on the House side of Congress.