Ham radio operators were on the ball.
After the horrendous earthquake in Haiti, the Southgate Amateur Radio Club in London reported online that the Rev. John Henault in Port-au-Prince made contact with the Intercontinental Assistance and Traffic Net.
Henault said he was safe, but had no power or phone service.
Amateur radio again played its part on the front line of emergency communications.
Chuck Pettis in Freeland says ham radio is very important in emergencies when phone lines, cell towers and even police and fire communication systems are down.
“When all else falls, ham radio still works,” Pettis says. “I have been trained in and have personally participated in a number of emergency drills where I provided radio communications to coordinate emergency support in the event of a major earthquake or a tsunami.”
Practice makes perfect, he says.
The Island County Amateur Radio Club offers Ham University for beginners starting at 8 a.m. Feb. 6 at the Island County Commissioners Hearing Room B102, 1 NE Sixth St., Coupeville.
For more information, go to www.w7avm.org.
There could be new sellers and customers at a swap meet beginning in Silvana.
With the Puget Park Drive-In being torn down to make way for a new medical building, those weekend swap meet sellers and buyers need a new home.
Silvana offers a swap meet Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 19 and 20 and March 19 and 20 at Viking Hall, 1331 Pioneer Highway, Silvana.
The sales are planned for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
For more information, call 360-652-9081.
Kevin Buhr says buyers may find lots of general merchandise.
“Art, some crafts, rocks and gems, furniture, antiques and collectibles and some garage-type stuff,” Buhr says. “It should be lots of fun.”
Buy a sandwich and soup between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Check out antique stores in town.
The $1 admission charge goes toward replacement of the septic system at Viking Hall.
We’ve been following merlin sightings in Marysville.
Margit Merlin, yes, Merlin, thought she spotted the small falcon in her yard.
“Out flies a merlin, sitting on a fence for a while — at least, I think it was a merlin, which is quite amusing, as my last name is Merlin.”
John Edison, who lives on Camano Island, and Susie Schaefer, vice president of Pilchuck Audubon Society, both confirmed we have merlins in this area.
“Usually we think of merlins living in the mountains and forests, but they are increasing in our suburban areas,” Schaefer says.
Gary Schwertley, who lives in a fairly wooded area near the Sound, a few miles south of Mukilteo, says a varied thrush struck one of his windows.
“My wife said she thought she saw it fly away, but when I looked out on the deck, it was lying there dead not far from where it hit,” Schwertley says. “Our indoor cats were being very entertained so I left it there for a while.”
A bit later, he noticed that the cats were agitated, so he looked out again and they were watching a merlin in a nearby cedar tree.
“I went out and placed the dead thrush in the yard,” he says. “In minutes, the merlin was making a pass at it on the ground, then came back and settled on its back making triumphant noises.”
The merlin then grappled the dead thrush in its claws and took off.
So perhaps the merlin chased the thrush into the glass, he says. The merlin flew away, not the thrush.
“We have quite a natural aviary around us, but this is the first time that I’ve observed a merlin.”
Kristsi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
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