Writes the photographer, Ukrainian artist Anatoly Melaniy: "The photo was taken in June 2020. This is the entrance of our house. I went up to the apartment and saw pigeons cooing on the windowsill against the backdrop of the same house as ours. I was also happy about this bird's joy of love. It's been exactly a year since we moved into this house, to a new apartment. I asked them to wait so that they don't fly away until I get the phone. You rarely have time to photograph such shots. And everything turned out."

Local News

What you see from your window is seen by 3.1 million viewers

Facebook’s “View From My Window” launched early in the pandemic continues to connect people worldwide.

Steven Schuller

Local News

Snohomish’s ousted city administrator hired by Oak Harbor

Steven Schuller will be the town’s new public works director.

A ferry worker gazes back at the Mukilteo ferry terminal as the vessel departs the dock. (Photo by David Welton)

Local News

Mukilteo-Clinton ferry a high priority for restored service

Each route has to go through several stages before service is restored to pre-pandemic levels.

Hank Nelson

Local News

Hank Nelson, 84, leaves behind 450 sculptures at Whidbey park

The 20-acre Cloudstone Sculpture Park in Freeland will continue tours of Nelson’s art and workshops.

Michelle Kuss-Cybula

Local News

New school superintendent named in Oak Harbor

Michelle Kuss-Cybula has led the Cle Elum-Roslyn School District since 2019.

Whidbey Health officials told Island County commissioners the hospital barely has enough money to make one more payroll. (WhidbeyHealth)

Local News

Island County turns down WhidbeyHealth request to co-sign loan

The hospital says it is running out of money, with barely enough to make one more payroll.

Responders hoist Blaze out of the well with an excavator. (Photo provided)

Local News

Horse rescued after falling into century-old well on Whidbey

The team effort to save “Blaze” included local and Navy firefighters, public works, and neighbors.

Ron Telles (Whidbey News Group)

Local News

Study suggests WhidbeyHealth CEO was paid too much

Ron Telles earned $430,000 a year, while many of the hospital’s employees made less than $20 per hour.

Logo for news use featuring Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington. 220118

Local News

Hospital to hire management firm and interim CEO

Michael Layfield, who will temporarily take over, has dealt with his own controversies and financial woes.

A construction crew prepares to install a window at a South Whidbey site. Photo by Dave Welton

Local News

At long last, Island County building permits hastened

A year ago, it was not unusual for a building permit request to take six to eight months…

Logo for news use featuring Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington. 220118

Local News

Langley’s offer of $50K to settle records lawsuits is rejected

Eric Hood sued the city over public records in 2016, 2019 and 2021. All three are unresolved.

Bart Lematta proudly stands in the engine room of his ferry Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, along the shore of Langley, Washington. “I go down in the engine room, picture all the work that has gone into it and all the hands, the artistry and craftsmen,” he said. “It’s a beautiful piece of artwork that has taken millions of hours.” (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Local News

He’s the guy who bought a boat — a big old $290,000 state ferry

Bart Lematta has plans for the retired Evergreen State ferry, docked in Langley since October.

Logo for news use featuring Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington. 220118

Local News

Administrator firings at WhidbeyHealth elicit an outcry

The public hospital’s CEO cited “the continued financial viability of the organization” for the dismissal of four managers.

Logo for news use featuring Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington. 220118

Local News

Whidbey Telecom receives $9.5 million to expand broadband

The grant will expand fiber to underserved areas of South Whidbey.

Local News

Island County jail slammed with first COVID outbreak

Three cell blocks are in quarantine and about a third of the jail staff are out with COVID.

Section of a tsunami high ground map. (Island County)

Northwest

Tsunami warning fizzled, but future threat to Whidbey is real

State and county officials have long warned about the possibility of a tsunami striking the island.

Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson of WEAN at their South Whidbey home in 2019. (Laura Guido / South Whidbey Record, file)

Northwest

Whidbey environment group isn’t suing county for first time in 25 years

The impact WEAN founders have had on environmental policy in Island County is extensive.

Photo by Emily Gilbert/Whidbey News-Times
Jonathan Kline said a museum would be coming in to take most of the pews from the former Jehovah's Witness church on Morris Road outside Coupeville. The Whidbey Homeless Coalition wants to turn the building into an overnight shelter.

Local News

Appeal filed against homeless shelter project near Coupeville

More than 300 neighbors signed a letter saying the location isn’t an appropriate place for the shelter.

The area subject to the tsunami advisory Saturday includes the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet, Whidbey Island and Camano Island. People along other coastal areas of Puget Sound are advised to stay away from the water. (U.S. Tsunami Warning System) 20220115

Local News

Tsunami advisory for nearby waters lifted after 12 hours

Officials in Snohomish County encouraged people to stay away from the shoreline during much of Saturday.

Bruiser, photographed here in November 2021, is Whidbey Island’s lone elk. Over the years he has gained quite the following. Fans were concerned for his welfare Wednesday when a rumor circulated social media about his supposed death. A confirmed sighting of him was made Wednesday evening after the false post. (Jay Londo )

Local News

Whidbey’s cherished iconic elk is alive and well

The island’s lone elk was sighted a few hours after an online rumor posited that “Bruiser” had died.