Another Crescent Bar season ends on positive note

It's that time of the year when I must inform you that you're reading the final newsprint issue of the season of the Crescent Bar Chronicle.

It saddens me, and I know it saddens you. But it's always been seasonal. The good news is that you can follow us online during the off-season at www.crescentbarchronicle.com.

In another bit of good news, I met Dwayne Humenny and Katherine Roth of Sammamish on the golf course last Sunday. The youngish couple joined my regular golfing partner, John "JJ" Jessup, and me to make up a foursome.

Until I met them, I had not met anyone this season who said glowing, enthusiastic things about Crescent Bar. This year was simply quiet that way.

I can only surmise that the controversy that is this island has put a damper on attitudes. No matter how many court decisions have gone the islanders' way, they know just one can turn their lives upside down.

So it was exciting to meet Dwayne and Kate. They came to the island for the first time this Labor Day Weekend to help celebrate friend Ian Fee's 40th birthday.

It was a nice getaway for the couple. Both are business people and quite busy. Both are at the front of change in their fields.

Dwayne, who has a business degree from UW, owns C.J. Lighting Solutions. He helps businesses become as efficient as possible in regards to lighting. In many cases he's gone beyond fluorescent to LED (Light Emitting Diodes).

"We're taking fluorescent out and putting LED in walk-in coolers," he said.

Dwayne says the future will be LED lighting for all things. All that's needed is for pricing to come within reach of the home?owner.

Kate, who keeps abreast of what Dwayne is doing, says the energy cost for a standard home with all LED is about the same as that for two 75-watt incandescent bulbs.

The challenge, Dwayne said, is that right now an LED bulb costs around $40.

Kate owns and is Electronic Medical Records Systems Consulting. She works by contract helping medical facilities change to electronic patient records.

"I help customize their software to their needs," she said.

From Benton, Ark., Kate has a degree in computer sciences. All of her work has been in the computer field. She's working a contract with Valley Medical in Kent now. The previous contract, in Houston, Tex., lasted eight months.

Dwayne and Kate lacked the words to describe their first impressions of Crescent Bar. They loved the sunshine, the water, the cliffs, everything.

If it's up to Kate, the couple will be back repeatedly. Crescent Bar's climate compares to an Arkansas summer minus the high humidity. Seattle's summer doesn't come close.

"I love it here," she said. "It's beautiful."

"It's really nice," Dwayne said. "I'd never been here before, but it's a little piece of heaven."

A nice reminder of why we all love it here.