— by Margie Doyle —

Update: Since publishing this editorial, a fund-raising effort has been launched online. Please consider helping Emily Foster out by going to gofundme.com/emilyfoster)

Emily Foster 2By now, most islanders have heard that 17-year-old Emily Foster, an Orcas High School Senior, was hit at the intersection of Main Street and North Beach Road in Eastsound yesterday morning [April 8].

The vehicle that hit her sped away, and the Sheriff’s Office issued a statement today [April 9] about the driver of the vehicle that hit Emily, a pedestrian.

But we know something about Emily, who was airlifted off the island and hospitalized. Emily has been working with Orcas Issues to promote her Senior project (all Orcas Island high school seniors are required to complete a community project to graduate). Emily’s project is “Seniors and Seniors Bake-Off” in which “5-10 volunteers from the Senior Center will pair up with students from the 2015 senior class to participate in a bake-off held at the Senior Center on Saturday, May 16. Each team will meet prior to the event to get to know each other and choose a recipe to bake,” according to Emily last month.

We had an appointment to meet and discuss her project today (Thursday, April 9), and Emily emailed us last night to say she wouldn’t be able to meet as planned. Her sense of responsibility, accountability and consideration put many to shame. When we talk about our fears for the kids of today, we can be reassured to know that the island “grows” kids such as Emily, who attend school, work after school, plan ahead and communicate when there’s a hitch in plans. What a fine young woman — her parents and teachers must be so proud!

Her senior project will have to be delayed. We hope and expect Emily will soon return to the island with no lasting injuries.

We’d like to honor Emily and promote island safety for all by reminding all our readers to personally take responsibility to ensure the safety of all we come into contact with. It falls to us as individuals to make sure that we are behaving responsibly, and not risking our ordinary well-being by talking on cell phones while driving (or walking!) or running stop signs or not yielding the right of way. Sheriff Krebs has recently issued an alert about distracted driving, and Orcas Islanders packed the Senior Center last week to caution about roads and traffic. The long tourist season is about to bring more vehicles, more traffic to the island, as others enjoy our natural beauty and our rural way of life.

That means slowing down, paying attention and taking the time to consider how our behavior affects others. A friend commented recently, “We can be a softer society,” and we like that idea. Let’s be soft and safe and friendly.

As Shakespeare Fest heralds in what many hope will be a busy tourist season, let’s salute our seniors such as Emily, and our neighbors by driving — and acting — with an attentive mind and clear vision.

**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**