— by Margie Doyle —
By 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.
Thanks so much, Margie, for reminding us that we should always treat each other with “soft” consideration. Emily is an amazing young person who reflects that beautiful trait of thoughtfulness.
Very nice editorial, Margie.
Thank you Margie for this wonderfully insightful article of awareness. What a relief the outcome wasn’t worse for Emily.
Wishing her a speedy recovery.
Unfortunately it sometimes takes an accident the likes of this to bring about increased awareness and consideration of others on the streets to effect changes in attitudes and thinking therein.
Almost every day I have a bird’s eye view of witnessing dozens of drivers running the stop sign in front of Enzos heading South on North Beach Road, some not even slowing down and many yakking away on their cell phones while they are at it. It’s an accident waiting to happen. Not to mention all the close calls I’ve witnessed over the years. The funny/sad thing is I observed an unoccupied deputy’s Patrol SUV parked in a space next to the Stop sign just the other day for about an hour and voila! Everyone was stopping! Gee wiz folks, what’s the rush? Where’s the fire? Nice relaxed atmosphere you are creating here in the peaceful little town of Eastsound by not taking the time to stop. You know who you are….What part of STOP is it they don’t understand?
To follow up on Jon’s comment; it’s not just at stop signs. I regularly see cars swerve completely onto the wrong side of the road to avoid having to stop to let somebody out of a parking space. Our lack of consideration for others has become staggering.
Come on people, slow down, take a deep breath and relax, enjoy the world around you, and show more consideration to the people around you.
Just the other day I was passed from behind by a giant, gold SUV *while driving through the Mt Baker / North Beach intersection* by Orcas Center! As I slowed to the reduced speed limit for that intersection, they came up behind me fast, swerved around me, and passed me doing something close to 50mph AS I WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, radio blaring. They careened around the corner onto Lovers Lane before I’d even made it to the airport! Incredible stupidity.
Emily Foster is one amazing young lady. She’s one of the most engaged performers in my high school drama class, and in the Rock On The Rock choir, and has the voice of an angel. She’s singing a solo in the upcoming Across the Universe show (I hope!) that will bring you to tears.
Additionally, I see Emily in town walking a stroller as a nanny many times a week. If there is any kind of silver lining to this horrific event, its that she was uncharacteristically without the stroller when she was hit.
Just shocking and awful that this happened, and to such a kind individual.
The thoughts and prayers of the entire drama class, cast and crew are with you, Emily.
Yes, and to go even further, perhaps it is time to rethink the tourist season….yes Islanders are also to blame, but does the hoard of tourists help? Or does it exacerbate a growing problem? Merry Bush
After Emily’s accident my adult daughter and I discussed how to improve both our pedestrian and driver communication. We decided that we would look at, make eye contact and WAVE at the driver or pedestrian to insure that we see and are seen at crossings.