The following letter was written by my son, Otto, and posted at our local bulletin board on Shaw Island last spring. He collected more than $400 for Friday Harbor High School’s athletic program from our community for his sponsored run from Friday Harbor to Roche Harbor and back.

“Friday Harbor High School athletics have been shaping and providing positive support in the lives of young adults for the last 50 years, and I know that they definitely have helped keep me on the right track and out of trouble through high school.

“They are currently in jeopardy due to statewide budget cuts, and money needs to be raised for them to continue. This is a big deal for me since it involves the positive activities that I see benefit students’ lives on a daily basis, and it would mean the world to me if you would contribute to help make it possible for these activities to continue.

“Thank you for your support — Otto Schmidt” (Otto is currently running for Western Washington University).

Otto was not alone. Most of our young athletes (many of them, like Otto, graduating seniors) stepped forward and committed time and energy to this program that was so important to them at the Purple & Gold fund-raiser last spring. This event was a roaring success and provided funding to keep the sports program going through fall and winter, when hopefully Island Rec levy money will kick in to keep it going.

As voters, it is now our responsibility to respect, encourage and match this level of commitment for positive activities that our young citizens have made. We can do this not by running to Roche Harbor and back (thank goodness!), but by voting “yes” on the very modest Island Rec levy this November.

Jody Schmidt
Shaw Island