Around Stanwood

Sun, April 18, 2 p.m., the 14th annual “Voices of Hope” choral benefit concert and bake sale will take place at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Stanwood. The concert benefits Housing Hope, a nonprofit agency providing housing for homeless and low-income families in Snohomish County and Camano Island. All proceeds from the event will benefit Housing Hope’s Lervick Family Village, located in Stanwood. Stanwood High School choir director Erik Ronning will serve as emcee of the event, and direct the concert again as well. There will also be a bake sale, featuring a variety of homemade goods from Stanwood area citizens, immediately follows the concert. St. Cecilia Catholic Church is located at 26900 – 78th Avenue NW, Stanwood. Please note that parking is not permitted on either side of 78th Ave NW. Free seminar on retirement at Merrills

Join Merrill Gardens at Stanwood for a free seminar on quality retirement in today’s economy April 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. learn about a variety of topics directly related to the quality of your retirement. Brief presentations will be made by professionals from Windermere Real Estate, Edward Jones Investments, Selling Advantage for Senior Homeowners, and Barry Meyers Law Offices. Lunch is provided. Space is limited, call 629-3445 to rsvp. Also on April 15, a “Night in Spain” is offered, with world renowned flamenco guitar player, Enrique Henao, and a Spanish themed dinner. There is a cost. Call 629-3445 to reserve a table. And don’t forget the Women’s Expo 2010 at Camano Senior and Community Center April 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

AAUW offers scholarships to locals

Three $2,500 scholarships are to be awarded to a Stanwood, Lakewood or Arlington student with junior college standing by June, 2010, by the American Association of University Women. Get an application at info@s-caf.org, or bmchoov@wavecable. com. Deadline for application is April 30.

H aggen’s sponsors Walk MS

Many Haggen Food & Pharmacy employees are raising funds by participating in Walk MS April 10, 9:30 a.m. at the Tulalip Amphitheatre, Tulalip. Walk MS will be conducted by the MS Society’s Greater Northwest Chapter April 10-11 at eight sites across the state. To spur awareness and contributions, Haggen and TOP Food stores offered paper MS Sneakers for $1 apiece at checkout stands last month. Customers at the 33 stores in Washington and Oregon donated $56,730 with their purchases of MS Sneakers. Customers also are making donations with their purchases of Walk MS totes and bottled water at the stores. The Bike MS Ride will be Sept. 11-12. For more information, visit www.WalkMSNorthwest.org. Customer, employee and corporate contributions to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will top $100,000 this year.

Black Mouth fishing derby this weekend

April 10 and 11 is the Black Mouth Fishing Derby sponsored by the Stanwood Hotel. There is an entry fee, payable at the hotel or Camano Plaza and Camano Marine. Rules: Everyone in the boat must be entered. Washington state fishing regulations apply. Not responsible for accidents or injuries. You must be present to collect prize. Fishing allowed in area 8-1 and 8-2 only. Prizes: first prize is 45 percent of the total entry fee, second prize, 25 percent, third, 15 percent, fourth, 5 percent of total entry fee. All prizes will be awarded on Sunday after weigh in, which is 3 to 4:30 p.m., Sat. & Sun., sharp by “my watch” at the Stanwood Hotel Saloon 26926,102nd Av NW; phone is 629-2888.

Guest hosted by Friends of Library

The Stanwood-Camano Friends of the Library will meet Tues, April 13, 11 a.m. in the Stanwood Library meeting room. Bonnie Thielke will present a program on the history of public library services from 2000 B.C. to the present day. Everyone is welcome to attend and learn where the library terms “stacks” and “pages” originated.

Sign up for fitness challenge

Taking signups for the annual spring Fitness Challenge at Team Fitness, beginning April 12 through May 21. The challenge is for anyone in community who wants to have some accountability and support as they work on getting healthier. For more information, contact Team Fitness, 629-4433.

Youth Arts Festival invites performers

The 12th annual Youth Arts Festival is Sat, May 15 at Stanwood Middle School, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The festival, which showcases creative talents of local youth, invites students of all ages to participate by providing art for exhibit and judging, or offering dramatic or musical/dance performances. All artists and performers should submit their works of art or indicate their desire to perform by May 4. For questions, contact Jon Soth, program coordinator, at the Stanwood Camano Community Resource Center, 629- 5257. Davis Place needs fun, energetic adults who enjoy working with teens to volunteer at the drop-in after school spot. Interested? Contact Janet Mott, coordinator, 629-5257 or e-mail janet@stanwoodcamanoresources. org. A reminder: the deadline to submit entries for the poster contest is April 8.

Register for S/C youth football Friday

SCYF (Stanwood/Camano Youth Football) will be conducting open registration at the Stanwood Library Fri, April 9, 5-9 p.m., and again Sat, April 17, 5-9 p.m. Players ages 6-14 are needed to play in Washington’s premier youth league, The North Cascade Youth Football League, www.eteamz.com/ncyfl/. For questions or to have a registration form mailed to you, contact Tonya, 425- 328-6876, or send an e-mail, scyouthfootball@hotmail.com

Stanwood artist organizes art show

At the Pleasant Ridge Gallery art show in Rexville Grange, live artist demonstrations are scheduled daily during the Tulip Festival in the show organized by Stanwood artist Marguerite Goff. Most demos are 1-4 p.m. April 7, Janet Hamilton creates a landscape pastel painting. April 8, Pam and Lisa Summers, techniques for jewelry and April 9, 1 - 3 p.m., Lynne Irelan offers a mini class on a spiral-beaded bracelet. April 10 features weaver Martha Tottenham making a scarf using yarns dyed in the colors of the tulip fields. April 11, 1-2 p.m., Beth Hailey, spring arrangements. April 12, noon-6 p.m. Lucinda VanValkenburg, woodworking techniques, at 1929 Rexville Grange Road, through April 18.

B ook group discusses ‘A Gesture Life’

The Stanwood Book Group meets Wed, April 14, 6 p.m. at Merrill Gardens Library, 7212 265th St. NW. Those interested are welcome to attend and join in a “lively” discussion of books. This month’s selection is “A Gesture Life” by Chang-rae Lee.

Growing Forward Community Garden

Garden sites are available on a limited basis for the Growing Forward Community Garden located at the Stanwood Camano Community Resource Center. There is a registration fee. Interested gardeners should contact the center, 629-5257.

Scandinavians to hear 100-year history

Guests are invited to attend and learn about Scandinavian heritage and culture at the Daughters of Norway, Ingeborg Lodge 43 meeting Sat, April 10, 10 a.m. at the Sons of Norway Hall, 9910 270th St. NW, Stanwood. Pam Lindahl, president, will give details of the 100-year history of the local Sons of Norway, Fritjov Lodge 2-17, and their centennial celebration in April. Ingeborg 43 Lodge meets on the second Saturday of the month. For more information, call Alice Blandin, 387-3375.

Small scale farming experience Sunday

How to construct an “anyone-can-build-and-afford-hoophouse” is a free class Sun., April 11, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at LiveWell Landscapes on Camano. Learn how to convert any lawn space into a protected growing space for year-round food. A barbecue of grass-fed beef lunch will be provided. Bring work shoes, gloves, pad/paper and a favorite tool. There will be educational resources, and professionals will be available to answer questions. Space is limited, RSVP. Address is 395 E North Camano Drive.

Port Susan bird watching tour

Celebrate Earth Day Sat, April 24, with a 1 to 3 p.m. bird-watching tour at the Nature Conservancy’s Port Susan Bay Preserve (www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/washington/ preserves/art6837) near Stanwood. Witness spring migration and learn about the many birds that stop at this nutrient-rich preserve on their way back to the Arctic. The tour will be led by Tim Manns, naturalist and president of the Skagit Audubon Society, Julie Morse, conservancy shorebird expert, and Dr. Joanna Smith, conservancy marine ecologist and seabird expert.

Become a beach naturalist at classes

Join WSU Beach Watchers and other volunteers in this two-part training session to learn about Puget Sound inter-tidal organisms in their fragile habitat at Stanwood Public Utility District Fri, April 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (classroom), and at Kayak Point County Park Fri, April 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (field). No experience required and open to anyone who can commit to volunteer eight hours at a local beach in spring and summer 2010. For more information, visit beachwatchers.wsu.edu/Snohomish/events. If you would like additional information, or would like to sign-up for this training, contact Chrys Bertolotto, WSU Beach Watchers, 425-357-6020, or via e-mail, Chrys@wsu.edu.

Bingo at Viking Hall in Silvana

Sun, April 11, there will be bingo games in Viking Hall, 1331 Pioneer Hwy, Silvana. Doors open and food at 3 p.m., bingo starts at 4, “bring a friend.” Questions? Call 652-9081. Sat, May1 will be the seventh annual Silvana Show and Shine. Registration is going on now, or can be done the day of event at 6:30 a.m. Food available; award ceremonies at 3 p.m. in the hall. Limited space available for car-related vendor tables. Contact community businesses or call 360-654-0966.

Skagit Fairgrounds garage sale

A garage sale, with antiques and more, is Sat, April 10, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun, April 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Skagit County Fairgrounds, 1410 Virginia Street in south Mount Vernon. There is an admission fee.

Stanwood Democrats welcome guest

Collin Jergens of Fuse Washington will address the Stanwood Democrats at 10 a.m. in Stanwood’s Viking Restaurant (8801 Highway 532) Sat., April 10. He will discuss the lawsuit, Attorney General Rob McKenna has brought against the state of Washington regarding the recent passage of federal health care. There will be a petition to Mr. McKenna available for signature at the meeting. A no host breakfast and coffee is available.