Around Stanwood

This year’s Spring Art Show, presented by Stanwood Camano Arts Guild, is at the Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center, at 27130 102nd Ave. NW, in the west end of Stanwood. The show opens with a patrons’ party 6-9 p.m. June 4, with music provided by Paul Nyenhuis on his hand carved flutes, hors d’oeuvres and a no-host wine bar. Advance tickets for the party are available for $5 at Gallery by the Bay; $8 at the door. Admission is free 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 5 and 6. For information see www.stanwoodarts.com. IRS holds open house event Saturday

The Internal Revenue Service will host a nationwide open house 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat, June 5, to provide help to individual taxpayers dealing with notices and payments, return preparation and a variety of other tax issues. The Washington Tax Assistance Center (TAC) closest to Stanwood is at 3020 Rucker Ave. in Everett. For information, go to IRS.gov.

Haggen raising funds for kids’ hospital

Haggen Food & Pharmacy stores are offering Miracle Balloons June 2-15 and on June 5, hot dogs and chips will be served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., to raise funds for Seattle Children’s Hospital. Sales of the $1 paper balloons will support uncompensated care, enabling children to receive medical care regardless of their family’s ability to pay. SCH will provide over $100 million in uncompensated care this year. www.seattlechildrens.org.

B ook sale proceeds go to Haiti

Proceeds from a used book sale Sat, June 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Stanwood High School (Church Creek Campus) will benefit American Red Cross Haitian Relief. This is an activity of SHS’s National English Honors Society students. For information, contact Ella Blackwood, 629-1300, ext. 2223.

‘Water your mind-READ’ program

Stanwood Library is launching an adult summer reading program, “Water your mind-READ” for adults ages 18 and older, with special events and prizes. Try a new genre, join a book discussion, play charades and more, June 21 through Sept. 7. The adult program runs concurrently with the children’s program, titled “Make a Splash-READ.” A teen program is titled “Make Waves at Your Library.” The Stanwood Book Group will meet at Merrill Gardens to discuss “Kindred” by Octavia Butler June 9, 6 p.m. For information, call 629-3132, or check sno-isle.org.

Tour preserve and help in clean up

The community is invited to join The Nature Conservancy’s celebration of World Oceans Day June 12 for a three-mile walk and interpretive tour of Port Susan Bay preserve near Stanwood. Learn about this rich estuary and help collect trash that washed up during winter storms, 10 a.m. to noon. All ages welcome. For directions and sign up, contact Barbara French, volunteer program manager, bfrench@tnc.org, or 206-343-4345, ext. 361.

Nursery hosts gardening classes

Christianson’s Nursery will host “Invincible Vines,” presented by Sally Isaiou from T & L Nursery Sat, June 5, 11 a.m. She will introduce the wide array of flowering vines focusing on shade-loving akebias, kiwi, fragrant loniceras, showy clematis and dramatic climbing hydrangeas. “Water Gardens” is Sat, June 12, 11 a.m., when Kathy and Scott Ramin of Still Waters Aquatic Nursery will show how to establish and maintain plants in a backyard pond. Reservations required for both these complimentary lectures. At 1 p.m. June 12, “Children in the Garden Series: Terrariums,” children learn how to plant and care for a terrarium. All materials will be provided with cost of class. Make reservations with Joanne Romann, 360-466-3821, or 360-320-0531.

Lake Goodwin auction, sale June 12

The Lake Goodwin Community Club will have a silent auction, bake sale and garage sale at the club, 17323 42 Ave. NW, Stanwood, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 12.

Learn watercolor techniques in class

A four-week session of intermediate watercolor with Molly Le- Master begins Thurs., June 3, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Stanwood Community & Senior Center. Call Colleen Wilcox at 629-7403 for advance registration.

Master gardeners answer questions

A master gardener clinic runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat., June 5, at Orchards Nursery, at the west end of Stanwood. Bring your gardening questions and/or samples of plants.

AARP Driver Safety class set

An AARP Driver Safety Class is scheduled for June 15 and 16, 12:30-4:30 p.m. at Warm Beach Senior Community, 20420 Marine Drive, south of Stanwood. Participants work through an interactive curriculum emphasizing defensive driving techniques. A fee is charged to cover the cost of materials. AARP members receive a $2 discount. Some auto insurance companies offer discounts for those who complete the course. Register at 652-2631 9 a.m.-noon Mon-Fri.

Plan to eat onion burgers at the derby

Boy Scout Troop 86 will be serving onion burgers for patrons at the Soapbox Derby June 19, and also at the Twin City Idlers Car Show June 27.

Boundaries workshop offered

On Sat, June 19, a “Boundaries” workshop at 7209 267 Street NW, 103A is presented by Nadia Liu and Suzanna Mantis, 10 a.m.-noon, discussing preventative medicine, building self-esteem, gentle approach to stress and strength builders. Limited seating for a fee; RSVP 360-395-5880.

Strawberry Festival talent show

Some 30 acts have been selected to perform Thurs, June 17 in the Marysville Strawberry Festival talent show, and acts include vocalists, dancers, guitarists and violinists, ranging from age 4 to adults. Five judges will select the winners who will ride in the twilight parade. Sponsored by Marysville Performing Arts Centre at the Marysville-Pilchuck High School Auditorium, the show starts at 6:30 p.m. Admission at the door, children under 7, free. For information, call 360-653-6584.

Potluck for retiring bus driver

Rachel Hentila’s retirement potluck party and open house is Sat, June 12, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the transportation building, 9101 272 St. N.W. in Stanwood, west of the old Thrifty Foods store. Fellow drivers and all former passengers are invited to bring a dish to share, along with memories.

North Sound Knitters Guild meets

The North Sound Knitters Guild meets Tues., June 8 at St. Aidan’s Church, 6-9 p.m., with guest speaker Nancy Bjerke from N.W. Handspun in Bellingham. All knitters are welcome, whether you learned yesterday or have knitted for 40 years. St. Aidan’s is located on SR 532 across from Second Chance Thrift Store on Camano Island. For more information, call June Dickinson, 387-1952. The guild meets the second Tuesday of each month.

Monday night rides for motorcyclists

Motorcyclists are invited to join in weekly “ice-cream” rides on Monday nights through September, except on holidays, organized by the Morning Star Riders Chapter of Christian Motorcyclists Association. Meet at Texaco-Skagit Red Barn/I-5 Conway exit and be ready to roll out at 6:30 p.m. For information call Road Captain Doug Peterson, 360-387-7011.

Vocal ensemble presents concert

Highland Christian School’s young women’s vocal ensemble, Cum Laude, will present their spring concert Thurs, June 3, 7:30 p.m., in the school auditorium, 135 S. French Ave. NE in Arlington. The choir recently completed a concert tour of lower British Columbia, singing at three schools. Their free concert covers five centuries of a large variety of music including motets, Broadway and movie scores, barbershop singing, folk songs, and vocal jazz. Cum Laude (with praise) is comprised of nine young women. For information, call Stuart Hunt, 360-403-8351.

Summer hours begin at church

Stanwood United Methodist Church will begin summer hours Sun, June 6. There’s no Sunday School during the summer. Worship services are at 8:30 and 10 a.m., followed by fellowship hour at 11.

Former Peace Corps volunteer to speak

Book enthusiast and former Peace Corps volunteer Michele Graves will address the Stanwood/Camano Friends of the Library members and public at the Lost Lake Clubhouse on Camano at noon, Tues., June 8. She will talk about her unusual treks to find books while in a remote region of South Africa.

Store rainwater in your own barrel

WSU Skagit County Extension Master Gardeners, in partnership with WSU - Mount Vernon NWREC, present a Know and Grow workshop, “Storing rainwater: build your own rain barrel,” Tues, June 15, 1-2:30 p.m. at the NWREC Sakuma Auditorium, 16650 SR 536 (Memorial Highway). Kevin Tate from Skagit PUD will conduct a hands-on class on building a rain barrel. You may listen to the presentation for free, but if you build a rain barrel, there is a materials fee. To reserve a rain barrel kit, call 336-8958 and leave your name and phone number before Fri, June 11. For more information, call 360-428-4270, or visit skagit.wsu.edu/MG.

Artists invited to submit lobby art

The Skagit Valley Hospital Fine Art Program is issuing a call to artists for submissions to its 2010 Kincaid Lobby project. The work of one artist or artist team will be selected to create a public artwork. To view the call prospectus and download an application form, visit skagitvalleyhospital.org/ways-to-give/hospital-foundation/ events/. Send questions to wragusa@skagitvalleyhospital. org, or call 360-814-5747.

Collision awareness seminar Monday

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office presents “Driving it home,” a collision education and awareness class Mon, June 7, 6-9 p.m. in Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., in Everett. This free class is for newly licensed student drivers and/or their parents (no small children, please). It will include vehicle exhibits and a staged pedestrian collision outside, rain or shine, supported by Everett schools, Allstate Insurance, American Family Insurance, Farmers Insurance, State Farm Insurance, Genuine Auto Glass, Snohomish County Public Works, and other community organizations and businesses.

Soroptimist chapter begins here

A local chapter of Soroptimists will be starting in the Stanwood/ Camano area, and anyone interested can learn more at their gathering at Scandia Bakery Thurs., June 10, 6:30 p.m.

Mark calendars for June blood drive

Employees of the Stanwood School District transportation fleet are sponsoring a blood drive noon to 6 p.m. Tues, June 15 at the transportation center (bus garage), 9101 272 St. NW, in downtown Stanwood. Everyone in the community is encouraged to attend and give blood to the Puget Sound Blood Center.

ASSIST holds Church Creek graduation

ASSIST (Active Student Support for Independence, Skills, and Transition) has announced its graduation ceremony starts at 6 p.m. Thurs., June 3, in the Church Creek Gym at Stanwood High School.

New forum promotes idea exchange

A new internet-based public forum, “Soundings: Puget Sound Speaks,” provides residents in communities around Puget Sound a chance to engage in conversations with guest bloggers and artists. Shane Srogi, Seattle-based wildlife and landscape photographer, will be in the inaugural issue, then a marine artist/Alaskan fisherman will share his paintings of fishing and other vessels in a following month. A former news reporter has promised to share her poetry. Anyone with ideas for future guest bloggers or artists, send a message to administrator@pugetsoundspeaks.com. Cartoons from “There is Strangeness in the Universe,” will be included, and there will be a monthly cartoon caption contest. The target audience is people who are interested in and/or care for Puget Sound and its communities. All users have to do is register and start posting, go to pudgetsoundspeaks.com and follow instructions.

Gardens of Merit tour in Everett

Everett’s 10th annual Gardens of Merit Tour features six private gardens with a local artist in each garden, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. June 26. Artist demonstrations include a stone sculptor, watercolor painter, calligrapher, paintings, leaf castings and more. Additional activities inside the Everett Legion Park Arboretum at 145 Alverson Blvd., in Everett, include the annual plant sale and raffle from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 at Sorticulture June 11-13, on-line using PayPal at www.evergreenarboretum.com, or from merchants around the county: Sunnyside Nursery (Marysville), Pacific Stone (Everett), J.Matheson Gifts (Everett), McAuliffe’s Nursery (Snohomish), and at the Evergreen Arboretum the day of the tour. Proceeds benefit Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens. For information e-mail contactus@evergreenarboretum.com.