Around Stanwood

A former resident of Stanwood, Russell Bartlett will perform at the Stanwood-Camano Community Fair starting 2:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6. Now a resident of Austin, Texas, he spends summer months here in the Northwest to escape the heat and visit family and friends around Stanwood. He’s a singer-songwriter who toured the world a bit before deciding to stay home with his four kids. He describes his music a “kinda country, roots, and blues.” Discount carnival tickets available

Tickets to the carnival at the Stanwood-Camano Community Fair are $20 in advance or $25 during the fair. The discounted tickets are available through Aug. 5 at the fairgrounds office in the Bonnie Cole Hall (red barn) at the fairgrounds, 6431 Pioneer Highway, south of Stanwood, which is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Get home tour tickets at the fair

Tickets for the 32nd annual home tour presented by the Camano Island Women’s Republican Club will be available at the club’s booth at the Stanwood Camano fair this year, for the first time ever. Benefitting the club’s scholarship fund for local students, the tour is Sept. 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

School supply giveaway coming up

The third annual community school supply giveaway is Sat., Aug. 21, at Stanwood Foursquare Church (across from Stanwood Hardware), 10 a.m.-noon. New backpacks and school supplies, plus gently used clothing, will be available. There are no income requirements. Giveaway organizers include parents, teachers, churches and others who care about the kids in this community. Anyone who wants to donate money so supplies can be purchased, can make the check out to SFC, and mail it to PO Box 183, Stanwood, WA 98292. Write “school supplies” on the memo line. Call the church office, 629-9258, with questions.

Backpacks filled with supplies

Haggen stores is selling backpacks filled with a variety of school supplies valued at $23 to donate to the school supplies drive. Customers may purchase the filled backpacks for $9.99 and they will be given to organizations for distribution to children in need. The drive continues until the store runs out of the backpacks.

Children invited to play with water

Calling all scientists, the Stanwood Library is offering some cool water tricks that are sure to amaze your family and friends in “Experimenting with Water,” Thurs., Aug. 5, 11 a.m. Funded by the Stanwood/Camano Friends of the Library for school-age children.

Enter fair exhibits this week

All youth and adult indoor exhibits will be accepted Tues., Aug. 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Wed, Aug. 4, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Stanwood Camano fairgrounds on Pioneer Highway, southeast of Stanwood.

Knitters guild welcomes guest Tuesday

Sandy Peterson will present an introduction to shadow knitting at the North Sound Knitters’ Guild meeting 6 to 9 p.m. Tues., Aug. 10, at St. Aidan’s Church. SR 532 on Camano Island, a mile-and -a-half west of Stanwood. For information, call June Dickinson, 387-1952. The guild meets the second Tuesday of each month.

N.O.A.H. competes for $100,000 grant

One of only 50 animal welfare organizations in the entire United States selected to participate in the Save More Lives – ASPCA $100K Challenge, N.O.A.H. is competing for a $100,000 grant, and every cat or dog adoption through Oct. 31 will help N.O.A.H. win the money. The executive director, Austin Gates is planning a lot of adoption events around the area with special adoption pricing. Families can get two cats for the price of one. All N.O.A.H. pets are micro-chipped, spayed or neutered, have had the distemper combo vaccination and come with a collar and ID tag. For a complete list of off-site adoption locations this fall, and to see what animals are available for adoption, visit the N.O.A.H. Web site, thenoahenter.org, or call 629-7055 Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., or Sat. and Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Class of 1985 looks for members

The Stanwood High School class of 1985 will gather for its 25th class reunion Fri., Aug. 6, 7 p.m., at Amigos in Stanwood, the same place they met for their 20th year reunion five years ago. Organizers are asking grads to spread the word among fellow members of the class of ‘85.

S afe Harbor celebrates one year

Safe Harbor Free Clinic will celebrate its one-year anniversary with a reception Aug. 21, 2-4 p.m. in the conference room of the Stanwood branch of the Skagit Valley Medical Center, at 9631 269th St. NW in Stanwood. The public is welcome to refreshments provided by Merrill Gardens. The clinic is also planning to have a booth at the fair this week, and at the Back to School event Aug. 21. Check out the new Web site at safeharborfreeclinic.org.

On the job training at YouthBuild

A grant-funded program for low-income youth, YouthBuild Snohomish County is a collaboration amond Workforce Development Council Snohomish County, Center for Career Alternatives, Housing Hope, and local community college partners. They are offering four information sessions with one in Stanwood Thurs., Aug. 5 at The Station, 8713 271st St. NW. The 10-month construction training program offers paid work, an opportunity to complete a GED at no cost, training in community leadership, personal support and advocacy, and assistance with finding a job upon completion. Participants must be between 18-24 years old, unemployed and low income ($10,830 a year for a family of one), lacking a GED, and interested in learning construction skills and helping the community. Attendance at the information session is a mandatory first step to program enrollment.

Vocalist of Year at Leatherheads

Leatherheads Pub & Eatery hosts Dale Ann Bradley Wed, Aug. 11, 7 p.m. Recipient of IBMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year Awards for 2007, 2008, 2009, Dale Ann will be performing solo. Limited tickets may be purchased at the pub. Address is 10209 270th St. ‘Extravaganza’ sends kids to camp

Sat., Aug. 28, Warm Beach Camp will host the 11th annual August Extravaganza benefit auction and country fair to raise funds to send kids to camp. The auction runs 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. There will be over 350 items to bid on including yard and garden, sports memorabilia, dining opportunities, gift certificates, craft items, tools, golf packages, sporting event tickets, vacation packages, home furnishings, etc. Free activities for kids include miniature train rides, clowns and face painting, bouldering wall climbing, and petting farm. Proceeds raised provide scholarship funds for kids in need to attend summer camp. Food concessions are available for lunch, there is no charge to attend the event and parking is free. For more information, call Warm Beach Camp, 652-7575, or 800-228-7624, or log on warmbeach.com. NW, Stanwood, call 629-5555 or visit leatherheadspub.com.

Mark calendars for Dakota picnic

The annual North and South Dakota picnic will be held in Church Creek Park, Stanwood, Sat., Aug. 14, beginning at noon. Anyone with connections to either state is invited to bring a potluck dish, plates and utensils and your own beverage, to reminisce with others from the Dakotas, win prizes and points for your state.

Festival of the River and Pow Wow

The 21st annual Stillaguamish Festival of the River and Pow Wow is Aug. 14 and 15, with details available at festivaloftheriver.com. Located in River Meadows County Park on Jordan Road, east of Arlington, the event offers environmental and wellness exhibits, native American art and crafts, music, a logging show, nature walks and children’s activities. There is a small parking fee each day. The Stilly Fun Run begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by demonstrations, storytelling, fishing instruction, sand sculpture, silent auction, and a brain exhibit from Pacific Science Center in Seattle. There’s a charge for the tribal salmon bake.

Wholesale market invites shoppers

The Skagit WholeSale Market is open every Thursday morning through harvest season, 8:30-10:30 a.m., in the parking lot of the Skagit Valley Food Co-op. Exit I-5 at Kincaid in Mount Vernon.

Volunteers needed for senior transport

Earn extra money while helping low income seniors by volunteering to transport them to and from essential doctor appointments. You will be reimbursed 48.5 cents per mile. Since this is a reimbursement, you will not be taxed and it will not affect you if you are on unemployment. You must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver’s license and complete a volunteer application. If you like to work with the elderly or disabled and want to make difference in someone’s life, then this is the volunteer opportunity for you. Contact DebraBo@ccsww.org or Debra, 425-257-2101, ext. 3323.

WWU offers information on MBA

Western Washington University’s Everett-based weekend Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is accepting applications now for the next cohort of students who will begin classes Jan., 2011. Program details will be provided at a 6 p.m. information session Wed., Aug. 4 at University Center of North Puget Sound, Gray Wolf Hall-Room 160, 2000 Tower St., on the campus of Everett Community College. WWU’s Weekend MBA features small class sizes that meet Friday afternoon-evening and all day Saturday of every other weekend for eight quarters, with traditional quarter breaks. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply now to ensure all enrollment requirements are met by the application deadline of Nov. 15. For more information, visit the program’s Web site, www.wwu.edu/weekendmba, or contact weekendmba@wwu.edu, or call 360-650-7780.

Screening detects diseases

The Skagit Regional Heart & Vascular Institute offers a community screening for all adults over age 18 held Tuesday mornings. The screening includes the following tests and results are immediate: ankle brachial pressure index to help detect peripheral artery disease (no caffeine or nicotine for one hour prior); blood pressure; full lipid profile for cholesterol plus glucose requires 12 – 14 hour fast, water and medications only (no alcohol 24 hours prior); body composition testing; review results with a health care provider. Call 360-814-2424 or 360-629-6481 to schedule an appointment and find out cost.

Weight loss, nutrition counseling offered

Lou Kupka-Schutt, PhD, RD, provides support setting and meeting nutritional and weight loss goals in this three-month program. Call 360-814-8274 for cost and more information, or to register for the program.

Win money in state fair essay contest

Tackle the issues affecting our environment through an essay contest sponsored by the Snohomish County Executive and Allied Waste Services, for a chance to win $200 and an honorary title. Evergreen State Fair hopes to inspire young people who have a passion for green living to share their ideas and opinions about sustainability. First, second, and third place winners will be recognized, along with their families, as guests of Executive Aaron Reardon at the opening ceremony of Evergreen State Fair in Monroe Aug. 26. Contest open to students entering grades 7-12. For more information on the essay topics, guidelines and prizes, visit www.evergreenfair.org. Submit entries, questions or clarification requests to essaycontest@nyhus.com with your essay in the body of the e-mail and attached as a text document. Entries can also be sent by mail to Living Evergreen Essay Contest, c/o Nyhus Communications, 1525 Fourth Avenue suite 400, Seattle, WA 98109.

Foster parents needed to provide homes

Anyone willing to open their hearts and home to a child in need is asked to contact Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, who is seeking married couples, individuals, and families of diverse cultural, ethnic, social and religious backgrounds willing become licensed foster parents. Foster parents receive support from staff as well as 24-hour access to emergency assistance. Foster parents receive a monthly stipend to assist in the care of a foster child based upon age and needs of the child. Medical, dental and daycare costs are covered through the state. For information, contact Natalia Pierson, CCS Foster Home Licensor, nataliap@ccsww.org, call 425-257-2111, ext. 3317, or visit the Web site, ccsww.org.

Volunteers needed at Providence

A free information session to review the volunteer opportunities at Providence Hospice & Home Care is scheduled Wed., Aug. 18, 6- 8 p.m., in downtown Everett. To register and to get driving/parking information, call 425-261-4815 by Aug. 16.

Valley Poker Run benefits Hospice

Motorcycle and classic car enthusiasts from across the Northwest are invited to participate in a 110-mile Poker Run Sun., Aug. 15. “Rally in the Valley” travels the scenic roads of the North Cascades to benefit hospice services in local communities. Registration is from 7:30 to 11 a.m. on Metcalf Street in Sedro-Woolley between Hometown Café and Joy’s Bakery. Stops along the route will feature a variety of businesses where participants will play for card numbers for the chance to win prizes. There will also be a competition for the largest club, chapter or group entered in the event as well as People’s Choice Awards. Bikes and classic cars welcome. There is a registration fee and additional poker cards are available. For information, call 360-814-5702.

Host an international student

Families can add diversity to their homes by bringing in a new and interesting culture in the form of an international high school student. These young adventurers are curious about all things American and are excitedly looking forward to spending a school year in the U.S. Council for Educational Travel, USA, is actively seeking and interviewing caring families to host international students from one of 43 countries, arriving this fall. For more information, call 888-238-8721.