Around Stanwood

Murmuration Stanwood House will present an exhibit of paintings and sculptures of birds during the seventh annual Port Susan Snow Goose and Birding Festival Feb. 24 - 26. The painting by Bezalel-Levy above depicts sandpipers over Davis Slough. The gallery will host a festive opening on Friday, Feb. 24, 6-8:30 p.m., at 9915 270th St. NW, Stanwood , 629-4933. The gallery will be open Saturday, 10 - 4 p.m., and Sunday, 10 - 4 p.m. The exhibit will continue through March when the gallery is open by appointment. PAINTING BY BEZALEL-LEVY Ribbon cutting

NW Plus Credit Union has announced its grand opening will be Thurs, Feb. 23, noon to 4 p.m., with a ribbon cutting by Mayor Dianne White at 1 p.m. at its new location at 9225 271st St. NW.

GriefShare meets

GriefShare sessions will be offered at Warm Beach Free Methodist Church Saturdays, 10 a.m. – noon, March 3 to June 9. GriefShare is a nondenominational group that features Biblical teaching on grief and recovery topics. There is a small cost for materials, at 20815 Marine Drive. For questions, call 652-6555, or visit wbfmc.org.

Animals’ benefit

A resume strategist, Don Burrows, presents “Burn the resume, you need a person profile,” at the NOAH Animal Adoption Center, 31300 Brandstrom Road, Stanwood Sat, Feb. 25, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For a suggested donation, NOAH will provide water and light snacks, bring a water bottle. To reserve space call Tonia or Sue, 629-7055, or e-mail suet@thenoahcenter.org.

Coin show coming

The Stanwood Coin Club has announced its 51st annual coin show will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat, March 3, in the dining room at the Stanwood Community and Senior Center, 7430 276th St. N.W. Dealers will offer collectible coins and currency, free appraisals and coin displays and the club offrs door prizes, raffle of gold and silver coins and refreshments. Admission is free.

Motorcyclists meet

Morning Star Riders Chapter of Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) meets 6 p.m. Thurs, Feb. 23 at Denny’s, 100 E College Way, Mount Vernon. All motorcyclists are welcome for dinner, fellowship and a review upcoming rides and outreach opportunities. Learn more at www.cmausa.org.

‘Transformation’

“The Transforming Desert of Lent” is presented by Fr. Christopher La Rocca on the Day of Recollection 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Carmelite Institute of Spirituality, 27008 78 Ave. NW. Bring a sack lunch; coffee and tea provided. For information call 629-4032.

Scholarships

AAWU scholarships are available to students in their junior year in college by fall, 2012. For information e-mail to info@aauwsc.org or info@scaf.org.

Audition notice

Director Willow McLaughlin needs eight men and 18 women for the musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie” that runs June 1-30. Auditions are Feb. 25, 2-6 p.m. and Feb. 26, 5-8 p.m. at Anacortes Community Theatre, 10th and M in Anacortes. Audition materials are available at the ACT office. For information call Willow, 360- 395-8107, or e-mail, willow@macwebb.com. Producer Julie Johnson Lindsey can be contacted at juliejohnsonlindsey@yahoo.com.

Catholics reach out

St. Cecilia Catholic Church seeks Catholics who no longer or rarely attend mass, to attend a series of six programs during Lent, starting Tues, Feb. 28, 7 p.m., For information call 629- 4425.

St. Cecilia is also offering a parish mission with Fr. Bill Mc- Carthy, March 4-6, beginning with a potluck in the parish hall Sunday, 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by the mission program at 7 p.m. The introduction to the mission starts with the topic, “Listening to the Father,” “Loving with the Son,” and “Living with the Spirit”

Shortened versions will be offered Monday and Tuesday after the 9 a.m. mass. Call 629- 4425 for more information.

Dance lessons

The Stanwood Sashayers offers beginning square dance lessons every Monday, 7-9 p.m. at the Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center, 27108 102nd Ave. NW in west Stanwood. No experience necessary, and the first lesson is free. New dancers will be accepted Feb. 27 and March 5, and a new set starts in the fall. For information, contact Glen Shaw, 387-5055, or e-mail Glenshaw1@msn.com.

Library events

Learn the basics of searching and browsing for eBooks through the library’s overdrive media catalog at “Library eBooks for Kindle” starting at 3 p.m. Thurs, Feb. 23 in the Stanwood Library.

Fantasy Gamers is on Fridays, Feb. 24, March 2 and March 9, 3:30 p.m.

The family puppet play program, “Lessons from the Geese” will be Sun, Feb. 26, 1 p.m., at Four Springs Lake Preserve, 585 Lewis Lane, as part of the Snow Goose and Birding Festival. Except for the puppet play, all events will be in the library meeting room, 9701 271 St. NW, Stanwood. To register, call 629-3132 or visit sno-isle.org, Events & Programs.

Winter festival

Christianson’s Nursery is hosting its sixth annual winter festival Feb. 24 - 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Saturday at 1 p.m., guest speaker Marty Wingate will present “Hellebores and beyond” with a selection of hellebore plants for sale. Also, all entries in the nursery’s “Winter Gardens” photography contest” will be on display in the schoolhouse, at 15806 Best Road, west of Mount Vernon. www.christiansonsnursery.com.

Poetry night set

The winners of the Eagle Festival Poetry Contest will be featured at Poetry Night this week, 7-9 p.m. at Fogdog Art Gallery, 233 N. Olympic Ave. in downtown Arlington. Poetry night is on the second and fourth Thursday each month. On March 8, Laura Snyder will be guest poet.

Auditions set

Country, folk and bluegrass singers and musicians are invited to audition for “The Hometown Hootenany,” a monthly live music series at the Historic Everett Theatre. Auditions are Sun, Feb. 26, 6:30-9 p.m., at the theater at 2911 Colby Ave., in downtown Everett. Soloists, duos, groups, amateurs, professionals are welcome. Vocalists may self-accompany on an instrument, sing a capella, or use recorded accompaniment for auditions. Audition appointments are required. For an appointment, contact producer Beckye Randall, brandallrcf@gmail.com, or call 425-308- 4176. The Hometown Hootenanny is produced by Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts, a nonprofit arts education organization.

Career confrence

The 10th annual Students of Color Career Conference is March 29 at Everett Community College. Pre-registration is required with school counselors. High school seniors can apply until March 2 for $500 and $1,000 scholarships that will be awarded at the event.

Scholarship winners must be present to win. The scholarships can be used at the accredited school of the winner’s choice.

For information and to apply, visit www.everettcc.edu/ soccc.

Beach Watchers

“Bears to Barnacles: Cool Animals of The Salish Sea” is the program for the WSU Extension Beach Watchers 7-8:30 p.m. March 7 at Rose Hill Center Auditorium, 304 Front St. in Mukilteo. No registration is required for this free event.

Farmers market

Local farmers are invited to apply for booth space at the Washington Public Market, 1011 Second St. in Snohomish. Outdoor spaces will be open starting April 14, to accompany the building full of year-round vendors, including 20 Washington wineries that offer tastes. Spaces have furnished electricity and water.

Applications on line at washingtonpublicmarket.com, fill out the online application.

Student awards

The National Society for the Gifted and Talented is offering $10,000 in scholarships for its summer programs. Deadline for applications is April 1. Students can download theapplication at www.nsgt.org/ scholarships.asp and winners will be notified April 15. For more details, call 1-800-572- 6748, or e-mail info@nsgt.org.

Support group

An adoption tax attorney, Andrew Schneidler will discuss the adoption tax credit and how it is changing for 2012 with the Foster/Adoptive/Relative Caregiver Support Group meeting Tues, Feb. 21, 6-8:30 p.m. at Stanwood Foursquare Church, 27007 90th St. NW. The two hourtrainingfollowsa6p.m. potluck; bring a dish to share. Childcare provided for 0-12 years old; RSVP to 629-9258.

Merrill Gardens

Learn about a special home buying program for seniors Tues, March 6 at noon. Complimentary lunch will be provided. Call 629-3445 to RSVP by March 4. An Irish theme dinner on March 8 will feature entertainment by the Gothard Sisters, starting at 5 p.m. Visitors welcome for a fee, RSVP by March 6.

Jammin’ music

Live music at Cyndy’s Broiler includes regular weekly jams and karaoke during the week, and bands on Friday and Saturday nights, 9 p.m. to midnight, with free dance lessons at 8 p.m. Saturdays.

This week, Bullet Creek plays rockin’ country music Friday, Feb. 24 and on Feb. 25, the Guy Johnson Band plays dance hits from the 1950s to the present, at 27021 102 Ave NW. Details at www.CyndysBroiler.com or call 629-4800.

Running for youth

Proceeds from the Feb. 25 Smelt Run in La Conner benefits Skagit Symphony’s youth program. The Kids Dash for small fry from 18 months – 6 years old, begins at 9:30 a.m. prior to the actual 5K/10K race starting from La Conner Middle School, 305 North 6th. All little dashers will receive a ribbon for participating. Prerace registration available online at Active.com.

H’arts Auction

Ticket prices go up after Feb. 21 for the Schack Art Center’s (formerly Arts Council of Snohomish County) 30th annual H’Arts (“Helping the Arts”) benefit auction Sat, Feb. 25, at the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center at Comcast Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave. Beginning at 5 p.m., three silent auctions will befollowedbya7p.m.dinner and live auction with auctioneer Mark Schenfeld. Purchase tickets at 425-259-5050 or schack.org.

Writers league

Skagit Valley Writers League presents Janet Oakley, the “Timeline Lady” and author of “Tree Soldier,” 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thurs, Feb. 23 at Mount Vernon Community Center, 1401 Cleveland. Oakley will speak on memoirs. Reserve space at www.skagitwriters.org, or call Sharon, 360-873- 8109.

Shoe drive

Z’s Body and Soul is collecting sturdy, closed toes, gently worn or new (please no sandals, flip flops or heels) shoes for those who need them for the fourth year of “Laced with love” shoe drive at 9504 271st St. in Stanwood. Shoes will go to The Arc of Whatcom County and St. Vincent De Paul. www.zsremedies.com.

Pruning fruit trees

Christianson’s Nursery will offer a class on basic fruit tree pruning 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 3 for a fee and on March 4, the topic is “renovating old fruit trees, 1-2:30 p.m., Make reservations at 360-466-3821, or 1-800-585-8200.

John Christianson offers a free class on pruning roses 11 a.m. – noon March 10.