Girl Scouts Resident/Day Camp
Finding a safe and nurturing environment is essential to providing girls with valuable summer learning experiences. If you are searching for a place where your daughter can practice resourcefulness, discover her talents and master physical and social skills, look no further than Girl Scout camp. Accredited by the American Camping Association, girls are offered a multitude of program to expand their mind, body and spirit. Whether she is interested in animals, crafts, trips or leadership, your daughter will find a session that stretches her to her fullest potential!

Summer resident camp programs are available at Camp River Ranch in Carnation and Camp Robbinswold on the Hood Canal, which run from four days to two weeks, will be offered from June 26 to August 20. Available sessions will be updated nightly on our web site under “Program Availability” or email shannonlp@girlscoutstotem.org.

Thanks to recent expansions, a new summer day camp program will be offered this year at Camp River Ranch. This is the perfect introduction to the camp experience for first-time campers who want to explore the outdoors, then return home each night to their familiar surroundings. Eight weekly sessions, with a choice of four themes, will be offered. Bus transportation to camp, staffed by trained camp leaders, will be available from select King County Park and Ride facilities. Extended care from 7:00am to 9:00am and 4:00pm to 6:00pm is also available. Lunch and snacks provided daily.

All girls in northwest Washington are welcome to attend Girl Scout resident or day camp; financial assistance is available. Parents are invited to attend an Open House at River Ranch on June 18 and at Robbinswold on June 19 (registration required at www.girlscoutstotem.org/capitalcampaign/dates.cfm). Camp programs are staffed by adults who are trained to facilitate a positive, caring camp community. A high staff to camper ratio of 1:8 is always present. To find out more about our summer resident or day camp programs and registration information, log on to www.girlscoutstotem.org or call (800)767-6845 to request a copy of the brochure by mail.

[Submitted by Girl Scouts - Totem Council]

Angels Have Wheels
All Medicare recipients should now be aware that if they suffer from conditions such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disorders, and have difficulty walking or propelling a standard wheelchair, they may be eligible to receive an electric wheelchair paid for by Medicare. For information on Medicare eligibility contact Gregory at (800)810-2877.

[Submitted by Gregory Coleman]

Local Flooring Contractor offering New Services
WGM Flooring Contractors, in business since 1981, in Freeland has added the following services: Functional Installations - Transfer Poles, Grab Bars, Trapeze, Hand Held Shower, Bathtub Safety Rails, Toilet Safety Frames, Threshold Ramps, and Bathtub and Shower Repairs. For further information regarding these services please call (360)331-5053 or email wgm@whidbey.com.

[Submitted by WGM Flooring Contractors]

Gallery Adds Fine Art Printing
Whidbey Island is known as an artist’s haven. The natural beauty of the island makes it an inspirational place to live and create art, and the local community supports its artists in many ways. One of the galleries in Langley has brought a new service to local artists: fine art printing. The Isle of Art has helped some “starving artists” with their print needs at low costs for the past year, but now the gallery is expanding its printing studio to include new large-format printers, high quality scanners, and professional fine art photography. Joe Menth, one of the gallery owners, is a graduate of the Art Institute of Seattle, and he is currently working toward Epson certification as an UltraGiclee Printmaker. Joe works closely with artists in his studio to ensure the results they require. The desire of the Isle of Art Gallery is to help their clients to follow their chosen path, living the life of an artist. This scenario works for everyone: the artist can better afford to reproduce art, and the art customer can then better afford to purchase fine art for the home or office. With today’s economy, it’s refreshing to find a business with innovative ways to keep prices down. Interested artists can request information from the gallery at (360)221-8499 or by email, isleart@whidbey.com. Open House is March 26 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Tour the Fine Art Printing Studio by entering from the alley next to 138 Second Street at the entrance to the Langley Clock shop.

[Submitted by Isle of Art Gallery]

Free Preschool
The ECEAP Program offered through Skagit Valley College, has enrollment openings in its free preschool. Classes are located at Skagit Valley College in Oak Harbor, Coupeville, and South Whidbey Primary School. ECEAP is a comprehensive preschool program for families who want to be involved in their children’s education. Transportation on School District’s buses is provided. To be eligible for ECEAP children must turn 3 or 4 years of age by August 31, 2005 and be below federal low-income guidelines. For children of families whose income is above low-income guidelines, there are a limited number of low cost openings (Oak Harbor classrooms only.) For more information, or to apply, please contact the ECEAP office at (360)679-5348, (360)679-5248 or toll free from South Whidbey (360)321-0696, ext. 5348.

[Submitted by Skagit Valley College]

Teens Unlimited Clothing Drive
It’s Spring and time for cleaning out those closets! Teens Unlimited, a resale clothing store for teens in Langley, is seeking donations of popular name-brand fashions and accessories for spring and summer. Especially needed is formal apparel suitable for prom and graduation. Teens Unlimited is located at 113 McLeod Alley in Langley. Out-of-town donations welcome. Call for pick-up or drop off at the store between 12:00pm to 5:00pm daily. For more information call (360)221-890

[Submitted by Linda DeFouw]

Poetry Prize Available
The MFA Program in Creative Writing at California State University, Fresno, announces the 2005 Philip Levine Prize in Poetry. Winner receives $1,500 prize and publication by Anhinga Press. Philip Levine will be the final judge. Entry fee is $25. and the deadline for submission is September 15, 2005. All poets are eligible except current or former faculty or students of California State University, Fresno. Manuscript should be original poetry, 48 - 80 pages, and previously unpublished in book form. Include two manuscript title pages: one with name and contact information and one with the name of the manuscript only. Manuscripts will be screened and judged anonymously. Go online at www.csufresno.edu/crwr for details, or email levineprize@listserv.csufresno.edu for complete details.

[Submitted by Victory Schouten]

Want To Grow Oysters?
Target Rentals in Freeland is coordinating a group purchase of pacific-single triploid oyster spat screened to 6000 mil. This is a good starter size and the size for 1⁄4 inch mesh grow-out bags. If we order 100,000 or more we get a much, much better price. If you want to know more about raising them, I will host a short workshop on April 3 at 2:30pm at Target Rentals in Freeland. I will place the group order by April 11 for those who prepay the $14 per thousand. Delivery and distribution date is planned for Saturday and Sunday, April 7 and 8, a nice minus tide both days. You can order spat by sending a check made out to Jim Wright to Target Rentals LLC, PO Box 73 Freeland, 98249 with a check covering $14 per thousand spat and $4 per grow-out bag, or come to the workshop to order. If you have questions you may call (360)331-7880 and ask for the “Oyster Manager.”

[Submitted by Target Rentals]

Girls Night Out: An Afternoon and Evening Delight
If you’re one of those girls who just want to have fun, then get on your mark, get set, and go to your phone on April 1. That’s when tickets go on sale for Girls! Girls! Girls! Night Out: An Afternoon and Evening Delight. This extra special event will be a five-hour extravaganza for women only, ages 18 and over, that will showcase the award-winning Danny Vernon in his tribute “The Illusion of Elvis.” With the voice, look and passion of the 20th century icon, Danny enjoys performing all three decades of Elvis’ career, You can check out Mr. Swivel Hips himself at www.dannyvernon.com

But wait, there’s more! The debut of Oak Harbor’s very own “Guyz 2 Girlz,” door prizes, an Italian dinner buffet, raffle prizes and surprises. And it all starts off with over two dozen “Pamper & Please” booths offering freebies: seated massages (neck, hand, shoulder), chocolate and beauty samples, fitness, wellness and nutrition tips, acupuncture, passion, and so much more. Over sixteen booths will be there to indulge, nurture and delight women.

The FUNdraiser will benefit youth drug prevention programs by the Impaired Driving Impact Panel of Island County (IDIPIC). The organization was recognized for its untiring efforts in educating youth about the dangers of underage drinking and driving under the influence with a 2004 SuperStar award by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. IDIPIC’s latest project, currently in development, is PICKLES: Positive Influences Changing Kids’ Lives in Elementary Schools. As of release date sponsors include Bay Printing, Coachman Inn, Computer Clinic, Elks #2362, Emblem Club, North Whidbey Youth Coalition, Soroptimist International of Oak Harbor and Verizon SuperPages with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission as underwriter.

The event will be held at the Elks Lodge from 5:00pm to 10:00pm on Saturday, May 14 but the $35 per person reserved seating tickets are expected to sell out early. Tables of 8 and 10 can also be reserved for your group. Call JoAnn at (360)675-8397 for more information or to order tickets.

You can also send a check payable to IDIPIC, P.O. Box 358, Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Please include a small self-addressed stamped envelope.

[Submitted by IDIPIC]

Local Poetry Contest Winners
Three of the 25 prizewinners in the Washington Poets Association 2005 contests live on Whidbey Island. Ann Gerike of Coupeville was awarded second prize in the Carlin Aden Award (for structured formal verse) with an Elizabethan sonnet, “The Scent of Rain.” Serafina Strickland of Langley was awarded third prize in the William Stafford Award for her free verse poem, “Cows Lying Down.” Also in the Carlin Aden Award, Patricia J. North of Clinton received an honorable mention for “Evening Rest.” In the contests, which are held annually, 239 poets from around the country and beyond (one winner was from New Zealand) submitted 1,189 poems.

[Submitted by Washington Poets Association]

It’s Gray Whale Time
The resident Gray Whales have returned to Whidbey and Camano Island waters! Orca Network’s Whale Sighting Network has received reports of gray whales off west, south and east Whidbey Island, and in Port Susan the past two weeks.

This small group of resident Gray whales typically arrive in early March and stay through the end of May or early June, feeding on ghost shrimp along the sand and mud shores of Saratoga Passage. This annual spring visit of Gray whales provides an excellent opportunity to view whales from the shorelines of Island county, much to the delight of residents and visitors alike. The whales often feed close to shore by turning on their sides and sucking up huge mouthfuls of sand filled with ghost shrimp, then straining it out through their baleen plates, swallowing the invertebrates and pushing mud and water back out, leaving plumes of mud trailing through the water. Their pectoral fins and fluke tips can often be seen above the surface of the water while they are feeding, and from a bluff top, you can get a great view of the entire whale as it feeds in the shallow intertidal area. Gray whale spouts can also often be seen while they are traveling or feeding in deeper waters, and their flukes are exposed whenever they take a deep dive.

Orca Network’s Whale Sighting Network tracks the travels of Gray whales, orcas and other cetaceans in Washington and British Columbia waters. If you see a Gray whale, please report it to Orca Network at 1-866-ORCANET or info@orcanetwork.org. If you would like to be on Orca Network’s Whale Sighting Network to receive emails about the whereabouts of the whales of our regions, contact Susan Berta at info@orcanetwork.org or sign up on our web site. A map and descriptions of recent whale sightings can also be found at http://orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html. Orca Network’s Whale Sighting Network is funded by the Puget Sound Action Team, the Center for Whale Research, and the Whale Museum.

[Submitted by the Orca Network]

Hearts & Hammers Chose Homes for May Workday
An unprecedented number of homes have been selected for repair this year by the Hearts and Hammers organization for the May 7th workday. A total of 41 homes out of 50 applications were approved for repair. Now in its 12th year, Hearts and Hammers received the largest number of applications for homes needing repair to date. Last year 31 homes were selected, with over 400 volunteers accomplishing the work. The organization offers home repair for those financially or physically unable to do the work themselves at no cost to the home owner. Donations come from the community to cover the cost of the materials, through individuals, organizations, churches, businesses and in-kind donations of labor and materials.

Volunteers gather on Saturday morning at the South Whidbey High School for breakfast and team assignments from their house captains. A photo is taken annually of the entire group just before everyone heads out to the various homes all over South Whidbey. Volunteers do whatever repairs and renovations are possible within the scope of a one-day work party.

Hearts and Hammers is asking for a record number of volunteers to help with the day. It is a hard-working, yet gratifying day, where old friends get together, new friends are made and despite the fatigue, at the end of the day there are smiles.

This is truly a community endeavor, one of the largest volunteer one day efforts on South Whidbey. Those who volunteer are encouraged to bring friends, relatives and neighbors with them this year to share the experience of building community spirit while giving neighbors a helping hand.

To volunteer, forms are available on-line at www.heartsandhammers.com; also at post offices, nurseries, libraries, building supply yards and at The Clyde Theater. This year there are forms available at the Bayview Farmers Market on Saturdays from 10 to 2. Everyone is encourages to sign up early. Mail your forms to Hearts and Hammers, PO Box 694, Langley, WA 98260.

[Submitted by Hearts and Hammers]

Conservation District Presents Awards
The Whidbey Island Conservation District (WICD) recently announced the recipients of the Whidbey Island Conservation District (WICD) 2004 Merit Farmer and Wildlife Steward award. These award-winners have made outstanding progress in protecting, enhancing, and restoring natural resources, improving farm management, and in their commitment to promoting district natural resource education. The first award for District Wildlife Steward of the Year went to Jay Freundlich and Friendly Family Farm of South Whidbey for outstanding riparian habitat restoration. The second award for WICD Merit Farmer went to Gary and Sandra Leake of Coupeville for implementation of Best Management Practices on their farm to conserve natural resources.

The Wildlife Steward of the Year Award is a joint award from the Washington Association of Conservation Districts and Department of Fish and Wildlife that is given to landowners who create or restore wildlife habitat on their farms. The district nominates the landowner(s) who are eligible to receive the state Wildlife Steward of the Year Award and be recognized for their efforts at the state level. Jay Freundlich painstakingly cleared blackberries and planted native trees and shrubs along a tributary of Maxwelton Creek for the benefit of wildlife and fisheries. He also installed fences to exclude his livestock from the riparian area next to the tributary.

The Whidbey Island Conservation District Merit Farmer Award is presented to those landowners who have made a commitment to natural resource protection on their land. The Leakes’ have implemented many practices including roof runoff management, water retention pond management, livestock exclusion management, fencing for pasture rotation, heavy use area protection and watering facility management. Other practices they have planned for this year include tree/shrub establishment, prescribed grazing and nutrient management. Living just south of Coupeville, the Leakes’ farm is in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and they receive only 20 inches of rainfall in an average year. Their roof runoff management is innovative and includes installation of a cistern, a water retention pond and windmill to capture roof runoff for watering the livestock and garden.

WICD provides no-cost, non-regulatory technical assistance to landowners and operators in conservation of the natural resources on their property. For more information on district services, or questions regarding award eligibility please contact the Whidbey Island Conservation District at (360) 678-4708.

[Submitted by Whidbey Island Conservation District]

Get Walking
The Saturday Walking Club meets every Saturday afternoon from 1:00pm to 3:00pm to explore beautiful outdoor Whidbey. We visit Island trail systems, private retreat centers and gardens, island beaches and back roads. A lively group of people taking time to enjoy nature’s beauty. Cost of a club card is $28, drop in for any 4 hikes in a two-month time frame. Please call (360)321-4950 to register.

[Submitted by Whidbey Walks]

New Karate After School Program
Tiger Martial Arts is bringing karate to school! Beginning March 29 there will be classes at the South Whidbey Primary, Intermediate and Middle Schools, 1 day a week for 8 weeks, and the cost is $50 which includes 8 1-hour classes and a free T-shirt. Or check out our regular karate schedule at www.tigermartialarts.info.

[Submitted by Tiger Martial Arts]

Learn a Little, Give a Little
Are you interested in learning more about Island County’s fascinating history, starting with pre-history and ending with what is in store for the island in the future? If so, then the Island County Historical Society’s series of classes, conducted annually, are made for you! At the end of the series you will walk away with tons of knowledge about the island’s Native American history, the early settlements and much, much more.

The dates and subject of each of the classes are as follows (All classes are from 10:00am - 12:30pm at the museum):

· Pacific Northwest Native, American Prehistory, Saturday, April 9
· Pioneers, Fur Traders and the Hudson’s Bay Company, Saturday, April 16
· Maritime History and Sunnyside Cemetery Tour, Saturday, April 23
· Fort Casey and Coastal Artillery, Saturday, April 30
· History of the Island County Historical Society, Saturday, May 14

The registration fee for the five classes is $25 for ICHS members, $35 for non-members. Graduates of the training program are encouraged to become part of the museum volunteer staff by working with the museum’s various committees, assisting with cataloging and preserving our archives and collections material, staffing the admissions desk, or working special events. When a graduate has worked a total of 50 hours by the end of 2005, the registration fee will be refunded. Registration forms may be obtained from the Island County Historical Museum by calling (360)678-3310. Completed forms may be dropped off at the museum or mailed to: ICHS Museum, c/o Docent/Volunteer Training Program, PO Box 305, Coupeville, WA 98239.

[Submitted by Island County Historical Society]

Forgotten Children Fund Looking for Volunteers
The Forgotten Children’s Fund M Bar C Ranch Program is currently looking for volunteers to assist in their 2005 Ranch Activity Program. Volunteers will assist special needs participants in horse riding, wagon rides, and just general good fun play. You need not have any experience to participate other than a desire to help physically, mentally, emotionally or socially handicapped children. Address of the ranch is 5264 Shore Meadow Road in Freeland. For further information, dates and times, or directions please call Bill O’Brien at (360)678-3676.

[Submitted by the Forgotten Children’s Fund]

Tickets Sale—Island Garden Tour
Tickets are now on sale for the 10th annual Whidbey Island Garden Tour which will be on Saturday, April 30. Five of Whidbey’s loveliest gardens will be open for this one spring day only. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available at Bayview Farm and Garden, Clinton Nursery, Flowers by the Bay and Sally’s Garden. For information www.wigt.org.

[Submitted by Whidbey Island Garden Tour]

Welcome Mats to Support The American Cancer Society
Floors Plus Carpet One in Oak Harbor welcomes Spring with fresh new designs for its cause-related welcome mats, as part of its continuing fundraising campaign, “Carpet One Welcomes Your Support.” The American Cancer Society will receive all net profits (i.e., 25 percent of proceeds) from sales of these specially designed welcome mats sold throughout April and May 2005 in more than 600 Carpet One stores across the U.S.

Consumers can support the American Cancer Society by purchasing a custom-designed welcome mat this Spring. The new designs depict the colors and flowers of the season, and are the perfect addition to any home. They also make a thoughtful gift for mom this Mother’s Day - a gift that gives back to a cause she cares about.

For more information please visit Floors Plus Carpet One at 3175 North Goldie Road, or call (360)679-5570 or visit www.carpetone.com.

[Submitted by Floor Plus Carpet One]

Girl Scouts Fight Hunger
Each Spring, Girl Scouts shift their attention from selling cookies to fighting hunger. Armed with knowledge about the devastating affects of hunger, Girl Scouts are determined to help the nearly 190,000 NW Washington children who go hungry each year. Girls will be knocking on neighbors’ doors and collecting food items at supermarkets from April 1 - 16.

[Submitted by Girl Scouts - Totem Council]

Passports Available in Langley
The City of Langley is now authorized by the US Department of State to accept applications for new and renewing passports. This service will save South Whidbey residents from travelling to Oak Harbor or to the mainland.

Fees are the same at all passport issuing locations. This information can be obtained by calling City Hall (360)221-4246 during business hours or by visiting the web at www.travel.state.gov.

Forms may be picked up during business hours; however, passport applications will be processed by appointment only from Tuesdays to Thursdays, 8:00am to 10:00am and on Fridays from 2:00pm to 4:00pm

To schedule an appointment, please call (360)221-4246.

[Submitted by the Langley South Whidbey Chamber of Commerce]