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WEEK IN REVIEW
Saturday


Fireworks blamed in Marysville house fire
Sailors for a day: Naval Station Everett opens ...
Edmonds backs off red-light cameras
Friday
Armed man shot by deputies in Arlington
Police ID make of vehicle in fatal hit-and-run
Boeing's 6-month tally: 1 net order
Thursday


One fire rips through $2 million home, another ...
Swine flu claims 2nd victim in Snohomish County
Jetty Island firefight continues; hot weather ...
Wednesday


Fire District 1 negotiates to take over service...
Snohomish County population rising fast since 2...
Honey's owners indicted by feds
Tuesday


Mobile home tenants along Snohomish River told ...
Lincoln to leave Everett in 2013
Put on your sailor's cap and explore Naval Stat...
Monday


Disabled people will be left without a ride
You'll soon have 4,500 reasons to trade in that...
Pay hike deserved, Monroe chief says
Sunday


1,670 local students in county are without homes
Monroe's business gets done in secret
$9 million to be sought for U.S. 2 in federal t...
 

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Mark Mulligan / The Herald  (click to enlarge)
Max Gochenour, 4, of Bothell high-fives Darth Vader outside Toys "R" Us in Lynnwood on Saturday. "It's bad guys doing good," says Marc Semenchuk, dressed as Darth Vader. Other costumed Star Wars characters encouraged shoppers to donate to Toys for Tots.
Mark Mulligan / The Herald  (click to enlarge)
X-wing fighter pilots Misty Buxton of Renton and Greg Evans of Federal Way wave at cars outside Toys "R" Us in Lynnwood on Saturday. Members of the Star Wars groups Rebel Legion and 501st Legion encouraged shoppers to donate to Toys for Tots.
 
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CONTACT THE HERALD
Robert Frank, City Editor
frank@heraldnet.com
 
Published: Sunday, November 23, 2008

The force is with Toys for Tots

LYNNWOOD -- Storm troopers, Rebel pilots and Sith lords greeted busy holiday shoppers at the Alderwood mall Saturday. About a dozen fully costumed characters from the epic Star Wars series spent the afternoon at the Toys "R" Us store collecting donations for the Toys for Tots program.

The Marine Corps collects toys every year in different communities across the country, which then go to needy children as Christmas gifts.

This was the first time film characters were helping the Marines, and the donation bins were filling up fast, U.S. Marine Sgt. Hector Deltoro said.

The costumes disguised avid Star Wars fans with kind hearts.

They are all members of local Star Wars clubs -- there are hundreds of them all over the world -- where fans get together, make costumes and appear at parades and other events to raise money for different charities.

Misty Buxton, 29, of Renton was dressed in the Rebel Alliance pilot uniform -- an orange jumpsuit and a blue helmet.

"This is what we do; we have fun with it," she said. "It's always a really good experience."

Rebel fighter Mechelle Allen from Marysville was amazed at how many people stopped by.

"It's great that even though there is a war, our Marines are still thinking about toys," she said.

When she's not a Star Wars character, Allen is a 42-year-old stay-at-home mom.

"I love Star Wars, but I love kids even more," she said. "They always crack me up. They are just so full of wonder."

Smiling boys and girls handed toys to their favorite Star Wars characters, happy to share their holidays with children who might not otherwise get presents this year.

"Whatever we can do to bring a smile to people's faces, we will do," Eugene Seibert said.

The 28-year-old Newcastle resident was dressed as Darth Nihilus, one of the evil characters.

Seibert said his tall figure draped in a black robe and the ominous white mask on his face sometimes frightens the younger children.

When a child gets scared, off goes the mask to reveal a kind, human face.

"It's a scary costume," Seibert said. "But once they touch the mask and realize there's somebody under there, they aren't afraid anymore."

Reporter Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452 or kyefimova@heraldnet.com.


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