Published: Friday, September 9, 2011, 12:01 a.m.
Stillaguamish Tribe's donation helps keep kids safe in Stanwood football program
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Bud McCurry asked to give a shout out to the Stillaguamish Tribe.
Sure.
McCurry is the secretary for Stanwood Camano Youth Football. He says this is the group's second year offering tackle football.
"To say it's been a struggle would be an understatement," McCurry says. "As some of you may know, running a nonprofit organization is no different than running a for-profit business; you just don't make money while doing it."
Coaches hammer a theme of safety, safety, safety.
"We have a great responsibility as parents and board members to take someone's child, teach them the game of tackle football and do it as safely as possible," he says. "We do this by requiring all coaches be first aid and CPR certified, be tackle football certified, and we teach how to hit, and be hit properly. No amount of technique can ever prevent 100 percent of injuries, so how do you make it even safer?"
With better equipment, he says.
They use what they believe, he says, is the safest youth helmet on the market, called Xenith.
They could afford to buy about 40 Xenith models, leaving 60 kids to use older helmets.
"Some parents have bought their own Xeniths," he says. "We work our tails off to provide the best equipment possible to our kids. We owe it to our dedicated parents."
Enter the Stillaguamish Tribe.
"One of our Pee-Wee players is a member of the Stillaguamish Tribe," McCurry says. "Imagine our shock when the parent of this little Pee-Wee player approached our board and said the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians would like to donate $10,000 to our program."
The donation meant that not only could they offer scholarships to children who couldn't afford to pay, but it meant that the program could equip every kid with Xenith helmets.
"Words cannot describe how grateful we are to the Stillaguamish Tribe. Most youth football leagues are using 10-plus-year-old equipment, and concussion technology has far surpassed those old helmets."
The tribal donation shows its dedication to the local community, he says.
uuu
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett with Orca Network on Whidbey Island recommend folks go see the film "The Whale" when it opens tonight in Seattle. For ticket information, go to http://tinyurl.com/thewhalefilm.
It's about Luna/L98, a remake of the documentary "Saving Luna." It's a longer theatrical release, produced by Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds.
"We were fortunate to get to see "The Whale" in July, and it is fantastic," Berta says. "We know there will be a lot of interest in this region, and many of us have waited a long time for it to be widely shown in the U.S."
Luna, a killer whale, lived alone in a narrow stretch of sea off British Columbia called Nootka Sound. He became famous as he swam up to boats. Orcas are social. They live with their families all their lives. An orca who gets separated usually just fades away and dies.
Mike Parfit and Suzanne Chisholm spent three years in Nootka Sound writing and filming Luna's life and death.
They have traveled around the world to film festivals to show "Saving Luna" and "The Whale," winning awards and raising awareness about orcas.
uuu
Roger Gossler, an expert on trees and shrubs, will speak at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Camano Island Yacht Club, 129 N. Sunset Drive on Camano Island.
His talk, "Fall: the Forgotten Season," includes information about his 30 years producing Gossler Farms Nursery Plant Catalog in Oregon.
He is the author of The Gossler's Guide to the Best Hardy Shrubs. Some of his merchandise will be sold at the presentation.
Tickets are $12 at the door.
Make a reservation by calling Linda Parker at 360-770-3883.
Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451; oharran@heraldnet.com.
Sure.
McCurry is the secretary for Stanwood Camano Youth Football. He says this is the group's second year offering tackle football.
"To say it's been a struggle would be an understatement," McCurry says. "As some of you may know, running a nonprofit organization is no different than running a for-profit business; you just don't make money while doing it."
Coaches hammer a theme of safety, safety, safety.
"We have a great responsibility as parents and board members to take someone's child, teach them the game of tackle football and do it as safely as possible," he says. "We do this by requiring all coaches be first aid and CPR certified, be tackle football certified, and we teach how to hit, and be hit properly. No amount of technique can ever prevent 100 percent of injuries, so how do you make it even safer?"
With better equipment, he says.
They use what they believe, he says, is the safest youth helmet on the market, called Xenith.
They could afford to buy about 40 Xenith models, leaving 60 kids to use older helmets.
"Some parents have bought their own Xeniths," he says. "We work our tails off to provide the best equipment possible to our kids. We owe it to our dedicated parents."
Enter the Stillaguamish Tribe.
"One of our Pee-Wee players is a member of the Stillaguamish Tribe," McCurry says. "Imagine our shock when the parent of this little Pee-Wee player approached our board and said the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians would like to donate $10,000 to our program."
The donation meant that not only could they offer scholarships to children who couldn't afford to pay, but it meant that the program could equip every kid with Xenith helmets.
"Words cannot describe how grateful we are to the Stillaguamish Tribe. Most youth football leagues are using 10-plus-year-old equipment, and concussion technology has far surpassed those old helmets."
The tribal donation shows its dedication to the local community, he says.
uuu
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett with Orca Network on Whidbey Island recommend folks go see the film "The Whale" when it opens tonight in Seattle. For ticket information, go to http://tinyurl.com/thewhalefilm.
It's about Luna/L98, a remake of the documentary "Saving Luna." It's a longer theatrical release, produced by Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds.
"We were fortunate to get to see "The Whale" in July, and it is fantastic," Berta says. "We know there will be a lot of interest in this region, and many of us have waited a long time for it to be widely shown in the U.S."
Luna, a killer whale, lived alone in a narrow stretch of sea off British Columbia called Nootka Sound. He became famous as he swam up to boats. Orcas are social. They live with their families all their lives. An orca who gets separated usually just fades away and dies.
Mike Parfit and Suzanne Chisholm spent three years in Nootka Sound writing and filming Luna's life and death.
They have traveled around the world to film festivals to show "Saving Luna" and "The Whale," winning awards and raising awareness about orcas.
uuu
Roger Gossler, an expert on trees and shrubs, will speak at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Camano Island Yacht Club, 129 N. Sunset Drive on Camano Island.
His talk, "Fall: the Forgotten Season," includes information about his 30 years producing Gossler Farms Nursery Plant Catalog in Oregon.
He is the author of The Gossler's Guide to the Best Hardy Shrubs. Some of his merchandise will be sold at the presentation.
Tickets are $12 at the door.
Make a reservation by calling Linda Parker at 360-770-3883.
Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451; oharran@heraldnet.com.
Story tags » • Movies • Entertainment (general) • Camano Island • Stanwood • Nature • Animals • Youth Football • Whidbey Island • Community Sports
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