Hit the links for a good cause on July 31
Published 11:42 pm Thursday, July 16, 2009
Thoughts usually don’t meander to Christmastime during golf tournaments in July.
But Christmas may be top of mind for some golfers at the Stanwood Chamber of Commerce fifth annual Golf Classic coming up July 31.
The chamber uses all proceeds for local causes, such as scholarships, the Snow Goose Festival and something very nice in December.
Stacy Johnson, Stanwood Chamber of Commerce executive director, says the first Saturday in December, low-income children gather at Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center in Stanwood and get free pictures taken with Santa Claus.
“They do crafts and get a goody bag,” Johnson says. “For some, it could be the only gift they get that year.”
They really need a good tournament turnout. Last year there were free pictures for 400 kids.
The competition is at Camaloch Golf Course on Camano Island. For more information, call Johnson at 360-629-0562 or e-mail stacykj3@hotmail.com.
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There were scrumptious desserts and huge results at the recent Taste of Decadence Hawaii fundraiser for Village Community Services in Arlington.
Village Community Services provides residential support and vocational services to adults with disabilities.
Spokeswoman Michelle Dietz-Date say they raised more than $16,500 including donations from UBS Financial Services, Vine Dahlen Certified Public Accountants, Arlington Pizza Factory and Puget Sound Kidney Centers.
“The top selling dessert, an almond cheesecake by Jim Toomey, went for $300,” Dietz-Date says.
One of the clients who was honored was Sandee Wetzel, who lives in her own apartment with support from VCS Residential Services. Her father, Ed Wetzel, said when his daughter was born, he was told she should be put in an institution.
They ignored the advice and Sandee Wetzel grew up at home, and is now in her 40s.
“She has a beautiful voice and performs at almost every Voices of the Village gig,” Dietz-Date says.
Last year, Voices of the Village had 38 performances and reached an audience of more than 5,000.
At the benefit, Wetzel’s success story was shown on a big screen.
“She had a huge smile on her face,” Dietz-Date says. “If you think about it, people with significant disabilities rarely experience the recognition that Sandee experienced that night. Seeing her smile from ear to ear was definitely a high point in my career.”
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Last weekend was a challenge for Art by the Bay, The Stanwood-Camano Festival of Art and Music on Camano Island.
“The yin/yang weekend weather was pretty remarkable,” says organizer Mark Dodge. “Saturday was sunny and 80-ish.”
There were record crowds until 2 p.m. when it was too hot out, he says.
“One vendor told me it was the best single day he’d ever had. The shows all went well, and the music was great.”
Sunday was the yang to Saturday’s yin — 60 degrees and rainy. The first act played during a downpour complete with lightning flashes.
“The musicians, the sound crew, and the audiences were troupers, though,” Dodge says. “We had small but appreciative crowds for all of the Sunday shows, and everybody who showed up had a great time.”
Thankfully, he says, the vendors had a good Saturday.
No telling what the weather will bring next year, but there is a certainly a new location for the event.
It’s moving from Utsalady Elementary School to the Stanwood-Camano Fairgrounds.
Perhaps they’ll need to change the name to “Art by the Hay.”
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The 2nd Generation Thrift Store celebrates a new name Monday.
It’s now The Center Court Thrift Store.
A grand reopening for the store at the Stanwood Senior Center is planned for 10 a.m. Monday at 7430 276th St. NW.
Center Court is a reference to the store’s location in the same building as the former gymnasium at Lincoln High School, which was built in 1938.
Former Lincoln basketball players will be on hand, including Pug Lund and Peter Henning.
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com
