This year, Poochapalooza is for dogs and dancers

Published 11:52 pm Thursday, July 2, 2009

The popular reality TV show “So You Think You Can Dance?” has inspired folks in Marysville.

Humans and their dogs will be invited to dance at the fourth annual Marysville Poochapalooza.

It’s planned for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 11 at Totem Middle School, 1605 Seventh St. in Marysville.

Doug Buell, husband of Leslie Buell, who created Poochapalooza, says they expect more than 40 vendors. Doug Buell is vice president of the Marysville Dog Owners Group, which hosts this event.

“For the first time, we also have a new off-leash park to promote, Strawberry Fields for Rover, in north Marysville,” Buell says.

Admission donations help support the park, he added.

At the event, there will be free contests, a celebrity look-alike, best kisser, highest jumper, best voice, etc.

The ribbons and donated prizes will be as good as shows that have more purebred dogs, Buell says.

There is also a free Hyperflite Skyhoundz flying disc tournament.

Cloud’s Canine from Camano Island will run the Canine Good Citizen training class. Dogs will be able to maneuver through obedience and agility courses.

And for those who aren’t great at doing the tango with their dogs, Emerald City K-9 Freestyle Dancers will give dog-owner dance demonstrations.

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An earthquake Wednesday morning centered on Whidbey Island reminds us about the force of nature.

Roy Lesher of Camano Island intently follows the status of Mount Redoubt, an active volcano in Alaska. Lesher sends e-mail distribution lists of events on Camano Island to dozens of recipients and includes updates on Redoubt.

He says he enjoys the spectacular webcams, interesting natural phenomena, the good chance of interference with air traffic through or into Alaska and even a chance of getting some fallout down in our area.

For more information, he recommends an online visit to www.avo.alaska.edu.

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Members of First Baptist Church of Marysville have an artistic calling.

They will teach youngsters at Xpressive Arts Camp, which begins July 13 at 4011 81st Place NE in Marysville.

School age children and teens will learn about Christ-centered music, puppetry, drama, rhythm and movement, sound, lighting and projection systems.

For more information, call 360-659-1242 or visit www.fbcmarysville.org.

“The teachers are all volunteers who have associations with our church,” says organizer Kim Eldred. “They share their talents, interests and knowledge with the students in the area of worship arts.”

Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com