Kristi’s Notebook: Boys & Girls Clubs gear up for football playoffs
Published 11:10 pm Thursday, November 20, 2008
Playoffs are planned through Sunday for the NFL-Snohomish County Boys &Girls Club flag football program in Arlington, Snohomish and Everett.
Flag football is the fastest growing sport for the Snohomish County Boys &Girls Club, with more than 50 teams playing this season, from ages 6 to 12.
Teams compete from Arlington to Edmonds.
Kody Johnson, volunteer coach and official, also is the sound guy. He will set up a system to announce players’ names and game action for the conference championship and “Super Bowl” games for each division.
With so many players, there are complications.
“As you can imagine, locating practice fields has been a challenge,” Johnson said.
They solved the field problem for night practices.
“We bring in a generator and set up flood lights,” Johnson said. “It’s quite an operation, but the parents and players have been very excited to put in the extra work so they can participate in the program.”
As we wrote on Page B1 Nov. 14, the Arlington High School production of “Peter Pan” is a delight.
At the first Friday night performance, I admit, that was my 2-year-old granddaughter using her loudest whisper saying “When is Peter Pan coming back, Grammie?”
And half the theater heard Peyton ask, “Where is the crocodile?”
My family was mesmerized by the talent, hard work, costumes and elaborate scenery offered in Arlington.
Folks still may catch the performance tonight and Saturday.
I won’t give away any surprises, but amongst the excellent cast, Erica Ewell as Capt. Hook steals the show.
Falling fall pine cones on Camano Island are a boon to shoppers.
Members of the Mabana Flames, a women’s auxiliary that serves the Mabana Volunteer Fire Station on the south end of the island, collect fallen evergreens, holly and pine cones from their own properties.
They get together for a couple of days to make wreaths and swags that folks may order for the holidays.
“We have lots of fun,” said Carolyn Klein, president of the group. “We have the support of our fire chief, Mike Waite, and the eight volunteers that give generously of their time to the south end of Camano Island.”
Order a $15 decoration by Nov. 28 by calling chairwoman Pat Van Almkert at 360-387-9630.
Money raised is well spent. Through the years, the group bought a thermal imaging camera, helmets and shields, face masks, Jaws of Life, 2 1/2 acres near the station for ground expansion, beds, dressers, night stands, lamps for the ambulance crew, tables, boots and medical bags.
They even provide a $1,000 scholarship each year to a high school senior.
That’s a lot of pine cones.
Fun Fact: They’ve simplified fundraising at the Stanwood Community and Senior Center.
No one chipped in a diamond ring. Nobody gets a trip to Reno. Forget about a quilt.
The winners of a raffle, $5 a ticket, will get their prizes in early December at a Festival of Trees at Tazer Valley Farm, says Terri Riffle, center administrative assistant.
And what are the prizes?
Cash, baby: $200 and $300 apiece.
Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.
