GIVING

Project Linus sends 100 quilts to Haiti

Snohomish County Project Linus donated 100 quilts on Wednesday to help fill the 20,000 quilts that the national organization needs for Haiti.

A request for the quilts was sent out to each of the nonprofit’s 378 chapters.

Fred Meyer stores donate to Hi-Q

Fred Meyer stores recently donated $5,000 to support Hi-Q, an academic quiz competition for high school students in Snohomish and Island counties.

Hi-Q is in its 34th year of competition and is the oldest continuous academic quiz competition for high school students in the nation. The competition has tested the wits of local students since 1976.

This year, 18 area high school teams are participating in weekly competitions, vying to secure a spot in the Hi-Q playoffs. Dates of the competitions are posted at www.everettcc.edu/hiq.

“Fred Meyer’s continued sponsorship of the Hi-Q program demonstrates an ongoing commitment to supporting academic excellence in our local high schools,” said Linda Summers, Everett Community College Hi-Q coordinator and outreach specialist.

Everett Community College is seeking additional sponsors for Hi-Q for 2009-10.

More info: Linda Summers, 425-388-9099 or lsummers@everettcc.edu.

$7,500 donation will help clothe kids

Assistance League of Everett recently received a $7,500 donation from The Everett Clinic Foundation. The funds are for Operation School Bell, the oldest and largest philanthropic program of Assistance League.

School Bell provides new school clothing to children from low-income and foster homes throughout Snohomish County. They hope to provide complete new school wardrobes for 70 children with the money. The Everett Clinic Foundation, a long-time supporter of Operation School Bell, was established in 1994 by clinic staff and physicians. The goal of the foundation is to provide ongoing philanthropic support to charitable organizations in Snohomish County.

HONORS

Firefighters form Honor Guard

Eight of Snohomish County Fire District 7’s employees have worked over the last year and a half to form an Honor Guard to represent Fire District 7 at memorials, ceremonies and events throughout the Northwest.

The planning started in 2008, and the eight founding members have spent their own time learning and practicing the techniques needed to become a professional Honor Guard. Two members are former Marines.

“Forming an Honor Guard was something that had just been an idea in the back of people’s minds for quite some time,” Capt. Evan Adolf said. “It has finally come together and we are extremely proud of our team.”

Fire District 7’s Honor Guard was created to continue a longstanding fire service tradition to honor fallen brothers and sisters at their funerals and memorials. However, the Honor Guard also participates in parades, dedications, graduation ceremonies and other celebrations and events.

Honor Guard members include Evan Adolf, Dennis Egan, Gary Fatkin, Bill Gunterman, Ronda Steinbach, Matt Suhayda, Jeff Thompson and Steve Tickle.

Arlington Arts Council awards fish

The Arlington Arts Council recently distributed awards to people who participated in the Some Things Fishy in Arlington community art project. People painted and decorated plywood fish, which were placed around the city and along I-5 and Highway 530.

The award winners are:

Best in Show

First place, Vicki Johnson; second place, Arlington Library staff; third place, Bowman Manufacturing staff

Most realistic salmon

First place, Tina Wilson; second place, Jeannette Reed

Most realistic trout

First place, Mike Connor and Ethan Cantrell; second place, Key Bank staff and Pat Oakes; third place, Amy Fettig and Jacob Thompson

Best rockfish

Reta Shepard

Best food fish

Julie Tibeau

Best business fish

First place, The School Box; second place, Favorite Pastime; third place, The Quiltmaker Shoppe; honorable mention, Olympic Place

Best catfish

First place, Robert Roth; second place, Debora Nelson

Most artistic fish

First place, Kirsten Hammer; second place, Country Tack

Best church fish

Assembly of God

Brightest fish

Nadine Kapoun

Most colorful fish

Angel of the Winds Casino security staff

Best club fish

First place, Arlington Garden Club; second place, Arlington Lions Club

Most creative fish

First place, Rob Cantrell; second place, Julia Drossler; third place, Jill Bhear

Best mosaic fish

First place, Shirley Harwell; second place, Sarah Arney; third place, Mary Ann Moe

Most patriotic fish

First place, Matthew Hayen; second place, Andy Anders

Best school fish

First place, Presidents Elementary grade 5; second place, Lakewood Middle School; third place, Trafton Elementary School

Best high school fish

First place, Arlington High School art class; second place, Weston High School

Best sport fish

First place, Dennis Ryan and William Frankhouser; second place, Lissa Ruebush

Best sturgeon

First place, Frontier Bank; second place, Earthwise Healing Arts

Most flirtatious fish

First place, Arlene Morrison; second place, Charlie and Karen Ricketts

Best public service fish

North County EMS

Best Native American fish

First place, Stillaguamish Tribe; second place, Bill Blake; third place, Robert Roth

Most humorous fish

First place, Leroy Jacques Holstein Fish; second place, Cascade Valley Hospital whales

Best rainbow trout

First place, Roni Lee; second place, Flowers by George, Debi Tucker; third place, Nita Dew

There were other fish, whose artists are unknown, that also won awards.

Girls ready for the Marysville pageant

Local girls and women from babies to age 21 are expected to participate in a preliminary round of the All American Girl pageant on Feb. 27 in Marysville.

The pageant includes eight categories and focuses on poise, personality and public speaking in addition to natural beauty.

Local participants include:

Mikayla Anderson, 3, of Marysville; Isabella Brackin, 4, of Arlington; Brittany Bray, 17, of Marysville; Kelsey Bray, 6, of Arlington; Aimee Brotton, 7, of Tulalip; Sidney Gillaspie, 6, of Arlington; Asheley Krutsinger, 9, of Lakewood and Marysville; Hannah Krutsinger, 12, of Lakewood and Marysville; Emma Lewis, 4, of Arlington; Madison Maria, 9, of Marysville; Mikayla Maria, 12, of Marysville; Sierra Maria, 6, of Marysville; Alexis Miller, 13, of Marysville; Gabreille Olsen, 8, of Marysville; Abby Shoemaker, 5, of Arlington; and Madyson Whitemarsh, 5, of Marysville.

Ashley and Megan Berginc of Marysville will be the event ambassadors. They will help participants and crown winners.

The winners will advance to a state pageant in Seattle on April 23-25 and a national contest in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 12-16.