Community Calendar

Toastmasters: Mill Creek Business Association sponsors a new Toastmasters International club, noon Wednesdays, Mill Creek Country Club, 15500 Country Club Drive, Mill Creek. Millcreektm.org.

Help a family: Bring donations to help a family during the holidays at 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 4630 S. Alger, Everett. The South Forest Park Neighborhood will accept donations at a potluck dessert buffet while historian Larry O’Donnell talks about the early days of Everett.

Get a groove on: Archbishop Murphy High School Performing Arts Department presents its annual Christmas Concert and original play “How Mikey Got His Groove Back,” 7 p.m., in the school gym, 12911 39th Ave. SE, Everett. Concert band, two concert choirs and the show choir, as well as 17 students performing an original play written by the AMHS drama class. Tickets are $3 per person and are available at the door.

THURSDAY

Thursday

Newcomers welcome: Everett Area Newcomers coffee social, 10 a.m., 1425 Grand Ave., Everett. 425-806-9211.

Cooking class: J. Matheson Kitchen &Gourmet: 2609 Colby Ave., Everett; 425-258-4589. Registration recommended. Baklava with Ann Erickson, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., $20.

To hunt or not: Island County may change hunting regulations on five county properties. The new rule would prohibit hunting on all 198 acres the county owns north of Greenbank Farm on Whidbey Island. On three other properties, Kettles Trail and Goss Woods on Whidbey Island and Camano Ridge on Camano Island, hunting would essentially be allowed during most of the deer-hunting season. The plan will be discussed at 6 p.m. at Utsalady Elementary School, 608 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island.

friDAY

Friday

Peace party: Snohomish County Peace Action’s annual Holiday Bash, 6 p.m., Edmonds Christian Church, 23010 84th Ave. W., Edmonds. Goodies, music, a sale table.

Apply by today: Alderwood Little League is accepting applications for managers in its Major Division for the 2006 season. The application deadline is Dec. 16. For more information, call 425-775-5437.

Herons: “Life of the Great Blue Heron,” 7 p.m., Northwest Stream Center Adopt-A-Stream Foundation, 600 128th St. SE, Everett. Reservations: 425-316-8592. Biologist Ruth Milner discusses herons and preserving a colony on Camano Island.

SaturDAY

Saturday

Baseball: Tryouts for the Power Alley U-14 Sandy Koufax baseball team are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday. For more information, call 360-657-4824.

First aid: Valley General Hospital, 14701 179th Ave. SE, Monroe, offers classes on first aid, CPR and defibrillator use from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today and Jan. 14. Participants will get two-year certificates. The fee is $48. To register, call the hospital at 360-794-7497 or go to www.valley general.com.

Radio test: Island County Amateur Radio Club amateur radio License exams, 10 a.m., Island County Annex Building, 1 NE Sixth St., Coupeville. info@mail.w7avm.org.

Craft sale: Gold Bar Historical Society Bake &Craft sale, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, park shelter on U.S. 2., Gold Bar.

Breakfast: Norwegian pancake breakfast, 7:30-11:30 a.m., Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 2111 117th Ave. NE, Lake Stevens. All-you-can-eat Norwegian pancakes with strawberries, maple syrup, sliced ham, beverages. $5. Children 3 and younger eat for free. Benefits Lake Stevens Food Bank.

Sale: Holiday Happenin’s, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, through Dec. 24, 10030 51st Ave. NE, Marysville.

SunDAY

Sunday

Create decorations: Blow your own glass ornament: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., $20 per ornament, Mongrain Glass Studio, 724 First St., Mukilteo; 206-818-9795, www.glassart bysteve.com.

monDAY

Monday

Baseball camp: The Lynnwood-based Brooklyn Baseball Club will offer Schools Out Baseball Skills Camps today and Dec. 27. These are all-day events. For more information, call 425-744-0109.

TuesDAY

Tuesday

Annual Brier lights: Timberline Park Holiday Lights: A Brier neighborhood transformed into a winter wonderland, 5-10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 5-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through Dec. 31, cash and food donations for local food bank encouraged. 3700 and 3800 blocks of 228th Place SW, Brier; www.brierlights.org.

wednesDAY

Wednesday

Club dance: Jubilee Reveleers Dance Club Holiday Dance, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21, Everett Golf and Country Club, 1500 52nd St. SE, Everett. $65. Trish Hatley Ensemble. 425-348-0468.

Labyrinth walk: Winter solstice candlelight procession, 5 p.m., Wiggums Park, 2808 10th St., Everett.

this week

This week

Gift wrapping: Fire District 19 Auxiliary, Cinder Ella’s, will do gift wrapping, 5-8 p.m. Friday, noon-4 p.m. Saturday, old fire hall, 1430 Pioneer Highway, Silvana. Supports volunteer fire department.

Round ball tourney: The fourth annual Snohomish County Boys &Girls Clubs Holiday Basketball Tournament is scheduled for . The program is for players in grades 4-10. Both recreation and open divisions are offered. The cost is $160 per team. The registration deadline is 6:30 p.m. on Friday. For more information, call Paul at 425-774-3022 or Cara at 425-259-5147.

Youth tournament: A Lady Hoopaholics Youth Basketball Tournament is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Monroe. The program is for girls teams in grades 5-9. For more information, call 360-799-2211.

Baseball registration: Registration for Granite Falls Little League baseball is scheduled for 5-9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, at the Granite Falls Middle School Commons Area. At least one parent or legal guardian must be present and birth certificates are required. For more information, call Jolene Knapp at 360-691-7203 or Regina Boyd at 360-691-0459.

Food collection: Marysville firefighters will collect food Wednesday and Thursday at Safeway, 1258 State Ave., Marysville. The canned food drive is part of the annual Santa Run by Marysville Professional Firefighters Local 3219. A fire truck, firefighters and Santa will be set up shop for people to donate goods to the Marysville Food Bank. Donations can be made between 4 and 8 p.m. at the Safeway at 1258 State Ave.

holiday events

Holiday events

Holiday Light Tour: Board a festive Everett Transit bus to see the holiday lights of Everett, 7 p.m. through Sunday, $5 with two canned food donations, toys also accepted. Depart from Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave., Everett; 425-257-7777.

“Path of Light”: Live Nativity, hot drinks and snacks, 7-9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, free. First Baptist Church, 17922 149th St. SE, Monroe; 360-794-8044, www. fbcmonroe.org.

Holiday tea: Annual holiday event, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Country Village, Peach Tree Tea Room, 740 238th St. SE, Bothell; 425-483-2005.

Firefighters and Santa: Santa Claus will join Snohomish County Fire District 1 volunteer firefighters to ride aboard the fire engine and hand out candy canes to neighbors of the Lake Serene and Silver Firs fire stations from 6-9 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 23. Santa and the firefighters will make their rounds through the neighborhoods surrounding both stations. In addition to the neighborhoods around the fire station and the lake, firefighters plan to visit areas of Picnic Point, Woodsound and Beverly.

Christmas in Sultan: Christmas Open House, noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Sky Valley Historical Society, 422 Fourth St., Sultan. Hostesses in vintage apparel will serve beverages and cookies. See an 18th-century dining room, a 1930s parlor and 1920s bedroom.

Christmas dessert theatre: North Sound Church presents “Nativity on the Square” by Taproot Theatre Road Company, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday, $15, $120 table for eight, includes desserts. Edmonds Conference Center, 201 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds; 425-778-9800.

Bronn Journey: 24th annual Christmas concert, ticket prices vary. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett; 425-257-8600.Olympic Ballet Theatre: 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. Monday, Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett; 425-774-7570, www.olympicballet.com.

“Oliver!”: Driftwood Players, 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through Sunday, $20, $17 ages 18 and younger and seniors. The company’s holiday show is the popular musical based on Charles Dickens’ novel. Wade James Theater, 950 Main St., Edmonds; 425-774-9600, www. driftwoodplayers.com.

“Snoopy”: A classic comic strip comes to life in the musical sequel to “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” the holiday production of Whidbey Playhouse’s youth theatre program. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. $10, 360-679-2237, www.whidbey playhouse.com or at the theatre at 730 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor.

“A Medieval Yule Murder”: Interactive murder mystery dinner, 7 p.m. Sunday, $50, Canyons Restaurant, 14919 N. Kelsey St., Monroe; 360-805-9379.

“For Unto Y’all”: Monroe Faith Center’s Christmas play is a Christmas story set in the wild west, 7 p.m. Saturday, followed by holiday desserts. 16910 161st Ave. SE, Snohomish; 360-794-8598.

Pilkenton Claus: Take your own pictures of Santa and Mrs. Claus (Brad and Norma Pilkenton) from 1-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Dec. 23, at 2602 Baker Ave., Everett.

Christmas story: “Emmanuel: The Christmas Story” is planned for 6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., Everett. Photos with Santa and toy give-away, 4 p.m. Free. Donation barrels for nonperishable food; blankets and unwrapped toys for Volunteers of America.

Supports food bank: The fifth annual Christmas Spectacular in support of the Volunteers of America Food Bank, 7 p.m. Saturday, Historic Everett Theater, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. Music.

Kids decorating parties: Children are invited to show off their decorating and arts and crafts skills in exchange for a free kids’ meal and hot chocolate, 2-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Ivar’s Seafood Bar, 1520 41st St., Everett; www.ivars.net.

Molbak’s: Festival of poinsettias, through Dec. 24. 13625 NE 175th St., Woodinville; 425-483-5000, www.molbaks.com.

“Christmas Carol”: Dinner and dessert theater, Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 21-23, Sunday dessert matinees Sunday, registration required. Warm Beach Camp, 20800 Marine Drive, Stanwood; 800-228-6724, 360-652-7575, www.warmbeach.com.

“The King and I”: The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is WICA’s holiday show, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, $15, $12 seniors, $10 youth, $8 matinees. Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, 565 Camano Ave., Langley; 360-221-8268, 800-638-7631, www.wicaonline.com.

Lynnwood breakfast: Olympic Ballet Theatre’s annual breakfast and mini-“Nutcracker” performance, 10 a.m. Saturday, $24, $20 ages 10 and younger, Embassy Suites, 20610 44th Ave. W. Lynnwood; 206-292-2787, www.olympic ballet.com.

Arts Council of Snohomish County: Holiday Art Show, through Dec. 29. Monte Cristo Hotel, 1507 Wall St., Everett; 425-257-8380.

Caroling: Santa Claus and Riverside neighbors will sing carols and spread holiday cheer at 6 p.m. Saturday, 2315 Everett Ave., Everett. Songbooks, bells and candles will be provided. Call Judy Corcoran at 425-339-1150.

Olympic Ballet Theatre: “Nutcracker,” 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett; 425-774-7570, www.olympicballet.com.

Handel’s “Messiah Sing-Along”: The Everett Symphony leads the fundraising event, 3 p.m. Sunday, $10, First Presbyterian Church, 2936 Rockefeller Ave., Everett; 425-258-1605, www.everett symphony.org.

Lunch and arts: Arts Council of Snohomish County will be open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 28, at the Monte Cristo, 1507 Wall St, Everett. Eat by the fire and shop.

Santa photos:

Everett: At Everett Mall, daily through Dec. 24, hours vary.

Snohomish: Parents are invited to bring a camera, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Riley’s Emporium, 1007 First St., Snohomish; 360-568-7700.

ongoing

ongoing

Smoke-free bingo: With the new anti-smoking state Initiative 901 taking effect, the Stillaguamish Senior Center’s bingo sessions will now be nonsmoking. The weekly bingo fundraisers are at 11 a.m. Tuesdays and 7 p.m. Fridays at the center, 18308 Smokey Point Blvd, Arlington.

Sale: Lavender Hills Farm will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday through Dec 24, 7508 108th St NE, Marysville. Hot apple cider and lavender treats.

Buddhist meditation classes: 7:30-9 p.m. Thursdays, through Dec. 22, Anabel’s Framing and Gallery, 2531 Broadway, Everett; 206-526-9565.

Everett Chess Club: 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays. Free, all ages and skill levels. Espresso Americano, Everett Public Library, main branch, auditorium, 2702 Hoyt Ave., Everett; 425-514-3209, bradchess@hotmail.com.

Buy real candles: Annual Christmas Festival and Quiet Light Candle sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec 24, Convent, 29206 64th Ave. NW, Stanwood. Pour your own beeswax candle or buy one, cookies.

Friday night singles dance: Smoke-free, DJ’d dancing, 8 p.m.-midnight first Friday of each month, $8, 21 and older only. Laurelwood Reception Hall and Event Center, 123 N. Blakeley St., Monroe; 360-794-8317.

Hula dance: Beginning hula lessons with Dottie Knehr, noon-1 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, Everett Senior Center, 3025 Lombard St., Everett; 425-339-3676.

Lindbeck dance: Harry Lindbeck plays smooth dance music, 1-4 p.m. every Thursday. $5. Normanna Hall, 2725 Oakes Ave., Everett; 425-252-0291.

Public dance: Sno-King International Folk Dance Club, 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, $5, $3 members. Cedar Valley Grange, 20526 52nd Ave. W., Lynnwood; 425-454-6529, 425-889-0541.

Social club: Razzmatazz Dance &Social Club hosts a smoke-free, DJ’d dancing, fourth Saturday of each month. Laurelwood Reception Hall and Event Center, 123 N. Blakeley St., Monroe; 360-794-8317.

Scottish country dancing: No partner needed, every Wednesday at Rosehill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave., Mukilteo; 425-438-8977.

Tango lessons: With Ina and Jon Howe, 6 p.m. every Wednesday, 1 p.m. every Saturday. Small donation. Everett Senior Activity Center, 3025 Lombard, Everett; 425-257-8780.

Art Merchant International: 17161 Beaton Road SE, Monroe; 360-794-7844, www.art-merchant-intl.com. Pacific Rim art by various artists, ongoing. Current: More than 40 artworks including Australian aboriginal, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and American by various artists.

Edmonds Historical Museum: 118 Fifth Ave. N., Edmonds City Hall, Edmonds; 425-774-0900, www.historicedmonds.org. 1-4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. $2 adults, $1 children; group tours available. “The Changing Face of Edmonds” and “Our Maritime Heritage,” ongoing.

Lake Stevens Historical Museum: 1802 124th Ave. NE, Lake Stevens; 425-334-3873. 1-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Exhibits include a house built in 1903 by the Rucker brothers, various permanent displays focusing on the first residents, schools and history of Lake Stevens, 350 historical photographs on permanent display. Group tours by appointment.

Monroe Historical Society Museum: Old City Hall, 207 E. Main St., Monroe; 360-794-7382. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

Ethnic cooking classes: 5-7 p.m. every fourth Tuesday, registration required, $5 suggested donation. Grandview Community Center, 716 Linden, Everett; 425-252-6672.

Museum of Snohomish County History: 1913 Hewitt Ave., Everett. 425-259-2022, www.snocomuseum.org. 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Current exhibit: “Industry on Parade: Early Enterprise in Snohomish County.” “Yesterday’s Tomorrows: Past Visions of the American Future,” a traveling exhibition exploring the history of the future, through Sunday, $2, $1 children.

Stanwood Area History Museum: 27112 102nd Ave. NW, Stanwood; 360-629-6110, www.sahs-fncc.org. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays, 1-4 p.m. Sundays and Wednesdays. The Museum and D.O. Pearson House feature historical exhibits. Current exhibit: “Steamers, Ships &Shorelines: A Historical Photograph Tour of Stanwood &Camano Island.”

opportunities

opportunities

Costumers needed: Everett Community College’s Theatre Department: Seeking volunteer costumers for two upcoming theatre productions. 425-388-9525, bpeterson@everettcc.edu.

Hospital volunteers: Providence Hospice and Home Care of Snohomish County is seeking volunteers: For general office duties. Hospice will give volunteers references for future jobs upon request. 425-261-4808.

Pakistan donations: Blankets, sleeping bags, tents and cash donations are being collected by the Pakistan Association to help earthquake survivors in Pakistan. Donations for the Pakistan Earthquake Relief Fund can be deposited at any USBank branch, and items can be dropped off at 818 W. Casino Road in Everett. 425-750-8833.

Solve disputes: The Dispute Resolution Center of Snohomish and Island Counties, a program of Volunteers of America, will offer special holiday mediation sessions for parents who are having difficulty determining where their children will spend their school holiday vacation, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Hanukkah. Offered at no cost, these special mediation sessions can help reduce the conflict, stress and anxiety during this special holiday season. Call 425-339-1335 to schedule a mediation session. Appointments are available until Friday.

Baby boomer volunteers: The Corporation for National and Community Service encourages baby boomers to volunteer. Those born before 1951 can enroll as RSVP volunteers by calling John at Catholic Community Services. RSVP has hundreds of volunteer opportunities available covering all of Snohomish County. RSVP volunteers receive free supplemental insurance during all RSVP volunteer activities, a recognition banquet and more. Call John McAlpine at 425 257-2111 ext. 3374 today or e-mail JohnM@ccsww.org.

Catholic gifts: The Holiday Giving Project, a service of Catholic Community Services is designed to provide low-income families with gifts, grocery gift certificates and food baskets during the holiday season. Volunteers are needed to adopt a person or family. This year, more than 200 community members still need assistance. For more information, call Sharon Paskewitz or Lisa Broxson at 425-257-2111.

Donate food, cash: Members of Edmonds Professional Fire Fighters Local 1828 will collect food, household items and gifts for less fortunate families for the holidays. Decorated barrels have been placed at many local grocery stores and on the first floor of City Hall, 121 Fifth Ave. N. Firefighters also will provide gifts for the families’ children. Also drop off goods at the fire station at 250 Fifth Ave. N., Edmonds. Cash is the biggest need, to buy toys on children’s wish lists. Checks may be made payable to Edmonds Firefighters, L-1828, 23009 88th Ave W. Edmonds, WA 98026.

Adopt a family: Compass Health, a non-profit behavioral health agency, needs hosts for 300 in its “Adopt a Family” program. Call 425-349-7333 to sponsor a family or donate a new, unwrapped toy. Each person on the list has expressed something they really need this winter, as well as something they really want to have but can’t afford.

Farm collection: Help from the community is needed to provide gifts and a banquet for needy children at 1 p.m. Saturday, The Farm Youth Outreach of Snohomish, 11212-92nd St. SE, Snohomish. The Farm Youth Outreach and Life Changes Ministry plan to host up to 300 guests at this annual Christmas event. They need toys, money and volunteers. 360-568-5120.

Goodwill needs trainees: The Goodwill store in Marysville has openings for the January session of the Employment and Training Program, that gives students a full-time, paid job while training them in job skills. The program offers students a 40-hour, paid work week at a Goodwill facility with 16 of those hours spent in the classroom learning computer programs, job-readiness skills, retail business practices and other skills. The program lasts six months, and Goodwill assists graduates in finding jobs and with other support services. The next session of the program starts Jan. 9. To apply, contact Bill Fly, Marysville Goodwill job training and education program specialist, at 360-657-4058 or bill.fly@seattlegoodwill.org.

Matthew House needs help: Matthew House, which assists the families of people incarcerated in Washington’s prisons, is asking for donations this holiday season. Donations dwindle over the summer months and the nonprofit ministry would appreciate a donation of any size. Donations can be mailed to: Matthew House, P.O. Box 201, Monroe, WA 98272. Mathew House is located at 16207 177th Ave. SE. Call 360-794-8720.