HOLIDAY EVENTS
Santa Parade &Tree Lighting: Arlington’s Hometown Holidays events kick off with the Santa Parade at noon Saturday downtown at the north end of Olympic Avenue. Many other events follow that same day, including visits with Santa, crafts, horse-drawn wagon rides and the tree-lighting ceremony at 4 p.m. at Legion Memorial Park, 114 N. Olympic Ave. Hometown Holidays continues Saturdays, Dec. 8 and 15. More info: 360-403-3448, www.arlingtonwa.org.
Holiday on the Bay: This traditional event from the Port of Everett runs 2-5 p.m. Saturday at and near the Waterfront Center, 1205 Craftsman Way. Main events include a tree lighting, choir music, Santa Claus, gingerbread cookie decorating, and lighted boat parade. More info: www.portofeverett.com.
Mill Creek Rotary Santa Parade: Santa comes to Main Street in Mill Creek Town Center with a parade starting at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The parade route ends at Mill Creek City Hall, where a tree-lighting ceremony will take place. Entertainment and other events continue throughout the day, including Dickens carolers, free horse-drawn carriage rides, a kiddie train, face painting, photo opportunities with Santa and the Grinch, and more. More info: www.millcreektowncenter.biz.
A Night of Christmas Jingles: The 10th annual event highlighted by carol singing starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at Hidden Meadows, 11805 Springhetti Road, Snohomish. The event also includes performances by different community groups, a visit from Santa, story time, dessert and beverages. The event is free; donations will be used to benefit needy families. Canned food will be collected for the Snohomish Food Bank and new, unwrapped toys for the Snohomish Boys &Girls Club. More info: vanassche.april@gmail.com or on Facebook.
Holiday Swing Dance: 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Black Box Theatre at Edmonds Community College, 20000 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood. Featuring the Northwest’s all-female big band, The MoodSwings. Tickets are $10 and benefit the Edmonds Community College Foundation. More info: 425-640-1448.
Holiday BAZAARS
Holiday Craft Village: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday in Woodway Hall 202 at Edmonds Community College, 20000 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood. Find homemade arts and crafts gifts for the holiday. A percentage of proceeds benefits the Edmonds Community College Foundation.
Cookie Walk: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Mukilteo Presbyterian Church, 4514 84th St. SW. This Christmas bazaar is highlighted by a cookie walk, with cookies of all types available for $6 per pound.
Country Shabby Chic Holiday Bazaar: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Darrington Elementary School, 1075 Fir St. The Darrington PTSA event also includes pictures with Santa, who will arrive via helicopter, until 2 p.m. Breakfast will be offered 9-11 a.m. and lunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Door prizes, face painting and more.
Holiday Bazaar and Open House: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Merrill Gardens at Stanwood, 7212 265th St. NW. Enjoy refreshments while browsing art and crafts and listening to live entertainment by vocalist Gary Hood. Vendor fees benefit the Stanwood Food Bank. More info: 360-629-3445.
Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Edmonds-Woodway High School, 7600 212th St. SW, Edmonds. Put on by the EWHS Music Boosters. Shop at over 50 tables for unique crafts and holiday food. Students will provide musical entertainment.
Handmade Holiday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday presented by the Arlington Farmers Market at the Co-op Accessory Building, 101 S. Olympic Ave. Find handmade gifts, winter veggies and photos with Santa.
Christmas Bazaar: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Everett Christian School, 2221 Cedar St. Proceeds benefit class field trips. Vendors, car wash, bake sale and raffle.
Events
Open Studio Night: Teens can create 3-D holiday cards, mini collages and other projects with local artists at the next Open Studio Night for Teens 6-7 p.m. today at the Schack Art Center, 2921 Hoyt Ave. in Everett.
Lactation room celebration: The Snohomish Health District’s mother-child nutrition program and Edmonds Community College celebrate the opening of a lactation room for breast-feeding student moms with a “Latch on to Your Community” event 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday in the Triton Student Center, Brier Hall, on the campus at 20000 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood. Event includes speakers, information tables and prizes.
Documentary: Everett Community College will screen “Education Under Fire”, a 30-minute documentary about higher education in Iran, 12:20-1:20 p.m. Wednesday in the Henry M. Jackson Center Senate Room on the campus at 2000 Tower St., Everett. Produced with Amnesty International, the documentary profiles the persecution of Baha’is in Iran. More info: 425-388-9411.
Pancake breakfast: Flapjacks start flipping at 9 a.m. Saturday, and the first Saturday of every month, at Zion Lutheran Church of Everett, 4634 Alger Ave.
Blood drive: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday in the Arlington City Hall Council Chambers, 238 N. Olympic Ave.
Free health screening: The Northwest Lions Foundation will offer free health screenings 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday during Sultan Winterfest at Sultan High School, 13715 310th Ave. SE. The mobile program checks for glaucoma, diabetes, high blood pressure and sight and hearing loss.
Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner: 12-6 p.m. Saturday at the Bothell Sons of Norway, 23905 Bothell-Everett Highway. The dinner, served family-style, includes lutefisk, meatballs, boiled potatoes, coleslaw, lefse and ice cream plus a choice of coffee, tea or milk. No reservations required. Cost is $20, $5 for children, kids under age 5 are free.
Puppet show: Susy the Storyteller brings her band of playful puppets for a free, interactive program of stories and songs at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Mountlake Terrace Library, 23300 58th Ave. W. For children ages 3-8. More info: 425-776-8722 or www.sno-isle.org.
Trace your roots: The Mukilteo Library will host “Tracing Your Family’s Roots with Ancestry Library Edition” from 2-4 p.m. Saturday. Learn the basics of genealogical research and how to use the online Ancestry program. Basic computer skills required. Seating is limited. Register: 425-493-8202 or www.sno-isle.org. The Mukilteo Library is at 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd.
SENIORS
Taste of Retirement: The Mill Creek Senior Center along with Merrill Gardens and Clare Bridge hold a free Taste of Retirement event 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday at North Creek Presbyterian Church, 621 164th St. SE in Mill Creek. Enjoy holiday cuisine and entertainment with over 20 agency vendors.
Bingo: 12:30-3 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Carl Gipson Senior Center of Everett, 3025 Lombard Ave. Cost is $2 for three-on. Everybody older than 50 can participate. More info: 425-257-8780, www.ci.everett.wa.us/seniors.
Double-deck pinochle: 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 4:30 p.m. Thursdays at Scriber Gardens/GenCare, 6024 200 St. SW, Lynnwood. More info: Carla, 425-771-5471.
Friendship Club: A group of senior citizens meets for lunch the second Thursday of each month at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 216 Broadway, Everett. Lunch costs $7. The group also takes monthly bus tours. More info: Edward, 425-493-2588.
ASSISTANCE
Edmonds Brain Support Group: Meets next from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 4 in the cafeteria room at Swedish/Edmonds Medical Center, 21601 76th Ave. W., Edmonds. Group supports brain-incident survivors and their caregivers. More info: Lou Nash, 425-776-7264 or lou_nash@frontier.com.
Employment Network: 10 a.m.-noon Fridays at the North Creek Presbyterian Church, 621 164th St. SE., Mill Creek. Free help with job searches, resume writing and interviewing. More info: 425-743-2386.
Grief support group: 10 a.m.-noon Thursdays at Mountain View Presbyterian Church, 5115 100th St. NE in Marysville. This group uses the GriefShare curriculum. More info: 360-659-7777, www.mtvpc.org.
Support group for parents of children with behavioral problems: 6:30-9 p.m. Thursdays at Zion Lutheran Church, 4634 Alger Ave., Everett. The network offers peer-to-peer support for parents struggling with children exhibiting risky behaviors such as drug or alcohol use. Groups are confidential and free. More info: 888-468-2620 or www.cpsn.org.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly, Arlington: 9-11 a.m. Fridays at the Arlington Boys &Girls Club, 18513 59th Ave. NE. More info: 425-308-3150.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly, Marysville: 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at St. Phillips Episcopal Church, 4212 84th St. NE. Visitors are welcome. Weigh-in is from 8:30 to 9 a.m. More info: Marcia at 425-347-2149 or Ada at 425-923-6025.
WAYS TO HELP
Dinner for Kamiak music Meals served from 4:30-9 p.m. Wednesday at John’s Grill, 646 Fifth St., Suite 101, Mukilteo, will raise money for Kamiak High School music programs. Reservations are recommended: 425-347-1068. Proceeds benefit a scholarship fund that helps choir and orchestra students travel to concerts in the community and abroad in Spain.
Fallen Officers Food Drive: Everett Police will collect non-perishable food items from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at both the North and South precincts: 3002 Wetmore Ave. and 1121 SE Everett Mall Way. Several local law enforcement agencies, businesses and organizations are collecting food for Volunteers of America food banks as part of the Fallen Officers Food Drive, started by the Lakewood Police Department in 2010 to honor the memory of their four officers who were killed in the line of duty on Nov. 29, 2009.
Concert for Christmas House: Pride Fails will headline a benefit concert at 8 p.m. Friday at Sidekicks Grill and Lounge, 1709 Hewitt Ave., Everett. The 21-and-older show benefits Christmas House, a charity that provides gifts for needy children. Admission is by donation, recommended at $5 or a new toy for the collection bin. There also will be a raffle to benefit the charity. More info: PrideFailsBand on Facebook.
Pancake breakfast: 9-11 a.m. Saturday hosted by Fisherman’s Market &Grill, 1032 W. Marine View Drive in Everett, and benefiting Imagine Children’s Museum. A Children’s Art Show follows from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Concert for AHS music The Arlington High School Associated Student Body sponsors a concert featuring Strutz and Superfekta 7 p.m. Saturday at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd., as a benefit for AHS music programs. Tickets are available at the door: adults $15, students $10.
Christmas trees: The Oak Harbor Lions Club’s annual Christmas Tree Sale fundraiser runs 12-7 p.m. Saturday Nov. 24 and then daily 10 a.m.-7 p.m. through Dec. 23 or until sold out. The stand will be in the park across from the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, 32630 Highway 20. All proceeds support community service projects.
Help plan Village fundraiser: Volunteers are needed to plan and implement Village Community Services’ 2013 Taste of Decadence fundraiser, to be held in May. The planning committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month in Arlington. If interested, contact Michelle Dietz at 360-653-7752 ext. 14 or resource@villagecommunitysvcs.org.
Food drive: Traxx Indoor Raceway’s Race Against Hunger Food Drive will collect donations through Dec. 24 for the Mukilteo Food Bank. The go-kart venue is at 4329 Chennault Beach Road. Donors can get discounts on same-day races.
Senior Services needs administrator, drivers: Senior Services of Island County, facilitating agency of the Meals-on-Wheels program at the Camano Center, needs an administrator for the program as well as a few dedicated volunteers to help deliver meals and smiles to home-bound Camano Island seniors. Drivers are reimbursed 50 cents per mile driven to help offset the cost of fuel. More info: Ginny or Nancy at 360-387-0222.
Hospice volunteers: Providence Hospice and Home Care of Snohomish County, 2731 Wetmore Ave., Everett, holds volunteer information sessions the third Wednesday of the month. More info: Joanie, 425-261-4815.
Donate cellphones: Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County is recycling cellphones. Even without service, cellphones can call 911 when charged. Phones may be dropped off at the New and Again Thrift Shoppe, 3116 Rucker Ave., Everett, which is open Tuesday through Saturday. Other locations can be found by visiting www.dvs-snoco.org, or call Stephanie Civey at 425-259-2827 ext. 13.
Holiday donations for food bank: The Snohomish Community Food Bank expects to feed 425 families for Christmas this year. The food bank seeks groups of people willing to “sponsor” a certain menu item and bring in from 100 to 425 of that item. It also is asking for turkeys, hams and whole chickens. Toys for a giving tree also are accepted. More info: Elizabeth Grant, 360-568-7993.
Volunteers over 55 wanted: The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), sponsored by Catholic Community Services, has access to hundreds of volunteer opportunities throughout the county. More info: John McAlpine at johnm@ccsww.org, 425-374-6374 or 888-240-8572.
Hospital gift shop help: Providence General Children’s Association seeks volunteers for its hospital gift shops. All proceeds from the gift shops go towards children in the Northwest region in need. Application, background check and orientation session required. More info: Julie Dickson, 425-339-1398.
Donate: Goldwing Touring Association Chapter C, a motorcycle group based in Everett, is sponsoring a toy and clothing drive to benefit Christmas House. The drive runs through Dec. 10. Donations can be dropped off at Everett Powersports, 215 SW Everett Mall Way, Tuesdays through Saturdays. Or contact Kathy Leon at Kathy@wingrider.net or 206-362-4250 for assistance. Clothing should be new and in original packaging; stuffed toys should be new or like-new. Christmas House specifically requests stuffed animals and toys, teen boys’ socks and large boys’ socks, size 5T boys’ winter coats, sizes 10-14 girls’ winter coats, and new, small gifts for pre-teen boys ages 9 and 10.
VOA needs drivers: The Volunteers of America food banks in Everett and Sultan need volunteer drivers for their senior home delivery and grocery pick-up services on weekdays. Training is provided. Volunteers must have a valid driver’s license and pass a background check. The Everett Distribution Center also needs warehouse volunteers, who must be able to lift 30-plus pounds. More info: Bill Kraut at bkraut@voaww.org or 425-259-3191 (Everett) or Jennifer Reasoner at jreasoner@voaww.org or 360-793-2400 (Sultan).
YWCA needs clothing bags: The Working Women’s Wardrobe program is in need of clothing bags from local department stores. Please drop off at the YWCA, 3301 Broadway, Everett. This program helps Snohomish County women acquire job- and interview-appropriate attire. More info: 425-258-2766.
Humane Society: HappyPaws Farm needs volunteers to walk dogs on Saturday afternoons. The nonprofit also needs two strong people to help with large dogs and carry crates at off-site adoptions, as well as people to help with fundraising, particularly auctions and grants. More info: 360-652-5844, hmnsoc@aol.com, [URL]www.saveourdogsandcats.org;http://www.saveourdogsandcats.org[URL].
Help out at Habitat Store: Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County is looking for volunteers to help staff its store. The Christian organization seeks volunteers for four-hour shifts from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The store is located at 2302 Broadway, Everett. The store also accepts donations of building materials, household items and furniture by appointment. More info: 425-903-4430 or [/URL]www.habitatsnohomish.org.;http://www.habitat.snohomish.org[URL]
Assist cancer patients: The Cancer Resource Center at the Providence Regional Cancer Partnership seeks volunteers to work weekly four-hour shifts meeting with cancer patients and caregivers to provide support. Drivers also are needed to get cancer patients to treatments and appointments. Volunteers use their own vehicles and get mileage reimbursement. More info: Jerri Wood, 425-322-1114 or jerri.wood@cancer.org.
Volunteer Chore Services: This program of Catholic Community Services seeks volunteers to assist with household chores and more, enabling elders and adults with disabilities to remain independent in their own homes. Volunteers can help the same person each week or be listed for on-call assistance. More info: Cherisse Webb, 425-374-6323 or cherissew@ccsww.org.
The Binky Patrol: A group of quilters, knitters and crocheters who make “binkies” for children in traumatic situations seeks volunteers and donations of fabric, yarn or thread. Meetings are on the first Sunday of the month in Marysville. More info: 360-659-7198.
Soup kitchen volunteers: The Salt of the Earth Soup Kitchen needs volunteers to help prepare, cook, serve and clean up starting at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2531 Hoyt Ave., Everett. The group also is looking for a box truck to pick up food for food banks in Snohomish County. More info: Sandra, 425-355-1042.
Arlington Food Bank: Arlington-area businesses and community groups are needed to hold food drives. Volunteers also are needed. More info: Dori, 360-435-1631.
Hands of Hope Food Bank: Help your neighbors in need by volunteering at the food bank or making a donation. To make a donation, send checks to 9506 Seventh Ave. SE, Everett, WA 98208, or bring in your food donation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. More info: 425-355-5985.
Marysville Community Food Bank: Volunteers are needed to help sort food (10 a.m.-noon Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday), serve clients groceries (9-11 a.m. Monday and Friday and 3-6 p.m. Tuesday), pick up groceries and other tasks. The food bank is at 4150 88th St. NE, Marysville. More info: 360-658-1054, [/URL]http://marysvillefoodbank.org.;http://www.marysvillecommunityfb.com[URL]
Vet center needs help: Healing Hearts In Hope Veteran Retreat Center seeks volunteers to help clean trails and organize fundraisers, among other things. The nonprofit helps veterans by providing a retreat. It is located at 28902 Mountain Loop Highway, Granite Falls. More info: Teresa, 360-691-6284 or hhhvrcfounder@netzero.com.[/URL]
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