Front Porch

EVENTS

Get nerdy and geeky

NerdFaire, a mini con for all the things nerdy and geeky, is Feb. 1 at Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St. SW.

Show floor and gaming is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Panels, workshops and storytime with cosplay characters are throughout the day from 10 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. Foulplay Murder Mystery Games is 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Cosplay contests are 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., starting with kids, followed by beginner, and ending with advanced.

The event is family friendly. Caspar Babypants performs at 11 a.m.

Admission is $5 to $25. Ages 12 and under are free.

More info: www.NerdFaireCon.com

Lake Stevens blood drive

A blood drive in honor of two Lake Stevens children is scheduled for Feb. 1.

Cora Welton died in June at 30 days old and James Barnes died in July at 16 years old. Their parents asked for blood donations in memory of their children.

The drive is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 1 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 10120 Chapel Hill Road, Lake Stevens.

People can sign up to donate online at schedule.bloodworksnw.org.

Valentine’s Day concert

Grammy-award winning musicians Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel will perform at 7 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Camano Center, 606 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island. Tickets are $25, and are available at eventbrite.com.

Tingstad and Rumbel are friends who have been playing music together for nearly 35 years. In 2003 the pair received a Grammy for their album “Acoustic Garden.” Tingstad plays fingerstyle guitar, while Rumbel plays oboe, the English horn and the ocarina.

More info: 360-387-0222, camanocenter.org

OPPORTUNITY

Youths can look careers in law enforcement

People from 14 to 21 can join the newly-forming Arlington Police Explorers program with the Arlington Police Department.

Anyone 14 years old must have completed eighth grade. Participants must be currently enrolled in high school or a higher-learning establishment with at least a 2.5 GPA. Exceptions can be made for applicants between 18 and 21.

The Explorer Program will provide training and experience to determine if a career in law enforcement, emergency services or criminal justice is suitable for them. Participants learn how police do their jobs, and officers and detectives with special skills will explain how the Arlington Police Department investigates cases.

The experiences can be applied as a volunteer at community events doing security work, directing traffic, fingerprinting small children and assisting with crime prevention programs.

An open house for the program is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the Commons at Arlington High School. Information on the program and how to sign up will be available during the open house.