McClain Insurance Services in Everett and PEMCO Insurance recently gave away new flags to folks who brought in worn models that needed to be ceremoniously retired.

Nathalie Stamey at McClain said the response was overwhelming and that they gave away more than 100 flags. One veteran brought in four flags and needed two because he has two poles.

“He appreciated this opportunity to drop off his old flags and know that they were being disposed of properly,” Stamey said. “Between himself and his brothers, they served 34 years in the Army, Navy and Air Force.”

Another flag was returned and exchanged by Pat Ward from Mukilteo, a volunteer fire chaplain who teaches flag etiquette. Ward is working with Eagle Scouts in replacing worn flags they see in their neighborhoods. Claudia McClain was able to get 25 additional flags, to be donated to Ward’s Eagle Scouts.

The American Legion respectfully disposed of the old flags in a small ceremony.

Justin Nelson, manager of Subway in north Everett, has a salami-dry sense of humor.

While running the cash register Wednesday, he mentioned the store has a layaway plan.

“We’ll make your sandwich today and hold it until tomorrow,” he said, straight-faced. “Or we can make it now and hold it a week.”

Yuck, yuck.

Cowboy Up Wednesday in Monroe.

Clark Crouch, a cowboy poet, will speak at 7:30 p.m. at Alfy’s Pizza, 19480 U.S. 2, hosted by the Monroe Vocal Project, Toastmaster International Club No. 798479.

Wear your best cowboy attire and let them know you are attending by sending an e-mail to info@toastmasters.com.

Wednesday is Adrienne Hulbert’s last day as president of the club. She worked hard to get Crouch to a meeting. According to a blog on his Web site, Crouch said his latest book, “Western Images,” is in the competition for three awards: the Will Rogers Medallion for cowboy poetry, the Washington State Book Award for poetry and the cowboy poetry book award by the Western Music Association.

“He has written and published five books,” Hulbert said. “He sounds like a character.”

A Bothell winner worked around her kid.

Susanna Filley was the fifth-week winner in a Super-Long Coffee Order promotion to benefit Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle.

Filley placed her order at Tully’s in Canyon Park, while juggling the demands of her toddler’s sweet tooth.

All she ordered was a tall nonfat latte, but the staff was impressed that she placed the order with a 4-year-old who was nose-to-nose with the pastry display. It took five minutes of interruptions as Mom explained, “No, honey, not today.”

She won a $100 gift card.

Fun Fact: “I love the doodads,” said Diane Kolb with Soroptimist International of Sno-King.

Family, friends and special people get greeting cards year-round from the Edmonds woman, including for New Year’s, the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving.

“Birthday cards are the most important cards I send,” Kolb said. “I include the appropriate holiday sprinkles in all the cards and festive stickers on the envelopes. I keep track of the dates in my Day Minder.”

Her favorite shop is Abby’s Cards &Gifts in Edmonds.

“I also shop at Papyrus and Hallmark stores. Really, I buy cards everywhere I go because I can never pass a card store or a store with cards.”

Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.