Snohomish church to hold ‘Blessing of the Waters’

Church members are leaving their parish in Snohomish.

It’s for a special blessing.

On Sunday, members of St. Thomas Orthodox Church at 1309 Bonneville Ave. will journey to Blackmans Lake at Hill Park after the 9:30 a.m. service to take part in a “Blessing of the Waters.”

Parishioner Sue Moyer says there will be similar ceremonies around the world at orthodox churches. The purpose is to bless 2011 and nature.

“It is quite a beautiful ceremony,” Moyer says.

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No one wants to hear about lucky folks taking trips to Mexico this time of year.

It’s much too sunny.

We prefer slipping on ice.

And probably no one wants to hear about free trips to Mexico.

Alas, it is the news today. An Everett couple won a free trip to Mazatlan.

Valerie Martin and John Carlson entered a “Mañana is Today” contest and won a one-week all-expenses paid trip.

Valerie Martin manages a dental office Everett. She wrote a short essay that was selected by the Mazatlan Developer’s Association. Her fiance, John Carlson, is an electrician. They were engaged in November.

In her essay, Martin emphasized her love of the sun, the beach and how much an escape from winter in the Northwest would mean to the pair.

Winners were also chosen from four Canadian provinces.

Let’s hope they all enjoy free trips, nice weather and time share presentations.

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Thanks to all the readers who bestowed gifts on residents of Cocoon House. We wrote Dec. 20 that teens are often overlooked on Christmas gift lists for those in need.

Tarah Pulliam with the teen shelter says the response was overwhelming.

“The article and the community’s response to it really made the holiday at Cocoon House,” she says. “All of our residents were thrilled and incredibly grateful for their gifts. It was an amazing Christmas.”

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Don’t forget to return rented Christmas trees.

The Adopt A Stream Foundation in Everett rented 120 trees this season. They trees can be returned from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday at 600 128th St. SE in Everett.

Foundation Director Tom Murdoch says the returned trees will be planted along salmon streams in the spring.

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