The Coupeville Festival Association gathered with grant recipients on Dec. 3 to give away over $25,000. Everyone was comfortably seated in the Coupeville Methodist Church around 7 p.m., where we started the evening on time.

I was opening my mouth to say some very profound words, I’m sure, “When what to my wondering eyes should appear,” but Santa on a fire truck instead of eight tiny reindeer.

From the vantage point of anyone sitting down, all they saw was Santa himself, as though he was riding through the air! Hollywood couldn’t have staged anything more perfect. It was sure a night to remember for several reasons.

Those receiving grant awards are:

Coupeville Boys and Girls Club, Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce (Memorial Day Parade), Coupeville Arts Center, Coupeville Elementary School (classes of John Luvera, Deb Sherman and Tacy Bigelow), Readers Are Leaders, Coupeville Middle and High Schools (classes of Kim McWilliams for Art and Wilbur Purdue for History Day), Coupeville Garden Club, Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association, Island County Historical Society, Penn Cove Water Festival, Coupeville Library, Whidbey Island Giant Pumpkin Contest, Whidbey Working Artists, Whidbey General Hospital Foundation and Gifts from the Heart Food Bank.

An additional $4,000 in student scholarships will be given away in June. It’s an extreme honor each year to present these awards to the many deserving projects in the Coupeville area. It’s never more evident how much the residents of Coupeville love their community.

Anyone interested in volunteering their time to organize the 2008 Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival, is encouraged to call 678-5116, or check out our brand new website at www.coupevilleartsandcraftsfestival.org and email us. We need volunteers who can devote one hour or 100 hours or anywhere in between. Perhaps, you too, will enjoy the gift giving in December as a result of your volunteerism.

Thank you to Dawn Littlejohn and Sam Brown for your years of service to the Coupeville Festival Association. Our community is better because of you. “What people do for themselves dies with them – what people do for their community, lives on forever.”

2007 Coupeville

Festival Board:

Anne Hallam

President

Mike Dessert

Vice president

Murray Aston

Treasurer

Dawn Littlejohn

Secretary

Members at Large:

Mary Young, Sue Wotton, Sam Brown