There are no bells in my neck of the woods to hear at Christmastime, for I live at the end of a country road and the one church I know that rings bells in town is too far away for me to enjoy. But no matter! The beautiful words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, so lyrical and grounded in sentiment, roll through my mind so wild and sweet.
This December, the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra and Whidbey Island Center for the Arts will present “Gloria! The Many Moods of Christmas.”
The Whidbey Writers Group’s “Whidbey Writes Again,” is now available in Whidbey bookstores and several local businesses.
A delightful gift from Whidbey Island, Whidbey Writes Again includes true love, false love, lost love, humor, pathos, surprise, suspense, travel, growing up, and the power of imagination, all packed into the poems, essays and short stories.
The Island County Master Gardeners and WSU Extension are presenting a seminar by Dr. Martin F. Quigley titled “Native to What?” on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Pacific Rim Institute, 180 Parker Road in Coupeville. There is a suggested donation of $15 which will benefit the Master Gardeners programs and projects.
For the Festival of Trees decorators, Christmas starts in January. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ team of tree decorating experts start planning next year’s creations just weeks after the last tree was auctioned off at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County fundraiser. Throughout the year they attend trade shows to buy and collect the most unique Christmas tree decorations. And before you know it, it is the first weekend of December again and their creations sparkle at the Festival of Trees.
Stained glass artist Sandy Dubpernell is Garry Oak Gallery’s December Featured Artist. A celebration of chocolates, wine and Dubpernell’s beautiful glass will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3 at Garry Oak Gallery.
Forty talented artists bring their work to Freeland Hall on Dec. 3, 4, and 5, in support of Friends of Freeland.
Think back to the classic “Twelve Days of Christmas” tune and get excited for this nature-inspired event.
You probably won’t see three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree, but there will be plenty of other winged creatures to identify when the Whidbey Audubon Society conducts its 24th annual Christmas Bird Count Saturday, Dec. 18.
It’s generally a great day for me when I’m able to cross a number of items off my “To Do” list and feel organized in the process. This might amount to running errands in a circular direction around town so I’m not criss-crossing routes, therefore wasting gas and time.
Kids ‘from one to 92’ will love Whidbey Island Dance Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker.
Skagit Valley College announces that Mary Ellen Lykins has accepted the position of director of Skagit/Islands Head Start.
Environmental writer and climate change advocate Bill McKibben sponsored a 10-10-10 Work Party through his organization, 350.org, to show that people all around the world are concerned about climate change.
Join the Pacific NorthWest Art School from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 15, in presenting “Whidbey Preservation Art Grande Finale Exhibition” at 15 NW Birch St. in Coupeville.