Goodwill Goober …
He was a legend back in the early 1970s, walking up and down Old Town Oak Harbor wearing a most unusual yellow suit that, well, darned if it didn’t resemble a giant peanut.
A cordial fellow, he’d bow, tip his hat to the ladies and wave at kids who called to him. He vanished from the scene and his absence has created a small mystery.
PATTY HENDERSON of Shady Ladies Antiques recalls sightings in the early 1970s. He was Mr. Peanut, all right, with the hat, cane and monocle.
If you remember the walking Mr. Peanut, know his real identity or what happened to him, please share it with us.
Venerable Vehicle …
A song praising the Model A says, “She only wants $10 dollars down, the rest in 14 months.”
When Model T sales slumped, Henry Ford finally took Edsel’s advice and built the Ford Model A. More than four million automobiles came off the production line, and cost from $385 for a Roadster to $570 for a Fordor.
Today there are estimated to be about 25 Model A’s on Whidbey Island said JACK RASMUSSEN of Whidbey Island A’s, an organization of about 15 people that recently held its fourth meeting.
Rasmussen currently owns a Model A 1930 Roadster Pickup and feels nostalgic about the ones he once owned and sold over the past 40 years. “I still miss them,” he said.
The 1929 Model A four-door in GENE CUSHWAY’s garage is more than just an antique. It belonged to his father until his death last year and now is his most prized possession.
This new chapter of the Model A Club of America meets at the Race Road Fire Station at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. To find out more, call Rasmussen at (360) 331-8225.
Flag is Emblem …
Women of the first Supreme Emblem Club rolled bandages for the wounded in World War I. Their “emblem” was the flag of the United States of America and one had to be married to an Elk to join.
MARIE AKINS, president of Emblem Club 450, and treasurer HELENE LEWIS just got back from convention in St. Louis.
Akins, who first served as president in 1982, said the organization has about 100 members, but they want to attract professionals and younger members.
“At one time, you had to be the mother, wife or daughter of an Elk to join,” she said. “Now all one needs is to be sponsored by an Elk or an Emblem Club member. If you are a citizen and over 16, you can join.”
Community service drives their efforts. “We give scholarships to all three area high schools, and contribute to Meals on Wheels, Citizens Against Domestic Abuse, Toddler Learning Center and Crisis Pregnancy Center,” said Akins. “We also give Thanksgiving baskets to Help House clients.”
The public is welcome to their big fund-raiser, the annual holiday bazaar Oct. 22 and 23, at the Elks, of course.
For membership information, call June at 675-2426.
Please Don’t Flush …
Merck has just pulled its arthritis medicine Vioxx off the shelves and some of us wonder what to do with unused pills.
There is agreement that instead of flushing old drugs down the toilet, they should be carefully wrapped and put it out with your normal trash.
DEAN THEIM of Penn Cove Water and Sewer called it an “emerging issue.” He especially urges people not to flush antibiotics, hormones, birth control pills and narcotics (pain killers) if they have an old septic system that could leach into ground water. On a sewer system, waste water is given repeated treatments rendering it harmless.
BILL BULPIN of Island Drug also says drugs should go into the trash, adding Merck may reimburse patients for unused Vioxx. Call your doctor’s office to see if they will send the drug back for you.
Finally, VIN SHERMAN of Island County Health Department agrees unused medicine is better in the landfill than the waterways.
Merck has more information at www.merck.com or call 1-888-368-4699.
My, My Marvin …
Central Whidbey Firefighter and EMT, MARVIN RAAVEL, celebrates his 50th birthday on Saturday, Oct. 16. His family has rented the Coupeville Rec Hall for an open house from 4-9 p.m., complete with cake and ice cream. Marvin’s younger brother Fred and his wife are coming in from Illinois and the invitation is open to everyone who knows Marvin. Instead of gifts, please bring canned goods for donation to Gifts of The Heart food bank.
Got news? Write to me at lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com or bring a note to Whidbey News-Times’ front desk. Include your phone number and I’ll call for more details. See you next week!
