Move over, Cupid …
MINDY RANSFORD and ELI WALTON of Oak Harbor are taking the big step of marriage on Aug. 20, in a family cabin at Winthrop.
Mindy met Eli when she was 6. They attended Sunday School together. He graduated Oak Harbor High School in 1996 and she followed in 1998.
Eli sought the permission of Mindy’s dad TONY RANSFORD, which he gave, and then he waited for a princess cut engagement ring to arrive from Antwerp. The proposal took place on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, in the lobby of the Swinomish Casino, where Mindy works as marketing director.
Mindy recalled, “My boss told me the TV monitors were frozen, so when I checked, I saw the message, ‘Will you marry me?’ Then my name popped onto the screen and Eli came out of his hiding place.â€
After getting down on one knee to propose and receiving Mindy’s affirmative response, Eli swept his future wife off her feet and swung her around as the casino’s surveillance cameras rolled.
Grow
something …
MARY ROBSON, garden columnist and horticulture agent for King and Pierce counties, until last November, will kick off the Whidbey Gardening Workshop on Saturday, March 12, presented by Island County WSU Master Gardner Association.
The all-day workshop starts at 8 a.m. at the Coupeville Middle School. Pick your class from over 30 offered, ranging from new perennials to propagation techniques and planting vegetable, drought-tolerant or cutting gardens. Vendors will offer plants and unique garden items for sale.
Cost for the event is only $20 in advance or $25 at the door, space permitting.
Call (360) 240-5527. E-mail JudySe@co.island.wa.us or log onto www.island.wsu.edu.
Happy birthdays …
DOROTHY NAFF, a staunch environmentalist, will get something dear to her heart at her 89th birthday party at 1 p.m. at Regency on Whidbey on Friday, Feb. 25.
Dorothy and her husband RALPH are conservation partners with the Whidbey-Camano Land Trust. She will receive a certificate from PATRICIA POWELL of WCLT for helping preserve 33 acres that are home to the rare castilleja levisecta, or golden paintbrush.
The following Friday, March 4, also at 1 p.m. at Regency, CEC CARLETON will celebrate her 100th birthday with cake and a sing-along. Cec has many friends in Coupeville where she was active in the United Methodist Church.
Off to Spokane …
Five representatives of the local Oak Harbor Council of the Navy League are going to the 2005 three-day Northwest Regional Conference of the Navy League Feb. 25 in Spokane.
Incoming president of Oak Harbor Council of the Navy League, JOE MOSOLINO; outgoing president, BETH MUNNS; photographer, K.C. POHTILLA; vice president, publicity, LEE YOUNGBLOOD; and treasurer, JO BALDA, will attend the weekend conference.
They will hear a special guest speaker at the Saturday banquet, REAR ADM. ROBERT O. PASSMORE, reserve deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and vice commander, Navy Region Europe.
Mock battles included …
Whidbey Island Radio Control Society has the permission of the U.S. Navy to use its Outlying Field at Coupeville, the only paved runway in the area.
Members range from fathers and sons to retirees who never got over their love of radio controlled flight. They have a swap meet every year, a builder’s night to finish up any winter projects and one local classroom complete a project plane.
Spring flying season is coming soon. Attend the meeting on Monday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at the VFW Hall at 3037 Goldie Road in Oak Harbor.
Check out www.whidbeynet.net/wircs/wircs.htm or call 679-2171.
The good guys …
In case of an emergency, county services turn to the army of amateur radio operators, many of whom belong to Island County Amateur Radio Club. Stop by at their next meeting this Saturday, Feb. 26, at 9 a.m. in the Island County Annex Building, 1 NE 6th St., Coupeville, in the Commissioners’ meeting room. License exams will be held at 11 a.m.
Call (360) 279-8002, write to info@mail.w7avm.org or visit www.w7avm.org.
February, with its fickle weather, left me a year older if not wiser. Don’t forget to write to me at lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com or call 675-6611. See you on March 3.
