May 18 will be the first birthday party for the Whidbey Island Nordic Lodge. A special program and potluck lunch will highlight the event, and Norwegian specialties are requested for the event that begins at 10 a.m. If you plan to come, please call Audrey Taie at (360) 730-1390 to RSVP.
The koffee klatch greeted a special guest last week when the Rev. Heffernan of Port Townsend, former vicar of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church of Oak Harbor, paid a visit to Oak Harbor. Mary Vanderzicht was also a guest. A few years ago, Father Heffernan took a group of people to Belfast, Ireland, to visit his old home and his two sisters who also live there.
The birthday of Jim Neil was celebrated last week by his koffee klatch at Fairhaven in Oak Harbor, with a birthday cake, candles and ice cream specialties. Jim was born in Coupeville at Harpole’s Nursing Home, and attended Oak Harbor schools, graduating in 1957. He is retired and spends most of his time at Ace Hardware!
Roger and Lisa Hilardis and Cindy and Bob Taylor spent the weekend at their home at Sunset Beach, readying it for the summertime. Lisa recently had a story printed in Summer Spindrift Magazine, which tells of her growing up years on Whidbey Island’s western beach.
Susan VanderBeek of Oak Harbor is visiting with two grandchildren, McCloud and Hadley, in Rosswell, Ga., and while she is away, Diana Crotty from White Rock, B.C., is visiting with Susan’s mother, Laura VanderBeek.
Barney and Joyce Beeksma are spending a happy 10 days in Holland, Mich., visiting members of the Nienhuis family of Barney’s family. The Neinhuis’s were among the founders of Holland, Mich. While they’re there, the annual tulip festival takes place!
American Legion District 2 recently chose new leaders. At the District 2 spring conference April 6, at Oak Harbor Post No. 129, Charles Hinckel of South Whidbey American Legion Post No. 141 was elected as Commander for District 2 for 2002-2003. Hinckel is a resident of Greenbank. Oak Harbor resident Walter Yates, of Post No. 129, was elected vice commander for the district. The new officers will be installed at the annual department convention July 13 in Olympia. District 2 is the largest of 12 American Legion districts in the state, with 32 posts located in Island, San Juan, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties, and a post in Vancouver, B.C.
Norma Muck, Northwest Region president of Navy Wives Clubs of America, recently installed new officers at Whidbey Island Chapter No. 150.
New officers for the year are: Amanda Adams, president; Betty Glein, vice president; Beverly Bighouse, recording secretary; Barb Mann, corresponding secretary; Dawn Ford, treasurer; Annissa Moland, chaplain; Jean Wieman, parliamentarian; Debbie Garcia and Diana Hamilton, historians; Fay Celmer, master-at-arms.
Navy Wives Clubs of America, Whidbey Island Chapter No. 150 meets the first Tuesday of each month in Building 49 on the Seaplane Base. All enlisted wives of the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and other branches of the services are welcome to attend. For more information, call Amanda Adams, 675-3091. Babysitting is provided for, but 48-hour notice is needed.
Jan Leslie, a Phi Theta Kappa student enrolled at Whidbey Campus of Skagit Valley College, recently received a scholarship from Key Bank in support of the All-Washington Academic Team. Gov. Gary Locke and SVC President Dr. Lydia Ledesma-Reese presented medallions to team members. Leslie’s achievements at the state level made her eligible for the national Phi Theta Kappa competitions in Nashville, Tenn., where she was one of only 20 participants to receive a Guistwhite Scholarship from the national organization. Leslie is majoring in business accounting and has a 3.96 GPA.
Rodolfo Galgana, an Oak Harbor High School graduate, was recently honored as one of the top undergraduates at the University of Washington’s College of Engineering with a 3.53 grade point average, and was placed on the winter quarter Dean’s List.
WSU in Coupeville is offering families in Island County an opportunity to host Japanese students this summer. The exchange lasts approximately three weeks from the end of July to mid August.
The opportunity “will be one of the best experiences they will have in 2002,” says Don Meehan, head of WSU-Island County, who has been involved with Japanese exchanges for the last 23 years.
Host families need only provide room, board, and laundry and attend the host family orientation session in mid July. Families go through a simple screening process that helps to better place the Japanese student. Families are matched with students based on family member interests, age of children, and gender of their children. The Japanese students range in age from 12 to 19 years old.
WSU and the Japanese exchange program provide transportation costs from Japan and back for the Japanese students, medical insurance during their stay in America, 24-hour coordination and assistance during the homestay and a Japanese chaperone. All students read and write English and have some experience with conversational English.
To apply or find out more information contact Don Meehan or Jennifer Biddle at 679-7327 or e-mail to meehan@wsu.edu. Deadline for applying is May 31.
