Sara Chichowski or Oak Harbor is in her fourth year of medical school at the University of Washington and will graduate in June 2003. Her husband, Malin, will graduate from dental school in Portland at the same time and then pursue a one-year dental residency. When he finishes, Sara will apply for her medical residency in OB/GYN. Sara attended Oak Harbor Christian School for seven years, from kindergarten through seventh grade. She graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1993 and spent four years at Wheaton College in Illinois.
Wes Balda, son of Agnes and the late Harry Balda of Oak Harbor, will serve as professor of management and lead George Fox University’s MBA program. The university recently hired Balda, formerly head of executive management and PhD. programs at Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University in California. That program ranked 19th nationally among executive management programs in the U.S. News 2003 ratings of America’s best graduate schools. Balda holds a doctorate from University of Cambridge in England, a master’s degree from Fuller Seminary in California and a bachelor’s degree from University of Washington.
Oak Harbor Soroptimists are seeking groups, organizations or families who would enjoy taking part in Christmas Village by singing carols or providing other entertainment in the village at Westgate Homes on Highway 20 north of Oak Harbor. The village will be open Dec. 14 Anyone interested should call Elena Bainbridge at 679-1827.
Robert Paul and his wife Shana (Connoly) Paul of St. Louis, Mo., spent a few days visiting at the home of Wyoma Vale in Oak Harbor. Paul is a director with the Boeing Company.
Dick and Dale Donovan are new residents of Oak Harbor following Dick’s retirement from Army duty. The Donovans have traveled all over the U.S. and have subscribed to the Whidbey News-Times for many years. They decided to come live on Whidbey because of the wonders of the island as described in the local paper.
Gerald and Miriam Menard recently returned from a trip to Naples, Italy, to visit their daughter, MaryAnn, husband Cmdr. Randy Duhrkopf and children Joshua, Katie, and Megan. Randy is stationed at the NATO base there. They also stopped in Virginia to visit sons Chris and Peter and Peter’s new son Ryan.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew T. Lewellen, whose wife Holly is the daughter of Bonnie Flynn of Coupeville, recently visited Naples, Italy, while assigned to VAQ-132, embarked aboard the USS George Washington.
Orca Network recently received this message from friends north of the border:
The B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network is producing a species identification video. This video is intended to help network observers increase their knowledge of and their ability to identify the cetaceans common to the B.C., Washington and Alaska coast.
We currently have excellent footage of most species, however, we are lacking in quality footage of Gray whales and have no footage of Minke whales, Harbour porpoises and false killer whales.
We are requesting that if anyone with footage of these species, in any format, is willing to donate it to the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network that they please contact us at: sandid@vanaqua.org
Local students should grab their pencils and jot down all the patriotism that has been stirring in them, because it’s time for two VFW essay contests.
Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Voice of Democracy contest is a national audio essay competition designed to foster patriotism. Grades 9 through 12 are eligible. This year’s theme is “Freedom’s Obligation.” Cash prizes are first place – $100, second place – $75, and third place $50.
For younger kids, this year’s youth essay program’s theme is “My Pledge to America,” and grades 3 through 8 are eligible. Cash prizes guaranteed per school include: first place – $50, second place – $35, third place – $25. The entries will be picked-up at the school offices Nov. 29, by local VFW Post No. 7392. For more information, contact your child’s school or Veterans of Foreign Wars at 675-4048.
Teddy bears and stuffed animals are always needed at Child Abuse Prevention Foundation (CAPF). The stuffed animals are collected and distributed to foster children, children in abusive or violent situations, police and fire departments, emergency rooms, and to programs that work with underprivileged children. Call Janet Sebastian at 678-5528; or call CAPF toll-free (877) 331-7343.
Interested in helping your neighbors and friends fill out their 2003 tax returns? AARP in collaboration with the Internal Revenue Service provides a program on Whidbey Island. Training is provided by a retired IRS agent and covers all the information you will need. Training sessions are held at the Race Road Fire Station during the first two weeks in January.
Call Ed Van Patten at (360) 331-1513.
