January
City, tribe collaborate on first eagle festival
The Stillaguamish Tribe and the city of Arlington are planning the first Arlington Eagle Festival to honor the eagles who hover around this community through the year, and especially in the winter, searching for food from the Stillaguamish River. The chair of the organizing committee, the city’s economic development manager Vic Ericson, said the idea popped up at a downtown merchants meeting about this time last year, but it was too late to launch a new event so they tabled it until this year. The event is set for the first Saturday in February in City Council Chambers. A wildlife biologist and member of the Stillaguamish Tribe, Jen Sevigny represents the tribe on the committee and her father, Bill Neat, has designed a logo depicting a beautiful young eagle in Native American style.
Grammy award winners play BPAC
The well-known northwest acoustic duet, Tingstad and Rumbel, will be joined by David Lanz in a “New Age” concert of mellow, contemplative music on Saturday, Jan. 26.
Tingstad plays acoustic guitar and Rumbel plays woodwind instruments. They won a Grammy for a recording in 2003 and now Tingstad has been nominated for his 2006 release, “Southwest.”
David Lanz, too, is a Grammy Award nominee, with his 2000 album “East of the Moon.”
Mr. Yuk means no
A fifth-grader at Highland Christian School, Tyler Sudderth earned his teacher, Raphaelita Crawley, and her classroom, $200 for a poster he designed for the Washington Poison Center. He also received a bundle of goodies and was honored with an assembly at the school July 9.
Dogs, fish, cats & other Pets on Parade
A snapshot of “Snapshot” and a fish sculpted of wire are among the portrayals of pets from north Snohomish County artists that have been accepted in the Arts Council of Snohomish County’s second annual “Pets on Parade” show that opens with an artist reception, Thursday, Jan. 17 and continues through Feb. 28.
“I am very excited to be accepted. This is my first gallery show,” said Erika Bruss, who started creating little, three-inch fish and bugs of twisted wire for Arlington’s Art in the Barn show last summer.
McElroy to perform with Port Gardner Bay Chamber Orchestra Sunday
One of several concerto winners in the Snohomish County Music Teachers Association’s Concerto Competition last fall, Arlington High School senior Colleen McElroy will perform the Chaminade Concertino for Flute & Orchestra, Op. 107 with the Port Gardner Bay Chamber Orchestra Concert Sunday, Jan. 27.
Colleen McElroy will be joined by four other student soloists from across Snohomish County who will be on the program with the orchestra.
February
Vocalists sing at the Opera House
The historic Marysville Opera House will be used as it was originally intended Saturday, Feb. 2, as host to a concert of professional singers assembled by the retired Snohomish High School choir director, Patrick Castro.
Castro retired from teaching in 2005 and considered donating money for a scholarship dedicated to choral students, until he realized that a long-term plan would be better.
M-PHS artists honored
Marysville-Pilchuck High School students who won gold key awards in this year’s Snohomish County Scholastic Art Awards program include Curtis Fernelius, Kellyann Johnson, Vadim Kulchitskiy and Kristen Wilander. Two students, Elizabeth Grover and Jarin Troxel each won two gold keys.
Middle school students selected for honor band
Mount Pilchuck Music Educators Association has selected five students from Haller Middle School and five students from Post Middle School for its Honor Band and six students from Post Middle School for its Honor Choir, reports Joe Horsak, band teacher.
Professional actors perform at Kellogg Marsh
Sitting on the gym floor, half of the students at Kellogg Marsh Elementary School in Marysville enjoyed a live theater production during school Feb. 27 and they helped pay for it themselves.
The second half of the student body were to see the show later that day.
The show, “Star Power,” presented by the Seattle-based Taproot Theatre, offered up an important lesson about bullying and the students got the message.
The students sold cookie dough to help pay for the show.
March
Silver Blades bring home Gold and Bronze medals
Chloe O’Loughlin, of Marysville, is a member of one of two Everett Silver Blades teams who took home two out of three medals at the 2008 British Columbia and Yukon Territory (BC/YT) Section Festival Synchro Skate in Abbotsford, B.C., Canada recently.
P2 Dance Academy wins awards at two regional competitions
Pilchuck Dance Academy created a storm while competing at the Rainbow Connection National Talent Competition and Starpower National Talent Competition, both at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien recently.
“We competed in two regional dance competitions representing the Pacific Northwest, and boy did we come out on top,” said Jamie Janda, a dance teacher at PDA.
MPHS choir students participate in national choral festival
Lawrence University hosted the Experience American Masterworks Choral Festival recently with students from six states participating, including 10 from Marysville-Pilchuck High School, reports M-PHS choir teacher Jeff Tillinghast.
The capstone of the festival was the Experience Chorale, a select group of more than 300 college and high school singers chosen from around the country along with M-PHS students Danielle Crabtree, Morgan Druckman, Matthew Giddens, David Gore, RJ Lancaster, Kaylee Royer, Stephanie Trepanier, Sandra Todd, Stuart Wheeler and Cameron Woodward.
Honoring the 3Cs
The highlight of Walt Bailey’s life was working with the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1939 to 1941 and he is looking forward to celebrating the 75th anniversary of the 3Cs during the weekend of March 29 and 30.
“It was a very good part of my life,” said Bailey, who at 88 lives just a mile from the property where he grew up on 84th Street in Marysville.
April
Learning from the pros
“It’s all about the air,” said Eric Smedley, a University of Washington band instructor who offered his services as an adjudicator at the Mount Pilchuck Music Educator Association’s band festival at Arlington High School last week.
Smedley was one of three professional band instructors who listened to 21 performances by high school bands from across north Snohomish County.
May
Slow food at Ninety Farm
Nearly 90 people gathered at Ninety Farm in Arlington to enjoy lunch at the farm recently. The members of Slow Food Seattle and friends were hosted by Linda Neunzig, who offered the city folk a chance to watch her Corgys chase the sheep, swing under the apple tree and wander along the bank of the Stillaguamish River, while eating an expansive array of real food.
Highland Christian presents Agatha Christie murder mystery
Student actors of the Highland Christian Prep Drama Club don suits, ties, hats and British accents for their production of “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie, May 29 – June 1.
Sketching to learn
The teachers at Pioneer Elementary School have taken art into their own hands.
Thanks to third-grade teacher Beth Trafton, a loyal volunteer who recognizes the importance of art for children now gets paid a little for her efforts. After 30 years of teaching, Sharon Olin retired in 1995, but since 2005, she has been spending at least two days a week at Pioneer teaching art.
Marysville family in ‘The Music Man’
Last year’s Strawberry Festival Ambassador, Brooklynn El Fattal learned a lot of dance routines this year for her performance in the Northwest Savoyards’ production of “The Music Man.” She and her two sisters are performing as River City Teens and River City Kids in the chorus of Meredith Willson’s musical.
June
Prize-winning artists at Art in the Barb
A participant in the upcoming Art in the Barn, Rocky Barrick won first place in the “works on canvas” category at the Stanwood-Camano Art Guild Spring Show June 7 and 8 for his work, “Couple of Old Crows.” He is one of more than 20 artists who will show original paintings, prints, jewelry, baskets, clay sculpture, and so much more at the fourth annual art show in a barn owned by Monica Yantis.
19th and final ‘PigOut on the Farm’
It’s the end of an era at Biringer Farm this weekend as the 19th annual and final PigOut runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 21 and 22. But that doesn’t mean the Biringers are retiring. They will continue their efforts growing berries at their “north” division in Arlington.
High school theater productions honored
Musical theater students of Arlington, Marysville and Stanwood were among 2,200 high school students, teachers and parents from across Washington state packed into Benaroya Hall June 9 for the sixth annual 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, sponsored by Wells Fargo. Marysville-Pilchuck High School won for Outstanding Orchestra for the production of “Into the Woods” and Arlington High School won for Best Hair and Makeup Design for their production of “South Pacific.”
Schwippert in ‘Sculpted Green’
An Arlington stone sculptor, Verena Schwippert’s large work, “Water, Precious Water,” is one of 39 pieces in the city of Bellevue’s ninth biennial sculpture exhibit, “Sculpted Green.” The outdoor exhibit is located in and around Bellevue’s City Hall and downtown park.
McLean at Matzke Fine Art Gallery
Kirk McLean’s sculpture, “Crystal” is located next to a metal sculpture by Lance Carleton in the outdoor sculpture yard of a new gallery on Camano Island, the Matzke Fine Art Gallery.
Growing commerce
A resident of Silvana and partner in her husband’s insurance office, Carey Waterworth created the picture that is on the cover of the Arlington-Smokey Point Chamber of Commerce’s new telephone directory which was distributed last week. Waterworth responded to the chamber’s call last winter for art that celebrates the commerce of this region.
Glowen’s gardens inspired by crop circles in Europe
The artist who created “Overhead Underfoot,” for Arlington City Hall, Kathryn Glowen spent all winter sewing “yoyos” out of vintage silk ties and is now showing her new body of work, “Wonder/Allotment Gardens,” in the Lorinda Knight Gallery in Spokane through June 28.
July
Art of the Garden opens
Three Marysville-area artists — James Madison, Susie Howell and Judy Zugish — and Arlington artist Helen Lueken have been accepted to show their work in Art of the Garden, an annual show presented by the Arts Council of Snohomish County.
Art by the Bay includes AAC members
Arlington Arts Council members Kent Baker, Rocky Barrick, Helen Saunders and Norman Kearsley are some of the 134 artists and organizations who are participating in Camano Island’s Arts Festival Art by the Bay July 19 and 20. A Lake Ki resident, Rodney Patzer is also participating.
August
Strutzfest dedicated to Mike Turner
Toby Strotz has a mission. He wants to save the reputation of past rock festivals in Darrington by launching a new event that will benefit several good causes, including breast cancer.
Cats for Marysville Library
Patrons of the Marysville Library will be getting some new cats soon. The “Library Cat” is manifested as seven bronze sculptures by Port Townsend artists Mark Stevenson and Sarah Ohman, who were selected from dozens of Northwest artists who responded to a request earlier this year for proposals of original art for the Marysville Library. The $10,000 commission is funded through a bequest made to the Marysville Library in 2003 by Harold and Julietta Gellerson.
Summer Meltdown blazes bio-diesel trail
The founder and lead guitar singer for the popular Northwest band, Flowmotion, Josh Clauson grew up in Arlington and came home to the Stilly Valley in search for a home for his summer party, a.k.a. the Summer Meltdown.
The Summer Meltdown returns to the Darrington music park for the second year this week, Aug. 8, 9 and 10.
Voices of the Village launch Arlington’s Music in the Park
Music is an international language and it reaches out to all people. This fact is illustrated in the faces of the musicians of Voices of the Village, who are opening the series of four concerts in Arlington’s Music in the Park in Legion Park on Thursday nights in August.
September
3-Day walkers seek support
Walking 60 miles in three days on city streets, paved sidewalks and trails is not a simple task. Several teams of women, and some men friends, of the Stillaguamish Valley and the north Snohomish County region are preparing for such a feat, when they join the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk through Seattle Sept. 12 – 14.
Movement Arts celebrates 10 years
Movement Arts yoga and dance studio is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Aug. 23, with a day of free sample classes at the studio in the Big Red Barn near Island Crossing. Owner Kara Keating is proud to have kept the business going this long in an historical barn in the Stillaguamish Valley.
Bridge of Flowers proposed for Haller
With the adoption of a new name recently, the Centennial Trail Coalition of Snohomish County has launched a new campaign. They want to make the Haller Bridge trestle on the north edge of Arlington into a Bridge of Flowers.
Art with flowers at Smokey Point
The Arlington Arts Council presents “Art at The Plant Farm” 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 13 and 14, with artists from three north Snohomish County art organizations — the AAC, Stanwood Camano Art Guild and the Greater Marysville Art Guild, and other special guests.
A celebration of the Arlington community
A new event in downtown Arlington, Arlington Community Day celebrates all things Arlington.
“Our goal is to help our community members become familiar and connect with the wonderful resources we have here in Arlington,” said Jeanne Watanabe, chair of this event that is presented by the Downtown Arlington Business Association with help from the city and some churches. The event is an evolution of last year’s grand reopening celebration of Olympic Avenue.
A sunny Sunday on Mount Pilchuck
Nathan Senff, 11, climbed the 5,300-foot Pilchuck Mountain for the first time recently with his dad, Rich Senff, and a group of friends.
“It was hard. The trail was really rocky,” Nathan said. He especially liked the big rocks on the top of the mountain.
October
Dujardin dives into abstract watercolors
Inspired by views of unending sunsets over Marysville from his home on the western slope of Getchell Hill, Art Dujardin is pleased to announce he is having a solo show at Solovei Art Gallery in Everett.
“I get inspired by little things along the way,” said Dujardin.
Lakewood senior plans concerts to benefit cancer victims
It’s his love of music that inspired Lakewood High School senior Josh Smith to plan two benefit concerts for his senior project. The first of the two concerts starts 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Marysville-Pilchuck High School. Proceeds from the $10 admission will go to the Marysville-based Jerry Jacobs Foundation for treating cancer patients who require stem cell transplants.
AHS senior plans Harvest Party
A senior at Arlington High School, Brooke Stovall had already decided last spring what to do for her senior project.
“I wanted to be one of the early birds and get my project done before the end of the school year,” Stovall told The Arlington Times last week.
“I was having trouble deciding what to do for my senior project when my aerobics teacher asked me about my plans,” Stovall said. She suggested the Harvest Party as a potential senior project.
Farm tour adds art
As part of “Farming Yesterday and Today” the north county portion of the month-long Snohomish County Fall Farm Festival this year, the banquet facilities in the barn at Countryside Meadows will be filled with art and artists and an exhibit of quilts made for soldiers at Aunt Mary’s Quilt Shop.
Art in the foliage of Sunnyside
One of two coordinators of an art show at Sunnyside Nursery this weekend, Fran Clapper found a masterpiece early one morning in Friday Harbor.
“My husband and I had our boat moored at the dock in Friday Harbor a few summers ago. I happened to wake early enough to take a photo of this beautiful sunrise. I painted it in my studio when we returned home,” Clapper said.
Preserving amateur radio
A former downtown Arlington businessman, John Lanier spends his morning on a stationary bicycle chatting with friends via amateur radio. His retirement project is to preserve the system which he believes is under threat.
“I got interested in it way back in high school,” Lanier told The Arlington Times recently.
Russian basketweaver teaches at Bouquet Banque
Like many cultures around the world, Russians, too, have used baskets made of natural materials for all kinds of uses. Like Pacific Northwest Natives, Russians traditionally made baskets that could even hold water.
One of Russia’s renowned basket makers of modern day, Vladimir Yarish taught a two-day workshop in Marysville recently.
November
Bringing a board game to life
A challenge for the technical crew, the Marysville-Pilchuck High School production of “Clue” brings to life the board-game characters of the high school students childhoods.
“Our parents and grandparents, too, have memories of playing the game,” said Wolfgang Eastman who plays Mr. Green, in the play based on the 1980s movie set in the 1950s.
State and private enterprise collaborate to save osprey nests
A former employee of the U. S. Geological Society, Ed Schulz has researched the lives of osprey and is a champion for their cause.
Thanks to his efforts, the Pilchuck Audubon Society and Washington State Department of Natural Resources are working together on behalf of the largest colony of saltwater nesting ospreys on the West Coast.
Learning to fly with Peter Pan, Foy
Based on his current talent pool, Arlington High School drama teacher Scott Moberly knew this was the time to present his all time favorite musical.
“Peter Pan was the first live musical I saw as a kid,” said Moberly.
Body builder opens fitness studio
Two former Arlington school teachers, Leanne Christie and Angie Gooding have opened a new private studio in Smokey Point called Body & Mind Fitness Studio. The ACE-certified personal trainers are working collaboratively to educate members of their community about fitness.
