They really started something …

The spirit of KEITH BARTLETT could be felt in the expansive Oak Harbor Elks Lodge on Thanksgiving Day. White tablecloths and baskets of flowers made everyone feel welcome and the community came together as family.

The annual Thanksgiving Harvest Celebration was started four years ago by a group of caring citizens. It has far exceeded the hopes of the original organizers, headed up by BARTLETT and JACK STILTZ.

About 4,000 Thanksgiving dinners were served last year and this year’s number was even greater, perhaps because the event was dedicated to Bartlett, event co-founder, who passed away while preparing last year’s meal. His wife JUDY; daughter, CRISSY; son, JAY, and grandson, JOHN, were very much a part of the event.

Over 500 volunteers helped with the dinner. They set up, cooked, served, cleaned up and even delivered meals to shut-ins and workers. K.C. POHTILLA, who is still recovering from back surgery, did a masterful job as coordinator of the activities. Friend STEPHANIE JOSEPH helped on phone duty while K.C. was laid up and husband SKIP and the entire Pohtilla family pitched in.

The delicious food, which included the preparation of 160 turkeys and 100 smoked hams, was under the direction of SCOTT FRASER, SCOTT FISHER and the wonderful CULINARY ARTS DEPARTMENT of the Oak Harbor High School. Doctors and dentists could be seen slicing the meat; businessmen and women served the food and cleaned up tables, alongside Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and entire families.

Old and young rubbed shoulders and many came early to help stayed all day. It was a perfect family event, made more special by WAYNE LOCKE in full clown make-up.

No one went away hungry, and some even took home containers of food to enjoy later. People who couldn’t make it to the dinner or who had to work were no exception. DUANE BRUDIGAM, on the job at Safeway, was surprised to see 20 or so Thanksgiving dinners delivered to the store. He was pleasantly surprised to find out that he hadn’t missed out on his turkey dinner after all!

Come back soon …

Visitors DAVE and KAY SMITH of Hershey, Pa., were in town recently to see where Dave’s brother-in-law Bill was stationed in 1945 and 1946. Today he is Dr. William J. Albright III, age 78, a Medical Doctor still practicing in Highspire, Pa.

Bill had just graduated from high school in May 1945 and after basic training at Sampson, N.Y., took a 10-day troop train ride, stayed on a barge for a week and finally headed to Whidbey. Just 18, he came too late to go to the Pacific as the war was winding down.

Bill served in the mess hall, followed by the Petty Officer mess hall and later meteorological weather work.

TONY POPP, Community Relations Director for NAS Whidbey Island, took the Smiths to the Seaplane Base and around Ault Field. Dave recalled Bill and another Sailor used to go up in the PBYs for some type of weather research and reporting.

Traveling across Deception Pass Bridge, Sailors hitched rides to Anacortes and Seattle. He even got his first (and only) tattoo in Seattle.

The Smiths were struck by the lack of rainfall during their visit. I agree it’s great for sightseeing, but we really need some soaking rains and plenty of mountain snow to offset summer drought. We like our forests green, and not charred.

She really gets around …

The weather was so nice the other day, JoANN HELLMANN decided to take her regular walk without a coat. She got some odd looks while out and didn’t realize what was up until she got home and looked in the mirror.

Her fashionable black T-shirt was emblazoned with the word “WICKED,” an apt description for the Broadway show she saw while in New York in September, but hardly appropriate for such a light-hearted lady.

Jo actually won her front row seat. The prequel to the “Wizard of Oz,” it stars Ben Vereen as the Wizard and Rue McClanahan of Golden Girls TV show fame as Madame Morrible. The show is now on the road and will hit Seattle in September 2006. Tickets will be gobbled up early, so don’t delay in ordering yours.

Celebrate the season …

An inaugural season of music and desserts at ANGELO’S CAFFE spotlights local talent, BRUCE SEAVER and KIM GRIGALIUNAS on Saturday, Dec. 3. Seating and dessert starts at 5:45 p.m.; music begins at 6:45 p.m. Please get your tickets at Angelo’s before the day of the event. KATHY COLLANTES said all proceeds will go to Marjie’s House, the local women’s shelter. Please call Kathy at 675-4053 or e-mail her at Kcollantes@comcast.net.

What do you like about shopping Oak Harbor during the holidays? I’d love to include your comments in future columns. Call me at 360-675-6611 or drop me a line at lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com. See you on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day.