A tradition of trains …

It’s time again for JACK TINGSTAD’S model railroad open house, an event that has drawn about 200 visitors to his Coupeville home for each of the past five years.

How good is Tingstad’s layout? Good enough to be recommended as a “must see” by the National Model Railroad Convention in Seattle last year. The group that came up for a closer look was so impressed, they hated to leave.

Tingstad loves to share his years of work and gets as much delight from the smiles of visitors as they are amazed by the amount of effort he puts into the display.

Train buffs, modelers and artists wait all year for this event. Folks have been known to stay for hours to watch different trains pulled by steam engines traverse the scenic layout in the 12-foot by 21-foot room.

Return guests look for new structures and scenic details. Many find figures, vehicles or other attention grabbers that have been in place for years and yet they missed them somehow. It’s fun to test your skills of observation to find a new engine or scenic detail tucked in with scenery you thought you knew by heart.

Manufacturers and promoters of hobby material call model railroading “The World’s Greatest Hobby,” because of the many areas of creative expression possible, including carpentry, electricity, electronics, structure building, building and detailing engines and rolling stock, small scene animation, sound effects, scenery, backdrop painting and operations.

Sharing his hobby is a labor of love for this retired Coupeville teacher, who doesn’t mind that some people have a hard time tearing themselves away from the magical scene. The only “admission” fee is a donation of one item of food to the Gifts from the Heart food bank as you enter.

The event is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 26 and 27, at 508 Broadway in Coupeville. For driving directions, call 360-678-5120.

Cookies for a cure …

A favorite quote by Mother Teresa says, “We can do no great things; only small things with great love.”

That is the example set by LORRAINE DODGE and her able assistants TRACY HAWKINS and CARINA TORRES. Lorraine was disappointed last year when bake sales to support the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation only reached $1,189. “But that was just for two weekends,” she said. “This year, we had four weekends.”

Several co-workers at Safeway lent their support by bringing in their own baking for sale. Lorraine worked all day and baked all night, sometimes until 6 a.m., catching a couple of hours sleep before going back to her place behind the register.

When October was over and the last package of homemade cookies had been sold, bake sales rang up at $3,718.15 destined for the Komen Foundation.

Also at Safeway, a collection box was set up in the Dairy Department where shoppers could deposit pink lids from Yoplait yogurt. They are still being collected, by the way, and when sent to Yoplait, the company donates 10 cents a lid to Komen.

On behalf of breast cancer patients everywhere, thank you, ladies, for caring so much.

Coco and Peggy …

Another local woman with a tender heart is EILEEN DOVE of Eileen’s Creative Kitchenware on Pioneer Way. PEGGY CALLISTER is a frequent visitor to Eileen’s shop, always accompanied by her companion COCO, a working Jack Russell Terrier. Coco is indispensable to Peggy’s daily routine, as she was left with a hearing loss brought on by meningitis when she was an infant. Now Coco needs medical help.

One of his eyes is completely covered with a cataract; surgery to remove it and office visits are estimated to run around $2,154.00. Donations to date just helped pay the $400 ultrasound bill.

Will you help? Bank of America in Safeway has created a benevolent account for Peggy and Coco and will put your gift in the account. There is also a donation box at Eileen’s.

Don’t worry, Peggy. Coco will be bright-eyed again in no time!

Call her Princess …

We may never live as fabulously as Charles and Camilla, but it is fun to be treated like royalty on one’s birthday.

DENISE GEGEN arrived at Sea-Tac on Nov. 8, flying in from Wichita, Kans., to be spoiled by parents HELEN and KEN BATES. Days were full of family visits, a quick trip to White Rock, British Columbia, and a performance of “Little Shop of Horrors” at Whidbey Playhouse.

The entourage delivered Denise to Sea-Tac last week for her return flight to Wichita. It is not known whether Queen Mum Helen or Prince Ken got to nap on the way home.

See you on Nov. 30. Don’t forget to let me know who you might invite to your home at Christmas and why. Call me at 675-6611 or write lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com.