Find it all at

city auction

Are you in the market for a couple of pianos, a forklift, a stretcher or a broken chair?

An impressive variety of items will go on the block at the city of Oak Harbor’s annual auction Saturday, May 3, at the public works facility at 1400 NE 16th Ave. Viewing starts at 8 a.m. and the auction begins at 10 a.m.

Sandra Place, the city’s equipment and purchasing coordinator, said the biggest draw will undoubtedly be the 40 vehicles, which include two dump trucks and a half dozen Crown Victorias.

“It’s definitely one of our largest auctions ever,” she said.

The items in the auction are surplus from the city, Island County, Oak Harbor School District, North Whidbey Fire and Rescue, and South Whidbey Parks and Recreation.

Fashions walk local runway

Who needs Paris or New York to find fashion? Tonight, take a ‘round the world journey with the Ladies Society of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church as they host an international fashion show at 6:30 p.m. in the parish hall of the church located at 185 N. Oak Harbor St.

The show celebrating the diversity of the parish will feature costumes from 16 different countries — from America’s Alaska to Thailand, from Africa to the Philippines, Columbia to Jamaica, and everything in between. Each model will walk the runway to music from their native land. Ladies Society President Lynda Quezon Tamayo will escort Father Phil Raether, who will be dressed for the occasion in a Filipino Barong Tagalog.

Enjoy an international food tasting. Emcees are Oak Harbor Councilman Danny Paggao, Ladies Society secretary Helen Chatfield-Weeks and show coordinator Bibi Albornoz.

Anthrax scare delays donation

The anthrax scare years ago kept a well-intentioned donation from helping children in Afghanistan.

The Coupeville School District recently learned that a $524 donation to the American Fund for Afghan Children didn’t make it to its destination, according to Janet Fisher, the district’s business manager. It turned out it had been quarantined with other mail in a warehouse because of the anthrax scare that shocked the country shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.

Rather than send the donation on to its destination, it was returned to the school district. Fisher said she will cancel the warrant and issue a new one so the charity will receive the donation.

The money was raised by the Associated Student Body at Coupeville Middle and High School. It was raised in the wake of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.