David and Joanne Engle Brown recently took a 28-day trip to the East Coast where they visited Dave’s 90-year-old mother Carolee in New York. They visited Liberty and Ellis islands and toured historical sites in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. They also visted Churchill Downs in Kentucky, the St. Louis Arch, Little Bighorn in Montana, Mount Rushmore, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. In all, they travelled 7,100 miles.

Elaine Oliphant had a most welcome visit from her son Drew and family from California.

Keith and Susan (Booth) Machiela are the proud parents of a baby girl, Rebecca Lynn, born April 14. Rebecca is the great-great-granddaughter of Vera Mortensen. Her great-grandmother is Nancy Lewin and her grandmother is Carol Booth. Rebecca Lynn joins her brother Blake Booth, who just turned three.

Robert F. Devine, a 1974 graduate of Oak Harbor High School, has been hired as the new superintendent of the Sugar-Salem School District in Idaho. He takes over July 1. He grew up in Oak Harbor and is the son of Bernice Devine, who taught here for 20 years before retiring in 1985. Devine graduated from Brigham Young University and most recently was principal of Rigby High School in Idaho.

Nine people interested in installing historical markers for Island County met last week in Coupeville to discuss a number of historical sites including donation land claims, geological phenomenon and tribe locations. Among those present were Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen and Matt Nichols, Joanne Engle Brown, Helen Chatfield-Weeks and Dorothy Neil. The group plans to meet monthly to determine historical sites and welcomes input.

Alice Martin of Coupeville recently celebrated her 50th birthday, surrounded by her friends and family, in style. The festivities included a 50th birthday parade through downtown Coupeville. The parade, which consisted of classic cars from some of her Whidbey Cruzer friends, featured Alice Martin as grand marshal. She lead family and friends in a ten car parade decked out with balloons and signs, and horns honked to celebrate the occasion. After the parade, a birthday party started at the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge with dancing to the music of Canada’s Time Benders who performed music from the 40s through 80s. The four-hour performance included a show of the group’s wide range of musical talent and costume changes imitating Buddy Holly, Elvis, Tom Jones, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Blues Brothers, and Tina Turner.

Alice said, “I just wanted my family and friends to have a good time on my birthday.” The guests at Alice’s birthday party wore 50s, 60s and 70s attire. In addition to the snazzy clothes and festive decor that matched the decades, guests were given a look back at the last 50 years of Alice’s life with the “Wall of Alice,” family history, photos and articles of her career and accomplishments, as well as the special times over the years with family and friends. Alice Martin has always been known for doing things up big, and her 50th birthday party was no exception.

Habitat for Humanity of Island County has elected new officers and directors. Leading the affiliate as president will be Sam Brown, of Coupeville. Re-elected for an additional term were Harvey Herrigstad of Oak Harbor, vice-president, Julia Hodson of Coupeville, secretary, and Dur Roberson of Oak Harbor, treasurer.

Elected to two-year terms as directors were Steve Gulliford, Jan Hayes, John Quinn, Jim Smith, Ken Hulett, Glenn Eckard and Pat MacFarland, all Oak Harbor, Sam Brown and Julia Hodson, of Coupeville, and Randy Enberg, Bruce Jones, Sharon Roth Krogseng, Phil Holdsworth and Don Wood, all of South Whidbey.

Habitat for Humanity of Island County meets the first Monday of each month, at 7 p.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Coupeville. All interested persons are welcome. Habitat has two homes under construction, one in Admiral’s Cove, near Coupeville, and the other in Sun-Vista, near Bayview.