Footloose, All Night Long…
Pop tunes from 1984 will make a comeback soon. TERESA (MICHEL) BESAW reports that over 100 members of the Oak Harbor High School Class of 1984 (and maybe her sixth grade Camp Moran boyfriend Bill Rough) will be back in town Aug. 13-15 for their 20th class reunion. A marathon of parties includes a tropical night at Kasteel-Franssen, a formal evening at the CPO Club and a Sunday picnic at City Beach. The Roaches have been practicing for weeks for their performance Friday night. Original high school band members, Kevin Johnson of Oak Harbor, Bill Nienhuis of Lynden, Stuart Ling of Seattle and Steve Gaffney of Renton, are prepared to dazzle their classmates.
Steady as you go, Sue…
Well, she IS good at balancing things. SUE TINGSTAD of Coupeville got an endorsement from a total stranger recently. He thinks she’d be perfect for a safe driving commercial. On a recent Sunday afternoon, Sue left the MacDonald’s parking lot, turned left to the stoplight, continued down two more blocks and finally pulled onto a side road to see what the honking and pointing was all about. She stepped out from the car and discovered her soft drink hadn’t budged from where she left it on the car roof. She got back in her car, casually took a sip and resumed her drive home. Dear Allstate…
Car Sick Cockatiel…
We go to great distances to please our pets. Take the case of Charlie, a pet bird belonging to Petty Officer 2nd Class T.J. and AMANDA HAWTHORN. The couple left San Diego with orders to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station when Charlie let it be known this road trip stuff was no fun. A quick detour covering a few thousand miles to Amanda’s family in North St. Paul, Minn., and the bird was happy again. The Hawthorns headed west and hadn’t been in Oak Harbor for two weeks when they showed up to volunteer at the WAIF Thrift Shop. They like meeting new people and want to fit in with their new community. Sounds like a perfect start.
Ma, My Food is Moving…
JEANNIE WILLIAM LUPIEN of Monroe Landing Road welcomed her sister BECKY WILLIAMS CONGDON and her husband, Navy doctor DAVE CONGDON, back to the island after their three-year tour in Naples.
With a generous restaurateur for a landlord, Becky and Bill were offered endless choices of fresh seafood, much of which jiggled like Jell-O on a plate. Tom, 12, and Mandy, 9, soaked up the cultural adventure and will have lots to tell new friends when Dave reports to Naval Hospital Bremerton for duty.
Give it Up, Dad…
Unless dad and the dog have rendered it threadbare, your couch or recliner can help shelter a homeless family. Have you seen the Habitat for Humanity used furniture store on Pioneer Way? Can’t miss their bright orange signs. With more revenue through furniture sales, they hope to build another home this year. Right now, they average two houses a year. Volunteer CAROLYN MILAT says they do a little extra work to clean up pieces brought in and the store looked like the cleaning lady just left. Now that’s a class act. Let’s do what we can do support them.
Moved to Tears…
Perhaps your family lost one of the more than 58,000 men and women killed in Vietnam. And perhaps you have gone to see the original Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Its massive presence is said to leave one weak-kneed and moved to tears. Thanks to Scott and Shirley Doty, Norm Bergsma and Norm Pennington, a traveling version of The Wall was on display at City Beach Park last week and lots of regular folks finally got a chance to pay their respects. Thank you to those who helped set it up, guide visitors and feed volunteers, including Albertson’s who donated a case of cold, crisp apples on a sweltering day.
That’s a wrap for my first column. If you have been amused, informed, entertained or left scratching your head, my job is done. It’s easy to share your story. Just keep it brief and include your phone number so I can call you for details. Write to lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com and let’s get this party started.
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