Got shamrocks?

For the shortest month of the year, February seemed to drag on, but it’s finally March, time for wind-whipped hair, steaming plates of corned beef and cabbage and the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Most of us have a wee bit of Irish in us, but even those who don’t are welcome to join in the fun on Thursday, March 17, starting at 4 p.m.

One fair colleen will be missing from this year’s event, but you might want to wear a green T-shirt honoring the late DOROTHY NEIL. Discount Party Store on Highway 20 carries the shirts. Who can forget the sight of Dorothy in her green cape, brandishing her shillelagh as if daring the Dutch to crash the party?

This year’s honorary grand marshal is Patrick Quinn. He will be joined by base commanding officer, CAPT. SYD ABERNETHY, and his wife CARRIE , Oak Harbor MAYOR PATTY COHEN and anyone else who falls in with the procession from Pioneer Way at Jensen Street. If you have a decorated car, line up next to Smith Park. The group will continue down Pioneer Way to City Beach Park, accompanied by the All-Island Community Band. Once at the Blarney Stone, mistress of ceremonies, HELEN CHATFIELD-WEEKS, will invite dignitaries to kiss the stone, thus assuring another year of fine speech making. A prayer will be offered by PASTOR DAVID LURA and VERN OLSEN will sing some favorite Irish melodies. Prizes will go to the best decorated car, dog, most Irish looking lad or lassie or best decorated potato. Spirits and song will continue at Henderson’s banquet room for those who wish to warm up after braving the cold. Oak Harbor is one of only three cities in the state to have a St. Patrick’s Day parade. You won’t want to miss it. Call ROBBY McGEE STREHLE at 675-0235 for more information.

Habitat breaks ground

GLENN and PAT ECKARD e-mailed with news of a groundbreaking ceremony for the North Chapter’s 2005 house. It will be the fifth house for the chapter and the 10th for their affiliate.

The public is invited to the ceremony at 1 p.m. on March 12 at 1508 NW Kathleen Street in the Redwing development, off Heller Road south of Family Bible Church.

The Habitat for Humanity of Island County Affiliate has two Chapters: North Chapter works north of Greenbank and South Chapter, south of there. Each chapter has built four homes since they formed in 1998 and, since 1999, each Chapter has tried to build a house a year and has been pretty good at doing so. Both are starting a house this spring.

Before they start a house, they must have a family selected and a place to build. Families go through a rigorous selection process to establish which are best qualified according to need, ability to own a home and willingness to get involved.

SHANNON SIMPKINS, YASLINE GARCIA and their daughter SHAELINE, the North Chapter’s family, are already well along on their sweat equity. They’ll have to put in at least 500 hours of work on the house before it is signed over and they’ve already banked their closing costs.

Everything is done to keep the homes affordable: a no-interest loan, volunteer labor, donated materials and so on. The 2005 home owners will probably have to pay off a first mortgage of about $75,000, plus the usual taxes, insurance and utilities, for a total cost of about $400 to $450 a month.

Munns’ the word …

BETH and LARRY MUNNS, both past presidents of the Oak Harbor Council of the Navy League, were awarded the Navy League Scroll of Honor at a regional conference in Spokane in late February.

The Council was also awarded a handsome medallion bearing the Navy League’s new logo because they had the largest number of people attending conference workshops. They are one of the first groups to display the new logo.

Can we help?

Retired Navy Master Chief JIM MacINDOE and retired Aviation Ordnanceman First Class MARK FORBES are students at Skagit Valley College who volunteer around town through the Learning into Action program.

I spotted them at the WAIF Thrift Shop on Pioneer Way last week, moving gondolas and shelving to make more room in the store. “It’s fun,” said MacIndoe. “We’re going to do this on a regular basis.”

The two also plan to volunteer as dog walkers when the new WAIF Animal Shelter opens on the Seaplane Base.

Our town is full of caring people. That’s what makes living here so great. Send me your news at lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com or call me at 675-6611 and leave a message. I’d love to hear from you.