Pam Headridge, Oak Harbor High School Cheerleaders’ coach writes: As Thanksgiving nears the cheerleaders wanted to show their appreciation for the support from the community to the cheerleaders at Oak Harbor High School. They pledged to give back to community. Since the beginning of the school year the cheerleaders have volunteered in many areas including:

1. Two six-week afterschool enrichment programs at Clover Valley Elementary and Broad View Elementary

2. Car wash to raise funds for the anti-harassment programs for the school district taught by Jim Bailey

3. Alzheimer Memory Walk

4. National Night Out – set up and clean up

5. Red Ribbon Rally Parade

6. Red Ribbon Rally Booth

7. Breakfast fundraiser for Oak Harbor Educational Foundation

8. Christmas In July Help House Food Drive

9. Help House Food Drive at last football game

10. Coached football youth league football cheerleaders

11.Traveled to other schools teaching stunt clinics

This is their special way to say “THANKS!”

Will Honea grew up on Whidbey Island. He graduated from Oak Harbor High School and pursued a family tradition in becoming a commercial fisherman. While in college, he joined ROTC, and after graduating with a degree in International Studies and Russian, he joined the U.S. Army. He served in Bosnia as a military liaison to the Russian peacekeeping force.

After returning from overseas, Will decided to become an attorney. He is currently in his third year at the University of Washington School of Law. While in law school, Will continued his service in the National Guard. A few weeks ago, he was called to serve and given less than a week to deploy. In that time, he managed to pack and marry his girlfriend and law school classmate Marketa Vorel.

Will’s law career is on hold while he’s overseas, but Will plans to complete his third year as soon as he returns. After earning their law degrees, Will and Marketa dream of returning to Whidbey Island where they would like to practice law, settle down and start a family.

On Nov. 6, three Oak Harbor women drove to Seattle to join other members of American Association of University Women on a visit to the Seattle Art Museum and tour the Annie Liebovitz photography exhibit, “Women.” Linda McNamara, Betsy Cave and Helen Chatfield-Weeks raved about the exhibit and were very glad they went to see it. The exhibit will be at the museum until Jan. 6, 2002. Chatfield-Weeks is Whidbey Island president of AAUW.

Dr. Harry Bailey and his wife Fran are moving to Oklahoma City were Fran lived before moving to Oak Harbor. Harry and Fran had known each other years ago and became reacquainted when Harry visited Oklahoma several years ago. Fran says she enjoyed living in Oak Harbor but is homesick for Oklahoma and old friends there.

John and Joann Hildinger hosted a fabulous Halloween party at their home in Oak Harbor. Many guests wore great costumes, including Helen Chatfield-Weeks as a green-eyed monster, Sandi Carrothers as a pig, Bob Mitchell as a pirate — his wife Dena was a glamour girl, Dee and Rip Harbour as monsters and Jan McKinney as a clown. Nick and Treva Carter appeared in beautiful 1920’s costumes ready to dance the Charleston. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed lots of delicious food.

On Nov. 5, the Irish Wildlife Society held their last meeting of the year in the home of Robby and Dutch O’Strehle, to prepare for the March 17, 2002, festivities. The first thing on the agenda was to agree on who was to have the honor of being the grand marshall. It was agreed that retired Dr. Harry Bailey was a natural choice, a phone call to him was made. This is the first notice to everyone that the St. Patrick’s Day parade will be held on Saturday, March 16. Parades are not usually held in Oak Harbor on Sunday.

To read more of Dorothy Neil’s news, subscribe to the Whidbey News-Times.