The PBY Memorial Association celebrated its third birthday recently with a party at the CPO Club; the party started with the flag salute and prayer. Tables were beautifully decorated in red, white and blue with flowers in blue glass bottles. A model hangar made by Adophy Meisch and a birthday cake with the PBY emblem were on display. Meisch won the membership contest and received a clock.
President Win Stites reported the club has raised $12,500 and resumes of several professional fundraisers are being studied.
Bill Jones heads the committee to make a video on the history of the PBY, Oak Harbor before, during and after the war and what they Navy means now and in the future. The video will be used for educational purposes and to raise money for the memorial.
A search continues for a PBY suitable for a museum. Several planes have been located from as far away as England.
Mike and Ila Schmit of Crosswoods recently flew to Austin, Texas, to celebrate the arrival of their new grandson.
Valon Miller was awarded the rank of eagle scout at a special court of honor on Oct. 2. Miller is a member of Troop No. 58 which is sponsored by Coupeville Lions. His parents, Bo and LouAnn Miller, were among 80 guests at the court of honor. Key speaker was Nic Hallett, a long time leader and supporter of the troop. Other speakers included Island District Executive Al Bartlett, former scoutmasters Gary Parker and Tim Force, former assistant scoutmasters Jim Cavness and Gene Hartman and Bo Miller. Bob Clay of Coupeville Lions presented Valon with a $500 scholarship. Valon graduated from Coupeville High School last year and is taking classes at Skagit Valley College. He has been involved with scouting since he was in first grade and continues to be involved with Troop No. 58 as an assistant scoutmaster.
Author and former Coupeville resident Mary Syreen announces the third printing of her first novel, “Consequences,” a murder mystery.
The book is set in eastern Oregon and Florida. The main character takes a side trip to the Pacific Northwest — Anacortes and Friday Harbor. Skagit Valley’s tulip fields are also mentioned in the plot.
“Consequences” and Syreen’s other books are available at Wind and Tide bookstore in Oak Harbor and Kingfisher on Front Street. Other book outlets in Skagit County also carry Syreen’s books.
Syreen is working on her fourth novel which is set in Southern California and it will be a novel of intrigue and murder.
Syreen is a former reporter for the Whidbey News-Times.
Fifth grader Lauren Miller, daughter of Lt. Col. Steven Miller and Jill Esterly Miller, received the Miss America Award in her Boulder City, Nev., elementary school by memorizing the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, all the presidents in chronological order, all the states and their capitals in alphabetical order, the Pledge of Allegiance and all the words to the “Star Spangled Banner.” Lauren is the granddaughter of Beverly Esterly Potter of Oak Harbor.
Whidbey Islanders Pat Flitcroft, Odie Copstead, Murial Pickard and Jean Sherman have returned from a week of bridge playing at a resort in Whistler, B.C. No one would say who won!
Friends of retired Capt. Al Weeks, former executive officer of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, will be glad to know he is home and doing well after a short hospitalization in Bellingham. We all wish him a speedy recovery.
On Oct. 8, the coffee club met at Fairhaven to hear Helen Chatfield-Weeks give a portrayal of Maude Lillie Bowern, a member of the Yakama Nation whose fame is promoted by the American Association of University Women. The club promotes the equity of all women and girls, lifelong education and positive social change. There are more than 3,000 members state wide. They visit fifth and sixth grades in school during the year, each month representing a different woman in history.
It was a celebration day at the West Beach home of Edith Wilson when Bud Joseph and Karen McCurry of Euphrata brought newest member of the family, three-and-a-half-months old James Wilson McCurry, the Oak Harbor to be dedicated at First Baptist Church by the Rev. Clint Webb. James Wilson is the ninth great-grand of the family to be dedicated here by the Rev. Webb. Members of the Wilson and McCurry families were present.
At a dinner party recently the hostess demonstrated her comical turkey in the straw, a battery-powered toy which dances and sings. Several guests wanted to buy one so the hostess called a local grocery store where she had purchased hers and asked, “Do you still have the turkey that dances and sings ‘Turkey in the Straw’?” After a long pause the person answering the phone said, “I think you want the mean department.
Oak Harbor High School Class of 1960 is actively seeking former faculty and classmates for a reunion sometime in 2002. Students and faculty from 1956-1960 are sought and current names, addresses and phone numbers are needed. If you want more information, contact Larry Nienhuis, nienhuis@whidbey.net or Ann Koetje Temme, agtemme@aol.com.
And we hear of more reunions to come. Oak Harbor High School Class of 1972 is planning their 30-year high school reunion set for Aug. 9-11, 2002. Primary points of contact are Lisa (Pedersen) Grosso, grosso@whidbey.net, 678.5758 and Barbara (Beers) Jolly, bjolly2220@aol.com, 253.813.2903, who are Co-Chairing the 30-reunion committee. Ernie Fortin, Phil Steinsiek, Ron Bueing, Craig Dougherty and Curtis Cochran are also serving on the reunion committee. Other interested volunteers should contact either Lisa or Barbara or at the OHHS Class of ‘72 e-mail address: ohhs1972@hotmail.com. The OHHS Class of ‘72 Web site http://home.talkcity.com/MemoryLn/ohhs1972/ Teachers and classmates ofthat era are also invited to participate.
The organizers’ press release says, “It’s our 30th Reunion and we’re planning in the fun — you plan to come!”
