Heather Fakkema, a 10th grader at Coupeville High School in Coupeville,
recently served as a legislative page in the state House of Representatives.
She was sponsored by state Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor.
Fakkema, 15, the daughter of Terri Fakkema of Coupeville and Fred Fakkema of Lacey, served as a page the week of April 6-11. As a page, Fakkema observed the Legislature in action and was responsible for delivering messages and documents to legislators in their offices, committee meetings and in the House Chamber during floor sessions. She also continued her studies for two hours a day at a page school at the Capitol.
To become a page, applicants must have a legislative sponsor and be between the ages of 14 and 17. Additionally, pages are required to hold a minimum C+ grade average and obtain written permission from their parents and school.
Additional information about the House Page program can be found on the Internet by visiting the House home page at www.leg.wa.gov.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas M. Stanalonis, son of Luz M. Stanalonis of Oak Harbor, is participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Arabian Gulf while assigned to the guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook, homeported in Norfolk, Va. Stanalonis joined the Navy in February 1997.
Oak Harbor Middle School PTA will hold a medieval carnival Saturday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to bring history alive. For more information, call Kathleen Couture, 279-8644.
Seattle Pacific University has released its Winter Quarter Dean’s List. Students on the list have completed at least 12 credits and attained a 3.50 or higher GPA. Local students named to the list are Theresa Mae LaLanne of Coupeville and Oak Harbor residents Megan Louise Bartlett, Jessica Jansen, Kyle John Kingma and Jennifer Lynn Tesch.
Dr. Suzanne Bond, who served as Coupeville School District superintendent from 1996-2002, will be recognized by Western Washington University with an Award for Professional Excellence from the Woodring College of Education.
Dr. Bond was nominated for the award by current superintendent Bill Myhr, school board president Valerie Wiley, and current and former district administrators and teachers. Nomination letters commented on Dr. Bond’s high professional standards, exemplary programs she developed (such as the character education program), and her constant advocacy for learning. Accomplishments during her tenure included: a strong focus on the personal side of learning, summarized by the phrase “a heart for kids;” a major revision of the district’s Strategic Plan; initiating a food service program; and collaborations with other agencies to benefit district programs.
Dr. Bond, superintendent Myhr, and board president Wiley will attend an awards program in Bellingham in May for the award presentation.
Friday evening of the Holland Happening celebration in Oak Harbor, the community remembered the past 100 years of First Reformed Church with a Dutch dinner. Menu included “hutspot” and “ollie bolen” and other traditional Dutch dishes. In the hallway entrance to the church, the walls were covered with pictures and news stories of the past 100 years, and those serving were dressed in traditional Dutch outfits.
Barney and Joyce Beeksma are enjoying two weeks of sunshine and fun in the Hawaiian Islands where their son Mark and his family are now making their home. The couple have five children, and they all enjoy the South Seas weather.
Win and Donna Stites were guests of their son Jeff and his wife Diane in Kirkland on Easter.
Whidbey Island’s Nordic Lodge members will help celebrate Norweigan Constitution Day, May 17, in Ballard. The event will celebrate the Skandinavians on Whidbey Island and a float is being readied for participation in the parade.
Back on Whidbey Island for the spring and summer are R.R. and Dee Harbour who are happy to return to Whidbey after winter in the sunny south.
Islanders were recently named to the University of Washington’s Dean’s List for the winter quarter. To qualify for the Dean’s list, the students must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 and complete 12 graded credits. The following students made the grade:
Brian J. Baker, Lily H. Dodge, and Maureen Wetmore of Coupeville; Tiffany Nicole Gordon of Greenbank; Heather Anne Brister, Lindsay Nicole Bull, Erin Nicole Gamble, Corey Christopher Holly, Michael King, Audra K. Mendelsohn, David Michael Mong, Arnold Lee Ramoso, Nathaniel Robert Rivard, Heather Ann Rivera, Denise Mendenilla Stanalonis and Anthony Tan Vuong of Oak Harbor.
Paul Robert Donnellon, of Coupeville is one of the 1,735 candidates who are eligible to receive degrees at the University of Idaho’s spring commencement ceremonies. Donnellon will receive a bachelor’s degree in forest resources-ecosystem management.
