OLD Whidbey Life Magazine

Category: Member News

  • Classic “Anne of Green Gables” comes to Whidbey Children’s Theater May 8

    Classic “Anne of Green Gables” comes to Whidbey Children’s Theater May 8

    April 22, 2015

    Charming classic “Anne of Green Gables” graces WCT stage

    Whidbey Children’s Theater is proud to present “Anne of Green Gables”, its fourth production of the season.
    Join us for this unforgettable classic, as it is brought to new life on the WCT stage! Matthew and Marilla are growing old and decide to adopt an orphan boy to help with their farm – but instead they get the strong-willed, redheaded, fantastically unique Anne Shirley. She will turn their lives upside down and win their hearts, having adventures of every sort along the way!
    This classic story has been a favorite for generations, and is beautifully directed by Melanie Lowey.
    It’s time to introduce a new generation to this strong heroine that inspiresreaders and theatergoers of every age*, so bring the whole family! (and don’t forget our specially priced Family Show on May 16th, when all tickets are just $8!)
    The cast of dedicated young actors grades 6-8 can’t wait to transport you to the charming beauty of Green Gables!

    Show opens May 8th at Whidbey Children’s Theater, next to Langley Middle School.

    Visit our website at www.wctmagic.org for tickets, and more information about WCT!

    See you at the theater!

    Performances:
    May 8th & 9th (7:00pm), & May 10th (2pm)
    May 15th & 16th** (7:00pm) and May 17th (2pm)

    Ticket Prices:
    $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $8 for students
    **Special Family Show on May 16th at 7:00pm, where all seats are $8!

    *(recommended ages 4+, no babes in arms, no late seating)

    Whidbey Children’s Theater is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the magic and family into the lives of children for over thirty years.
    723 Camano Ave, Langley WA 98260
    (360)221-8707
    contact.wct@gmail.com

  • FIDDLIN’ at the Farm – Saratoga Orchestra’s Annual Gala on May 8

    FIDDLIN’ at the Farm – Saratoga Orchestra’s Annual Gala on May 8

    April 22, 2015

    Whidbey Island’s Saratoga Orchestra presents renowned blues and jazz fiddler, Darol Anger, for the orchestra’s annual Intermezzo VI Gala Weekend.

    The orchestra’s fundraising dinner “Fiddlin’ at the Farm” will be held on Friday May 8 from 5:30-9pm at Dancing Fish Farm on Newman Rd. in Freeland. The evening will feature a performance by Darol Anger and special guest Emy Phelps as well as local favorite, 3 Cent Stamp. Des Rock of Useless Bay Coffee Co. will cater a BBQ buffet and a no-host bar with local wines, microbrews and spirits will be available. A silent and live auction will round out the evening’s festivities. Of particular importance, Island Thrift has offered to match funds raised at this event, up to $10,000, for future programming and educational opportunities key to the orchestra’s mission. Tickets for the fundraiser are $100/person and may be purchased at www.sowhidbey.com or by calling 360-929-3045.

  • Whidbey Art Trail announces opening of fifth season on Friday, May 1

    Whidbey Art Trail announces opening of fifth season on Friday, May 1

    April 22, 2015

    Whidbey Art Trail opens its new season on Friday, May 1. Now in its fifth season, Whidbey Art Trail offers free, self-guided tours through the thriving visual arts community of Whidbey Island, about 40 minutes north of Seattle—perfect for daytrippers and visitors on vacation to the scenic Puget Sound area of Washington State.

    This year, 24 artists and galleries are featured along the Tr​ail. Visitors will find a unique and exciting experience creating their own art adventures through some of Whidbey’s most beloved galleries and the personal studios of painters, sculptors, weavers, glass artists, potters, and other members of the rich and eclectic Whidbey Island arts community. This “behind-the-scenes” access gives visitors of the Trail the opportunity to speak with artists directly about their process and gain detailed insight into their work.

    Groups and individuals interested in building a custom art tour can pick up a brochure or visit www.WhidbeyArtTrail.com where they will find the complete roster of artist studios and galleries on the tour with hours of operation, contact information, and directions to the locations. For studios listed as “by appointment only,” visitors are asked to call ahead to arrange their visit.

    Whidbey Art Trail brochures are located on the Mukilteo/Clinton and Pt. Townsend/Keystone ferry routes, as well as visitor centers and businesses across Whidbey Island—from Clinton to Oak Harbor, WA.

    For more information, visit www.WhidbeyArtTrail.com or email WhidbeyArtTrail@gmail.com.

    Follow Whidbey Art Trail on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WhidbeyArtTrail.

    Whidbey Art Trail, working in partnership with the Whidbey Island Arts Council, is a non-profit arts organization promoting the arts on scenic Whidbey Island in Puget Sound of Washington State. We are committed to establishing an internationally recognized arts destination by marketing creative artists and other art venues through the Artist Trail, our website and a full-color brochure. ​

  • Pruning Workshop and Luncheon with Japanese Master Gardener Masa Mizuno on May 2

    Pruning Workshop and Luncheon with Japanese Master Gardener Masa Mizuno on May 2

    April 22, 2015

    The Northwest Language Academy is honored to welcome back revered Japanese Master Gardener Masa Mizuno for a pruning workshop from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2. The event will be held at a private residence in the Headlands, on Whidbey Island.

    This will include a demonstration and Q&A, followed by a tour of the gardens and authentic Japanese lunch and is a great opportunity to view an outstanding private garden and residence and to meet and speak with one of the living masters of Japanese gardening in the company of other avid gardeners. Learn to recognize the inherent shape within the structure of a tree or shrub, to understand the balance of positive and negative space, and to encourage health and form through pruning.

    Masa Mizuno came to the United States from Osaka in 2000 and has been the landscape director of the Portland Japanese Garden for over a decade. As the president of his own 30-year-old design firm, he has installed public and private Japanese gardens around the world, including several on Whidbey Island.

    The Japanese have been creating gardens since the first century A.D., designing miniaturized ideal landscapes based on symbolic, spiritual, and exacting aesthetic principles. In Japanese pleasure gardens, a series of view points are laid out to create specific corridors of sight; concealment and the slow reveal of disparate elements is of great importance, as is the principle of asymmetry, offering—as landscape gardener Seyemon Kusumoto once wrote—“the best of nature’s handiwork in a limited space.”

    Seating is limited; advance reservations are strongly recommended, as the event is certain to sell out. The cost for the workshop and luncheon is $75 per person, the balance of which will benefit NWLA’s summer camp scholarship program.  NWLA is committed to providing its summer camps and language classes to all children regardless of ability to pay, and attendance at events such as these helps make this commitment possible.

    Overnight accommodations are available in the Cultural Center’s luxurious Guesthouse at 5023 Langley Rd. in Langley.

    Reservations can be made on line via NWLA’s website or by calling 360-321-2101 or info@nwlanguageacademy.com. To learn more about NWLA and upcoming programs or classes, visit www.nwlanguageacademy.com.

    NWLA is a not for profit organization that makes it possible for residents of the local community to become residents of the larger, global community. Through the study of languages and cultural enrichment, we are preserving and honoring diversity while building bridges of understanding and appreciation between people of different cultures.

  • NW Crossroads Healing Retreat June 5-7

    NW Crossroads Healing Retreat June 5-7

    April 22, 2015

    Northwest Crossroads Retreat (NWXRR), a unique Healing Retreat on Whidbey Island of two days of engaging activities at the Captain Whidbey Inn from June 5- 7.

    During two days of engaging activities  An eclectic set of holistic practitioners from the Pacific Northwest will share new ways of combining old traditions and techniques that release past blocks & pains, create clarity & focus, and enhance awareness of self and others. Attendees will experience revelations for Healing Body, Heart, Mind, and Spirit and can expect to gain confidence, strength, and focus.

    Courageous, openminded, openhearted souls who register for this weekend retreat on Whidbey Island can embrace moments of Spirit & grace during informative workshops, hands-on clinics, private sessions with presenters, moving ceremonies, and evening relaxation time. This getaway provides a safe sense of community to conduct a close examination of self and acquire tools that help clear, cleanse, and invigorate the body, heart, mind, and spirit. Practitioners, clients, and aficionados of holistic, complementary, or alternative therapies, modalities, and thought processes are invited to:

    ● explore the intersections of magical, physical, and metaphysical traditions from a variety of perspectives (from Pilates to palmistry, hoodoo to hypnosis, nutrition to Nia, art to acupuncture,
    dance to divination)
    ● gain intuitive insight and conscious awareness of their personal strength & power
    ● create change by learning how to actively engage in life’s twists and turns.

    Experts from diverse paths converge to reflect the possibilities present at the crossroads of spirituality, consciousness, emotion, and action. They will offer complementary insights for healing, protection, and expansion to NWXRR guests. Over the course of the weekend, all participants will access and integrate a variety of approaches that conjure Spirit into existence in their personal and professional lives.
    Registration is open now at http://nwxrr.com for this one-of-a-kind
    healing retreat.

    About the Northwest Crossroads Retreat workshop leaders:
    ● David Rojas PhD, CHt (Connections Wizard, Soul Healer, Hypnotherapist) Coaching, consulting, and inner alignment technologies that empower compassion industry entrepreneurs
    to share their unique messages with confidence and clarity.
    ● Sindy Todo (Reader, Rootworker, Money Mojo Manager) Rootwork,
    intuitive bone & card readings, southern traditional folk magic, and spiritual guidance to help lighthearted professionals balance the magical and mundane.
    ● Jim Barker (Palm Reader) Expert palm readings and trusted guidance to help seekers gain deeper self awareness and understanding.
    ● Carolina Dean (Reader, Rootworker, Metaphysical Author) Divination, hoodoo, southern traditional folk magic, doll babies, and magical coaching to help openminded clients unblock obstructions and manifest the life they desire.
    ● Sommer Joy Alberton (Life Brilliance Coach & Nia Instructor) Nia,
    dance, art, coaching, workshops, and fun to consciously develop community awareness, compassion, and joy
    ● Derik Kleinhesselink (Dance, Fitness, and Image Expert) Eclectic
    modalities integrated to energize the body and reveal optimal strength, stability, flexibility, and grace.
    ● Jill Pagano ( Somatic Movement Educator) Nia, Melt Method, and a suite of integrated conscious conditioning techniques for natural, sustainable movement and wellness.
    ● Dr. Thomas Kim DC Chiropractor (Stress & Wellness Doctor) Mindbody medicine to help people understand the root cause of their health issues and empower them to achieve an overall state of well being.
    ● Susie Schroeder, EAMP (Acupuncturist & Sound Therapist) Physical,
    psychic, and spiritual healing modalities that delve beyond the physical and psychological to effect deep level, meaningful change at all levels.

    For more information, contact:
    David Rojas
    david@cognitivecrossroads.com
    206-963-6831

  • Carol Bauer and Howard Hamsa are featured at Penn Cove Gallery in May

    Carol Bauer and Howard Hamsa are featured at Penn Cove Gallery in May

    April 15, 2015

    Meet STILLFire Pottery artists Carol Ann Bauer and Howard Hamsa at Penn Cove Gallery on May 6 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., where they will discuss their journey in the art of pottery-making, inspirations and methods.

    Creating pottery full time since 1980, Carol’s pottery springs from her love of classical form and is inspired by the endlessly fascinating beauty of nature. Her lifetime of working with her hands, combining form and surface harmoniously into pottery that is functional as well, shines in the work.

    Husband and partner Howard Hamsa holds the big picture of the business aspect of STILLFire, as well as assisting in production of the work. Through connecting with customers at fairs, shows or through galleries, they share the vision of their work—to create beauty and a quiet peacefulness in the simple activities of life such as serving food and drink or displaying flowers.

    Penn Cove Gallery is located at 9 NE Front St. in Coupeville. STILLFire pottery is exhibited across the US and internationally as well. http://stillfirepottery.com

  • ‘Boys in the Boat’ author to speak April 15 on Whidbey Island

    ‘Boys in the Boat’ author to speak April 15 on Whidbey Island

    April 8, 2015

    Whidbey Island’s five community libraries have been hosting a six-week series of events inspired by “The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics” by Daniel James Brown.

    These events culminate on Wednesday, April 15 with presentations by the author. Brown will speak at 1 p.m. at South Whidbey High School and 7 p.m. at Best Western Plus Harbor Plaza in Oak Harbor.

    Other events during Whidbey Reads 2015 will include discussion groups, film showings, musical presentations and lectures. They will explore such topics as the Depression era, World War II, and the region’s boating culture. Full calendar listings, online and printable, can be found at sno-isle.org/whidbeyreads. Printed calendars are also available in the Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland, Langley and Clinton libraries.

    Whidbey Reads annually brings island residents together to read and talk about a book. The shared experience serves as a springboard to explore commonalities and differences, said Whidbey Reads organizer Kathy Bullene.

    Whidbey Reads is a collaborative effort of Sno-Isle Libraries, Whidbey Island Friends of the Library groups and volunteers from each community. Other partners include Skagit Valley College, Best Western Harbor Plaza, Wind & Tide Books, Island Thrift and Moonraker Books. Funding is provided by the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation.

  • South Whidbey Edible Book Festival is back March 29

    South Whidbey Edible Book Festival is back March 29

    March 25, 2015

    The Edible Book Festival is coming to Whidbey Island so bring an entry – or just come ready to eat one! This year the Festival is 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 29 at Bayview Hall located at 5642 Bayview Rd., Langley.

    Entry registration is scheduled from 1 to 1:45 p.m and general entry, judging and  photography is from 2 to 3 p.m. Once voting is done and the winners are announced, forks will be provided! Entry is by donation and everyone is welcome. The suggested donation is $2 for adults & $1 for children.

    Our special raffle item this year is a “Little Free Library” donated by Bob Bowling Rustics. Thanks Bob!

    All proceeds will benefit The South Whidbey Parks & Aquatics Foundation, which will be using the proceeds to help Healthy Island Youth Initiative (HIYA), which provides opportunities for area youth to participate in sports & other physical activities.

    View previous festival photos and find out more at our Facebook page: South Whidbey Edible Book Festival!

    For further information on the event, contact Jill at: (360) 341-6406 southwhidbeyediblebookfestival@gmail.com.

  • Rob Schouten Gallery presents ‘The Department of Whimzy,’ with the art of David Ossman and Stephen Roxborough in April

    Rob Schouten Gallery presents ‘The Department of Whimzy,’ with the art of David Ossman and Stephen Roxborough in April

    March 25, 2015

    Stop the presses — the whim-wham is in town!

    Step right up, you April fools, you poets and you sumptuous art feasters—you lovers, angels, sinners and you poetry seekers. Welcome to the “Department of Whimzy,” where Rob Schouten Gallery at Greenbank Farm is happy to present the collages, dioramas, and photographs of David Ossman and Stephen Roxborough.

    "Dry Honey Time," collage on paper by David Ossman.
    “Dry Honey Time,” collage on paper by David Ossman   (photo courtesy of the artist)

    In recognition of April Poetry Month, Ossman, Roxborough and literary cohort John Burgess, poets all, will also hold a free poetry reading at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in addition to the First Friday opening reception. Everyone is welcome to come hear these masters of the spoken word read selected poems, while enjoying an evening of whimsical fantasy.

    "Warpspeed," photograph by Stephen Roxborough. / Photo courtesy of the artist
    “Warpspeed,” photograph by Stephen Roxborough   (photo courtesy of the artist)

    We’d love for you to also join us for light refreshments and a chance to meet these talented and whimsical gents, Misters Ossman and Roxborough, from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 3 during Greenbank Farm’s “First Friday at the Farm” event, when the Farm’s  galleries, shops, cafe and market welcome visitors to enjoy a relaxed afternoon of fine art, good food, lively conversation and the exquisite natural beauty of this special place.

    Book cover collage for "Marshmallows and Despair," poetry by David Ossman. / Photo courtesy of the artist
    Book cover collage for “Marshmallows and Despair,” poetry by David Ossman   (photo courtesy of the artist)

    Rob Schouten Gallery, a premier showcase for Whidbey Island and Northwest artists, is located at historic Greenbank Farm on scenic Whidbey Island. April gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. Tuesdays by appointment only. For further information, call 360.222.3070 or visit www.robschoutengallery.

    Pictured at top, Stephen Roxborough’s “Window Dressing”   (photo courtesy of the artist)

  • Gray Whale Tour Season Begins

    Gray Whale Tour Season Begins

    February 24, 2015

    The 2015 Puget Sound and Salish Sea gray whale migration is about to arrive, and you’re invited to witness this epic season aboard the 100′ M/V Mystic Sea with Captain Monte Hughes. Starting March 7 and running through May 10, whale-watching excursions will depart from Langley on Whidbey Island three days per week, increasing to five weekly tours in April/May.

    Every spring, gray whales migrate thousands of miles from winter waters in Mexico to their summer habitat in Alaska. The inland waters of the Salish Sea and Puget Sound are just a temporary stopover for these 30-ton mighty marine mammals. This year, over 11,000 gray whales are expected to make the trek, with approximately 250 finding their way into our inland Salish Sea. Come aboard the Mystic Sea and you could spot “Patch” or “Double-Knuckles,” two of our barnacle-backed favorites!

    The Mystic Sea has a 98% whale-sighting success rate, and each three-hour excursion offers plenty of additional wildlife-spotting opportunities. You’ll enjoy educational commentary by an onboard naturalist and stunning views of Saratoga Passage and the waters around Whidbey, Camano and Hat Islands. Your cruise promises to be safe, dry and comfortable with excellent inside and outside viewing, heated cabins and complimentary hot coffee and tea. Plus, each whale-watching cruise is limited to 60 passengers in order to assure easy viewing for all. Most passengers disembark with a lifetime of great memories!

    Schedule:
    All cruises last three hours and depart from the Langley Marina
    March 7-31: Fri, Sat, Sun, 11a.m.
    April 1 through May 10: Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, 11 a,m. PLUS Sat. and Sun. at 3 p.m.

    For  reservations, visit www.mysticseacharters.com or call 1-800-308-9387 or 360-588-8000.