Yellow Pages
Eat, dance, be merry — and support forest education and stewardship at the annual Friends of the Forest fundraiser 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Fidalgo Bay Resort.
Traditionally an all-around good time — and a sell-out event — the fundraiser has moved to a larger venue this year to allow more people to attend. The evening includes a catered dinner by Gere-a-Deli, music by Fidalgo Swing and Spoonshine, and silent and live auctions. Tickets, $50, are still available at Watermark Book Co.
Anne Martin McCool’s original watercolor “Fidalgo Autumn” is the fundraiser’s poster image and the featured piece in the live auction, and many other artists, individuals and businesses have contributed goods and services.
The Friends of the Forest is a nonprofit, citizen-run organization dedicated to the preservation of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands through education, outreach and stewardship. Led by Denise Crowe, the Friends offer a multi-layered and free education program designed to foster appreciation of the forest among Fidalgo Island residents of all ages. The friends offer ongoing adult/senior hikes, all-ages hikes, Forest Discovery Day Camp, habitat restoration efforts, ethnobotany field seminars, a quarterly newsletter and K-12 guided school field trips.
Two comprehensive Anacortes School District programs, Growing Wild native plant and mapping for all third-graders and Watershed Discovery for all seventh-graders, are key to education efforts. However, maintaining them may be challenging in the face of cuts to the district’s budget this year.
“The district is unable to fund these programs this year, so we are turning to membership to keep forest education happening for local students,” said Bret Lunsford, a member of the Friends.
The Friends’ fundraiser not only offers a way to help, it also gives attendees a crack at a great deal on fine art and other treasures. Original artwork to be sold at the auction includes McCool’s piece, Al Currier’s oil painting “End of Ninth,” Anne Schreivogl’s oil painting “Garden Days,” framed original papercut art from Nikki McClure’s new book, a wooden bowl by George Way, Dederick Ward’s oil painting “Sisters In Fog,” a fused glass tree art piece by Carol Anne Wilson, Jennifer Bowman’s oil painting “Changing Seasons II,” a giclee archival print by Sue Swapp, an Ora Cunningham original donated by the Vogels, fabric art by Boshie Morris, a painting by Kathleen Faulkner, a framed giclee print by Jacqueline DeGavia and glass art jewelry by Jean Crookes.
Other desirable auction items include a sushi dinner for eight by Peter Donaldson, a sunset dinner cruise for six on Pangaea from Max Madenwald and Wendy Gray, an estate planning package from attorney Aaron Rasmussen and a kayak tour by Anacorteskayaktours.com.
Contact any of the Friends of the Forest Board members for more information about the event, sponsorship or tickets, or call 293-3725 or visit Friendsoftheacfl.org.
