Fun Run raises $1,100 for Boys & Girls Club

The second annual Fun Run for the Boys & Girls Club hosted by Sedro-Woolley Eagles Aerie 2069 raised $1,100 for the Sedro-Woolley Boys & Girls Club. The 39 riders on 37 motorcycles each paid an entry fee of $30 to $50 to participate in the July 26 benefit ride.

Sedro-Woolley Club Director Jill Reid, who accepted the donation Aug. 12, said the Eagles also donated more than $400 earlier this year. She said the funds will help support Boys & Girls Club Education and Character & Leadership Development programs for the nearly 400 young kids, ’tweens and teens who belong to the club.



Mount Vernon 13-year-old to compete in state pageant

Bailey Cook, 13, of Mount Vernon has been chosen as a state finalist in the National American Miss Washington Pageant, to be held Aug. 31 and Sept.1 in Bellevue.

The pageant emphasizes the importance of gaining self-confidence, learning new skills, developing good attitudes about competition, and setting and achieving personal goals.

The teenager’s activities include dancing, cheerleading, soccer, volleyball, student council and Builders Club. Cook said she also enjoys volunteering, playing video games and music.

The pageant winner will receive a $1,000 cash award and air transportation to compete in the national pageant to be held Thanksgiving week at Disneyland in California.



Gregoire taps local care coordinator for board post

Cynthia Misner of Sedro-Woolley has been appointed to the Washington Board of Nursing Home Administrators by Gov. Chris Gregoire for a term ending May 28, 2011. Misner is the staff development coordinator at Life Care Center of Skagit Valley. She is also a CPR/first aid instructor at Mount Baker Red Cross.



Rotary auction raises $42,000 to support efforts

The sixth annual Stanwood Camano Rotary Club Auction raised more than $42,000 to support the club’s ongoing work, including $10,000 to support the Imagination Library, a new book program for preschool children in the district.

New Stanwood Camano Rotary President Jim Jonson said the remaining auction proceeds will help support student scholarships, student of the month programs, the new winter coats for families in need project, an international youth exchange program and a dental project in Kenya.



Mount Vernon police laud block Watch captain

Diana Zaleski of Mount Vernon was recently named the 2008 Block Watch Captain of the Year by the Mount Vernon Police Department.

Zaleski was recognized Aug. 7 for her continuing service and support to the city of Mount Vernon in her role as captain of the Block Watch crime prevention program in the area of North 32nd Street and North 33rd Place. Her commendation said in part that “Diana has distinguished herself as a model for others … and proven herself to be creative and energetic in a leadership role.”

Zaleski has hosted meetings in her home and yard, produced newsletters, and provided referrals to residents who come to her with concerns, while watching out for 70 residences.

Block Watch groups help reduce crime and the fear of crime through increased communication among neighbors who then “watch” out for each other, according to information at the Mount Vernon Police Department Web site, http://www.ci.mount-vernon.wa.us.

Members assist police by being the eyes, ears and problem-solvers in their neighborhoods. More information is available by calling 360-336-6250.



Guitarist honored for musical contributions

Bill Gates, 78, of Anacortes was honored recently by the Seattle Western Swing Music Society for his contributions to the industry as a steel guitarist and country music DJ.

Gates was inducted into the Society’s Hall of Fame and named a Pioneer of Western Swing Music at the Society’s 2008 Music Festival held Aug. 7-10 in Auburn.

Gates bought a lap steel guitar when he was 13. He and buddy Pete Key started the Westernaires band the next year, playing the music of Bob Wills and Spade Cooley. During an early-1950s stint in the Navy, Gates played western swing music both overseas and at Whidbey Island Naval Station. Gates played again with the Westernaires in his home state of New Mexico from 1954 until he moved to Anacortes in 1956.

Gates’ “pay the bills” job was with the Texaco refinery in Anacortes, where he was the outside maintenance supervisor. But he also worked as a country music disc jockey in Anacortes starting in 1957 and belonged to a musicians’ union.

Gates played with several bands for the next 30 years, backing such musicians as Little Jimmy Dickens, Faron Young and Merle Haggard. He even played in Loretta Lynn’s band for six months when she lived in Custer, numerous times with fellow western swing “pioneers” Bill O’Conner and Lloyd Hooper, and performed twice on the Buck Owens TV show in Tacoma.

When Loretta Lynn made her first record — “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl” — on the Zero Label, Gates was the first to play it on the radio and helped her distribute it to country music DJs across the U.S. He later accompanied Lynn to a disc jockey convention in Nashville, Tenn., where she signed a contract with Decca Records. The two are still close friends.

A back injury led to Gates’ retirement in 1986 as a professional musician, but he still belongs to the Pedal Steel Guitar Association, the Southwest Steel Guitar Association and the Western Swing Society of Seattle.

Gates still owns two of the three pedal steel guitars he built — and occasionally plays some of his favorite western swing tunes.



Brother presents Scout with U.S. flag

Cody Schwab, son of Jeanne and Dave Schwab of Mount Vernon, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout during a Saturday, Aug. 2, ceremony at the LDS Church in Mount Vernon, sponsors of Boy Scout Troop 4057.

Cody’s brother, Midshipman 2nd Class Matthew Schwab of the U.S. Naval Academy, presented him with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Frank Ripley from the Marine Corps League read a letter of congratulations from Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash.

Schwab received more than 65 letters of commendation for his achievement. He hopes to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.



Puyallup Tribe awards grant to Secret Harbor

Secret Harbor has received a $5,000 operating assistance grant from the Puyallup Tribe to assist the agency in providing residential treatment and foster care to troubled youth and special needs children.

Secret Harbor president and CEO Brian Carroll said the funding “reflects the tribe’s ongoing commitment to Secret Harbor and the children in our care.”

The Puyallup Tribe operates the Emerald Queen Casino in Fife and Tacoma.