MV Sea-Tech 4-H Club 10th at international event

Mount Vernon’s Sea-Tech 4-H Club placed 10th out of 34 entrants at the MATE 2008 International ROV (remotely operated vehicle) Challenge June 26-28 at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in San Diego.

Club members Peyton Hasenohrl, Trevor Uptain, Keegan McAdams, Joe Thieman and Samantha McNeil beat out other universities, including MIT, and won the prestigious gROVer-Crocket Wise Memorial Award. The gROVer is given “to a team or an individual who demonstrates courtesy, kindness and professionalism and assists other teams, providing technical as well as moral support.”

Genesis completed the first two of three required tasks in its mission, but fell short in the third task. Judges noticed the team’s extra efforts, however. Judge Fritz Stahr noted that the team’s machine followed the spirit of the competition in that it was the only machine that possessed the ability to perform an actual mission.


Benefit raises $1,200 for cancer research

The second annual Ladies Night Out on July 12 at Carpenter Creek Winery in Mount Vernon raised $1,200 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and breast cancer research. The evening event included wine-tasting and hors d’oeuvres, and boasted a volunteer valet parking team appropriately dressed in pink shirts.

Carpenter Creek Winery co-owner Tara Hammer said she was thrilled with the response to the event and with the support she received from the ladies of the winery.


Mount Vernon woman finalist in quilt competition

Nancy Davis of Mount Vernon is a finalist in the eighth biennial Pacific Northwest Quiltfest, scheduled for Aug. 8-10 in Seattle.

Davis’ entry “Sun Compass” will compete with 290 quilts and wearable art pieces from quiltmakers from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Yukon for some $40,000 in cash and prizes in 11 categories.

The Pacific Northwest Quiltfest will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 8-9, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, on the corner of Seventh and Pike streets. $10. For information, call 425-558-1983 or visit http://www.apnq.org.


Burlington girl to compete in Miss Washington pageant

Kiley Griffin of Burlington has been chosen as a state finalist in the National American Miss Washington Pageant, to be held Aug. 28-30 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.

Nine-year-old Kiley’s activities include karaoke, choir and homework. She enjoys reading and arts and crafts, and she loves to clean.

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