Reading challenge
The Mega-Fun, Biblio-Trivia, Rockem-Sockem, Third Grade Reading Challenge is underway.
The challenge encourages students to enjoy reading while building literacy and teamwork skills, said organizer Joy Feldman, lead librarian for Early Literacy at Sno-Isle Libraries. Team members read six books chosen by Sno-Isle staff, then test their knowledge of each book in a series of in-school quiz bowls that run through February, with semifinal and final rounds in March.
For five years, the Sno-Isle foundation has supported the challenge by providing books, prizes and T-shirts to participants.
The 2019 challenge had 193 teams from 51 schools. This year, 226 teams from 60 elementary schools in the Arlington, Marysville and many other school districts are competing.
Each school’s top-scoring team advances to one of eight regional semifinal quizzes March 3-16. Each top-scoring team will face off at the final quiz, set for 6:30 p.m. March 23 at the Edmonds Center for the Arts.
New exhibit
TULALIP – A new exhibit will open at the Hibulb Cultural Center Jan. 25 called “The Power of Words: A History of Tulalip Literacy.”
It will feature the Treaty of Point Elliott of 1855 on loan from the National Archives. It will also include visual displays and youth interactives.
The center’s address is 6410 23rd Ave. NE.
Donate computers
MARYSVILLE – Did you receive a new computer, laptop, tablet, phone, camera or game console this holiday season? If so, you can donate your old technology to someone in need. At Legacy High School, students refurbish technology and put it back to work in the community and across the world. Locally, the program supplies Housing Hope, along with low-income families and veterans with free technology. On a global scale, the computers they have built support schools, libraries, hospitals and orphanages in Haiti, Guatemala and elsewhere, along with the United States. For details email teacher Paul LaGrange at paul_lagrange@msd25.org
Diamond Rio
ARLINGTON – Grammy country music winner Diamond Rio will perform in Rivers Run Event Center at Angel Of The Winds Casino Resort Feb. 23 at 8 p.m.
In the early 1990s the group’s debut single, “Meet in the Middle,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list, the first band to do so. Since then 18 other Diamond Rio singles have hit the Top 10, including “How Your Love Makes Me Feel,” “One More Day,” “I Believe,” and “Beautiful Mess.”
The band has sold more than 10 million records and won four Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year honors, two Academy of Country Music Top Vocal Group Awards and one Grammy.
Tickets start at $55 online at AngelOfTheWinds.com.
New book
MARYSVILLE – Robert Graef, a former columnist for The Marysville Globe-The Arlington Times, has published another book, called “Teachable Moments.”
A retired teacher, his newest book looks at the challenges of running public schools. In his first venture into fiction, principal Tom Clausen has to deal with Charles Wainwright, an appointed superintendent with stolen credentials, and Garnet Pittman, a creative teacher who lacks social skills. When Clausen supports the teacher, Wainwright is threatened and charges him with disloyalty. Threats, transfers and demotions cause teachers to leave. Newspaper criticism, a faculty affair, porn at school, school board hostility and a coach’s inappropriate touching fuel the flames, leading to Clausen’s cardiac arrest. Previous books have been on ignorance, war on children, the health benefit of oats, a biography and environmental education.
Tax help
ARLINGTON – The Stillaguamish Senior Center is seeking volunteers to help as AARP Tax Aides for the upcoming season.
If you have good computer skills, enjoy working with people, and are willing to learn, consider volunteering for the program. AARP provides the training, usually once a week in January.
Taxes will be prepared from Feb 3 through April 13 on Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Stillaguamish Senior Center Library.
For details, contact Pete Stachowiak at petestach@gmail.com.
