 June 2009Newsletter Editor: Associate Editor: Robert Yule Elphick Contents:
Web site programming classes - summer 20094-H will again be running a summer school for students to learn how to make websites by writing HTML and Javascript files to be placed on the web. Several websites are in need of webmasters so the students will get some hands on experience in designing and producing real sites (and possibly make a little income). The classes are flexible but will run once a week formally with some informal sessions as well. Students are encouraged to bring their own computers but some computers are available for students who cannot bring one. Qualification as a webmaster is a valuable skill to many employers and organizations and may also provide school and/or college credit. No previous experience in programming is required, but a basic knowledge of computer usage is expected. The teacher will again be Robert Elphick, President of MAGIC (Macintosh Appreciation Group of Island County.) A text book will be recommended at the beginning of the classes and is readily obtained from Amazon for about $20. Formal classes will be held at the WSU Coupeville extension on Monday afternoons from 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. starting Monday 6 July 2009. additional ad hoc sessions will occur at the students convenience during afternoons and will mostly be 'hands on' projects of the students' choosing. The classes are FREE! For more information and an application click here.
Children’s International Photography Contest Focuses Worldwide Lens on BiodiversitySubmitted by Kevin Wright Youngsters around the world are invited to enter the "See the Bigger Picture" photography contest by submitting images illustrating plants, animals or anything else that captures biodiversity to HYPERLINK "http://www.seethebiggerpicture.org" www.seethebiggerpicture.org. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., and will meet with renowned photojournalist Joel Sartore, a contest judge. Entries must be received by September 8, 2009. "See the Bigger Picture" is a joint project of Airbus, National Geographic and the Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity in support of "The Green Wave" - an outreach program that promotes the goals of the United Nations biodiversity treaty and that will contribute to the celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010. As part of "The Green Wave" project, children and youth in schools worldwide plant a local tree species on May 22 each year, uniting to send a "green wave" across time zones from east to west. The organizers hope the "See the Bigger Picture" contest will encourage children around the globe to snap and submit a photograph illustrating biodiversity in their community or from their travels and help to create the world’s largest biodiversity outreach program. Sartore, one of National Geographic’s best wildlife photographers, suggests a few photo tips to get the perfect shot.
You don’t have to travel around the world to view and photograph wildlife. The variety of animals in your own back yard - from insects to birds to amphibians - may surprise you. "See the Bigger Picture" contest rules can be found on at www.seethebiggerpicture.org as well as in the July and August issues of National Geographic magazine and in the June/July and August issues of National Geographic Kids magazine. In the United States the contest is open to kids ages 6-14, and internationally to kids ages 6-16.  Know Your GovernmentPhoto taken at the KYG Legislative Breakfast. Teen Conference plans are underway for this weekend and representatives from Island County will include Washington State 4-H Ambassador Jayme Hunt, along with Anna Bailey, Nathan LaPoint, Alex Martinis, Laura Hernandez, Christina Fry, Rebecca Kniest, Marilyn Miranda, Grace LaPoint, Kim Boenish and Teen Ambassador Leader Jon Gabelein. Thank you all for taking the time to represent Island County and we all look forward to hearing about your travels and experiences at the WSU in Pullman.
Meet the StaffEach month we will highlight one of our WSU Extension staff to give you a better insight as to who we all are and what we do. With this information, we hope that you will be more familiar with Extension and what goes on behind the scenes to keep it all working smoothly. Lynette Goodell Accounting Supervisor Here's your chance to get to know WSU Extension's Accounting Supervisor Lynette Goodell who has been with Extension for just over 2 years and also assists with the Livestock Sale at Island County Fair. Lynette's roots take her back to upstate New York where she was born and where she grew up hoping to some day become a fighter pilot. During that process, Lynette found that she was lacking in the requirements for her eyesight and looked on to other career possibilities, working for Kelly Temporary Services and 7 years later held the title of Junior Accountant. As she progressed to other more demanding office jobs that involved retail sales, government positions, non-profits, and manufacturing to name a few, Lynette worked her way up the ladder to WSU Extension Accounting Supervisor which she enjoys immensely. Not only does Lynette manage to work at the Extension office 4 days per week, but she also takes pleasure in gardening, history, and music of all kinds. Lynette confessed that she has taken piano lessons for 10 years so we'll keep that in mind if we find the need for future entertainment! Special family moments are enjoyed with husband Bob and son Steven who is a Senior at Coupeville High School. Other special family members include "Duncan" her Bichon-Frisé and calico cat named "Scooter".
Spring Show Photographs
Gardening Project Photographs
Gleaning ProjectGood Cheer Food Bank has announced the 2009 Hello Good Cheer Gardeners
With this hot, sunny weather, the garden is growing like crazy! The first days of the month are always really busy at the Food Bank, and to help meet the demand, we harvested enough lettuce, kale, spinach, chard, broccoli, bok choi and herbs to provide over 100 generously-filled bags of fresh produce. Other gardeners have been bringing in their vegetables, too, and all of it is just flying out the door. So, with the harvesting, planting, thinning, weeding and watering - it's busy times in the Good Cheer Garden!
All the beds are now sifted, and manure added. Hooray! And on a beautiful sunny work day, all that hard work deserves a picnic, and fresh salad greens from the garden for the volunteers! The Alternatives to Detention youth, and supervisor Leon Shordon, worked diligently to sift the beds, and have also prepped the soil, planted, mulched, watered, and made compost. Much appreciation for their work, and it's a great ongoing collaboration.
Other groups in the garden: Kathleen Rauch taught a very informative class about Small Space & Container Gardening. The Service Learning program (LEAF) of Edmonds Community College visited Good Cheer and learned how it serves the community through its thrift stores, food bank and garden. (More at this website.) Bayview High School students have helped Good Cheer with weeding and planting. We're going to be having cooking classes for the herbs and vegetables from the garden, and the first one is: Cooking with Herbs - Saturday, June 20th, from 11 am – 1 pm Learn what herbs combine well with others, and how to add a quick pizzazz to foods. Go home with a wealth of recipes to try!
Bonney Netzel and Nancy Snow will share tips about growing and using common kitchen herbs- parsley, chives, thyme, cilantro, basil, rosemary, oregano, and mint. http://goodcheergarden.wordpress.com/events/cooking-with-herbs/
Wow! A big THANK YOU to all the many hard-working garden volunteers and generous donors who have helped the garden grow! 
Join us at the weekly work party every Wednesday from 9 am – 4 pm. Picnic at noon. Come anytime, for as long or short as you'd like. We appreciate your help! We're planting beans, squash and lots more! Keep up with the latest news and information on our garden website. Thanks so much, and see you in the garden, Cary Peterson Good Cheer Food Bank
Coming EventsSW Centaurs Performance Show Jun 27, Island County Fairgrounds, Langley SW Centaurs Western Games Jun 28, Island County Fairgrounds, Langley Whidbey Lone Stars Performance Show Jul 11, Island County Fairgrounds, Langley Camp Cornet Jul 12-18, Cornet Bay, Whidbey Island Camp Cornet Jul 19-25, Cornet Bay, Whidbey Island Knight Riders Western Games Jul 19, Island County Fairgrounds, Langley Coupeville Cossacks Performance ShowJul 25, Island County Fairgrounds, Langley Sat N Saddles & Whidbey Wranglers Jul 26, Island County Fairgrounds, Langley Island County Fair Aug 13-16,Island County Fairgrounds, Langley Regularly Scheduled Meetings
Island County Fair Association ScholarshipEach year the Island County Fair Association awards a $500 scholarship to a graduating student which can be applied towards tuition costs to attend a community college, technical school, or 4 year university. The criteria considered in applications included completeness and neatness of application packet, and community service/involvement (especially Island County Fair involvement). This year's Island County Fair Scholarship was awarded to 4-H'er Missy Coble of South Whidbey Sat N Saddles. Congratulations Missy!
Club ReportsKool Kats Kool Kats Participate in the Memorial Day Parade Four members of the Kool Kat 4-H Club participated in the Memorial Day Parade on Saturday May 23rd in Coupeville. Adrianna Gribble, Julia Beumer, Irene Gribble of Coupeville and Holly Fisher of Oak Harbor rode in the parade waving American flags. Leaders Marianne Borozny and Cathi Mann-Fisher also rode along with the 4-H’ers. The Kool Kat Club is an all island club. Anyone interested in adding the cat project to their 4-H career can contact Cathi Mann-Fisher at (360) 679-3674 or Kool Kats Have a Great Time at Spring Show! 
The Kool Kats 4-H Club held its Spring Show on Saturday May 16th at the Island County Fairgrounds. Sue Sanderlin-Berry from Snohomish County 4-H Cat Project was the judge for both Fitting and Showing and Type Classes. Primaries Emma Blanchette, Julia Beumer and Adrianna Gribble all of Coupeville received a Primary Participation Ribbon for Fitting and Showing their cats. Christian Neely-Jones of Freeland won Grand Champion Junior Fitting and Showing and placed 2nd in the Breed ID contest. His cat Scooter placed 2nd earning the Reserve Champion for Household Pet Longhair. Irene Gribble of Coupeville won Grand Champion Intermediate Fitting and Showing, and place 1st in the Breed ID contest. Holly Fisher of Oak Harbor won Grand Champion Senior Fitting and Showing and her cat Keira won Grand Champion Household Pet Longhair and Best of Show. Cara Mathews cat Fritz won Grand Champion Household Pet Shorthair and Adrianna Gribble’s cat Jolee received Reserve Champion Household Pet Shorthair. 
Committee ReportsNone this issue
Looking BackThere is an ancient Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times". We seem to have been living in interesting times. The current economic problems have been shaking up a lot of things around here. The Extension has gone through a number of changes and made life "interesting" for most of us around here. We are facing new challenges and figuring out new ways to ensure that 4-H continues to be viable on Whidbey Island. Many thanks to all of our members, leaders, and supporters who have helped us through the challenges with a smile and a sense of humor. We have survived and can now look to the future with a welcoming smile. Robert A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. ~James Dent
Food For Thought
Hello Everyone! Have you noticed that some of the planting beds around the county campus are beginning to look a little different, as if someone has been doling out TLC? They have! We have! And we’re not slowing down A week ago Monday, we weeded the two beds over near the mailroom entrance to the Administration Building. Last Thursday, a small but energetic team pulled even more weeds from around the building. Tonight, I pulled the landscape cloth out of those first two beds, to prepare for the load of fresh topsoil that will be delivered on Wednesday. (Don’t worry, the tiny evergreens were transplanted and the beautiful poppy is still in place.) Thursday, June 25, we’ll have a small lunch-time planting party, complete with some basic tips on how to plant a few vegetables, and a short talk about ornamentals, veggies and herbs that can stand the heat. 4-H, County Employees and the Public welcome! Please join us, for a break from your computer, a little fresh air, some sharing of information, and a painless bit of teamwork to help make our county landscape more pleasant and inviting. Offered at 12:05, and repeated in similar fashion at 12:35 for the second lunch shift. Bring gloves and a small digging utensil if you have one – otherwise just bring your curiosity. In the meantime, there’s a great general gardening publication that you can access via the WSU Extension website called "Home Gardening". Judy Feldman
WSU Extension Program UpdatesBeach Watchers Master Gardeners Waste Wise WSU Island County Extension Island Living Series Mostly Meatless Main Course Salads on June 29th will help you spend time away from a hot stove! Come learn how to make affordable, healthful main-dish salads (3 in all). This will be a mostly demonstration class (with some hands-on work) and lots of conversation about the challenges of shopping, cooking, and eating in a mindful, budget-conscious way. Sarah Murphy-Kangas is a cook, mother, and group facilitator. She calls herself The 'Leftoverist' and finds great joy in making meals out of seemingly nothing. Go to the WSU Extension programs website and
AdvertisementsNone this month. Advertisement submissions should be sent to 4-H is in the business of growing kids! We do this by working in our community to offer a wide range of opportunities for K-12 youth. Our goal is to support kids as they discover their talents and interests and then provide them with experiences to help them deepen, strengthen, and use those talents and interests! In addition to the club structure that many are familiar with, we also offer activities for families that can be done outside of a commitment to a club, and resources for educators to use in their classrooms. |
