WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2016 | Vol. 1, No. 42 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | FREE

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By KATE DANIEL kdaniel@whidbeynewsgroup.com

Like the star-crossed lovers of a Shakespearean sonnet, red wine and choc-olate make a perfect pair.

This month, Whidbey vintners and distillers will host the annual Red Wine and Chocolate Tour, a fla-vorful celebration span-ning five island venues.

“It’s just one of those things people love to mix: red wine and chocolate,” said Virginia Bloom, who co-owns Blooms Winery with her husband, Ken.

“The intensity of flavors pairs really well.”

The event takes place over two weekends, Feb. 6-7 and Feb. 13-14 begin-ning at 11 a.m. each day.

Comforts of Whidbey, Whidbey Island Distillery, Blooms Winery and Spoiled Dog Winery in Langley and Holmes Harbor Cellars in Greenbank are participat-ing in the tour.

Whidbey Island Distillery, which joined the tour last year, will offer specialty liqueur, rather than wine.

Whidbey Island Vintners and Distillers Association, of which each venue is a member, is responsible for organizing the event each

year. Although the concept of

a wine and chocolate tour is not unique to Whidbey, the majority of delicacies

served are locally pro-duced.

Each venue chooses its own specialty beverage to serve along with a comple-

mentary chocolate treat.Bloom said venues

often take the opportu-nity to debut new wines or liqueurs during the

tour, offering patrons the chance to be the first to get a taste.

In years past, a variety of local businesses, includ-ing J.W. Desserts (now CJ & Y Desserts) and Sweet Mona’s, have contributed their chocolatier exper-tise, making sweet treats ranging from biscotti to truffles.

The tour’s close proximi-ty to Valentine’s Day makes it an excellent opportuni-ty for couples to enjoy a romantic excursion, Bloom said. But those going solo will be sure to have a good time as well.

Bloom said the aver-age attendance is about 500 patrons over the two weekends, and she expects this year will be about the same.

“It’s always a good time. We meet so many interest-ing people; they come from all over,” Bloom said.

Tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 the day of the event. Tickets are sold at all participating venues and online at brownpaper-tickets.com/event/2413214

Red wine and chocolate pair for Valentine’s Day treat

Photo Provided

The Red Wine and Chocolate Tour takes place over two weekends in February. The tour will end this weekend, Feb. 13-14. Five South Whidbey wineries and distilleries are participating.

WednesdayFeb. 10

Suicide Grief Support Group meeting, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at Hospice of Whidbey General. This is a time for individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide to meet with others and learn coping strategies and methods of moving forward through grief and other feelings. Register by

contacting Dave Bieniek, bereavement coordinator, at bienied@whidbeygen.org or 360-321-1372.

Ready Readers: Baby and Me Storytime, 9:30-10:15 a.m., Feb. 10, Oak Harbor Library. Wiggle and giggle with your baby through silly stories, happy songs, rhymes and activities that inspire a love of reading. Playtime follows. For newborns through 24 months. Caregiver required.

AARP Tax-Aide, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, Coupeville Library. Free tax return prepara-tion and e-filing for tax-payers with low and mod-erate income, especially those 60 and older. Call 360-678-3000 to schedule an appointment.

ThursdayFeb. 11

House of Hope Nar- Anon Meeting, 7-8 p.m.,

every Thursday at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church, 1253 NW 2nd St., Oak Harbor. The Nar-Anon Family Groups are a worldwide fellowship for those affected by some-one else’s addiction. All that is required for mem-bership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. karol@whidbey.com

FridayFeb. 12

Hearts & Hammers Annual Spaghetti Dinner, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Feb. 12, Langley United Methodist Church. $5 for adults, $3 for children. The annual Spaghetti Dinner is the beginning of the volunteer sign-up win-dow bringing neighbors and community together to enjoy an evening of hearty food and friends. Hearts and Hammers’ mis-sion is to bring needed repairs to homeown-ers who physically or financially are unable to complete the work alone. Consider giving one day of your life, together with hundreds of other vol-unteers from across the community, to help many South Whidbey neigh-bors with much needed repairs. Join us for the 2016 kick-off dinner. www.heartsandhammers.com

SaturdayFeb. 13

Fort Ebey Kettles Trail Run, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 13, starting at Fort Ebey State Park. 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, 20-Mile and Marathon routes wind through and among for-ested kettle depressions, seemingly created by a

gigantic ice cream scoop, but were actually formed by gigantic hunks of melt-ing ice. Many of the trails flow gently along the rims of these depressions, with some sections featuring tighter twists and turns. While there are no major climbs, the overall eleva-tion gain adds up quickly. The marathon distance reaches an elevation gain of 5,500 feet, which is approximately 1,500 more feet than you can gain running up popular peaks in the I-90 corridor. All courses include a finishing stretch with a waterfront view along the scenic bluff-top trail. http://nwtrailruns.com/events/fort-ebey-kettles-trail-run/

Taproot Theatre’s “A Brief Case of Love,” 7-8:30 p.m., Feb. 13, Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church. $7 per person or $25 per family. North Whidbey Christian High School Presents: “A Brief Case of Love.” Work conventions are boring…unless you meet someone special! And that’s exactly what hap-pens in Taproot Theatre’s Valentine-inspired improv show. Watch a relation-ship develop before your eyes as this couple navi-gates the many obstacles that working together and balancing a family and careers can bring. Using suggestions from the audience in an ener-getic improv comedy, this couple says, “Let’s make it work!”

Dragon Boat Fundraiser Rummage Sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 13, Whidbey Masonic Lodge. Benefit/fundraiser in support of the three local Coupeville dragon boat paddlers traveling to compete in the world’s

championship races in Australia. Rummage sale, face painting, raffle.

Coupeville Chocolate Walk, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting at the Coupeville Wharf. Coupeville Chamber of Commerce and The Whidbey Examiner will co-sponsor the first-ever Coupeville Chocolate Walk. Tickets are $20, sold in advance. For ticket prices and other information, call the chamber at 360-678-5434.

Meet the Author: Judy Lynn, 3-4:30 p.m., Feb. 13, Coupeville Library. Back by special request! Local historian and long-time resident Judy Lynn has collected 101 oral inter-views of Coupeville’s Front Street merchants, build-ing owners and local resi-dents, weaving together the colorful history of one of Washington’s old-est settlements. Learn of the happy, sad, crazy and beautiful times of this special place, inhabited for some 10,000 years. Supported by Friends of the Coupeville Library. landerson@sno-isle.org

4th Annual BIG RED EVENT, 6-10 p.m., Feb. 13, Coupeville Rec Hall. An Elegant Dinner/Auction led by Jim Freeman with entertainment by The Shifty Sailors. Wear your finest red outfit and join us for an evening of fun and help make this world a bit easier for the home-less youth of Whidbey Island. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Dinner options are lamb, chicken or vegetar-ian. Please RSVP by Feb 1 so we know how much to cook. http://www.ryans houseforyouth.org/big-red-event.html

Page 2 WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM Wednesday, February 10, 2016 • WhidbeyXtra!

CALENDARCOUPEVILLE CHOCOLATE WALK: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13, start-ing at the Coupeville Wharf. Coupeville Chamber of Commerce and The Whidbey Examiner will co-sponsor the first-ever Coupeville Chocolate Walk. Tickets are $20, sold in advance. For ticket prices and other information, call the chamber at 360-678-5434.XtRA!

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AUTO PAINTINGCentral Collision623 Industrial Ave, Oak Harbor360-675-4949

AUTO RESTORATIONCentral Collision623 Industrial Ave, Oak Harbor360-675-4949

CHAMBER OF COMMERCECoupeville Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Info905 NW Alexander St, Coupevilledirector@coupevillechamber.comcoupevillechamber.com360-678-5434

CONTRACTORS Waldron Construction31640 SR 20 #2, Oak Harborwww.waldronconstruction.com360-679-1827

COUNTERTOPS Northwest Granite & Flooring687 Mobius Loopsuzette.nwgf@hotmail.comwww.nwgraniteand� ooring.com360-675-4978

EQUIPMENT RENTALDiamond Rentals33650 SR 20, Oak Harbordiamondrent@comcast.netwww.diamondrentals.org360-279-0723

FLOORING Northwest Granite & Flooring687 Mobius Loopsuzette.nwgf@hotmail.comwww.nwgraniteand� ooring.com360-675-4978

FURNITURE Hansen’s Furniture916 West DivisionMt. Vernon, WA 98273o� ce@hansensfurniture.biz(360) 424-7188

INSURANCESue Blouin CIC, ACSRKoetje Leavitt Insurance775 NE Midway Blvd, Oak Harborsue-blouin@leavitt.comwww.leavitt.com/oak harbor360-675-5916

LANDSCAPINGSERVICESMailliard’s Landing Nursery3068 N. Oak Harbor Rd, Oak Harborwww.mailliardsnursery.com360-679-8544

REAL ESTATE AGENTCheri EnglishBroker, REALTOR®, SRESWindermere Real Estate/Whidbey IslandCheri@Ask4Cheri.comAgent4Life.net360-320-9764

Elaine McDowellManaging Broker, REALTOR®, SRESWindermereReal Estate/Whidbey IslandEMcDowell@windermere.comElaineMcDowell.withwre.com360-929-1500

Julie KinnairdBroker, REALTOR®, SRESWindermereReal Estate/Whidbey IslandJulieKinnaird@windermere.comJulieKinnaird.withwre.com360-632-6619

Linda Earnhart,Managing Broker, REALTOR®CRS, GRIWindermereReal Estate/Whidbey IslandEarnhart@whidbey.netWhidbeyIslandHomes.com360-929-0922

NON PROFITPregnancy Care Clinic670 SE Midway Blvd, Oak Harborexecdir@islandspcc.orgwww.islandspecc.org360-675-2096

Boys and Girls Club98 NE Barron Dr., Oak Harbornbarone@bgcsc.orgwww.bgoh.org360-240-9273

PAINTINGPainter’s Alley33650 SR 20, Oak Harbordiamondrent@comcast.netwww.facebook.com/paintersalley360-279-0723

SEWING MACHINE& VACUUM REPAIRIsland Sewing and Vacuum31570 SR 20 Ste 101, Oak Harbor customerservice@islandsewnvac.comwww.islandsewandvac.com360-679-2282

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Fruit tree grafting class, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, Pacific Rim Institute. Admission costs $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Call 360-678-5583 to register and prepay.

MondayFeb. 15

Island County Astronomical Society (ICAS) monthly meeting,

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15, Oak Harbor Library room HH137. For more information about ICAS or club events, con-tact Dan Pullen at 360-679-7664 or icaspub@juno.com, or visit www.icas-wa.org

Wednesday Feb. 17

AARP Tax-Aide, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.

17, Coupeville Library. Free tax return preparation and e-filing for taxpayers with low and moderate income, especially those 60 and older. Call 360-678-3000 to schedule an appointment.

ThursdayFeb. 18

House of Hope Nar-Anon Meeting, 7-8 p.m., every Thursday at Oak

Harbor Lutheran Church, 1253 NW 2nd St., Oak Harbor. All that is required for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. karol@whidbey.com

Meet the Author: Edward Drum, MD, 4-5 p.m., Feb. 18, Coupeville Library. “Quarantine Access,” a novel set against the backdrop of the AIDs epidemic, leads readers through a web

of political and medical intrigue. Lt. Cmdr. Peter Tierney searches for answers after the sudden death of his friend.

Friends of the Coupeville Library Potluck Business Meeting, 5:45 – 7:45 p.m. , Feb. 18, Coupeville Library. Bring a dish and a friend – join this “can-do” group for fellowship and an update on 2016 activi-ties. New members always

welcome. For all ages. Supported by Friends of the Coupeville Library.

FridayFeb. 19

Coffee: From Bean to Cup, 1:30-3 p.m., Feb. 19, Coupeville Library. Discover coffee’s rich his-tory and learn about its cultivation. This program also leads participants through a coffee tasting.

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