ARLINGTON — Ciscoe Morris is coming to town. The famous gardener and broadcast personality, Morris will be the guest speaker at Arlington Hardware, Thursday, May 14, in a fundraising event presented by the Arlington Education Foundation.
Morris will give a presentation on gardening on the second floor of the new addition to Arlington Hardware, said the president of the AEF, Cindy Huleatt.
“There will be a lot going on that evening,” Huleatt announced at a school board meeting recently.
A free event from 6 – 9 p.m. offers all kinds of fun, but the exclusive session with Ciscoe, from 7:15 – 8:30 p.m., costs $25, Huleatt said.
Along with Ciscoe answering garden questions and talking about his travels and garden experiences, there will also be Master Gardeners, beehives and a honey display by Cedar Glen Bees, plants and baskets from Garden Treasures, free refreshments and a ton of door prizes.
Raffle drawings will give away some major gardening tools, including a chain saw, rototiller and $400 worth of landscaping services.
“This event is one of several fundraisers being planned by the AEF to fund three projects this year,” Huleatt said.
The program also includes presentations from three grant winners that AEF has selected as beneficiaries of the fundraiser, including a performance by an elementary school choir, starting at 6:45 p.m., a presentation of Arlington High School’s video class, and a technology demonstration from Post Middle School.
Capacity for the exclusive seating is 400 seats, but anyone can come for the garden party and drawings.
Vouchers are available at the hardware store while supplies last for a free movie at Olympic Theater to keep the kids busy while parents are having fun at the event.
Tickets are available at the hardware store, 215 N. Olympic Ave., at Flowers by George, 335 N. Olympic Ave., and at Arlington Pharmacy, 540 N.West Ave., all in historic downtown Arlington.
In light of the gloomy budget forecast, the AEF projects are even more valuable than expected when announced at the end of 2008.
• All classrooms in Post Middle School will be fitted with technology teacher station to support student learning and maximize teacher time. The $47,000 project will pay for 28 stations, including interactive whiteboard installations in math and science classrooms.
• Elementary school music teachers will select $12,000 worth of choral music to share among all five elementary schools in the Arlington School District.
• Arlington High School video production class will receive $10,000 in cash and in-kind donations to facilitate the production of live broadcasts about Arlington, including School Board and City Council meetings, sports and other special events around town. This project is partially funded by a lodging tax grant from the city.
The AEF was formed in 2002 as the 501C3 non -profit arm of the Arts Alive campaign to finish the performing arts center at Arlington High School.
Since the PAC opened in May 2007, the Arts Alive! committee dissolved, but the AEF continued with its mission of raising funds for educational purposes. Composed of a variety of community members and educators, the AEF is seeking business partners from the community who want to support local education.
“We are back to doing what we do best,” Huleatt told the ASD Board of Directors.
Along with Huleatt, the AEF Board includes Mayor Margaret Larson and Superintendent Kris McDuffy, former superintendents Linda Byrnes and Dick Post, high school principal Kurt Criscione, local business and community people Dave Duskin, Sharon Billdt, Kathy Burkholder, Robert Stanton, Judy Cartwright, Anita McKinley, Virginia Collins, A.J. Chase and Kurt McVay.
Anyone who would like to contribute time or talent should call 360-435-1337 or visit the AEF Web site.
