Doug Ostgard played in a pit orchestra for legends like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Johnny Mathis. He’s been a professional musician in Las Vegas, and was part of rock band Heart’s 1980 world tour. His musical career has spanned more than 30 years, but it wasn’t until this year that he fulfilled a longtime dream.
“I always told myself ‘Some day, I’m going to make my own Christmas record,'” Ostgard said. Now, he has.
Big, colorful canvases at Boxley’s Place restaurant and jazz club in North Bend have been drawing looks and remarks from patrons.
Scenes from St. Nick’s storied visit to a different kind of Valley hang on the walls—more than a dozen canvasses from Valley artist Richard Burhans’ 1994 Valley-themed Christmas book, “St. Nicholas and the Valley Beyond,” written by Ellen Kushner.
Pastor Phil Harrington has been impressed, and inspired, by the actions of some outstanding young people in the past year.
“I’ve been noticing in our church, but also in the broader community, youth taking some initiative to make the world better,” he said—from those who spoke out against human trafficking, to the students who worked with the Snoqualmie Valley School District to take a stand against bullying.
The Eastside Fire and Rescue Reindeer Engine is visiting local cities to help non-profits and food banks.
The engine, decked out with lights, music, a sleigh, and Rudolph the Reindeer strapped to the top, travels through several communities collecting unwrapped toys, food and clothing for families in need.
The Reindeer Engine will visit North Bend from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10; Carnation Hopelink from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16; Carnation from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22; and North Bend’s city tree lighting from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23.
Valley Center stage presents Charles Dickens’ classic Scrooge story, “A Christmas Carol” weekends through Dec. 18.
Sharing their holiday spirit and a love of the Spanish language with the community, the Spanish Academy presents its Annual Spanish Christmas Concert, by children singers from preschool through second grade.
The Cascade Bicycle Club will provide a “Complete Streets” training program at Snoqualmie City Hall on Wedneday, Dec, 8 which will include a walking exercise in downtown Snoqualmie neighborhoods followed by an information and discussion workshop at City Hall.
The public is welcome to attend either or both parts of this Complete Streets program.
Members of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps will go door to door in Carnation this weekend, seeking food donations for the Hopelink food bank.
Fall City’s TreeHouse Point was featured on NBC’s Today Show on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Nate Vasquez, a North Bend resident, is going places thanks to his skill on the skins.
With Moses, a yellow Labrador Retriever, at her side, Shelley Leman of North Bend graduated this fall from a regional guide dog training program.
The duo completed two weeks of intensive training at Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc., in Boring, Ore.
Santa will visit the Snoqualmie Valley Venturing Crew and Boy Scout Troop 115 tree lot from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4.
The lot is located at the corner of Snoqualmie Parkway and Railroad Avenue.
Santa Claus will be at the Jeff Warren State Farm Agency from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 11.
