Around the Community

From Movies

Opstad parents rally resources for new playground

Opstad Elementary has new playground

Opstad Playground Summit a great success

Opstad playground project complete



Valley's Loudenback family offers caregiver tips

Relay for Life is tradition for Snoqualmie Valley family



Our family has been involved with American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Snoqualmie Valley since 2004. Relay for Life is a wonderful community event that raises money for the American Cancer Society. The planning for the next event will begin soon so keep an eye on the local event website if you would like to learn more or help with the 2012 event.  I have served as a Team Captain for the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber for a couple of years, the Si View Neighborhood team and family teams over the years. I have also served on the planning committee as the Online Technical Chair several years and also was a member of the Regional Online Training team that traveled to other communities to train their online chairs. Marika served on the committee as the youth chair for a couple of years and organized the first hair donation event as well as donated approximately 10 inches of her beautiful auburn hair. All of my children look forward to this event each year and look for ways to help.  Anika was a co-team captain of a youth team and Gerrit has helped line the track with luminarias in preparation for the event's Luminaria ceremony.



Puget Sound  2009 ACS Relay for Life Youth Retreat - My daughter Marika was one of the organizers for the first Puget Sound Youth Retreat.  It was held at Twin Falls Middle School and the purpose was to offer additional leadership training to Youth Relay for Life Chairs so they could organize and inspire youth participation at the local Relay for Life events.  Student leaders from various high schools in the Puget Sound area attended as well as several of our local students.  It was a fantastic retreat and the attendees were very impressed with Twin Falls Middle School as a meeting space.



Volunteered for the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce at the first Warrior Dash held in the Snoqualmie Valley.   It was alot of fun and I might even train for the next one so I can play in the mud too. :)



Snoqualmie Valley Rotary Club in action at Northwest Harvest - First Harvest.  Once a month Rotarians from all over the area gather at Northwest Harvest to help package fruit, vegetables, rice or grains into small portions that can serve a family of four.  They are distributed to the food banks all over the Puget Sound area.  More than 150 rotarians showed up to help at the October 8th First Harvest day.