There will be a no-host bar at 5 p.m., followed by an a la carte dinner at 6 p.m. Organizers are hoping for plenty of good conversation and memories. Fellow classes are also invited to attend.

For more information call Doug Cydell at 208-869-0114 or Roger Steel at 221-4364.

Speaker to talk septic systems

Island County Beach Watchers will get to the bottom of protecting Puget Sound when they present Joe Laxson to talk about septic system maintenance under Island County’s new regulations.

Laxson, a county health department septic operations and maintenance specialist, is the next guest in the continuing 2008 Island County Beach Watchers Speakers Series, monthly talks geared to helping Whidbey residents understand and work to preserve the health of Puget Sound. He will give his presentation at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28 at the Coupeville Rec Hall.

In coming months speakers will include wildlife scientists and Island County personnel who work daily to help residents live responsibly in our delicate marine environment. Striving to entertain as well as inform, the series will feature such talks as “Why wetlands are not badlands,” “Tempests and Teacups — Protecting our water supply by managing runoff at home,” and “Pharmaceuticals in the Sound.”

For more information about the series and Beach Watchers, visit www.beachwatchers.wsu.edu/island or call the Beach Watchers office at 360-679-7391.

Healthcare forum comes to Langley

Healthcare For All — Washington is hosting a forum in Langley.

“Health Care Reform: What’s in it for me?” is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28 at the Mukilteo Coffee Roasters on 5331 Crawford Road in Langley.

The group will address how citizens can achieve a healthcare program that puts an end to financial barriers to care.

Organizers said that the current system is deeply flawed and even people who have the financial means to pay for premiums may not be able to get coverage.

Physical barriers such as pre-existing conditions should become a thing of -the past once this ethical conflict of interest is put to rest, organizers said.

For information, contact Larry Kalb at lkalb@openaccess.org or 360-927-2729.

Tickets on sale for fashion show

Tickets are now on sale for the American Association of University Women of Whidbey Island’s fall luncheon and fashion show next month at the Whidbey Golf and Country Club.

The luncheon starts at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 11. Tickets are $30, and are available from members or from Bonnie Abney at 360-678-9224. Guests have a choice of quiche or sampler tuna, chicken and potato salad.

Deb Crocker of “One More Thing” in Coupeville will emcee the fashion show, and organizers promise an entertaining event. For details on the show, call luncheon chairwoman Clare Christiansen at 360-678-0229.

Island County offers CERT training

The Island County Department of Emergency Services is having Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) starting on three Saturdays, Sept. 6, 13 and 20 at the Race Road fire station.

The eight-hour classes train individuals to help themselves, their families and community in times of disaster. The classes include disaster preparedness, fire safety and suppression, disaster medical operations including triage, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism and CERT operations.

There is no charge for the training to become certified as a CERT-trained responder. Call 321-5111, ext. 7370 to register.

Squadron offers boating course

The Deception Pass Sail & Power Squadron will conduct a six-session boating course next month.

The course covers boating basics including rules of the road, boating safety, required equipment, navigational aids, light and sound signals, knot tying, radio operations and an introduction to piloting and chart reading.

The course will be presented twice a week for three weeks, beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8 at the Whidbey Island campus of Skagit Valley College, Hayes Hall Room 113, 1900 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor.

Classes will be from 7 to 9 p.m. each day. The fee is $50 per student and includes books; spouses or family members who share a set of books are charged $25.

For details, call Karen Nelson at 360-679-1991 or Doug Bishop at 360-678-2296.