The time has come for the coronation of the next Mr. South Whidbey.
The seventh annual Mr. South Whidbey Pageant, an annual fundraiser for South Whidbey’s Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund (FoF), is right around the corner. Tickets are available now at Moonraker Books in Langley and at Timbuktu Coffee Bar in Freeland for the 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 event at Freeland Hall.
This year’s pageant marks a milestone for FoF. Besides being in operation for 15 years, by the end of this year’s fundraiser the event will have raised more than $1,000,000.00 — every penny of it distributed to South Whidbey community members in need of help with medical expenses. Therefore, the lofty title of “Million Dollar Man” is entirely appropriate for this year’s lucky Mr. South Whidbey.
In a sweet twist of style, the organizers will serve a variety of both salty and sweet munchies throughout the pageant evening to go along with a selection of wine and beer available by donation. Also new this year, several local restaurants will offer discounts on dinner before the event for Mr. South Whidbey ticket holders. Show a ticket to the pageant and get a deal at Coach’s Pizza, Cozy’s Roadhouse, China City, Freeland Café, Gerry’s, Neil’s Clover Patch, Pickles Deli, Prima Bistro and Village Pizzeria.
Not able to make the pageant? Vote online for any of the candidates at the Friends of Friends website.
NOW, LADIES AND GERMS, THE MILLION DOLLAR CANDIDATES! (Vote with the heart and purse open.)
Christian Albright is very popular waiter at Prima Bistro in Langley. Not only is Albright running for Mr. South Whidbey, he’s also growing a crazy-big moustache for a national moustache contest in Las Vegas, Nev. this fall. When women patrons of the Bistro began asking to have their picture taken with him, the folks at Prima decided to charge $5 a shot, all of which goes towards his Mr. South Whidbey campaign. Pay ‘ol moustache-face a visit at the restaurant on First Street in downtown Langley and get a photo, while contributing to his campaign!
John Auburn of Clinton’s JW Desserts is a prize-winning cake-maker. In a sweetly concocted twist, a percentage of every JW Dessert sold at The Goose Grocer in Bayview before the pageant goes to votes for Auburn, a delicious way to help the medical support fund for South Whidbey neighbors.
Rocco Gianni is a 7th grade Health and PE teacher at Langley Middle School. He’s a man with a huge heart for kids and for the less fortunate. Gianni chaperones the Langley Middle School Adventure education program each year, sings in his church choir and even graced the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts stage in the 2010 production of the “Kentucky Cycle.” Here is what students say about Mr. Gianni: “He is the best teacher.” Maybe he’ll be the best Million Dollar Man, too!
Brian Vick has been a South Whidbey firefighter for 10 years. Read about his work with the Island County District 3 Fire and Rescue Team here. In July of 2008, Vick was on a winning team in the Ragnar Relay. It’s no surprise that he was one dude on a team with 11 women, and beat the previous winner’s time by 45 minutes. Vick’s other talents will become clear on the night of the pageant when he starts a fire a fire in the heart, and burns a hole in a few wallets!
Nick Welles is the lead singer in DAMNITAHL, a five member metal band based on Whidbey Island Welles pours some of the best coffee on the south end at Useless Bay Coffee Company in Langley, where voters can add a little something to his Mr. South Whidbey tip jar. A second tip jar for votes for Welles is at the China City bar in Freeland where the talented Mr. Welles is the in-house Karaoke DJ. The sexy Mr. Welles has also appeared on the cover of a catalog, once. Wow!
Jim Wills is one of the famously-friendly Clinton postal workers. Wills is also an artist, doing a pop art and other interesting stuff. It’s anybody’s guess what he has in store for his pageant performance, but if his artwork is any indication, this guy will be full of creative surprises.
For more about the pageant and the Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund and the good work it does, visit the website here.