Community Extra: Applause

Tsoukalas awarded national Boys &Girls Clubs’ highest honorBoys and Girls Clubs of America on May 10 honored Bill Tsoukalas, executive director of the Boys &Girls Clubs of Snohomish County, with the 2014 Thomas G. Garth Character and Courage Award — the highest honor the national organization can bestow on a Club professional. Tsoukalas was presented with the award during a ceremony held at the Clubs annual National Conference in San Francisco.

The award is presented each year during the national conference to a Club professional who best exemplifies the qualities and character that made former Club President Thomas G. Garth an extraordinary leader and role model during his decades of service to the organization.

Longtime VFW member honoredClyde Fields, a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 921 in Snohomish, received special recognition and a certificate of appreciation for his 66 years of service to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. VFW District 1 Cmdr. Jim Traner and Post 921’s Cmdr. Danny Houghton presented the award at the VFW District 1 annual meeting and convention held May 17. Fields served as VFW County Council commander 1948-1949 and District 1 commander 1949-1950.

Lifetimes of service for 11 RSVP volunteersThe Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Snohomish County (RSVP) held its annual volunteer recognition event May 7. This year, 11 RSVP volunteers received the President’s “Call to Service” lifetime service award. This award is reserved for those volunteers with over 4,000 hours of documented service.

This year’s recipients were Alan Gale, Henry Thomas and Wes Nielsen of Everett, Phyllis Henshaw of Lake Stevens, Al Setzer, Connie Riley and Pat Hodgen of Lynnwood, Ernalee Munday of Marysville, Jan Hart of Mountlake Terrace, and Lenora Spears and Bobbi Hanna of Stanwood.

Soroptimists hand out awardsSoroptimist International of Everett recently held its Awards Banquet and honored the following individuals and organizations: Renata Maybruck and Elaine Strinivas, Housing Hope; Luane Kunz and Kathy Sparkman, YWCA; Jaycie Strange, high school student recognized for her volunteer efforts; Azra Grudic and Paul Newman-Skomski, Peoria House; Christina Hughes, working mom and served our country for 13 years; Debbie Blodgett, Shared Hope and Soroptimist International member; Anna Pischer, senior at Henry M. Jackson High School (scholarship); Sylvia Anderson, Everett Gospel Mission; Diana Coletta, Leanne Hofford and Michelle Pihl, Girl Scouts.

Lunch for EMTs in south EverettGarden Court Retirement Community in Everett celebrated National EMS Week on May 18 by delivering a lunch of barbecue ribs, homemade corn bread and slaw to the crew at Fire District 1’s Mariner Fire Station 11 in south Everett. Mariner Fire Station 11 is the busiest of Fire District 1’s 12 stations. It is home to Medic 11 and Engine 11.

Kiwanis Club funds big need at Boys &Girls ClubThe Kiwanis Club of Snohomish recently presented the Snohomish Boys &Girls Club with a $20,000 donation. All funds were raised as the featured “Fund-A-Need” item at the club’s annual auction.

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