Applause
Published 10:20 pm Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Giving
Firefighters break fundraising record
Snohomish County Fire District 1 firefighters have participated in the Fill the Boot drive to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association for over a decade. This summer, the department broke a record by raising almost $35,000.
The fundraising efforts were led by firefighter Matt Stiefel, 25.
“I had a lot of help,” he said. “I personally think it may have had something to do with the down economy. I think people are more giving in a recession and our local union put a lot of guys on the street and out at the stores for more than just a couple of days.”
As the department’s contact for the MDA, Stiefel organized and encouraged other volunteers from IAFF Local 1997 to collect donations at the intersection of 128th Street SW and Fourth Avenue W. in Everett for four days. Donations were also collected at local grocery stores for five weekends. Volunteers were joined by Jhar Fuller of Snohomish County Pipes and Drums, who played bagpipes at the intersection.
Stiefel said he plans to volunteer for the position next year and begin fundraising a little earlier to raise $50,000.
“We did $35,000 in a little over a month and I think we can raise $50,000 in six months,” he said.
Firefighters across the country participate in the Fill the Boot drive, using firefighting boots to hold the donations they collect for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Eagle sculpture lands in Arlington
Retired Arlington school superintendent Linda Byrnes and Arlington Mayor Margaret Larson recently donated an eagle sculpture and had it placed at the John C. Larson Stadium at Arlington High School. The late John Larson served as mayor of the city and the stadium was dedicated to him in 2003.
The eagle sculpture is a gift to the past, current and future students of the high school.
Byrnes and Margaret Larson commissioned well-known Arlington artist Harry Engstrom to design and paint the sculpture of the school’s mascot.
The sculpture has a wingspan of about 20 feet and weighs about 300 pounds.
“Look closely at the wings,” Byrnes said. “And you’ll see that the details of the feathers are so clear they make our eagle soar.”
HONORS
Snohomish Boy Scout gets his Eagle
Joshua Savage of Snohomish was honored on Aug. 29 at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor Ceremony at Lake Stevens Calvary Church.
He is the son of Dan Savage and Linda Savage of Snohomish.
His Eagle Scout project was to carve out a trail from the Calvary Chapel Lake Stevens camp property down to the Stillaguamish River bordering the camp area.
Savage is part of Boy Scout Troop 36 in Lake Stevens and officially became an Eagle Scout on June 17. His grandfather, Bill Roberts, father and three uncles, Cameron Roberts, Homer Savage and David Savage, are also Eagle Scouts and attended the ceremony along with his mother and grandmother, Jeanette Savage.
He is a senior at Snohomish High School.
Kiwanis Club names new officers
The Kiwanis Club of Lynnwood installed officers for the upcoming year at a Sept. 9 meeting.
The new officers included Cindy Barber, president; Meg Ortiz, vice president; Rachel Sellens, second vice president. The continuing officers are Dave Dubois, treasurer, and Billie Swengel, secretary.
The officers assume their responsibilities on Oct. 1.
Miss Jr. Teen Seattle contestants named
Aliyanna Davis and Ashley Lee of Everett and Dominique Lawrence and Makenna Shelton of Snohomish were all recently selected to participate in Nationals’ 2009 Miss Jr. Teen Seattle pageant.
The competition is on Oct. 11 at Meany Hall for the Performing Arts at the University of Washington in Seattle.
The Miss Jr. Teen division is one of four divisions in the pageant and includes girls between the ages of 7 and 19 competing in modeling routines of formal and casual wear.
The winner of the title will represent Seattle and the surrounding communities at the Cities of America National Competition in Orlando, Fla.
