Applause
Published 5:47 pm Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Local Sikhs recognized for volunteer work
Volunteers from the Bothell-based Sikh Center of Seattle were honored April 15 by the GEO Group’s Northwest Detention Center, a privately owned detention facility in Tacoma under contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house detainees pending the deportation process.
Sikh volunteers for two years have held weekly prayer services at the facility, and provide counseling and other assistance. On April 18, the volunteers had a special opportunity to celebrate Vaisakhi with detainees. They held prayers and served langar (free meals) to all detainees.
Reagan chosen to serve as parade marshal
The Edmonds Chamber of Commerce has selected Michael Reagan as the 2015 Grand Marshal of the “An Edmonds Kind of Fourth” Parade.
Reagan, an Edmonds resident, was recognized this year by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Reagan, a Vietnam veteran, has spent the past 11 years drawing more than 4,200 portraits of service members who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. The portraits are given to the families of the fallen soldiers.
The July Fourth main parade will start at noon in downtown Edmonds, among many festivities for the holiday. Find out more information at www.edmondswa.com.
Assistance League extends help to youth
Assistance League of Everett’s Kitty Young Auxiliary held its annual tea, “Springtime Picnic,” on April 25, raising $6,800 for the group’s philanthropic programs, including assault survivor kits and Adopt-A-School.
Gayle Ossenkop, of the Providence Intervention Center for Assault and Abuse at Dawson Place, was the keynote speaker. The kits the auxiliary group assembles include clothing and books for children served by the center.
The Adopt-A-School program provides assistance to schools that need supplies, equipment and other resources. The program currently supports Index, Crossroads and Northwest Regional Learning Center schools.
Meanwhile, the Assistance League also recently presented 136 high school seniors from 20 schools with $200 financial rewards to help the students participate in graduation activities. This is the league’s 25th year offering graduation assistance.
“These are teens that have overcome significant challenges in their personal life,” said Phyllis Busch, graduation awards chair. “Many are homeless, all are financially challenged. Yet they have managed to complete high school and deserve to join their classmates in celebrating this accomplishment. But they need money to do so; and that’s where we can help.”
Learn more about the all-volunteer, nonprofit Assistance League and its Kitty Young Auxiliary at www.assistanceleague ofeverett.org.
Kudos to given Scouts for helping their neighbors
The Northwest Neighborhood recognizes the members of Girl Scout Troop 43733 for its work organizing the neighborhood’s Easter egg hunt each year. The troop is comprised of Tori Caldwell, Madeline Crist, Desitanne Graham, Chloe Hefling, Sadie Maynard, troop leader Vicky Marler and co-leader Sarah Ella Joanson.
The troop fills up to 1,000 plastic eggs with candy, then comes early on the Saturday morning before Easter to spread all the eggs out for the neighborhood children at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park.
“The Northwest Neighborhood truly appreciates this Girl Scout Troop and their leaders from the Riverside Neighborhood,” said Shelley Weyer, chair of the Northwest Neighborhood Association.
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