Thrift Store reopens for business

The Thrift Store at Edmonds Senior Center is now open after a 10-day renovation. A ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce was held May 21. The renovations added 500 square feet of retail space, new flooring and paint. New hours are 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The store is at 220 Railroad Ave.

Barbara Halseth, manager of the store for nearly a decade, said the store can now take more donations of personal, household and decorative items. (No electronics are taken. Hardcover books are sent along to the Friends of the Edmonds Library.)

The all-volunteer store opened in 1969 with all profits supporting senior center programs. The store netted more than $153,000, one-quarter the senior center’s budget, in 2013.

Helicopter Rescue Team gets big donation

The Grainger Foundation has donated $45,000 to Snohomish Helicopter Rescue Team in support of the Oso mudslide disaster. The Helicopter Rescue Team was the first airborne resource to respond to the disaster and in the first few hours assisted many people to safety.

Eagle Scouts focus on picnickers, bicyclists

Eagle Scouts Derek DeLizo and Christopher Arthur of Troop 312 were honored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1040 at a Boy Scouts of America National Eagle Scout Court of Honor held June 1 at the United Methodist Church in Edmonds.

Derek’s Eagle project added a wheelchair-accessible picnic table and refurbished another five tables at Brier Park.

Chris’ Eagle project added a section of trailhead near Alderwood mall and created a rest area for bikers and walkers with a picnic table on a concrete pad and a pole to chain and lock a trash bin in place.

Zonta honors active nonprofit worker

Each year the Zonta Club of Everett pays tribute to former member Virginia Gullikson, who served as president from 1988-89, received the club’s Founders Day award in 1992 and received the Washington Gives Award for her dedication to service.

This year the Club honored Vicci Hilty, executive director of Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County, with the Virginia Gullikson Award.

Hilty, a 25-year resident of Snohomish County, has long worked with nonprofits and was instrumental in creating the New and Again Thrift Shoppe, which supports Domestic Violence Services. She also has helped the state Special Olympics program, Junior Achievement, and the former Kids on the Block North Sound educational puppetry troupe.

Boating safety group installs new officers

In a ceremony held at the Waltz Building in Snohomish, the Everett Sail and Power Squadron recently installed Annette Ferguson as the boating safety group’s new commander.

The ceremony included new Bridge members whose terms will run through April 2015.

Ferguson and her husband, Dan, are active in the boating community, and help promote safe boating practices through Everett Sail and Power Squadron activities.

Chili contest a tasty battle

Harbour Pointe Retirement’s own executive chef Bryce Bosket won the company’s Hottest Chili Chef in Town contest last month with “Thor’s Equinox Rib Eye Chili.” Police Chief Rex Caldwell (second place, “Beef and Dark Beer Chili”) and Fire Capt. Mike Yoakum (third place, “Mike’s Fireball Chili”) also participated.

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