Radio hams honored for charity work

Radio operators with the Brier-based Emergency Services Coordinating Agency were honored by the Seattle chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society as its Volunteer Group of the Year for 2013. The “hams” were honored for providing radio communications support to MS Society charity bikes rides and walks since 1995.

Most recently, the crew established radio communications to help monitor the progress of and help bring aid to the roughly 2,000 cyclists on a two-day, 150-mile charity bike ride held Sept. 7-8.

“Volunteering for the MS Society is great training for our emergency radio operators responsible for establishing post-disaster communications among city Emergency Operations Centers, hospitals, and 911 dispatch centers,” radio program manager Dan Good said.

Anyone interested in becoming a licensed amateur band radio operator trained to send emergency radio traffic in a post-disaster environment can contact Good at 425-776-3722.

Elks help Scouts earn citizenship badge

Everett Elks 479 hosted 43 Boy Scouts from 10 troops along with their troop leaders on an all-day bus trip to the Mukilteo Lighthouse and the Capitol in Olympia. The boys were able to complete most of the requirements for their “Citizenship in the Nation” merit badge.

Elks volunteers prepared and provided lunches and snacks for the group, packets of important state information and a book that included the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and amendments.

City of Monroe spearheads food drive

The city of Monroe, along with American Girl and Frontier Communications, collected 1,254 pounds of food at $589.83 for the Sky Valley Food Bank as part of the 2013 United Way of Snohomish County Days of Caring campaign.

“This was a big boost for our dwindling shelves and will make a very real difference to our clients,” food bank director Neil Watkins said.

Scout’s project puts focus on stormwater

With the help of family and friends, Wyatt Smith, a Monroe Boy Scout working on his Eagle Scout badge, placed “Puget Sound Starts Here” storm drain markers on 380 city catch basins in five neighborhoods on one night in August. The project aims to educate local residents on the environmental concerns facing local water bodies.

“Stormwater runoff pollution is one of the greatest threats to our region’s waterways,” said Vince Bertrand, stormwater lead with the city of Monroe. “Projects like this help build a sense of community that is critical for the health and well-being of Puget Sound.”

VFW Auxiliary holds food drive

The Gold Bar Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9417 Ladies Auxiliary recently held a food drive to benefit Operation Full Bellies, a division of Sky Valley Community Outreach. Several boxes of food and monetary donations were collected.

Operation Full Bellies currently serves children referred by schools, churches or child advocates.

Rotarians honor superintendent

The Snohomish Rotary Club presented Snohomish School District Superintendent Bill Mester with the Rotary Foundation’s Paul Harris Fellow recognition.

Mester was honored for the leadership he has provided during his 11 years with the school district.

Paul Harris Fellow recognition was created in memory of Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary. In this case, the Snohomish Rotary donated $1,000 to the foundation in Mester’s name. Mester received a pin, medallion and a certificate identifying him as an advocate of the foundation’s goals of world peace and international understanding.

Square dancers donate to Cedar Valley

The Dudes &Dolls square dance club of Lynnwood held its annual school supplies drive at its first dance of the fall season. School supplies collected are donated to the Cedar Valley Community School in Lynnwood.

Tae kwon do students kick up funds

Lake Stevens Health Kick, hosted by Master Dong-Il Shin’s Tigers Black Belt Academy, was held Sept. 14 at North Cove Park. The kick-a-thon, which also included board breaking, raised $4,000 for Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Greatest Needs Fund.

Participants, from age 3 to 63, tallied more than 18,000 kicks and 40 broken boards.

“At Tigers, we don’t only learn how to kick and punch. We must help to make our community stronger,” Shin said.

Christmas House celebrates donation

Cory Long of Judd &Black recently presented an $8,000 check to Christmas House board members at the conclusion of the company’s annual charity golf tournament at Battle Creek Golf Course.

Christmas House is a local nonprofit that helps provide gifts to low-income families in Snohomish County around the holidays.

To donate or volunteer, visit www.christmas-house.org or call 425-338-2273.

Businessman honored as top volunteer

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring recently honored Jeff Darrah as the city’s Volunteer of the Month for August in recognition of Darrah’s outstanding community service and volunteerism through the Marysville Sunrise Rotary Club, providing meals to the Salvation Army, and his contributions to young people in the community.

Darrah owns Bleachers Grill, now operating out of the city-owned Cedarcrest Golf Course and often donates space and food to local causes.

The father of three also was recently honored by the Marysville Sunrise Rotary Club with the Unsung Heroes award, a prize given to those who demonstrate outstanding service to the community without the expectation of receiving any reimbursement.

Soroptimists install officers

Soroptimist International of Everett has installed its new officers for the 2013-14 year: Betty Scrapper, past president; Donna Stringer, president; Sue Levison, vice president; Debbie Blodgett, recording secretary; Kelly Hatfield, treasurer; Lori Powlas, assistant treasurer; Leslie Elsaesser, historian; and Janet Duncan, corresponding secretary.

Soroptimist is a global women’s organization whose members volunteer to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. The Everett chapter meets at noon every second and fourth Wednesday at the Everett Golf &Country Club. Call Sue Levison at 425-259-8367 if you would like to attend a meeting; cost is $12.

To submit news for Applause, email newstips@heraldnet.com.