Apartment worker earns praise for saving lives

Tony Vierra has received the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Lifesaving Award for rescuing a man from a balcony and assisting other residents to safety at an apartment fire in the Lynnwood area in May.

Vierra is a maintenance employee at The Seasons Apartments in the 3700 block of 164th Street SW where a fire caused more than $400,000 damage on May 2. He quickly retrieved a ladder and rescued a man from a balcony, alerted other residents to evacuate and assisted a woman escape down a smoke-filled stairwell.

Martin Spani, commander of VFW Post 1040 in Lynnwood, nominated Vierra for the national award.

“We congratulate Tony Vierra. He is well-deserving of this prestigious honor. He did an excellent job in a stressful situation. Flames and thick black smoke were engulfing the building. Thanks to Tony’s quick action, everyone made it out and we didn’t have any serious injuries,” said Mark Correira, Fire District 1’s assistant chief of operations, who responded to the May 2 fire.

EvCC students help residents at care center

Five people from Everett Community College’s “Small Group Communication” course spent the afternoon May 17 with residents at Marysville Care Center for a special Senior Craft Day.

The Marysville Michael’s Arts &Crafts store donated the supplies for the project, which had residents paint picture frames.

Stone Soup dinner raises $239K for Housing Hope

Housing Hope hosted its 13th annual Stone Soup dinner on May 16 in the Orca Ballroom at the Tulalip Resort. The event, with highest attendance on record, raised more than $239,000 towards serving homeless and low-income families in Snohomish County.

Premier sponsors included BECU, Boeing, The Everett Clinic and Kirtley-Cole Associates.

Housing Hope continues to grow, adding new housing, services, employment opportunities, and to increase child development efforts, which leaders say could not be done without the generous support of the community.

County Horse Bowl team wins state title

The Snohomish County 4-H Horse Bowl team took first place at the state championship held May 4 in Ellensburg. The team now advances to the Eastern National Competition, Nov. 9 in Louisville, Ky.

The team consists of Margaret Fitzgerald, Stephanie King, Lauren McGuire, Bethany Garver, Katelyn Peterson and Lorin Stewart. They are coached by R-A Mazzola.

Horse Bowl is like “Jeopardy,” with contestants buzzing in to answer horse-related questions about anatomy, diseases, breeds, parasites, genetics, racing and showing and history, also with a few questions on donkeys and mules.

Zonta Club of Everett honors past president

Margaret “Peggy” Stevenson was honored May 23 with the Zonta Club of Everett’s Virginia Gullikson Award, which pays tribute to women who have distinguished themselves in service to others.

Stevenson, a former club member, was born and raised in Australia. She recalls marching with broomsticks during World War II out of fear of a possible Japanese invasion. She came to the Everett area after marrying an American G.I., John, who returned to the area as a teacher.

Stevenson went on to serve as clerk of the board at the Snohomish County Public Utility District, and was the highest ranked female employee in the district. She joined the Everett Zonta Club in 1972 and served as its president from 1975-78, transforming the club from a rummage sale group to a showcase of local female executives.

Stevenson retired at age 65 but didn’t slow down. Instead she began studies in ballet and professional ballroom dancing.

Edmonds Eagle Scout earns VFW honor

Elias Nilsson of Boy Scouts of America Troop 312 in Edmonds recently was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars Eagle Scout Award at his Eagle Court of Honor, held June 2 at Edmonds Methodist Church.

VFW Post 1040 of Edmonds presented the award.

Elias’ Eagle Scout project was to organize the Meadowdale High School drama club’s prop room, including a new shelving system and a spreadsheet catalogued with all the storage items.

Marcus Whitman DAR honors Tulalip leader

Deborah Parker, vice chairwoman of the Tulalip Tribes, was recently honored with a Daughters of the American Revolution National Society Community Service Award. The local Marcus Whitman Chapter presented the award.

Parker has been a longtime advocate for women and children in the local community, and most recently helped to push for an expansion of the Violence Against Women Act, which now gives Indian tribes new power to prosecute non-Indians in tribal courts for any crimes linked to domestic violence.

Parker is the mother of three children and two step-children with her husband, Myron.

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