Easter Bunny arrives in style

Riders from Chapter 3169 of The Great Northwest Harley Owners Group from Emerald City Harley Davidson escorted the Easter Bunny to a special celebration March 24 at Tomorrow’s Hope Childcare Center.

This is the 20th year the group has organized the Bunny Run for families served by the Housing Hope program.

The riders also brought an entire tow-behind trailer full of donations, including 20 boxes of Kleenex, 413 Pull-Ups, 7,176 diapers, 16,700 wipes, 2,000 examination gloves, 216 rolls of toilet paper, $100 in gift cards to Kroger and $3,129 in cash, checks and quarters.

This year, the Bunny Run also partnered with the United Way of Snohomish County Teen Leadership Council. The teens helped with activities for the kids, such as cookie and egg decorating, face-painting, pin-the-tail-on-the-bunny and a cupcake walk.

Girl Scouts donate cookies

The Sky Valley Food Bank recently received 93 boxes of Girl Scout cookies from Cadette Troop 42590. The troop collected donated boxes of cookies and brought them to the food bank to provide a treat for their neighbors in need. “Their hard work and generosity raised a lot of spirits around the food bank,” the food bank’s Neil Watkins said.

Riders aid food bank

Sky Valley Abate motorcyclists recently donated a truck load of food to the Sky Valley Food Bank. The donations were gathered at a benefit dance held March 23 at the Monroe Eagles Club.

The motorcycle club also sponsors an annual motorcycle show, to be held this year on the third Sunday in May, to benefit the senior center and food bank in Snohomish.

VFW honors Eagle Scout

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1040 in Mountlake Terrace on March 24 presented a VFW Eagle Scout certificate to Eagle Scout John D. Starkweather of Boy Scouts of America Troop 67 at his National Eagle Court of Honor.

John’s Eagle Scout project consisted of building guitar racks for local schools.

Everett girl wins essay contest

Lydia Hawkins recently won the Patriot’s Pen Competition by from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and Auxiliary 2100 of Everett. Lydia attends Gateway Middle School. Her essay went on to the district competition where she also took first place.

Conservation awards honor locals

Snohomish Conservation District hosted its annual Awards Reception March 26 in Everett to honor local farmers, partners and landowners who are making significant progress in improving natural resources on their property and supporting district programs.

Cooperators of the Year: David Capocci, Glenn Budlow and Tim Leingang of Paca Pride Guest Ranch in Granite Falls.

Commercial Farm of the Year: Reid and Darren Carleton of Carleton Farm Inc. in Lake Stevens.

Small Farm of the Year (North County): Shannon and Brian Finch of Black Dog Ranch in Arlington.

Small Farm of the Year (South County): Elva and Jerry Van Donge of Snohomish.

LID Cooperator of the Year: Larry and Kalleen Ormand of Snohomish.

Merit Farm: Steve and Dena Adkins of Arlington.

Wildlife Farm of the Year: Bethlehem Lutheran Church/Wilcox Farm in Marysville.

Partnership Awards: vocational consultant Debbie Young of Village Community Services in Arlington; Scott Chase of WSU Island Co. Shore Stewards on Camano Island.

LID Partnership Award: Philomena Kedziorski, rain garden program coordinator at WSU Snohomish County Extension in Everett.

Volunteer of the Year: master gardener John Marsh of Everett.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Mary Margaret Haugen.

Union ‘MVPs’ clock 10,500 hours

Volunteers from the Machinists Volunteer Program performed 10,529.5 hours of community service around Puget Sound in 2012, Machinists Union District Lodge 751 announced.

The union will honor its top volunteers at an awards banquet April 20.

Local projects included:

•A series of fundraisers, including events in Everett and Tulalip, that brought in a record $299,000 for Guide Dogs of America.

Support for community service agencies including Toys for Tots in Everett.

Participation in the annual Letter Carriers Food Drive in Snohomish County.

Regularly preparing and serving weekend meals to homeless people at the Everett Gospel Mission.

An Adopt-a-Road clean-up site in Everett.

Foundation honors two in human services

The Greater Everett Community Foundation honored two people who have made a significant impact to human services in Snohomish County at an annual breakfast held March 20.

Connie Wittren, executive director of the Providence Hospice &Home Care Foundation, was honored as the human services staff member.

Wittren has worked in the human services sector for more than 40 years.

Gary Weikel was honored as the human services volunteer.

His work in Snohomish County is extensive and includes two United Way Distinguished Service Awards.

Proceeds from the event support grant-making for the Human Services Endowment Fund in Honor of Bob Drewel.

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