Community Extra: Applause

HONORS

Marysville employees honored

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring recently presented the City’s Employee Wellness Committee with a ‘Dare to Soar’ Innovative Service Award for their health and fitness measures.

Marysville recently earned a WellCity Award from the Ass

ociation of Washington Cities Employee Benefit Trust. The award is based on meeting best practice standards in employee health promotion. As an award recipient, the city will receive a 2 percent premium discount on Regence BlueShield medical coverage for employees and spouses in 2012. Based on 2011 rates, the estimated cost savings will be about $46,000.

The committee consists of 17 employees including representatives from different departments, labor unions, management and general employees.

Senior volunteers recognized

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Snohomish County celebrated its volunteers last month.

The program, sponsored by Catholic Community Services, matches people 55 years and older with volunteer opportunities in their communities.

Four volunteers earned the President’s Call to Service Award, given to those who have given more than 4,000 hours. The recipients were Barbara Larson of Mountlake Terrace, Ed Dinkelocker of Edmonds, Jeanne Matthews of Stanwood and Cliff Pearson of Lynnwood.

Last year, 1,079 RSVP volunteers provided more than 170,000 hours of service to 116 nonprofit agencies in Snohomish County.

For more information, call Paulette Jacobson or John McAlpine at 425-257-2111.

Officer repeats as award winner

Mountlake Terrace Police Department officer Eric Jones recently became North American Motor Officers Association’s “Show and Shine” competition’s first repeat champion.

Jones, an eight-year department veteran with three years as a motor officer, successfully maneuvered his 2009 police model Harley-Davidson Road King through obstacle courses and a “white glove” care and maintenance exam to win his second consecutive title at the organization’s annual conference in Portland, Ore.

Jones previously won the 2010 competition at the North American Motor Officers Association Conference in Marysville.

The annual conference, established for regional police motor officers to improve their skills through training and competition, was attended this year by 150 motorcycle officers representing 58 agencies from three Western states and Canada.

GIVING

Tulalip Tribes’ grant funds a peace pole

The Tulalip Tribes recently awarded a $1,500 grant to Penny Creek Elementary PTA to purchase a peace pole.

The peace pole was unveiled for the students on May 25. The pole is 6 feet tall and displays the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in 12 of the common languages spoken at the school: English, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Hindi, Spanish, Korean, Portuguese, Japanese, Filipino and German.

A plaque is planned to be placed in front of the peace pole with the message of peace in the Lushootseed language as a tribute to the Tulalip Tribes. Penny Creek Elementary is part of the Everett School District.

Volunteers spruce up Terrace parks

About 60 volunteers worked on the Ballinger Playfield, Terrace Creek Trail and Bicentennial Park during Mountlake Terrace’s annual Volunteer Park Clean Up.

Some volunteers pruned away brush at Ballinger Playfield, others helped remove invasive species along the Terrace Creek Park Trail.

Teams cleared about 40 yards of brush and debris along the trail at Ballinger Playfield, said Penny Merkley, a city spokeswoman. They also scrubbed the playground equipment.

After the work was completed, volunteers gathered at the Civic Campus for a lunch hosted by the Mountlake Terrace City Council to thank participants for their service.

“It was nice to see many new faces this year in addition to some of our most dedicated volunteers who help out every year,” said Virginia Olsen, community relations director.

Groups aid Bethany of the Northwest

Three local groups recently awarded Bethany of the Northwest grants to purchase items to help the care of more than 400 residents.

The Brad and Kathy Fund of the Nysether Family Foundation donated $4,500 to purchase a NuStep exercise machine. The Greater Everett Community Foundation gave $2,500 to purchase a patient transfer sling lift and the Rotary Club of Everett Port Gardner donated $1,942 to purchase two ROHO chairs and cushion covers.

Bethany of the Northwest has four facilities in Everett for seniors and disabled residents.

Rotary donates to water playground

The Rotary Club of Everett on June 7 presented Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson with $20,000 for construction of the Rotary Centennial Water Playground at Forest Park.

The club in 2006 committed $100,000 to the water playground project to recognize and honor the 100th anniversary of Rotary. Club President Lyle Ryan coordinated the water playground project. The payment was the last of five total.

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