Soroptimist International of Marysville recently gave its Women’s Opportunity Award of $1,000 to Kathy Brooks, an Everett Community College student.
Brooks is a single mother working toward a degree in psychology. She also volunteers for the Marysville School District, Denny Juvenile Justice Center, Evergreen Manor Rehabilitation Center, Snohomish County jail and Providence Hospital.
Though her home burned a year ago, Brooks continues to be devoted to her family and community, a club representative said.
Fire District 1 volunteers display antique engine
Snohomish County Fire District 1 volunteer firefighters displayed the department’s restored 1925 REO Speed Wagon and participated in the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America’s winter conference in Puyallup recently. The conference attracted antique fire apparatus and collectors from across the country.
The 1925 REO Speed Wagon was Fire District 1’s first engine, purchased in 1932 by the Seattle Heights Civic Club for $300 from the Edmonds Fire Department.
Fire department historians say the engine was first housed at Carl Eisen’s garage and service station at 212th Street SW and Highway 99. When there was a fire, someone would call the garage and Eisen would roar off in the truck, while his wife would turn on a siren to summon volunteers to the fire, bringing water buckets with them to refill the truck since there was no water system in the area.
The REO Speed Wagon was restored by volunteers in the 1980s and is featured at department events and in local parades each summer.
Fire District 1 provides fire and emergency medical services to the largest population in Snohomish County, serving more than 150,000 residents in the neighborhoods of Silver Firs, Eastmont, Mariner, Lake Serene, Picnic Point, Martha Lake, Lake Stickney, Norma Beach, Hilltop, Hilton Lake, Pioneer Trails and the cities of Mountlake Terrace and Brier.
Snohomish teen honored for anti-drinking film
Chad Merkley, 16, of Snohomish is the grand prize winner in the best picture category at the recent Eastside Film Festival.
His film, “Across the Bridge,” which has an anti-drinking-and-driving message for teens, was originally made as a community service project and has been shown at several school and teen events.
Chad’s film was chosen as the top film from more than 50 others entered by high school students. Chad also won the festival’s award for the best movie soundtrack, which he composed.
A top student at the Chrysalis School in Woodinville, Chad also is a published author, a professional pianist and a varsity tennis player with Snohomish High School.
Lynnwood Rotarians award scholarships
More than $3,000 in scholarships were awarded by the Rotary Club of Lynwood at the recent Student Showcase, a talent show sponsored by the Lynnwood Arts Commission.
The showcase performers and scholarship winners were: Veronia Panitch, 13, violinist; Hattie Ellis, 13, vocalist; Thao Nguyen, 17, pianist; Jessica Wampler, 14, singer, songwriter and guitarist; Breaking Point Dance Company hip-hop dancers, Tristan Grey, Aja Bell, Lisa Greene, Elyse Costello, Anthony Nichols, Alison Nichols, Lindsey Giles, Alicia Boyling, Tess Hendrickson and Jessica Jenson; Rachel Wong, 15, violinist; Laura Hoover, 17, vocalist; Rachelle Byarlay, 17, Irish step dancer; Sara Alkhedairy, 13, jazz singer; and Nick Dumas, 16, bluegrass fiddle player.
Other sponsors included the city’s parks and recreation department, Edmonds Community College, the state Arts Commission and several businesses.
Firefighters participate in stair climb fundraiser
Fifteen firefighters from Snohomish County Fire District 1 climbed to the top of the Columbia Tower in Seattle on Sunday in the Firefighter Stair Climb to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The event attracts hundreds of firefighters from throughout the Northwest and as far away as New Zealand. Climbing 69 stories, or 1,311 steps, to the top of the Columbia Tower is challenge enough, but the firefighters were wearing full bunker gear weighing 25 pounds and using breathing apparatus weighing another 25 pounds.
Raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in this event has taken on special meaning at Fire District 1 as two firefighters within its ranks have been diagnosed with forms of the disease in the past three years.
Donations in support of the Fire District 1 team can be mailed to or delivered through March 25 to Fire District 1 Headquarters/Mariner Fire Station, 12310 Meridian Ave., Everett, 98208. Checks should be payable to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America.
District 1 firefighters collecting pledges and those who participated in the Firefighter Stair Climb were George Boling, Deanna Carter, Brad Cheek, Bryan Collins, Paul Cretella, Scott Fitzpatrick, Steve Francis, Dennis Lunny, Gene Smith, Josh Stadler, Jim Starck, Chris Tompkins, Brian Voyles, Jaret Vosburgh and Travis Winston. Firefighter John Jacobson assisted with air bottle changes and equipment on the 40th floor of the Columbia Tower.
Sweet rewards for the Meadowdale Mavericks
More than 30 student and adult volunteers rallied Feb. 5 to help give the inaugural Maverick Stampede Dessert Auction at Meadowdale High School a successful beginning.
An estimated 200 supporters showed their support while dining on a dessert as they bid on more than 200 silent auction items and 25 live auction items including signed sports memorabilia and spa and vacation packages worth thousands of dollars.
The auction raised more than $25,000 for various athletic needs, including $4,000 for the weight room remodel.
For information about how to get involved with the Meadowdale High School Sports Boosters or to donate to the athletic fund, contact the school at 425-670-7650 or go to http://eteamz. active.com/gomavs.
Island County Red Cross names local heroes
The American Red Cross, Island County Chapter named its local heroes at an awards event Tuesday at the Elks Lodge in Oak Harbor.
Winners and their awards are: Marvin Reed, retired Oak Harbor teacher, who received the educator award; Frank O’Brochta, who saved a Whidbey Island Academy student from choking and received the humanitarian service award; Whidbey Search Dogs, volunteer rescue group, presented the emergency services award; Cameron Jones, a Marine Corps officer who helps his neighbors, who was given the military award; and Fran and Zane Malloy, who saved the life of a baby and were presented with the good Samaritan award.
Charisse Waldron and Connie Almon, members of the band Fast Machines, were honored for their volunteer work in the community. Judy Allen, who listens to the concerns of her store customers, was runner-up for the humanitarian award. Grace O’Jalia, who works twice weekly in a church soup kitchen, was runner-up for the humanitarian award. Pat Wilson, who aided an elderly woman, was runner-up for the good Samaritan award.
Snohomish County Red Cross deploys volunteer
American Red Cross volunteer Bill Thayer of Anacortes was deployed Sunday to Georgia by the Snohomish County Red Cross Chapter to assist with tornado disaster relief efforts. In addition to helping victims affected by the destructive storms, Thayer will be a part of the Red Cross’s damage assessment team.
Everett Elks present dictionaries to students
Everett Elks Club 479 recently presented dictionaries to each third-grade student at Whittier Elementary and Garfield Elementary schools in the Everett District.
Presenting the dictionaries recently were club secretary-elect Ann C. Hall and exalted-ruler elect Linda Averill.
St. Vincent de Paul honors Monroe volunteer
Jim Bloss of Monroe has been awarded the Top Hat Award by the Snohomish County Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The award is the organization’s highest honor.
The Top Hat Award is presented to a volunteer who has exemplified the core values of charity to clients, peers and the community, a council spokesman said.
The Top Hat Award was presented to Bloss Feb. 24 at the organization’s annual gathering at Immaculate Conception in Arlington.
The award honors the memory of the founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Frederic Ozanam, a university professor at the Sorbonne in France, who often did charity work in his top hat.
Bloss has been a volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul for more than 25 years. He serves on the St. Vincent de Paul district council, is president of the St. Mary of the Valley conference in Monroe, is a member of the district council stores committee and the Seattle Archdiocesan chairman of the society’s Voice of the Poor Commission.
He and his wife Lynn are members of St. Mary of the Valley Catholic Church parish.
VFW post recognizes Martha Lake heroes
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1040 has awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Life-Saving award to Lynnwood residents Art Clemente and Jules Butler for their efforts to rescue teenagers who fell through the ice into Martha Lake in January.
Mukilteo karate students raise funds for kids
Mukilteo YMCA karate students participated Saturday in a martial arts “Kick-a-thon” to raise donations for the YMCA’s Invest in Youth campaign.
The 36 students, from the adult and youth classes, executed a total of 12,248 kicks at the event and raised $5,090, said Jay Gravelle, karate instructor.
Jacob Guerrero, one of the youth students, had the most number of kicks overall by executing 618 kicks in the five minutes allotted for each student.
The funds raised will be used to help children in the community who benefit from the YMCA’s Invest in Youth campaign. To ensure that no one is denied a chance to participate because of inability to pay, YMCA’s Invest in Youth Campaign helps provide financial assistance to families who need it.
For more information about karate programs and the Invest in Youth campaign, call 425-353-9622.
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