Christmas House adapts during COVID, delivers gifts to thousands
About 8,500 children across Snohomish County had gifts this holiday season thanks to creativity and collaboration from board members at Christmas House and more than a dozen local food banks.
Christmas House board members expressed their gratitude to donors and volunteers for their contributions.
Schmidt named first full-time chief of Fire District 21
After years as the part-time fire chief for Snohomish County Fire District 21, Chad Schmidt was promoted last week as the first full-time fire chief.
In its 60-year history, the district had never had a full-time chief, but increased staffing responsibilities and construction of a second fire station made it clear to the Board of Fire Commissioners a full-time leader was needed.
Fire District 21 serves an area of approximately 70-square miles in rural Arlington.
Schmidt served as the part-time chief since 2017, while simultaneously working as a full-time paramedic for Camano Island Fire & Rescue. His promotion will provide operational, technical and administrative advantages for the District 21.
A badge pinning ceremony will take place virtually through Zoom on Monday during the monthly commissioner meeting.
Outreach manager for South County Fire honored for keeping kids safe
Shawneri Guzman, outreach manager for South County Fire, is Washington’s Outstanding Safe Kids Coordinator of the Year. (South County Fire)
Washington’s Outstanding Safe Kids Coordinator of the Year is Shawneri Guzman, South County Fire’s outreach manager.
Safe Kids Washington and Washington’s Child Passenger Safety Program awarded Guzman the honor for her work leading the Safe Kids Snohomish County coalition. The group prevents childhood injuries from traffic crashes, drownings, falls, burns, poisonings and more, through education and protective equipment.
Guzman also volunteers on boards and workgroups to address child injury prevention, sharing her expertise and resources.
About 3,000 Washington children are seriously injured or die in preventable incidents.
Will Hitchcock, with the Washington State Department of Health, said Guzman was honored for “the passion, care and connectedness she demonstrates through her work for injury prevention and commitment to her community.”
Mill Creek Mavericks Baseball Club supports community food bank
When the Mill Creek Food Bank ran low on food, a local baseball organization stepped up to the plate.
In one weekend, the Mill Creek Baseball Club, also known as the Mill Creek Mavericks, collected more than 700 pounds of food and $1,850 in donations for their local food bank.
About 40 ballplayers and their families from the club’s 9U, 16U and 18U teams — ages of 8 to 18 — assisted in the food collection.
“We’re so proud of how quickly our families rallied in two days to show how much we care about our community,” said Shannon Van Duzer, player agent with the Mill Creek Baseball Club.
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