Camano Island artist’s work in Washington State Convention Center

Bobbie Mueller, of Camano Island, is one of 64 artists whose paintings are featured in the bi-annual 2019 Northwest Watercolor Society (NWWS) Signature Exhibition at the Washington State Convention Center through Oct. 6. Bobbie is one of 12 who won a “Special Recognition” award.

Located at 705 Pike St. in Seattle, the Convention Center is open daily. For directions visit wscc.com. The NWWS show is in the Phyllis Lamphere Gallery on the second floor.

Bobbie’s artwork is for sale and she is also represented by Seattle’s Fountainhead Gallery on Queen Anne Hill, fountainheadgallery.com. Learn more about NWWS at nwws.org.

Source: Bobbie Mueller.

Darrington, Oso fire districts awarded FEMA grant

The Department of Homeland Security awarded the Darrington Fire District, No. 24, and the Oso Fire District, No. 25, with a $593,110 grant to assist both districts in recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters and EMTs in the upper Stillaguamish Valley. This grant was provided through the federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. This funding will be available to both fire districts for four years.

The Darrington and Oso Fire Districts rely upon dedicated volunteer firefighters and EMTs to ensure that the communities of the Upper Stillaguamish Valley and surrounding communities are protected during emergencies. Between the two districts, volunteers responded to 850 emergency calls in 2017. This grant will provide funding for outreach to potential new volunteer recruits, and provide additional resources to current volunteers. Those resources include training and support necessary for responders to do their jobs.

“It is imperative that we continue to invest in the volunteer-based program that has served these great communities for decades and provide the tools necessary for our folks to be successful,” said Drew Bono, deputy fire chief for the Darrington Fire District.

Some things this grant will pay for include:

Hiring a full-time fire captain whose primary job will be to coordinate recruitment, retention, and training activities for both fire districts during the duration of the grant.

Funding a basic training program tailored to train up to 40 new and existing volunteer firefighters to the National Standard Firefighter II level over the next four years.

Providing for marketing supplies to reach out to perspective volunteer candidates in the communities.

Providing new protective equipment and uniforms for new volunteer firefighters.

Providing stipends to new and existing volunteers for participating in training.

“I can speak on behalf of both Oso and Darrington by saying how excited we are to have been awarded this opportunity,” said Fire Chief Willy Harper, of the Oso Fire District. “We are incredibly proud of our volunteers and are thrilled to be able to continue to build our programs into the future. Many fire departments have moved away from using volunteers. We are confident that this recruitment and retention program will help keep our volunteers ready and willing for years to come.”

The districts are currently working developing a selection process for the training captain position and working with FEMA on final arrangements. The program is expected to begin before the new year. Progress of the jointly organized program will be shared as developments are available.

Source: Darrington Fire District.