Tualco Grange hands out dictionaries

For the 13th year, members of the Tualco Grange presented dictionaries to every third-grader at each of the Monroe School District’s five elementary schools. New third-grade teachers also received dictionaries.

In all, more than 400 dictionaries were donated as part of the Words for Thirds program. Children get to keep the dictionaries. Along with definitions, the books include appendices with information about the states, weights and measurements, sign language and more.

Trufant brings grant to Gateway

Former Seattle Seahawks player Marcus Trufant and representatives from Washington Dairy Council participated in a Fuel Up To Play 60 assembly Nov. 28 at Everett’s Gateway Middle School. They presented the school with a $10,000 Hometown Grant to enhance its Breakfast in the Courtyard program.

During the assembly, Trufant talked to the students about the importance of eating healthy and being physically active for 60 minutes a day.

The Breakfast in the Courtyard program will offer kids healthy breakfast food as they get off the bus. The goal is to increase low-income students’ participation in breakfast programs.

Ergotron also donated 30 of its standing desk stations for the school to use in classrooms.

Fire board member honored

Marysville City Councilwoman Donna Wright recently received an Honorary Life Membership Award from the Washington Fire Commissioners Association. Wright has served more than 15 years on the Marysville Fire District board of directors. She was recognized for her service during the recent WFCA annual conference in Spokane.

Kudos for three local school boards

The Washington State School Directors Association recently named its 2017 Boards of Distinction, which this year include the Arlington, Everett and Northshore school boards. The recognition program awards school boards that follow the group’s standards and aim to close the “opportunity gap” for students.

Rotary donates $3K

The South Everett-Mukilteo Rotary Club recently awarded $3,000 in grants to local causes. The Rotary awarded $1,000 to Providence Harbour Pointe Family Medicine and Pediatrics for a flu shot clinic on Casino Road; $1,000 to Eagle Wings DisAbility Ministry for a Christmas dinner with Santa; and $1,000 to Homage Senior Services for its home repair program.

The Rotary Club meets at 12:15 p.m. Fridays at Shawn O’Donnell’s restaurant, 122 128th St. SE, Everett. For more information, go to www.semr.org.

Zonta presents Founders Day Award

Zonta Club of Everett recently presented its annual Founders Day Award to Julie Martin, president of the Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce. Martin, of Everett, also serves on the boards of the Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival Association and the Mukilteo Police Foundation and works with Mukilteo Love, a group of moms helping underserved families.

EdCC honored for helping students

Edmonds Community College has been designated as an Achieving the Dream Leader College by the national Achieving the Dream nonprofit that promotes programs that improve student success and close the achievement gap, particularly for low-income students and students of color.

Credit union funds school projects

Inspirus Credit Union funded 21 school projects through www.donorschoose.org to mark Giving Tuesday, including three teacher requests in Snohomish County:

New reading material, from Dr. Seuss books to Time for Kids magazines, for Michelle Leibbrand’s students at Lake Stickney Elementary School in the Mukilteo School District.

Math and financial education games and learning items for Larua Lipke’s kindergarten students at Riverview Elementary School in Snohomish.

Field trip to a regional Model United Nations conference for Michelle Schwantes’ Model UN students at Sky Valley Education Center in Monroe.

Hospice nurse is honored

EvergreenHealth nurse James Johnson, whose rounds take him through Snohomish County for hospice care, was named a Nurse of the Year by the March of Dimes. Johnson lives in Kirkland. He was honored at a Nov. 17 ceremony in Seattle.

Marysville honors hospice care

Marysville proclaimed November as National Hospice Palliative Care Month.

“With baby boomers coming in their retirement years, this line of work is more valuable than ever. The volunteer hours are staggering,” Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring said.

Hospice of the Northwest representatives were on hand for the Oct. 23 presentation. Hospice of the Northwest provided no-cost services and resources to 89 Snohomish County patients last year.

Turkey Trot raises $4,600

The Arlington Runners Club and the Rotary Club of Arlington put on a Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving morning. Devin Brossard, who is a member of both groups, directed the effort. More than 250 people took part. The event netted $4,600 for the Arlington Community Food Bank.

Arlington Grocery Outlet was an event sponsor. Five frozen turkeys were placed along the course for runners to grab — so long as they carried them unaided all the way to the finish line.

New playwrights

The Phoenix Theatre in Edmonds in November showcased playwrights from the Edmonds Community College fall class of 2017. The graduates each premiered 10-minute plays using professional actors and with directors offering stage readings.

The partnership was the idea of Phoenix managing director Debra Rich Gettleman, to help the new playwrights experience the full “page to stage” process. Students who participated were Lexie Knull, Cathy Kaufman, Krista Mitchell, Pam Espinosa and Quaitlin Peterson Merrit.