When Plant Farm’s fish feed, food bank benefits

Cold weather has arrived, meaning Hoover the koi and his fish family are hibernating deep in their pond at The Plant Farm at Smokey Point. It also means it’s that time of year when the nursery staff empties a fish-food machine to see how much money was raised for the Marysville Community Food Bank.

Throughout the year, patrons of the nursery can spend 25 cents on fish food to feed the koi. This year, that added up to more than 14,000 turns of the fish food dispenser, raising $3,646 for the food bank.

The Plant Farm presented a check to the food bank Nov. 19, just in time for the holiday season. The nursery also donates vegetable starts each year to the food bank. The fish-food fundraiser is dubbed Feed the Fish, Feed the Community.

Firefighters honored for leading by example

Lynnwood Fire Chief Tod Gates honored five firefighters with the 2013 Chief’s Company Awards, given annually to the highest performer from each shift of firefighters as selected by their peers and officers, and an officer and staff member selected by the chief.

Honorees were Lt. Jason Blachly, Fire Inspector Jerry Job, firefighter-paramedics Dave Matthews and Dan Grantier, and firefighter Monte Pfeil.

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