MARROWSTONE ISLAND — Bruce and Andrea Carlson have been named the Marrowstone Island Citizens of the year for their fundraising efforts to ensure a fully staffed fire station.
Bruce Carlson spent three years as the president of the Marrowstone Island Foundation (MIF) with a mission of improving medical and fire response, according to a press release from the Marrowstone Island Community Association (MICA).
The MICA presented the Carlsons the award Monday night.
The staffing level at the fire station will allow most island residents to be able to purchase fire insurance at lower rates, according to the release.
The station also has a new septic system under construction and an approved station building that will be installed later this year.
The Carlsons moved to the island less than 10 years ago and have been volunteering ever since.
Andrea has worked with the board of the Friends of Fort Flagler to help improve park experiences for visitors, the release said.
She also is active in the Nordland Garden Club and is currently serving as its co-president.
Bruce still serves on the MIF Board. He also spends time assuring the care of the Marrowstone Cemetery and coordinates the Marrowstone Island Cemetery Committee.
Both have volunteered at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center and hosted fundraisers for the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, which led to the expansion of the campus and saving the Ajax Cafe.
“Bruce physically took samples for the Marine Science Center,” said Rita Kepner, who won the 1994 Citizens of the Year award along with her husband, John Matthiesen.
“He is not someone who looks for an organizational title to add to his resume. He is the kind of person who gets down and dirty and does the actual hard work that helps keeps a community healthy in so many ways.”
Island residents submit detained nominations each year to the association, and a committee of past award winners meets to evaluate them.
The criteria indicates the selected person will “have made a lasting or significant difference to the greater community through their volunteerism, activism and leadership” on Marrowstone Island and Jefferson County.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.
