PORT TOWNSEND — Seven volunteers will be honored with the Jefferson County Heart of Service award for 2016 today.
The noon luncheon, which is open to the public, will be at Fort Worden Commons.
Sponsoring Rotary Clubs will purchase lunch for each honoree and his or her guest. Others can purchase lunch at the Commons.
This year, two youths and five adults will be recognized.
They will receive framed award certificates honoring the “dedication, sacrifice and accomplishments” of community leaders and volunteers “who have made a difference in Jefferson County, who have made our communities a better place by doing extraordinary things for their neighbors, their community or the environment.”
This is the 11th year for the Heart of Service award, sponsored by the Peninsula Daily News, the Rotary Club of Port Townsend (noon club), the Port Townsend Sunrise Rotary Club and the East Jefferson Rotary Club.
Honorees
The youth honorees are:
■ Ben Rolland, a Port Townsend High School senior who co-founded the Port Townsend Youth Entertainment Coalition, a 4-H/WSU-chartered club aimed at providing safe and drug-free activities for young people.
■ Olivia Ejde, a Chimacum High School senior whose volunteer work has encompassed everything from bringing holiday cheer to assisted living community residents and raising funds through the school’s Interact Club to serving on the 4-H Robotics Team, the Roboctopi, which has received national attention.
The adult honorees are:
■ Elma Beary, Chimacum School’s indefatigable volunteer who, nominators say, is “the heart of our school.”
■ Helen Cleveland, longtime volunteer for the Habitat for Humanity Furniture and More Store, the Port Townsend Film Festival, Centrum and the Port Townsend Visitor Center.
■ Linda Herzog, who established Quilcene Conversations, which led to a number of improvements in her adopted hometown, and who continues to work for a better, safer community.
■ Bill Putney, who provides engineering and technical expertise to many organizations, including volunteering as the project manager for installation of an automated weather station for Jefferson County International Airport.
■ Bruce Starr, who is in his 12th year of volunteering for the Gatheringplace, a private nonprofit that offers enrichment programs for adults with disabilities, and who had provided services to the Tri-Area Food Bank Association for 27 years.
