PORT ANGELES — Friends, admirers and business associates are invited to a Thursday night (April 26) reception where seven community heroes will be honored with the Clallam County Community Service Award for 2012.
The award honors the “dedication, sacrifice and accomplishments” of community leaders and volunteers “who have made a difference in Clallam County, who have made our communities a better place by doing extraordinary things for their neighbors, their community or the environment.”
The honorees are:
■ Anna Barrigan, a retired community pharmacist and job counselor who has devoted energy and hard work to the Salvation Army, Project Homeless Connect, Shelter Providers, Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics and many other groups.
■ Cheri Fleck, whose vision, drive and leadership helped create Sarge’s Place in Forks, a center for returning and homeless veterans and their families.
■ John Halberg, enthusiastic co-founder and inventive leader of the North Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association for youths and adults.
■ Dan Huff, volunteer firefighter/EMT for Clallam County Fire District No. 2 for 35 years and captain of Station 21 (Gales Addition, just east of Port Angeles), with a long resume of other community activities.
■ Jim and Robbie Mantooth, selfless, gracious and unwavering protectors of local streams and forests through the North Olympic Land Trust and environmental projects they helped finance.
■ Charles “Moose” Parker, who has donated thousands of hours as a coach to young athletes in Clallam Bay and Neah Bay.
This is the 33rd year of the award, begun by the Peninsula Daily News and now co-sponsored with Soroptimist International of Port Angeles-Noon Club.
The seven recipients will receive framed award certificates at a reception that begins in the downstairs meeting room at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Lopez Ave. in Port Angeles, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
The reception is open to the public and will include beverages and special desserts.
Admission is free.
A judging committee that included a past Community Service Award recipient selected the seven from 23 nominations made by individuals, clubs, churches, businesses and other organizations.
“These are truly local heroes, working to make community life stronger, tighter, happier, richer — busy people who unselfishly give their time and energy to help others, who always seem to be able to make time to offer a hand or a shoulder,” said John Brewer, PDN editor and publisher.
