PORT TOWNSEND — Six community members, one of them a student at Port Townsend High School, were honored for their community service, and a seventh community member was given a surprise award for his work in creating the annual Heart of Service awards.
Jefferson County Heart of Service Awards were presented at a Tuesday luncheon at Fort Worden Commons. The program is sponsored by the Peninsula Daily News, the Rotary Club at Port Townsend (noon club), the Port Townsend Sunrise Rotary Club and the East Jefferson Rotary Club.
“Today is a very special day,” said Terry R. Ward, Peninsula Daily News publisher. “Today is to honor six individuals whose extraordinary efforts have made Jefferson County a better place to live. Every day these people improve our community and make it a better place to work and live.”
Zemery “Jack” Randall of Port Ludlow, Cleone Telling of Quilcene, Marla Overman of Port Townsend, Henry “Hank” Hazen of Nordland, Joni Williams of Port Hadlock, and Port Townsend High School senior Milo Rolland were all honored for their community service on Tuesday.
A seventh award was a surprise.
Steve Rafoth, who kicked off the ceremony and presented one of the awards, was honored for his work in founding the Heart of Service Awards.
“Like Steve said earlier, ‘these people aren’t here for recognition but that’s what we’re here for, so they just have to deal with it,’” Ward said. “Remember those words Steve.”
Ward said he had seen Rafoth’s dedication and work ethic while working with him each year on the Heart of Service Awards, which are now in their 12th year.
“Steve is a taskmaster,” Ward said. “He wanted to make sure this Heart of Service Award continues on.”
Aside from his work with the Heart of Service Awards, Rafoth has served with the Port Townsend Rotary Club as its president, auction chair, solicitor general and grant writer — all in the last two years, according to Carla Caldwell, director of United Good Neighbors (UGN). Rafoth also worked with UGN as a board member.
“You encourage excellence in other people because you have that expectation for yourself,” Caldwell said to Rafoth during the presentation of the surprise award.
Caldwell said the Heart of Service organizers wanted to honor Rafoth for all his service to the community since he will be moving to Camas within the next two weeks to be closer to family.
Rafoth also introduced Heart of Service honoree Overman who was nominated by Port Townsend City Councilwoman Amy Howard for her work at The Boiler Room.
“As Amy Howard, who nominated Marla said, ‘Marla’s commitment to The Boiler Room and the kids you find there is nothing short of extraordinary,’” Rafoth said.
Overman started working at The Boiler Room as an intern and moved up to the general manager position in 2010 before choosing to be a volunteer board member instead. Overman has also volunteers with UGN, which gave her a service award in 2014, and has worked with Habitat for Humanity, the Port Townsend Main Street Association and Dove House.
While Overman, who is in her 30s, was one of the youngest adult Heart of Service Award Winners, 90-year-old Randall was the oldest of this year’s award winners.
As a former Boeing employee, Randall founded the Olympic Peninsula chapter of the Boeing Bluebills in 1998. The organization is devoted to helping the elderly and disabled across Jefferson, Clallam and Kitsap counties.
Randall also has volunteered for a number of organizations, serving as a board member for Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County, Jefferson Mental Health and United Good Neighbors.
Most recently, he founded the Citizens for Safe Students organization, which has equipped Chimacum elementary school students with emergency kits. Organizers hope to extend the program into Chimacum Middle School and High School.
“Jack has shown us all that no matter what the obstacles, we can all make a difference in our community,” said Meredith Wagner, Jefferson County Library director. Wagner was quoting pastor Ron McClung, one of Randall’s nominators.
Williams, another United Good Neighbors board member, was honored for her work as director of the Sunrise Rotary Backpacks for Kids Program, which provides food for students on free or reduced lunch so they can be adequately fed over the weekend.
“Now the program is fully rooted in success and that’s mostly from the work Joni’s done,” Caldwell said.
Telling was nominated by a number of community members from Quilcene for her work with the Quilcene Little League, Quilcene Fair, Quilcene Historical Museum and Quilcene Half Marathon.
“When I first met Cleone the words that came to my mind were infectious and enthusiastic,” said Chuck Henry, who introduced Telling at Tuesday’s luncheon. “After one conversation, she almost had me signed up to coach Little League.”
Telling’s family has a long history in the community, starting with her grandfather who came from Germany and homesteaded in Quilcene.
“I’m very humbled to be chosen,” Telling said. “I’d like to thank my husband Terry, who keeps the oil changed and tires rotated on my SUV which gets me from one place to the other. After living in Quilcene most of my life, it feels good to give back.”
Hazen also spoke about his love for his community.
“This is a humbling experience,” Hazen said after accepting his award. “Volunteering is a way to give back to the community and I’ve been extraordinarily lucky in my life and career so that motivates me to do what I do.”
Hazen was awarded for his nearly 20 years of service with Ecumenical Christian Helping Hands Organization (ECHHO) as a driver and a handy man — helping with everything from mowing lawns to installing air-conditioners, according to Ken Dane.
Hazen has also served as president of the Marrowstone Island Community Association, was Marrowstone Citizen of the Year in 1996 and is the director of the Marrowstone Island Foundation.
This year’s youth Heart of Service Award went to Rolland, who was nominated by the students in the Interact Club, a service club for local youth.
“It doesn’t matter what the project has been, Milo is always there,” said Lois Sherwood, the Associated Student Body Advisor for the Interact Club. “If there’s work to be done, Milo steps up.”
Rolland said his service through the Interact club has inspired him to study civil engineering, which he hopes to use for environmental conservation, when he attends Gonzaga University next year.
“It’s been a great pleasure to work with Interact,” Rolland said.
“How important service is to everyone there is inspiring to me and I want to thank everyone in the community for making this a very supportive place to grow up.”
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
Steve Rafoth was honored for his work in creating the Heart of Service Awards. (Cydney McFarland/Peninsula Daily News)
