PORT ANGELES — Seven local heroes will be honored with the Clallam County Community Service Award for 2012 on Thursday.
The award recipients 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 their own personally funded projects.
– Charles “Moose” Parker, who has donated thousands of hours as a coach to young athletes in Clallam Bay and Neah Bay.
The Clallam County Community Service 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.”
This is the 33rd year of the award, begun by the Peninsula Daily News and now co-sponsored by Soroptimist International of Port Angeles-Noon Club.
The seven recipients of the 2012 Community Service Award will receive framed award certificates at a reception in the downstairs meeting room at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Lopez Ave., Port Angeles, that begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
The reception is open to the public and will include coffee and 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 publisher and editor.
Anna Barrigan
“At an age [now into her 80s] when most of us are inwardly focused, Anna continues to concern herself and actively participate in community, national and international affairs,” said Phyllis Hopfner, a longtime medical professional and 1982 Community Service Award recipient, in a letter nominating Barrigan.
“Since her arrival in Port Angeles in the ’90s, she jumped right into a variety of community projects.
“My personal involvement with her began at PAARC [Port Angeles Association of Religious Communities], MANNA [Ministries Assisting Neighbors in Need with Agape], PAARC Medical [free] Clinic and the transition to Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics [VIMO] and continues to this day with Project Homeless Connect and the VIMO Dental Clinic.
“Her most recent endeavor is to join the OlyCAP [Olympic Community Action Programs] Board of Directors.
Cheri Fleck
Fleck’s nomination came with many letters and articles about Sarge’s Place.
“With funding appropriated to the project by Sen. Patty Murray, and supported by Rep. Norm Dicks, Cheri and her colleagues [transformed and modernized] a two-story apartment building into a veterans resource, housing and services ‘one stop shop’ on the West End,” wrote Jo Sanders of Forks.
“Not only does Cheri do the technical and administrative areas, but you will find her in the trenches working with construction, cleaning and anything needed to keep the project going smoothly.”
A West End resident since January 1995 with her husband, Rod, the city attorney for Forks, and their three children, “she goes above and beyond in providing guidance and assistance [in her volunteer work as a housing coordinator for several agencies] not only for her clientele but to all who need help,” wrote Sanders.
“Her interaction with local and state officials has brought much to this community.
“[Sarge’s Place] is being viewed as an inspiration and example for other communities in the state to follow.”
John Halberg
Four people sent detailed letters nominating Halberg for his Community Service Award.
“Mr. Halberg is a passionate water and indoor rower and has had a vision for several years to bring the passion, the etiquette and the opportunity to Clallam County residents to have a first-rate rowing club in this community,” wrote Marilyn M. Perkins of Port Angeles.
“His goal has also been to provide an outstanding athletic experience, especially for the youth in our community, through the sport of rowing.”
Wrote Cheryl Baumann of Port Angeles, a 2004 Community Service Award recipient:
“He spearheaded formation of the Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association three years ago . . . and helped turn a motley crew of beginners (myself included) into a respectable group that has successfully competed in races in Victoria and Port Townsend.
“He has also been instrumental in getting a youth program going . . . [and] helped a core of middle and high school aged youth learn about rowing and practice their skills three times a week.”
Baumann also noted Halberg’s longtime work on the Crescent School Board of Directors and for Queen of Angels Catholic Church.
“John is always positive and never without a smile, even when challenged by adults trying to learn something new or adolescents who just want to have fun,” wrote Colleen Brastad of Port Angeles.
Dan Huff
Huff was nominated by Lt. Joe McFarland and the other volunteer officers and firefighters/EMTs of Fire District No. 2, Station 21, “for the recognition that he does not seek but richly deserves!”
Owner and operator of D&K Painting in Port Angeles for more than 20 years, he has donated his painting services and materials to numerous community, church and North Peninsula Builders Association projects.
He gives at least 20 hours a week to Fire District No. 2, overseeing the work at Station 21, serving as commander at major fires and scheduling and implementing the training academy for new firefighter recruits “where they benefit greatly from his [more than 35 years of] experience.
“He is currently dedicating his time and energy to become recertified through the Boy Scouts to help expand the local Explorers, a program for youth 14 through 19 year olds wanting to learn about the Fire Service and serve in a supportive role until they are eligible to join the department.”
Jim and Robbie Mantooth
The nomination for this husband-and-wife duo by Rosemary Cockrill and Jan Hare of Port Angeles came with a thick stack of endorsements from associates who have worked with them for years and from other board members at the North Olympic Land Trust.
From 12 years of holding the StreamFest environmental festival (using their own money and their Ennis Arbor Farm in Port Angeles) to their years of work to resurrect Ennis Creek (again, using their own money), the Mantooths have made a huge impact on the North Olympic Peninsula.
They have become role models and inspirational community catalysts for Peninsula environmental sustainability.
Although StreamFest has now ended, the Mantooths continue to work with NOLT to preserve the Peninsula’s natural habitat. In addition, their home and Ennis Arbor Farm will continue to be available for environmental education projects.
“With great humility and modesty . . . Jim and Robbie live their values every day, and we’re very fortunate to benefit from their presence among us,” said Claire Bishop, director of the Benjamin N. Phillips Fund of The Seattle Foundation, in a letter supporting the Mantooths’ nomination.
Wrote Cockrill: “Their work has involved communication and cooperation in a positive way to accomplish what cannot be done from adversarial positions.”
Charles Thomas ‘Moose’ Parker
“I have seen many teachers, coaches, volunteers and school staff come and go,” wrote Cara L. Cowdrey of Clallam Bay.
“Moose was volunteering when I was in school [she graduated in 1996] and is still there today.
“He has influenced hundreds of kids over the years . . . he has instilled [in them] confidence, respect and responsibility . . . he has taught them to practice good sportsmanship and the importance of working together.”
His nomination letter came with a petition 19 pages long signed by parents, teachers, fellow coaches and Clallam Bay-Neah Bay community members who endorsed Cowdrey’s letter lauding Parker for “the 18 to 20 years he has dedicated to the kids . . . coaching/assistant coaching football, T-ball, baseball, fast pitch and boys and girls basketball.”
“Moose works 40-plus hours a week for the state Department of Transportation, with his hours ranging from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
“After work he goes home to sleep a few hours and is back at school [for practices and then going to games as far away as Seattle] . . . dedicating at least 15 to 20 hours a week.
“[With] a great sense of humor and heart of gold . . . Moose always has a smile on his face and never complains about being tired or not having enough time with his family.
“Moose maintains his busy schedule while raising his daughters and enjoying his new grandson.”
