On Tuesday, the Centralia City Council chambers were packed with a standing-room-only crowd. That happens sometimes when there’s a contentious issue on the agenda, but this was a sunnier occasion on a frosty evening. The room was full of people who were summoned to be commended for their service to the city during the third-annual Centralia Volunteerism Awards ceremony.
Elizabeth Cameron, a former city council member who created the volunteerism awards, was there to say a few words.
The work of these citizens help us “enjoy living, working and thriving in this city of Centralia, so we can love where we live” Cameroon said in her beautiful Scottish accent.
Speaking of the British Isles, I almost expected to see a member of the royal family there with a sword to tap each person on the shoulder to Knight them. (In fact, City Councilor Max Vogt, who presented each certificate, has something of a regal bearing.)
Seriously though, the dozens of volunteers being honored are like jewels on the city’s crown.
It was a real treat to be in the room and see the wide variety of public-spirited servant-leaders we have. I have such respect for folks who give of themselves and enjoy spending their free time helping make their community better.
King of all the volunteers this year is Chuck Kifer, winner of the Volunteer of the Year Award. He is a quiet but hardworking gentleman who serves on the city’s (unpaid) Planning Commission and is a regular attendee at city council meetings as an active member of the public.
Kifer also led the merry band of workers who replaced rotting logs in the city’s historic and namesake Fort Borst blockhouse. Other volunteers in that project were also thanked.
We saw lots of other generous folks honored, including Curt Ivie, owner of A Glass Enterprise, who donated windows for those broken at the historic Borst Home and the Lewis County Historical Museum.
Michael Klemola picks up trash around the city. Lorna Shelton volunteers with those who are struggling to find food and housing.
The Centralia Downtown Association was honored, including its founding members.
The list goes on, including the good folks of the Lewis County Master Gardeners, Fuchsia Fanciers (all decked out in matching purple), Borst Home volunteers and the Borst Arboretum Botanical Society, who all contribute to making our city’s grand park along the freeway into a wonderful place to visit, learn and enjoy.
I was there on behalf of another natural gem, the Seminary Hill Natural Area, as several of our wonderful board members and our group as a whole were thanked.
Speaking of which, if you’d like the join the ranks of wonderful volunteers, there is a huge opportunity to serve coming up at the natural area.
On Feb. 15 and 22, from 9 a.m. to noon, we will be planting hundreds of native trees and shrubs in a small gully just above the parking lot. This will be the biggest tree-planting project we’ve ever done at the natural area. It’ll help continue regrowth from an area that still has not fully recovered from an epic washout in 1991 caused by a failure of the city’s reservoir on top of the hill.
We’ll have jobs for anyone and everyone. We’ll need diggers, but for those with physical limitations, we’ll put you to work sorting trees, serving snacks or just cheering on the workers!
It’s part of a larger project we’re doing to build a handicap-accessible trail. We’re partly through that project, and we’re looking for a few good men and women to help us finish the project.
Contact us at GoSeminaryHill@gmail.com to learn more.
Whether you volunteer through your church, a local community group or just going out to pick up garbage in your neighborhood, please know that you are appreciated.
It’s because of you that we can have nice things!
Brian Mittge has written for his hometown newspaper since 2000. He can be reached at brianmittge@hotmail.com.
