The Bonney Lake Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the finalists for our upcoming awards banquet sponsored by Cascadia, Cascade Regional Blood Services, Kitsap Bank, Big O’s Bar B Cue and Deli and the Swiss Sportmans Club. We received a large number of nominations for many deserving individuals, particularly for the Citizen of the Year award. We have narrowed the list down to three finalists from each category.
Citizen of the Year
• Leota Musgrave recently resigned her park board position after 19 years of service. She has worked tirelessly over the years for youth. She has tried for years to get a youth center, community recreation center and now a YMCA for the greater Bonney Lake community. She would like nothing better than to have a place for kids to go and have positive experiences, hang out and have fun. She used to help host teen nights at the senior center. She is very concerned with the tweens; she feels there needs to be more opportunities for them. She loves attending the spring egg hunts in the park. She has helped fill plastic eggs side by side with other seniors at the senior center preparing hundreds of eggs to be used in the hunt. She was instrumental in Cedarview Park becoming a city park and has been hands on during the renovations. There is even a park bench there dedicated in her name. But that’s not all. She is also very active in the Greater Bonney Lake Historical Society and is busy lobbying for a museum in Bonney Lake. She feels it is important for us not to forget the history of this area of the Plateau. She is a very special lady. And did I mention she is on the Senior Center board of directors?
• John and Margaret Farrell and their guests were in the right place at the right time for two survivors of a midair plane crash. The Farrells were on Commencement Bay on the yacht when they saw two planes collide above them. The Farrells watched as the plane spiraled into the cold waters of Puget Sound. They raced to the crash sight and plucked the man and his mother from the water, saving their lives. They received a proclamation from the mayor of Bonney Lake for their heroism. From the American Red Cross they received recognition for being in the right place at the right time.
When they are not busy being heroes (they also saved a boater in Puget Sound before the plane crash), the Farrells are active in the community. They donated pizzas to Beautify Bonney Lake on the day of the event. Margaret recently resigned her position on the Bonney Lake Park Board after many years of service.
• Stew Bowen has been instrumental in keeping thousands of low-income people fed through the Bonney Lake and Bread of Life Food Banks since he took over the program 15 months ago. He effectively trains volunteers, manages the donations regardless of the state of the economy, works tirelessly to make sure people have what they need. It is a testament to his flexibility, creativity, patience, energy and skill that he has managed in inferior, cramped buildings, including the Snack Shack, for the summer feeding program. Stew is an awesome voice for the hungry and a credit to the community.
Business of the Year
•American Family Insurance
• Office Depot
• Massage Envy
Chamber Volunteer of the Year
• Izzy Anaya, A&S Auto Repair
• Gail Bohnas, 410 Rentals
• Lillian McGinnis, retired member
Other recognition awards will be given, including the special Honorary Lifetime Chamber Member Award.
Please join us in the celebration.
The event is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Swiss Sportsman’s Club. Ticket prices are $25 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting the chamber no later than Friday.
Lora Butterfield is the executive director of the Bonney Lake Chamber of Commerce and can be reached at 253-222-5945 or lora@bonneylake.com. The chamber’s Web site is www.bonneylake.com.
Bonney Lake Chamber
