Contractor helps with Midwest flood disaster

Local volunteer Richard Hoffmann of the Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross is in Indianapolis to help with the area’s flood disaster.

Hoffmann, a general contractor from Skagit Valley, is the manager of Disaster Assessment at the Mt. Baker Chapter. He has volunteered with Red Cross for some 10 years and has helped with 20-plus national disasters.

Hoffmann will perform damage assessments on homes affected by flooding that has caused 29 Midwest counties to declare a state of emergency.

Hoffmann joins a team of nearly 1,100 Red Cross disaster volunteers offering Red Cross Emergency Response and Relief Services.



High school group garners state award

The Mount Vernon High School Gay-Straight Alliance received the Most Inspirational GSA of the Year award during a May 23 ceremony in Seattle.

The ceremony and banquet was organized by the Washington State Gay-Straight Alliance, a program of the Washington state chapter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

Kathy Reim is president of the local community organization, Skagit PFLAG. MVHS librarian Cathy Pfahl is the school GSA’s advisor.

Students involved with the network educate the community, teachers and fellow students about the bullying, harassment and homophobia faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.



MV Christian lands bank grant

Mount Vernon Christian School in Mount Vernon has received a donation of $5,000 to its capital campaign from Peoples Bank. The private school opened in September 1951 and offers a comprehensive K-12 educational program. The donation will help support growth of the school and its programs.

Peoples Bank is an independent community bank headquartered in Lynden. It has several branch offices in Skagit County.