Centrum honors service

This month, the nonprofit arts organization Centrum announced recipients of the 2022 and 2023 Centrum Champion awards, which honor select community volunteers, advocates, musicians, and artists for their exemplary dedication. The 24th District State Representative Steve Tharinger was named the 2023 Centrum Champion, and arts administrators Hali and Gregg Miller are the 2022 designees. Commemorative plaques will be displayed in Centrum’s McCurdy Pavilion.

The Centrum board pointed to Tharinger’s service during his seven terms as representative for the region. The legislature has invested more than $13 million in Fort Worden State Park during his time as chair of the House Capital Budget Committee.

“I’m just grateful to be in a position to be able to help,” said Tharinger upon receiving the award. “We don’t do a lot of ribbon cuttings for sewer projects or electrical service upgrades, but in an old facility like Fort Worden, it needs to have those investments so it can continue to thrive and serve the public.”

Centrum Board President Renee Klein also recognized long-time Centrum staff members Hali and Gregg Miller, whose combined service to the organization spans more than 40 years as Registrar and Program Manager for Jazz, Choro, and Chamber Music. “(They) have shown uncommon dedication to Centrum, its mission, and commitment to Port Townsend,” Klein said. “In fact, they met at Centrum and in many ways are the face of our organization to thousands of artists who travel from far and wide to participate in our lifelong learning programs.”

Nonprofit grants for community improvement

The AARP Washington Community Challenge grant program is back for its eighth year, and currently accepting applications online to fund projects that can improve livability nationwide.

With a focus on community engagement and quick-action timelines, the grant is designed to fast-track ideas and replicate promising practices, guided by the AARP belief that tangible improvements can spark long-term change.

The Community Challenge is open to 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) nonprofits and government entities. Funded projects can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to several thousand or more for larger projects.

Since 2017, the AARP Community Challenge has funded more than 1,370 projects, including 25 in Washington. Previous recipients encouraged innovation and overcame local policy barriers to receive greater overall awareness and engagement. Marguerite Ro, AARP Washington state director, said in a statement that past grantees have made tangible improvements that sparked long-term change in communities across Washington.

Applications are currently being accepted through March 6, 2 p.m. Pacific Time. To submit an application or learn more about the program, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge.

State Parks hiring seasonal aides

Washington State Parks is recruiting seasonal aides to work outdoors during spring, summer, and fall. More than 300 park aides and senior park aides are sought to work April through September in environments such as old-growth forests, Pacific Ocean beaches, the high desert, and around Puget Sound and its islands. 

Park aides handle a variety of duties such as registering campers, maintaining trails, and cleaning campgrounds. They also staff park offices and help with interpretive and educational programs.

The parks system said this opportunity is ideal for recent high school and college graduates, retired adults looking to return to the workforce, and military veterans transitioning to civilian employment. Park aides have a chance to grow within the agency, and many go on to success as rangers, customer service managers, and environmental planners.

Olyvia Buday began as a seasonal park aide and rose through the ranks to become the South Sound’s area manager. “Working for State Parks is a great opportunity to have a career that eliminates the monotony of a desk job,” she said. “Every day is different.” 

Applications are open now through August. Park aides earn $16.90 to $20.33 an hour, and senior park aides earn $19.40 to $23.40 an hour, depending on qualifications and experience. More information and online applications are accessible at https://parks.wa.gov/about/jobs.