The City honored long-time Snoqualmie resident Carol Peterson for a lifetime of service with a reception on October 23 prior to the City Council meeting. Peterson has contributed more than 50 years of service to her community, from championing public health and the area’s natural beauty to bringing people together.
“Carol has spent countless hours on public service,” said Snoqualmie Mayor Katherine Ross. “She has lived in the Snoqualmie Valley for more than 60 years and during that time has made a true impact on the City and our community.”
Carol and her husband Charles Peterson, who served as a city councilmember, planning commissioner, and mayor, worked together to make Snoqualmie a better place. Carol served on the Snoqualmie Parks Board, playing a role in putting up the classic Snoqualmie welcome signs at the City’s entrances. She also helped establish the City’s first parks. In this role, she planted flowers, maintained City landscapes, and helped coordinate painting the old City Hall building along with advocating for the City Council Chambers mural.
Carol played a vital role in community health care by successfully lobbying Congress in Washington DC for funding the first Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, which was built in 1983. Earlier this year, Carol retired from her appointment on the City’s Health and Human Services Committee, where she served as a community voice for providing vital services for those in need.
Among her many volunteer efforts, Carol has served on the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank, the Snoqualmie Valley Shelter (now Reclaim) and many others. She helped form organizations such as the Mount Si Senior Center and has also volunteered for Children’s Services of SnoValley, now Encompass. She organized children’s athletics, Campfire groups, and her gardening club. She has also volunteered at the Snoqualmie Valley Methodist Church for 60 years.
In addition to her local service, Carol worked as an aid for US Rep. Julia Butler Hansen and Hansen’s successor, Rep. Don Bonker.
“We’re all born with different talents,” Carol said. “And I figured out early on that one of mine was organizing.”
When asked by City Councilmember Ethan Benson about her boundless energy for service, Carol quipped “if you only have a half-hour, you don’t really need to sit and watch the half-time presentation of football games,” adding she has always wanted to spend her time on, and for, people.
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