Edmonds Petanque Club honored as 2016 Citizen of the Year

The Edmonds Kiwanis Club announced late last week that it has chosen the Edmonds Petanque Club as its 2016 Edmonds Citizen of the Year.

Kiwanis President Mary Lou Kantor pointed out that this is only the second time in the 23-year history of the award that it has gone to a group. Last year’s honoree, the Edmonds Floretum Garden Club, was the first. (Read My Edmonds News coverage of last year’s award here.

“The selection committee had quite the challenge as there were many great and deserving candidates,” Kantor said. “The Edmonds Petanque Club was selected for its commitment to many charities in the Edmonds Community including the Edmonds Food Bank. (See My Edmonds News coverage of Petanque Club contribution to the Food Bank here.)

Michelle Martin, president of The Edmonds Petanque Club, grew up in France. As a young girl she spent many happy afternoons playing petanque with her family, and upon moving to Edmonds thought how nice it would be to bring this pastime here.

In 2010 she and the late Chris Guitton, a fellow French native, joined forces to establish the Edmonds Petanque Club. They approached the City of Edmonds, and with the strong support of the parks department, the first Petanque courts were built at Edmonds Civic Field. Since then the club has grown to 85 enthusiastic players and looks to increase that number this summer.

The Edmonds Petanque Club will be honored at the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce lunch this Thursday, May 26, when the award will be officially presented. Tickets and details here.

— Story and photos by Larry Vogel

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