Like many do, Georgia Forbes distinctly recalls the day that JFK was assassinated and what happened next.

She started knitting, and she hasn’t stopped since.

In fact, Forbes estimates she has knitted about 1,000 pair of mittens — all for children — in 20 years as an elementary school volunteer, including the 200 or so she’s made over the last six-plus years for students of Friday Harbor Elementary School. She was a para-educator in the Shoreline School District for 13 years before moving to San Juan Island.

It’s with those mittens in mind, and the spirit of “going above and beyond” for the sake of the community they represents, that prompted the Kiwanis Club to honor Forbes with it’s “Everyday Hero” award at a surprise presentation March 29 at the elementary school.