Nita and Peter Harksell Jr., owners of Pete’s Auto Repair in Ferndale, received the Automotive Service Association Northwest’s Member of the Year Award for 2014. The association, based in Lakewood, Washington, has 110 members according to its website.

This is the first time since 1968 that the association presented the award to a couple.

“I couldn’t just give it to one without the other as they are always doing everything together,” said Todd Black, president of Automotive Service Association Northwest and owner of Unlimited Service of Bellingham.

Both Nita and Peter have been Automotive Service Association Northwest officers, and have sponsored the annual “Lights On” program at Bellingham High School and Everson Elementary School, where they replace exterior car light bulbs for free.