Mill Creek looks back on 25 years as it celebrates its anniversary

MILL CREEK — The time capsule sat in City Hall surrounded by the artifacts it would hold for the next 25 years.

Mill Creek, which celebrated its 25th anniversary since its incorporation in 1983, has decided to commemorate the occasion with pieces of its history — living history that has defined the community and an added touch of whimsy.

To be encapsulated will be a 2007-08 Mill Creek budget, a T-shirt commemorating the 2008 Little League team, a photo album of city employees past and present, a package of Hostess Twinkies, various newspaper clippings, an old Motorola cellular phone, a SpongeBob SquarePants doll, and a letter from one mayor to another.

Mayor Terry Ryan has penned a his thoughts on Mill Creek during its 25 years of incorporation, where it is now and what it can become.

Most important to Ryan is that the Mill Creek that he and others have so worked hard to realize lives on; a spirit of appreciation for the quality he said that makes the city stand apart from others.

“What we are trying to show is the early history, give some context as to where we are now,” Ryan said. “So 25 years from now many of us won’t be here, and this record will show the efforts and sacrifices we made. Something we hope they continue.”

The mood was festive as people filed in and out of City Hall to view the capsule and see what has become of the city in what Mayor Pro Tem Rosemary Bennetts described as “25 short years.”

“I cannot believe how the city has grown,” Bennetts said. “I remember in 1979 when this was all meadows and fields, and the only store we had was near Martha Lake.”

The city over the years has taken steps to include the natural beauty of the area, said Ryan, something that he hopes the city will continue to be known for in the future.

“We don’t want to be Seattle, Bellevue or Lynnwood,” Ryan said. “We want to continue what we have and build upon our success.

Reporter Justin Arnold: 425-339-3432 or jarnold@heraldnet.com.