Civic Almanac

Buyouts might be offered

Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling on July 2 announced that the city might offer buyouts to staff.

The goal is to cut costs by lowering the number of full-time employees but without disrupting city services.

“I am hopeful that this will be a successful first step in developing a balanced budget for 2013,” Earling said in a statement.

The city is facing a projected $1.1 million shortfall in next year’s budget.

Night Out at the Mariners

The Edmonds Sister City Commission invites the public to attend a Seattle Mariners baseball game and in the process support its scholarship fund.

Edmonds’ sister city is Hekinan, Japan. Each summer, the Sister City Commission, an all-volunteer citizen effort, sends students from Edmonds to Hekinan and hosts visiting Hekinan students to learn about Edmonds and the United States.

Tickets for Edmonds Night Out at the Mariners are $20 for the 7:10 p.m. Aug. 14 game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field, 1250 First Ave. S, Seattle. The Sister City Commission will receive $9 for every ticket sold.

To buy tickets, go to www.mariners.com/escc. Select “buy tickets,” then enter “Edmonds” as the special offer code.

Or cheer on M’s at ferry night

Again this year the Seattle Mariners welcome Washington State Ferries customers and employees Aug. 17-19 at Safeco Field for a series against the Minnesota Twins.

Enjoy discounted seats in a special reserved section when you purchase tickets at www.mariners.com/WSF. The Aug. 17 game will include a T-shirt giveaway.

BUSINESS NEWS

Business briefs

• Stroller Strides of Mill Creek and Lynnwood plans a grand opening celebration at 10:30 a.m. July 10 at its new location at the Lynnwood Recreation Center, 18900 44th Ave. W. The fitness classes geared to moms also meet at Reigning Imagination Toys, 15224 Main St., Mill Creek. More info: www.strollerstrides.net/millcreek

• American Brewing Company, 180 W Dayton St., Warehouse 102, in Edmonds, plans a daylong Fourth of July celebration with beer, music and barbecue. Steve Stefanowicz will perform acoustic rock and blues from 2-5 p.m.; there is no admission.

• Edmonds-based Chermak Construction has won four awards recently. Nationally, the remodeling contractor won the Chrysalis Western Regional Award and Chrysalis Award from Quality Remodeler Magazine. The Building Industry Association of Washington recognized the company’s innovative garage design for a client. At the REX Awards, a local contest sponsored by the Master Builders of King &Snohomish Counties, Chermak received an award for a kitchen in Sammamish.

CIVIC NEWS

Nonprofit hits milestone

The Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project, a nonprofit based in Lynnwood, has altered 75,000 cats.

The organization reached this milestone June 21, when a kitten named Mindy received surgery.

The nonprofit works to lower the number of cats euthanized at shelters by preventing unwanted litters. The charity relies on donations and volunteer efforts to provide free or low-cost spay and neuter surgeries.

To learn more, go to www.feralcatproject.org.

Civic briefs

• Mountlake Terrace honored retiring police Cmdr. Craig McCaul on June 18 for his 31 years of service to the city. McCaul joined the police department in 1981 and received multiple awards and medals over the years.

• Nighttime lane closures are planned the week of July 16 on 196th Street SW between Highway 99 and Scriber Lake Road to finish road widening and new turn lanes. A previous notice had said the work would occur at the end of June.

Meet with Edmonds mayor

Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling invites people living in Edmonds and local business owners to meet with him.

The Office Hour offers a chance to meet with the mayor one-on-one to discuss concerns related to the city.

To schedule a meeting with Earling, call the mayor’s office at 425-771-0247 or email carolyn.lafave@edmondswa.gov. Upcoming meeting dates are July 13, July 27, Aug. 10 and Aug. 24.