Our Towns: Central
Published 10:37 pm Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Everett: Helen Thayer talks about Gobi trek
Snohomish author-adventurer Helen Thayer is scheduled to give a talk and sign copies of her book “Walking the Gobi” Jan. 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Everett Public Library, 2702 Hoyt Ave.
Thayer, will talk about her 1,600-mile trek across the Mongolian desert in 2001 with her husband, Bill Thayer.
She was 63 and Bill was 74 when they set out on the trip.
Thayer’s other books include “Polar Dream,” about her trip on foot to the North Pole with her canine companion Charlie, and “Three Among Wolves,” a book about living with her husband and dog amid wolves in Canada’s Yukon Territory.
Annual lutefisk dinner is Sunday
Everett’s Sons of Norway Lodge is hosting its annual lutefisk and meatball dinner Sunday from noon to 3:30 p.m. at Normanna Hall, 2725 Oakes Ave. The cost is $18 for adults, $9 for ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under eat for free. Reservations are requested.
Tickets are available at the hall’s Viking Room or by calling 425-252-0291.
Lake Stevens: Arts panel has opening
The city of Lake Stevens has an opening on its arts commission.
The volunteer panel advises the City Council on matters related to history, culture and the arts.
The current vacancy is in a four-year term that expires at the end of 2008. The arts commission meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.
For more information or to apply, call the city at 425-334-1012.
Snohomish: Council raises utility rates
The City Council on Tuesday approved big increases in sewer and water rates. The vote was 6-1. City Councilman R.C. “Swede” Johnson dissented.
Under the new rates, the city changes how it charges residents and businesses for water and sewer. The city used to allow up to eight units of water in the bi-monthly base charge, but the new rate structure reduces this allowance to four units. One unit equals 748 gallons.
As a result, a homeowner using eight units of water will pay a sewer bill of $100.14 every two months this year under the new rates, said Danny Weinberg, who is in charge of the city’s finances. That’s an increase of 38.5 percent. The bill under the former rate was $72.30.
The same homeowner will also pay the base rate of $50.02 every two months this year for water. That’s more than a 27 percent increase, up from $39.30 last year.
For more information, call the city at 360-568-3115.
TODAY’S MEETING
Lake Stevens Library Board, 4 p.m., library, 1804 Main St.
